The night deepened over Xianling Valley, spiritual mist curling through the air like gauze and fog.
Jiang Che finished his Heavenly Alliance duties and made his way home under the moonlight. As a direct disciple of Chen Chang'an, he had a secluded and elegant courtyard of his own in the valley, surrounded by green bamboo and murmuring springs, far from the noise of the crowd. In truth, aside from Chen Xingcai and Ji Lingxiu, one living in her father's house and the other in the City Lord's mansion, all the senior disciples had their own courtyards in the valley.
He had barely pushed open his gate when a disciple on duty hurried over, bowing respectfully before presenting a pale jade slip. "Elder Brother Jiang, someone delivered this a short while ago and asked that it be placed directly in your hands."
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow and accepted the slip, cool to the touch. As a high-ranking elder with considerable influence in both the Heavenly Alliance and Xianling Holy Land, such deliveries were not unusual.
He thanked the disciple, sent him away, and entered his inner chamber alone, casually lighting the lamp on his desk. Under its dim yellow glow, he idly swept his divine sense across the jade slip.
The next moment, his expression changed drastically.
Though it had been a very, very long time since those memories had surfaced, the handwriting inside the jade slip was unmistakable. Elegant yet stubborn, every stroke had once been the scenery he treasured most in his youth.
It was her handwriting.
He did not even want to recall that woman's name in his own mind. But the moment he laid eyes on it, all the pain, betrayal, and despair he had thought long faded surged back to life, carrying an icy bite that cut to the bone.
His fingers tightened unconsciously, knuckles going white.
After a long moment, he drew a deep breath, his gaze shifting from turbulent to resolute before settling into cold, frozen calm. With a sudden surge of force, the jade slip shattered into powder with a sharp crack, crumbling through his fingers.
"Jiang Che! We've come to congratulate you on your victory!"
Just then, Chen Xingcai's bright, cheerful voice rang out from beyond the courtyard, accompanied by quick, light footsteps drawing near.
Jiang Che swiftly suppressed every trace of emotion, restoring the warm smile to his face as he turned toward the entrance.
Chen Xingcai had already pulled Xiyan inside. Xiyan was dressed in a pale pink gown today, her skin as fair as snow, though her expression was awkward. Tugged along by Chen Xingcai's grip on her sleeve, she looked thoroughly unwilling to be there.
"Congratulations on your easy win today, Elder Brother Jiang!" Chen Xingcai said with a mischievous grin, her eyes darting playfully between the two of them.
Xiyan's ears burned under that knowing gaze. She pulled free of Chen Xingcai's hand and forced herself to bow composedly toward Jiang Che, though her voice was barely louder than a whisper. "C-congratulations..."
Jiang Che could not help but curve his lips at the sight of this girl, who clearly wanted to be here but was too proud to admit it. He decided to tease her. "I hear there's a newly opened restaurant in northern Xianling City that serves something called 'hot pot.' The broth is fragrant and spicy, the ingredients sliced fresh and cooked right at the table. The flavors are supposed to be extraordinary. Shall we go try it?"
Sure enough, the moment she heard the word "eat," Xiyan's eyes lit up like stars falling into them. Over the past two days, she had followed Chen Xingcai all over Xianling City sampling every kind of spiritual delicacy. Were it not for a cultivator's special constitution, she would have gained several sizes already.
"Hot pot? What's that?" She tried to maintain an air of composure, but her furtive little glances toward Jiang Che betrayed the desire she was trying so hard to hide.
Jiang Che suppressed a smile and explained with a perfectly straight face. "You put various fresh ingredients into a special pot of simmering broth, cooking and eating as you go. The steam rises all around you. It is ideal for a cold-weather gathering."
Chen Xingcai chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. "I hear their spirit beast meat is sliced as thin as cicada wings. It cooks in three breaths, and dipped in their special sauce, it is unbelievably delicious! They also have all kinds of spirit mushrooms and spirit vegetables, freshly harvested from a secret realm!"
Xiyan swallowed hard, no longer able to hold back. Her face lit up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The three exchanged smiles, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.
Jiang Che grabbed an outer robe, draped it over his shoulders, and walked out the gate with them, heading toward Xianling City. The night breeze was cool, but it could not disperse the warmth between them.
Along the way, Chen Xingcai chattered about the day's tournament matches. Xiyan chimed in from time to time with questions about food. Jiang Che responded to everything with gentle patience. The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the ground, their laughter spilling all along the road.
Several hours later, south of Xianling City, beneath an ancient yellow-flowered tree, Ji Yunshu sat hugging her knees, curled against the thick roots. The night dew had soaked the hem of her skirt, but she barely noticed, staring blankly at the small path that led toward Xianling Valley.
She had arrived too early, waiting here since sunset, terrified of missing him. But as time slipped away, her hope drained like sand through her fingers.
Midnight had come and gone. The road remained empty.
Occasional night passersby cast confused looks in her direction, but no one stopped. The night wind stirred the branches overhead, and yellow blossoms drifted down, a few settling in her hair and on her shoulders like silent comfort.
She buried her face in her arms, shoulders trembling.
The tears finally spilled beyond her control, rolling down and striking the dark earth, soaking silently in.
She should have known.
How could he possibly come? How could he ever be willing to see her, the one who had caused his death?
Yet when she actually faced this cold reality, the ache in her chest exceeded anything she had imagined.
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