Chapter 108: A Tender Night

Bai Xuehua felt a jolt in her heart. Though often ruled by her emotions, her reason always prevailed at critical moments.

She loved being with Little Yun, yet she understood that her presence only brought him peril. The legends surrounding her in the martial arts world were far more terrifying than those of the Blood Demon. Countless people sought to eliminate her by any means necessary; if they discovered her affection for him, they would surely target Little Yun or use him as a hostage to threaten her. Remaining by her side was truly dangerous for him. It had been the same last time—had Long Lengyue not suddenly appeared to protect him, the outcome would have been dire.

A thought suddenly struck her: if the Ninth Young Lady, Long Lengyue, truly favored Little Yun, she could protect him in the light while she herself kept watch from the shadows. That was a sound plan. It seemed she had to leave him.

Night had fallen, and Little Yun, unwilling to linger in this blood-soaked place, decided to return to Xianyang immediately. As he could not walk quickly, Bai Xuehua had no choice but to scoop him up and use her lightness skills to dash toward the city.

Though she carried him, her pace was swift. The walls of Xianyang were soon in sight.

"Sister Xue," Little Yun said, "let's not go into the city. Let's spend the night out here in the wilderness. It’s quiet, and no one will disturb us."

Bai Xuehua recalled that snowy night when she had been severely wounded and they had huddled together in a cave; how warm that moment had been. They had clung to each other since, and she had grown fond of the feeling of him sleeping in her arms. She cherished his request, though in her heart, she longed to escape this bloody world and take him to Jiangnan, the land of her dreams. How wonderful it would be to live freely there! Yet, she could not abandon the responsibilities on her shoulders. If she left, what would become of the Bai clan wandering the frontier? To forsake her foster father’s trust and abandon her kin would leave a stain of guilt that no amount of freedom could wash away. Her conscience would never rest.

They sat down on the desolate ground. The night was deep and the wilderness silent, bathed in the glow of the full moon.

Under the moonlight, their shadows merged, indistinguishable from one another. Little Yun buried his head in her embrace, savoring her faint, alluring fragrance. Neither spoke; they both relished the feeling of this silent bond.

Suddenly, Little Yun felt something hard against her. Curious, he reached out and pulled it forth: a short jade flute. It was likely one of the few possessions she carried. Crafted from exquisite Hetian jade—a rare material, and even harder to fashion into a flute—it was a treasure. Seeing it reminded him of Lingzhi’s melodious flute playing. "Sister Xue," he said, "play a song for me."

Bai Xuehua took the flute and began to play. The melody was crisp, clear, and melodious, imbued with infinite tenderness and melancholy, as if telling the tale of her complex soul. Little Yun became entranced; the sweet music was hypnotic, and resting in her arms made him feel as warm, comfortable, secure, and relaxed as a child in his mother’s embrace. Gradually, he drifted off to sleep.

His hands, however, grew restless. Last time, he had only touched the outside of her clothes, but as he tried to slip his hand inside, a sudden enemy ambush had forced her to push him away. Now, she let his hand slide beneath her robes! The sensation of skin against skin was entirely different—so soft, so warm. Fortunately, Little Yun was exhausted; he gripped her tightly, seeking only a sense of safety, free from wicked thoughts.

Seeing him asleep, Bai Xuehua didn't know if he was intentional or not, but his hand remained firmly pressed against her, just as before. It was maddening, yet she did not force him away this time. Instead, she held him tighter, gazing at his youthful face, and could not resist leaning down to press a soft kiss upon him. Had they not been ambushed last time, she would have let him sleep in her arms just like this.

As he slumbered, she carried him toward Xianyang, much like a mother cradling a sleeping child.

The next morning, Little Yun awoke to find the sun high in the sky. He was lying in a room at an inn. Instinctively, he cried out, "Sister Xue? Sister Xue, where are you?" But there was no reply.

He looked around and saw no trace of her. He was struck by panic—was their reunion merely a dream? Then, he noticed a piece of paper on his bedside, held down by the jade flute. It bore only the words, "Yun, take care," with no signature. Yet, the paper carried her distinctive, faint fragrance.

Though the note was brief, Little Yun knew it held the full weight of her affection. She had left him after all! He slapped himself twice in frustration. Why had he fallen asleep? Had his boldness yesterday offended her? He cursed himself for a fool. Grabbing the flute, he rushed out, calling her name.

Unexpectedly, he ran headlong into three people. The leader, seeing him, exclaimed with joy, "Young Master Yun! So you are here. We have had such a hard time finding you!"

Little Yun recognized the girl as Xiaocui, the Ninth Young Lady’s maid. He had experienced her sharp tongue before and knew she was difficult to deal with. He forced a smile and said, "Sister Xiaocui, it’s you. Why are you looking for me?"

Xiaocui laughed. "Yesterday, the Young Lady said you went out to play and got lost, unable to find your way back to the restaurant. She ordered us to search for you, promising a reward to whoever found you. Look, we’ve been checking every inn since dawn. We’ve already been to three! It hasn't been easy." She turned to her two companions and commanded, "Go back and tell the Young Lady that Young Master Yun has been found!"

"What? I got lost? Am I that pathetic?" Little Yun thought. *I escaped, that’s what happened! That woman must be too embarrassed to admit it, so she calls it 'getting lost.' The nerve!*

"You're wrong!" Little Yun argued. "The restaurant is huge, how could I not find it? I escaped that day, do you understand? Who cares about that restaurant anyway?"

Xiaocui blinked, puzzled. "Young Master Yun, why are you so angry?"

"I don't know what she's thinking, saying I got lost!" Little Yun fumed. "She sent you to find me, but she was the one who abandoned me in the woods! If the old monster hadn't snatched my heart, I would have been dragged off as a snack by a hungry wolf!"