The winter’s sun rose, bringing another new day.
Yun Xuechang slowly drifted awake from her meditation, her eyes meeting the same empty, silent room as before.
Last night, she had intended to go back to sleep, but she lacked that familiar soft warmth beside her.
Only a faint, lingering scent of flowers remained on the pillow.
Breathing in that fading fragrance, she had ultimately found herself tossing and turning, unable to rest.
She had simply meditated through the night until dawn.
In truth, she had grown used to the person by her side.
She was accustomed to waking up early as the first light of morning filtered in, quietly watching the other woman’s sleeping face.
She would trace the curve of her tilted nose, her full lips, and her softly closed eyes with her gaze.
Then, she would be scolded by the blushing woman upon her waking.
Yun Xuechang turned and got out of bed. She picked up the Autumn Water Sword by the bedside and pushed the door open.
‘I’ll go practice my sword.’
She was not like Hua Xiangrong, who had to rely on her physical body to endure the cold.
With her cultivation, Yun Xuechang did not fear the winter chill.
Nor was she like Hua Yan, who loved beauty and would change into various outfits depending on the season or her mood.
Even in the bitter winter, she remained dressed in simple white robes—plain, elegant, and minimalist as always.
Outside was a world of pure white snow.
Mianyun Peak was close to the Daze of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect, where moisture was abundant.
When the winter wind blew, it turned into rain and snow that stretched across the peak.
The fluttering white snow covered the mountaintop, looking from a distance like sleeping clouds that had fallen into the mortal realm.
This was how Mianyun Peak had earned its name.
Yun Xuechang stepped onto the snow, creating soft crunching sounds as she walked to the center of the courtyard.
It had been many days since she had woken up this early to practice.
Lately, she had always stayed with Hua Yan, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky.
With her white hair and white robes, she stood in the center of the yard, her sleeves almost blending into the snowy landscape.
She slowly drew her sword from its sheath.
“Wow! Mother, why are you here too?”
When Hua Xiangrong woke up early, she saw Hua Yan sitting at the dressing table in her room.
Hua Yan held an ivory comb, smoothing out her long red hair.
The young woman’s silhouette was graceful, her movements slow and gentle.
“Isn’t it because your Guishui arrived for the first time yesterday? The snow is falling so hard that I was afraid you’d catch a cold at night, so I came specifically to keep watch.”
Hua Yan glanced at her, her hands never stopping. “Stay in bed for now. Once I finish combing my hair, I’ll come help you get dressed.”
“Okay!”
Hua Xiangrong nodded obediently, nesting in her blankets with only her small head peeking out.
She watched her mother comb her hair, twist it into a bun, and pick out jewelry.
However, when reaching into the jewelry box, Hua Yan’s hand paused inexplicably.
In the end, she didn’t choose any earrings, only selecting a versatile Golden Phoenix Crown to tie her red hair up high.
When the two of them, now fully dressed, walked into the courtyard, they saw a plain white figure standing in the middle of the falling snow.
Her clothes and hair fluttered as her sword light circulated like a ring—bright, yet difficult to see clearly.
Snowflakes swirled and gathered around her, occasionally clustering like clouds.
As if sensing their arrival, the white-clad figure gradually slowed her sword movements.
The wind died down and the snow settled.
Yun Xuechang returned her sword to its sheath and turned around.
Not a single flake of snow touched her body.
Hua Yan stared, slightly dazed. This wasn’t the first time she had seen Yun Xuechang practice.
During the days they shared a bed, Yun Xuechang perhaps didn’t want to disturb her dreams, so she always waited until Hua Yan was awake.
Only after they prepared a meal for Rongrong and sent her to the Academy would Yun Xuechang return to practice.
Back then, Hua Yan would sit to the side, resting her chin on her hand as she watched.
For no other reason than the fact that she felt that no matter how many times she watched, Yun Xuechang looked beautiful when practicing her sword.
Just like today.
“Wow! Mama is so pretty and amazing!”
The little girl beside her clapped and cheered as she usually did. Yun Xuechang walked over, rubbed her small head, and then turned to Hua Yan, speaking softly.
“Yan’er, shall we go to the kitchen?”
“Um… okay.”
Hua Yan’s face turned red for some reason as she mumbled her agreement.
The family of three sat under a tree in the courtyard and ate breakfast.
A Spiritual Energy Barrier set up by Hua Yan surrounded them, blocking out the falling snow.
Yun Xuechang looked at Hua Yan’s profile, wanting to say something about what happened yesterday.
“Yan—”
“I-I’m finished! I have to go to Wanjian Peak today to see Daoist Friend Lin about something!”
But for some reason, the moment Hua Yan swallowed her last bite of wonton, she flew off on her sword, leaving only those hurried words behind.
Yun Xuechang watched the red figure disappear into the fluttering snow, silently pulling back the hand she had reached out to stop her.
‘Is she going to find Junior Sister Lin?’
Imagining her talking and laughing with Lin Qianqian, and contrasting that with her strange distance toward herself, Yun Xuechang felt an indescribable bitterness rise in her heart.
“Rongrong, what are your plans for today?” She turned to Hua Xiangrong.
Today was the second day of their break.
The Academy of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect followed a schedule of five days of classes and two days off, so Hua Xiangrong still didn’t have to go to school.
“I made plans with Little Pomegranate. We’re going to finish the storybook we didn’t get to finish yesterday.”
Hua Xiangrong looked up with the expression of a little adult.
“I know my Guishui has started, so I won’t run around wildly in the snow.”
She blinked and asked, “Mama, can you take me to Danxia Peak in a bit?”
Yun Xuechang nodded gently.
…
On the way to Danxia Peak.
‘Host, you clearly know things were a bit stiff between Hua Yan and Yun Xuechang yesterday. Yun Xuechang is in a low mood today, so why aren’t you staying with her? Are you not planning to keep playing matchmaker?’
The voice of 099 echoed in Hua Xiangrong’s mind.
‘Of course I’m going to continue. But when it comes to feelings, they have to rely on themselves in the end. At most, I can only create opportunities and give small hints.’
‘You saw what Mother did last night too—I think she’s already starting to realize she likes Mama. I have to thank Elder Ji for that, though I still don’t know what she said to Mother through Telepathy.’
Hua Xiangrong had indeed been asleep last night—but only after Hua Yan left Yun Xuechang’s room.
The scene of Hua Yan standing by her bed, examining the gift from Yun Xuechang under the moonlight, was something 099 had shown her this morning via a recording.
‘As for what comes next, I think I should give them some time and space. When feelings reach this stage, it depends more on their individual hearts.’
Hua Xiangrong looked at the approaching summit of Danxia Peak and whispered in her mind, ‘Trust Mother. Even though she seems like a tsundere, I feel like… she will definitely fight for what she truly wants.’
…
Wanjian Peak, inside the tea room of Lin Qianqian’s residence.
“Daoist Friend Hua, are you saying… you think you might have fallen for Senior Sister Yun, so you came to ask me for advice?”
Lin Qianqian covered her mouth as she looked at her visitor, her face full of surprise.
“B-but haven’t you always admired Senior Sister? You even went so far as to transform into a woman and give birth to Rongrong for her!”
“That’s not it at all! I didn’t like her back then!”
Hearing this, the blush on Hua Yan’s face deepened—though this time, it was likely from irritation rather than shyness.
“Th-that is a secret between Xuechang and me!”
She pursed her lips, and her voice gradually grew quieter. “In any case… Daoist Friend Lin, I… I really do feel like… I might… like her a little…”
“J-just a tiny bit!” she added hurriedly.
“Well, among the people I know in the Xiaoyao Sword Sect, you have the most experience with relationships…”
“So… what exactly… should I do…?”
The red-haired girl sitting across from the green-haired young woman had crimson cheeks and wandering eyes.
She unconsciously curled a strand of hair near her ear with one hand, her face full of bashfulness and charm.
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