Chapter 14: The Weight of Expectations and a Sealed Blade

Bai Zhi and her companions arrived at the city mall precisely during the lull before it truly bustled with activity.

Had they arrived any earlier, the entire mall would have been eerily deserted, with only a handful of cashiers idly staring into space at their stations.

Yet, arriving a little later would have meant coinciding with the nearby schools’ dismissal, at which point children, resembling small turtles beneath their enormous backpacks, along with their accompanying parents, would have completely inundated the mall and its vicinity.

Bai Zhi and her group, however, had timed their arrival perfectly, finding the mall neither too quiet nor excessively crowded. For anyone looking to make purchases, this moment was utterly ideal.

Rena and Xia Ranxin led the way, meticulously comparing items across endless rows of shelves, their conversation punctuated by discussions on matters such as comparative pricing and superior product quality.

Lin had initially walked alongside them, yet, finding herself unable to interject into their lively discussion, she quietly retreated to the rear, eventually aligning herself with Bai Zhi, who had similarly fallen behind.

Observing the two women ahead, Lin eventually reached a conclusion.

“Shopping is truly a profound art,” she mused. “It seems I still have much to learn in this regard.”

“Ah, those two are certainly exceptions,” Bai Zhi remarked with a smile.

“Ranxin has grown accustomed to a life of frugality, and Rena always appears to be meticulously calculating her purchases. Naturally, when the two of them shop together, it consumes a considerable amount of time.

Were it me, I’d often simply purchase an item if it seemed adequate enough. Concepts like quality or cost-effectiveness completely elude me; such considerations are far too troublesome!”

Lin nodded profoundly in agreement, her gaze then shifting to the black-haired girl in the sailor uniform beside her.

“Bai Zhi-sama appears to be troubled by something.”

“Eh? Oh, I’m simply pondering a few things.”

Despite her momentary surprise, Bai Zhi offered an honest reply.

“Problems?”

“It’s nothing particularly significant.”

Bai Zhi shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s just, you see… while it was my initial suggestion for us to go out together, the current reality diverges entirely from what I had envisioned. How should I phrase it? It simply isn’t as enjoyable as I’d imagined.”

Consequently, she wasn’t experiencing the happiness she had anticipated.

“For a considerable period prior to this, I had lived entirely on my own. While there’s certainly nothing inherently wrong with such a life, whenever I encountered scenes in comics or television dramas depicting several friends enjoying an outing together, a flicker of curiosity would invariably spark within me. Thoughts along the lines of ‘Is this truly so enjoyable?’ would perpetually surface in my mind.”

As she spoke, Bai Zhi’s gaze drifted towards the two girls walking ahead.

“And today, I finally had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. However, judging by the current circumstances…”

She paused, then exhaled a sigh, a wry smile gracing her lips.

“I still haven’t grasped what exactly makes this sort of thing enjoyable! Frankly, staying at home is far more comfortable.”

“Hmm…”

After listening to Bai Zhi’s lament, Lin contemplated for a considerable moment with profound seriousness, before honestly shaking her head.

“My apologies, but I have always lived in solitude deep within the mountains, and thus I am unable to provide an answer to this particular query.”

“It’s perfectly alright; I wasn’t seeking an answer from you, Lin,” Bai Zhi said playfully, gesturing towards the two engrossed in their animated discussion ahead.

“Besides, aren’t they both enjoying their conversation immensely? Witnessing that brings me a measure of happiness. As long as this outing wasn’t entirely in vain, that’s what truly matters.”

“Regarding this matter, I was just about to offer my gratitude to you.”

Lin’s tone abruptly shifted, becoming markedly solemn.

“Had we remained in a secure location, as I had previously advised, I fear that Ranxin-sama would not be displaying such a genuine smile as she is now.”

As she spoke, Lin’s face adopted an expression of profound self-reproach.

“I… I utterly failed to take Ranxin-sama’s feelings into account, opting instead for what seemed the most straightforward solution to the problem. It was, undeniably, a profound dereliction of my duty.”

“Lin… aren’t you being a little *too* serious about all this?”

Observing Lin’s crestfallen demeanor, Bai Zhi smiled and stepped forward, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

“Don’t be so solemn; try to be a bit more lively! Doing so might even help you bridge the distance between yourself and Ranxin.”

“More lively…?”

Lin’s expression remained somewhat blank, as if she hadn’t quite processed the suggestion.

“Ah… let’s not dwell on that. Perhaps we should shift to a different topic for now! After all, it’s quite a rare occurrence for me to find myself alone with you, Lin.”

Bai Zhi did not elaborate further on the matter. Her gaze, shifting, settled upon a subtly mysterious aspect of Lin’s person, prompting a swift change of subject.

“There’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for some time now: that sword you constantly carry… why does it never leave its sheath? Is that, too, a personal custom of yours?”

“That sword… it was bequeathed to me by my teacher.”

A nostalgic, wistful expression bloomed upon Lin’s face.

“This blade, my teacher informed me, is destined to revive the ‘Crimson Moon Clan.’ However…”

As she spoke, Lin’s eyes drifted shut.

“As I am now, I still lack the worthiness to draw its blade.”

“‘Revival’… it’s undoubtedly connected to the war Rena spoke of, isn’t it?”

“You truly did hear about it from that large-chested woman, didn’t you?”

Lin responded softly, while Bai Zhi calmly nodded her understanding.

“I learned the sequence of events from Rena, but to err on the side of caution, I would still appreciate hearing your account of the matter.”

“Your rationality is truly admirable. If those ‘False God’s Devotees’ were as willing to proactively seek the truth as you, Bai Zhi-sama, affairs would never have escalated to their current regrettable state.”

Lin’s countenance was etched with profound regret and lament, as she found herself recalling unpleasant memories.

“Regrettably, I am unable to reveal the entirety of the truth to you, Bai Zhi-sama. When events were still in their nascent stages, I was absent from my clan’s side due to trivial engagements. By the time I returned, having resolved my own affairs, both factions had already descended into an irreconcilable, life-or-death conflict.”

“My teacher informed me that the ‘Radiant Knights’ had deceived us, secretly persecuting the members of the ‘Crimson Moon Clan.’ Upon discovering the truth, our clansmen were compelled to retaliate. Beyond that, however, my teacher was unwilling to divulge any further specific details.”

“But one thing can be affirmed,” Lin stated with unwavering conviction. “The ‘Crimson Moon Clan’ has always held honor in the highest regard. For those who have shown them kindness, they will repay it even at the cost of their lives, and would never commit such a despicable act of ingratitude!”

“Hmm… it certainly sounds complicated…” Bai Zhi mused, adopting a thoughtful expression.

Lin glanced at Bai Zhi, and seeing no indication that she wished to offer an opinion, continued along her previous train of thought.

“Following that, this blade was entrusted into my hands. ‘This is a precious treasure capable of reviving our clan,’ my teacher had declared at the time. I have continuously refined my martial arts towards this very objective. Yet…”

As Lin spoke, she seemed to recall something painful, clenching her fists.

“Yet, during a subsequent act of retribution against the kingdom, I faltered… It was not out of fear or terror, but because I could not bring myself to strike down those children who had only just joined the Knights.”

“They were supposed to be detestable enemies; I ought not to have harbored any mercy. Despite clearly understanding this within my heart, I hesitated at that moment. Though I ceaselessly urged myself to draw my weapon, my body moved of its own accord, carrying me away from that brutal battlefield.”

Lin’s expression grew tormented, her lower lip caught between her teeth. After a moment, she managed to utter the truth she was so reluctant to acknowledge.

“I thus became a shameful and detestable deserter.”

“After that, I secluded myself deep within the mountains, and this sword remained sealed within its sheath. I felt unworthy to face my teacher, who had placed such great hopes in me, and unable to dispel the shame of fleeing the battlefield. I could only hone my martial arts day after day, until…”

Mid-sentence, Lin suddenly lifted her head, looking towards the school uniform-clad girl walking ahead. A comforting light seemed to shimmer around her, like the most benevolent star in the night sky.

In that brief blink of an eye, Bai Zhi perceived a distinct shift in Lin’s aura.

“Until that day, when I met Ranxin-sama. Unlike my own weakness, Ranxin-sama, even amidst such dire circumstances, never lost sight of her path forward. Ranxin-sama’s will is as strong as steel, filling me with profound admiration.”

As Lin spoke, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted for a brief two seconds.

“Therefore, I resolved to remain by Ranxin-sama’s side, to protect her always. In doing so, perhaps the sins I committed through my weakness might, to some extent, be absolved…”

“Hmm… while it’s difficult to definitively judge whether you were wrong or not, I at least understand why you’re so devoted to Ranxin. So, it’s not entirely without gain, I suppose.”

Bai Zhi spread her hands, offering Lin a word of caution.

“However, I do think that this kind of unreserved, or perhaps overly fervent and direct, expectation might also be a source of pressure for Ranxin.”

“I will certainly bear Bai Zhi-sama’s counsel in mind.”

Lin nodded in understanding, then abruptly turned her head, her gaze fixed in a particular direction.

“And, the two individuals who have been hiding and observing from over there for some time now, are they also… your friends, Bai Zhi-sama?”