Early the next morning, Bai Qingxue pushed open the courtyard door.
The morning mist had not yet fully dispersed, spilling coolly over the threshold.
But the moment Bai Qingxue took a step out, she stopped.
A person was sitting on the stone steps.
Lu Xueqing leaned against the doorframe, her head tilted slightly to one side, eyes closed.
Her frost-white martial attire was covered in a fine layer of dew, and the fabric at her shoulder was completely soaked, several shades darker than the rest.
Her breathing was light and even, her eyelashes completely still as if she were asleep.
Bai Qingxue crouched down.
Morning light filtered through the mist, falling upon Lu Xueqing's face.
Seemingly sensing Bai Qingxue's gaze, Lu Xueqing's eyelashes fluttered a moment later, and then she opened her eyes.
Seeing Bai Qingxue before her, Lu Xueqing showed no panic. Instead, she smiled and said, “Morning, Junior Sister Bai.”
“When did you get here?” Bai Qingxue asked.
“Just arrived,” Lu Xueqing replied.
Bai Qingxue looked at the soaked fabric on Lu Xueqing's shoulder and murmured, “Liar.”
Lu Xueqing neither denied nor admitted it.
She merely smiled, stood up from the stone steps, and patted the dust off her robe.
The morning mist clung to the tips of her hair, condensing into tiny water droplets that rustled down with her movements.
Bai Qingxue turned around and walked toward the cold pond.
Footsteps sounded behind her, unhurried, trailing after her.
After walking for a bit, Bai Qingxue stopped and turned around.
Lu Xueqing stopped as well, looking up at her with an expression so serene it seemed as though she had long known Bai Qingxue would look back.
“No need to follow me,” Bai Qingxue said.
“But I want to be with you, Junior Sister Bai...” Lu Xueqing said with a hint of grievance.
Hearing this, Bai Qingxue withdrew her gaze, turned around, and continued walking.
The footsteps behind her followed once more.
Bai Qingxue did not walk fast, and Lu Xueqing walked on her right.
And so, the two walked side by side.
Their arms would occasionally brush against each other, the soft rustle of their clothing exceptionally clear in the quiet morning mist.
Bai Qingxue did not step aside, nor did Lu Xueqing deliberately move closer.
“No missions today?” Bai Qingxue asked.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to,” Lu Xueqing said with a sudden, strange touch of seriousness.
...
Behind the window of the side room, Ning Qinghan stood before the pane.
The morning window paper, dampened by the mist, was translucent, offering a faint, blurry view of the activity in the courtyard and by the gate.
Right now, Bai Qingxue had gone out.
As for Lu Xueqing, relying on her spiritual sense, Ning Qinghan naturally knew she had arrived long ago.
But what did that have to do with her?
Ning Qinghan looked out the window.
The morning mist flowed slowly through the courtyard, and the leaves of the old plum tree were still falling.
No one was there.
At this hour, Bai Qingxue was absent.
Ning Qinghan looked down at her own wrist, only to remember that the restriction had already been transferred to Bai Qingxue.
Thus, Ning Qinghan could only lower her hand, turn around, and sit by the edge of the bed.
The side room was very quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by the wind outside the window.
She had lived here for nearly a month.
Bai Qingxue had made her bed, poured her tea, and given her a place where she could sleep in peace.
Here, no one drove her away, and no one interrogated her. It had to be said that life here was exceptionally peaceful.
Yet, Ning Qinghan felt stifled.
Waking up day after day, washing up, sitting in the courtyard for a while, and exchanging a few words with Bai Qingxue if she was around.
Sometimes, when Bai Qingxue was not there, she would sit alone.
And then, when evening came, Lu Xueqing would arrive.
Ning Qinghan would then retreat to the side room and shut the door.
It wasn't that Bai Qingxue and Lu Xueqing wouldn't let her stay.
It was simply that Ning Qinghan herself did not wish to stay.
There was something indefinable between those two—like air, invisible and intangible, yet Ning Qinghan could feel it.
Sitting there, she was superfluous.
She had clearly escaped for the sake of freedom.
But could a life like this truly be called freedom?
If she absolutely had to rely on Bai Qingxue to break the restriction...
...then she would be the one to accelerate the process.
At this thought, a dark gleam flickered in Ning Qinghan's eyes.
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