Chapter 030: A Conversation Under the Moonlit Night

In the courtyard of Listening Wind Pavilion, the garden was bathed in moonlight, with the fragrance of flowers casting delicate shadows. Lan Shui sat at a stone table, quietly waiting for his beloved to appear.

He had thought it over and decided he’d gathered enough information; after seeing his master, he came straight to look for Xue Ze and Lianzi.

Before long, Xue Ze and Lianzi appeared together.

Upon seeing Xue Ze, Lan Shui’s expression visibly brightened. Though their last meeting had not been long ago, he missed her constantly, as if they’d been parted for ages. Ever since Xue Ze’s return, he found himself yearning for even a single glimpse of her; just one look was enough to set his heart at ease. After ten years of separation, the ache of longing had taken root deep in his bones.

“Senior Brother, what brings you here?”

Before Lan Shui could answer, Lianzi interjected, “First Brother has important news for us!”

“Important news? Is this about what you went to find out?” Lianzi nodded, turning to Lan Shui. “So, did you bring back word for us, First Brother?”

“Indeed!” Lan Shui considered for a moment, then revealed what he’d learned. “After some careful inquiries, I’ve gleaned a few things. The Lady of the White Feather has a fondness for light, mildly sweet treats—like cherry blossom fairy jelly and snow fungus with red dates. The Lady of the Silken Shears, on the other hand, dislikes anything too rich, but adores plum blossoms and swordplay; she pays them particular attention in her daily life.”

Hearing this, Lianzi was delighted and quickly jotted everything down.

“So it was Senior Brother’s help!” Xue Ze exclaimed with gratitude, then hesitated, her curiosity piqued, “Senior Brother, is this information reliable? We mustn’t get it wrong—reading a young lady’s heart isn’t an easy thing!”

“These are the Lady of the White Feather’s own words. I doubt there’s any falsehood.”

“That’s good. If we make a mess of this, it’ll only make things worse. We can’t afford any careless mistakes—a single ambiguous word could ruin everything. Still, this seems to match our senior sisters’ tastes. Let’s discuss it further together.”

Lan Shui nodded, listening as Lianzi and Xue Ze planned their next steps. His thoughts drifted, recalling the afternoon’s events.

That afternoon, the Lady of the White Feather had indeed brought her signature pastries for everyone. Though Lan Shui had matters weighing on him, he’d spoken with her for a while.

“You’ve gone to such trouble, junior sister. The younger disciples will train hard, I’m sure. In truth, this meal is to bid them farewell; they’ll soon be entering seclusion for a time, so they won’t taste these again for a while. That I ask this of you makes me feel quite guilty.”

Though Lan Shui’s tone was cool and emotionless, he’d spoken more than usual, and the Lady of the White Feather was quietly pleased.

“To be of help to you is my good fortune, senior brother. There’s no need for guilt. Won’t you try some yourself? You work so hard every day.”

“There’s no need. I’m not fond of sweet things.” After a pause, Lan Shui asked directly what was on his mind: “You enjoy these treats, but does Junior Sister Silken Shears share your taste? Or does she have other interests?”

“My senior sister spends her days managing the disciples of the Western Spring Hall and assisting Master. She has little time for such things. Her passions amount to just two: plum blossoms and swordplay. Those two alone are the sum of her heart’s desire.”

“I see. And your favorite is this cherry blossom fairy jelly?”

She smiled, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. In a soft voice, she replied, “If my senior brother likes it, then it is my favorite. The cherry blossom jelly is light and fragrant, better suited to a man’s taste. If you find it pleasing, then it is what I love best.”

Lan Shui nodded, half understanding, and made a mental note of the pastry’s name, taking in its appearance.

“It’s quite nice.”

“What did you say, Senior Brother?”

“Oh, nothing—just that it’s well made.”

Under the cool moonlight, the three of them chatted happily, though something seemed to be missing. Suddenly, a man’s voice called out from nearby.

“You all seem to be enjoying yourselves. Why wasn’t I invited?”

Glancing about, they saw Ji Lin perched atop the courtyard wall. Lan Shui’s face darkened; with a wave of his hand, he pulled Ji Lin down.

“What do you think this place is? How can you just sit atop the wall?”

Chastened by his senior brother’s rebuke, Ji Lin looked both embarrassed and anxious. He’d only meant to surprise them, having just realized the three were speaking without him—though he ought to have remembered how much Lan Shui valued propriety.

“I was wrong, Senior Brother!” Ji Lin said, sneaking a glance at Xue Ze and signaling for help.

Xue Ze caught his meaning, and with a gentle smile, attempted to soothe Lan Shui. “Senior Brother, let’s forgive Second Brother this once.”

“Yes, First Brother! The ground is cold—let him stand up and talk with us,” Lianzi chimed in.

Lan Shui’s displeasure was plain. “Rules are rules—they cannot be broken, not even at the host’s whim.”

“Senior Brother, Second Brother was only curious what we were discussing. If we don’t call him for a late-night chat, it’s only natural he’d feel left out. He meant no harm—he only wanted to give us a pleasant surprise.”

Lianzi added, “Yes, since it’s his first time, let’s go easy on him.”

Lan Shui shot Ji Lin a look, easing his grip on his power. Ji Lin was able to stand, though he found himself unable to move.

“He can just stand there for now.”

Xue Ze glanced at Ji Lin; his face was scrunched up in comical distress, clearly unwilling.

“Senior Brother!” Xue Ze tugged at Lan Shui’s sleeve, gazing at him with gentle eyes. “Let him off this once, please, Senior Brother.”

Lan Shui paused, finally relenting. The tenderness in Xue Ze’s eyes seemed to gather all the moonlight in the world, warm and luminous, clear and comforting—he was powerless before its beauty. The word “Senior Brother,” spoken so softly, melted him to the core.

“Very well.” He lifted the spell, fixing Ji Lin with a stern look. “Don’t let it happen again. If you’re caught avoiding the main gate, taking shortcuts like this, I won’t be so forgiving.”

Ji Lin nodded so vigorously his head seemed to bob, then hurried over to join the group, joining in their laughter.

“We’re the Four Treasures of Snow Bamboo Peak. Next time you chat, don’t leave me out!” He grumbled softly, “It’s not a good feeling to be abandoned.”

Lianzi burst out laughing. “Oh, Second Brother, you’re too much. But next time, we’ll include you—just don’t go leaping over walls and misusing your spells!”

“That wasn’t magic!” Ji Lin boasted to Lianzi. “Don’t underestimate me! I’m not just about spells—my basics are solid. There’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“But you were still subdued by First Brother, weren’t you?” Lianzi teased. “We all saw your awkward state just now! Still, First Brother’s discipline is truly exemplary—no wonder everyone on Tianshan abides by the rules so strictly. I’d best be careful myself!”

Ji Lin shook his head and sighed dramatically. “Ah, what do you know? Our First Brother has some taboos—no one dares cross him! Otherwise, even I wouldn’t escape unscathed.”

“And you knew but still broke the rules?” Xue Ze laughed. Ji Lin was always so ridiculous.

He glanced at Xue Ze, brow furrowing further, then muttered to Lianzi, “The greatest taboo is to anger your senior sister—otherwise, you’ll die a horrible death! The same goes for you—mind yourself!”

Lianzi gave Xue Ze and Lan Shui a curious look, then suddenly seemed to understand, nodding and smiling knowingly. “I see! I see!”

Lan Shui caught this exchange and glared hard at Ji Lin, understanding perfectly well.

“It seems there are those who won’t be sleeping peacefully tonight.”

At these words, Ji Lin immediately fell silent, and Lianzi straightened up, not daring to speak.

On Snow Bamboo Peak, it seemed Lan Shui was the most severe, even sterner than Elder Qiangui himself. Yet when he was with Xue Ze, he softened, losing all trace of his former severity.

“Senior Brother, what do you mean? Is it because the moon is so beautiful tonight that you’re too entranced to rest, not wanting to miss such a lovely scene?”

Lan Shui gazed at the moon, then answered Xue Ze, “Yes, the moon is lovely—perfect for your Second Brother to practice his skills.”

“Practice?” the three echoed in surprise.

Lan Shui nodded, looking at Ji Lin with a smile. “Didn’t you just get a new book? You asked Master how to train efficiently, and didn’t he say that nights like this are the best?”

Ji Lin was about to protest, but both junior sisters were watching him, so he could only muster an awkward smile.

“Well… maybe so, but I think Master said it’s best during the full moon. Tonight is beautiful, but it’s not the fifteenth or sixteenth—let’s wait for the next month. There’s so much going on lately, and I’m not really in the mood to practice.”

“Is that so?” Lan Shui squeezed Ji Lin’s arm. “You don’t look tired to me—you’re strong and healthy. The flowers’ fragrance is invigorating, and the moon’s not going anywhere. Tomorrow is your day off; if you have tasks, I’ll help. Don’t miss this chance!”

Ji Lin pulled a face, unable to come up with another excuse, and looked to Lianzi and Xue Ze for rescue.

Xue Ze was absorbed in admiring the moon’s halo, oblivious to Ji Lin’s plight. Lianzi, however, caught on, but felt that Lan Shui’s reasoning was sound.

“Second Brother, you’d better go practice! The sooner you master this, the sooner you can learn something new. Besides, on Tianshan, we hardly need to eat or sleep—there’s no better place to cultivate. Once you’ve mastered it, you can teach us too!”

Ji Lin was at a loss for words, sighing repeatedly.

Lan Shui smiled and nodded, “Indeed. Look at your junior sister, then look at yourself—both disciples of Snow Bamboo Peak, yet the difference is vast.”