Chapter 65: A New Dawn and Lingering Feelings

The winter sun ascended, heralding the dawn of another new day.

Yun Xueshang slowly roused herself from meditation. Her gaze fell upon the familiar emptiness of the room.

The previous night, she had intended to sleep, yet the accustomed warmth beside her was absent. Only a faint, dissipating floral scent lingered on her pillow.

Breathing in that aroma, she had ultimately tossed and turned, unable to find slumber.

Thus, she had simply meditated through the entire night until daybreak.

Originally, she had grown accustomed to the person beside her. She was used to waking early, just as the first rays of dawn pierced through, and quietly gazing at her sleeping face.

With her eyes, she would meticulously trace the curve of her upturned nose, the fullness of her lips, and her gently closed eyelids.

Then, the other woman would wake, blush, and scold her softly.

***

‘Go practice your sword.’

Yun Xueshang turned, stepped out of bed, and picked up the Autumn Water Sword by the bedside. She then pushed open the door and walked out.

Unlike Hua Xiangrong, who relied on her physical constitution to withstand the cold, Yun Xueshang possessed cultivation that rendered her impervious to winter’s chill.

Nor was she like Hua Yan, who loved beauty and changed her attire with the seasons and her mood.

Even in the depths of winter, she remained clad in simple white, her appearance serene and unadorned as always.

The world outside was a canvas of pristine white snow. Sleeper Cloud Peak, being close to the Boundless Sword Sect’s vast ocean, was rich in moisture.

When the winter wind swept through, it transformed into a continuous deluge of sleet and snow that blanketed the peak.

The swirling snowflakes accumulated, making the peak appear, from a distance, like a sleeping cloud that had descended to the mortal realm—hence the name “Sleeper Cloud Peak.”

Yun Xueshang trod upon the accumulated snow, her footsteps making a soft crunching sound as she reached the center of the courtyard.

It had been quite some time since she had risen so early to practice her sword. In recent days, she had always accompanied Hua Yan, sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky.

Clad in white robes, her white hair flowing, she stood in the heart of the courtyard, her sleeves almost merging with the snow-covered landscape. Slowly, she drew her sword from its sheath.

***

“Wow! Mother, why are you here too?”

Hua Xiangrong awoke early to find Hua Yan sitting at her dressing table in her room, using an ivory comb to smooth her red hair. The girl’s silhouette was graceful, her movements gentle.

‘I was worried you might catch a cold last night, so I specifically came to watch over you?’

Hua Yan glanced at her, her hands still moving steadily. “You lie still in bed. Once I’ve finished combing my hair, I’ll come help you get dressed.”

“Mhm!”

Hua Xiangrong nodded obediently, snuggling into the blankets with only her small head peeking out. She watched her mother comb and coil her hair, then select her accessories.

However, as Hua Yan reached into the jewelry box, her hand paused inexplicably. Ultimately, she chose no earrings, only a versatile golden phoenix coronet, with which she tied her red hair high.

When the two, now neatly dressed, stepped into the courtyard, they saw a figure in pristine white standing amidst the snowy curtain.

Her robes and hair fluttered, and sword light swirled like a clear, flowing ring, yet it was indistinct.

Snowflakes spun around her, gathering and dispersing, at times coalescing like clouds.

As if sensing their arrival, the white-clad figure gradually reined in her sword movements. The wind stilled, the snow fell gently, and Yun Xueshang returned her sword to its sheath.

She turned around, not a single snowflake clinging to her.

Hua Yan watched, somewhat lost in thought. This was not the first time she had seen Yun Xueshang practice her sword.

During their days of sharing a bed, Yun Xueshang, perhaps not wanting to disturb her peaceful sleep, would often wait until Hua Yan woke before they prepared and delivered Rongrong’s meal together, sending her off to school.

Only then would Yun Xueshang return to practice her sword. At those times, Hua Yan would sit nearby, propping her chin in her hand as she watched her.

She did so for no other reason than that she found Yun Xueshang, while practicing her sword, always beautiful, no matter how many times she watched.

Just as she was today.

“Wow! Mommy is so pretty and amazing!”

The little girl beside her clapped her hands and cheered as usual. Yun Xueshang stepped forward, ruffled her small head, then turned to Hua Yan and softly asked, “Yan’er, shall we go to the kitchen?”

“Oh, okay.”

Hua Yan’s face inexplicably flushed, and she responded haltingly.

The family of three ate breakfast beneath a tree in the courtyard. The surroundings were arranged with flowers, creating what Hua Yan described as a warm greenhouse.

Yun Xueshang placed the flowers Hua Yan had gathered into a wooden bowl, then pushed the bowl towards Hua Yan, saying softly, “Yan’er, you can play with these flowers as you like.”

Hua Yan picked up a small white flower, asking curiously, “Sister Yun, what kind of flower is this?”

Yun Xueshang smiled. “This is called ‘Spring Gazer.’ It’s the most abundant flower blooming this season.”

Hua Yan popped a small petal into her mouth, feeling a sweet, cool floral scent spread across her palate. She picked up the wooden bowl, intending to eat a few more, but Yun Xueshang stopped her.

“Yan’er, although these flowers aren’t poisonous, you shouldn’t eat too many,” Yun Xueshang advised, a helpless tone in her voice.

‘Yun Xueshang looked at Hua Yan’s profile, about to speak about yesterday’s events. “Yan—”

“I, I’m finished eating! Today, I need to go to Myriad Sword Peak to find Fellow Daoist Lin for something!”

Before anyone could argue, Hua Yan swallowed the last bite of her wontons, then departed on her sword, leaving only this hurried remark.

Yun Xueshang watched the red silhouette disappear into the swirling snow, silently retracting the hand she had instinctively reached out to hold her back.

‘To find Junior Sister Lin, then…’

Imagining Hua Yan conversing and laughing with Lin Qianqian, then contrasting it with her own inexplicable aloofness, an indescribable feeling welled up in Yun Xueshang’s heart.

“Rongrong, what are your plans for today?”

She turned to Hua Xiangrong, who was beside her.

Today was the second day of rest. The Boundless Sword Sect’s academy operated on a five-day-on, two-day-off schedule, so Hua Xiangrong still didn’t have to attend school.

“Little Pomegranate and I agreed to finish reading the storybook we didn’t finish yesterday,” Hua Xiangrong said, lifting her small face with a grown-up expression. “I know I’m on my period, so I won’t run around in the snow.”

She blinked, then asked, “Mommy, can you take me to Crimson Cloud Peak later?”

Yun Xueshang nodded gently.

***

On the way to Crimson Cloud Peak.

[“Host, you clearly knew there was some tension between Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang yesterday, and that Yun Xueshang is feeling down today. Why aren’t you staying with her? Are you not planning to continue matchmaking them? [▪︎▪︎▪︎?]”]

099’s voice echoed in Hua Xiangrong’s mind.

“Of course I’m going to continue matchmaking. But feelings are ultimately up to them. At most, I can only create opportunities and offer a little guidance.”

“You saw what Mother did last night—I think she’s starting to realize she likes Mommy. And I have to thank Elder Ji for that—though I still don’t know what exactly she said to Mother via spiritual transmission.”

Hua Xiangrong had indeed been asleep yesterday—after Hua Yan had left her room. The scene of Hua Yan coming to her bedside and carefully examining the gift from Yun Xueshang in the moonlight was something 099 had replayed for her this morning.

“As for what’s next, I think they need a bit of time and space. Reaching this stage means it’s more about their individual feelings.”

Hua Xiangrong gazed at the increasingly close peak of Crimson Cloud Peak, whispering in her mind:

“Trust Mother. She might seem arrogant, but I always feel that for what she truly wants… she will definitely strive to achieve it.”

***

In the tea room of Lin Qianqian’s residence on Myriad Sword Peak.

“Fellow Daoist Hua, you’re saying… you think you’ve developed some feelings for Senior Sister Yun, and you’ve come to me for advice?”

Lin Qianqian covered her mouth, her face full of surprise as she looked at the visitor. “But, but haven’t you always admired Senior Sister, even going so far as to transform into a woman to bear Rongrong for her?”

“That’s not how it was at all! I never liked her before!”

Upon hearing this, the blush on Hua Yan’s face deepened—though this time, it had likely shifted from shyness to annoyance. “This is a secret between me and Xueshang!”

She pursed her lips, her voice gradually softening. “In short… Fellow Daoist Lin, I, I really do feel… I seem to have grown to like her a little…”

“Just, just a tiny bit!” she hastily added.

“Um, among the people I know in the Boundless Sword Sect, you have the most experience with relationships…”

“So… tell me, what… what should I do?”

The red-haired girl sitting opposite the green-haired girl had flushed cheeks, her gaze flitting about. One hand unconsciously twirled a strand of hair by her ear, her face full of embarrassment, a truly pitiable sight.