Chapter 015

Zhaolan heard the sobbing.

Looking up, she saw tears gathering on the girl’s eyelashes. Flustered, Zhaolan said, “Sis, you! Why are you crying? Seriously, I haven’t even had the chance to feel wronged yet!”

But Zhaoxue shook her head. She grabbed Zhaolan’s hand and looked at her face.

Zhaolan looked a lot like big sister, but upon closer look, many differences were obvious. Zhaoyang, the eldest sister, was always calm and reserved, with her lips gently pressed, giving a sense of reassurance. Zhaolan was like a breeze, always smiling, freely expressing her joy to others.

Yet if you held their hands, you’d find they both had thin calluses—warm and tough.

“It’s not because I feel wronged,”

Zhaoxue turned her head away, covering her eyes with her hand, sobbing but laughing softly twice.

“Zhaolan, what you said… I didn’t know before. Thank you.”

And I’m sorry.

“What’s there to thank me for,”

Zhaolan said confusedly, “We’ve always been family, haven’t we?”

Yeah.

Zhaoxue thought, family.

Family doesn’t care what outsiders say, doesn’t care about shame, only cares about whether you’re happy.

—

In the end, it was still Zhaolan who went to her room to help apply the medicine.

Before she left, she gave Zhaoxue two pieces of news: the first was that Ji Xueshou also did not participate in the Hidden Sword Sect’s selection exam.

Actually, when Zhaolan said she hadn’t attended the exam, Zhaoxue had already somewhat guessed this. The one who stayed by her side all day yesterday was him—Zhaoxue knew this very clearly.

That guy…

Zhaoxue sighed.

But after all, both of them being accepted into Heavenly Star Sect wasn’t a big problem. Just like Zhaolan said, their talents were outstanding, no matter where they were, they would shine brightly and attract everyone’s attention.

However, the second piece of news made Zhaoxue a little anxious.

After returning, Ji Xueshou had a high fever and was still unconscious.

Zhaoxue knew being anxious wouldn’t help because she couldn’t go see him.

She could only hope nothing bad happened to him.

Until the next morning, she heard scratching at the window.

When she opened it, besides the bright sunlight flooding the room, there was also a nimble, light black cat.

“Taxue!”

Zhaoxue hadn’t seen it for a long time and had missed it badly. The little cat jumped into her arms, flicked its furry ears, and curled up comfortably with its eyes half-closed.

“You little rascal, you just woke up…”

Zhaoxue said helplessly, then suddenly exclaimed.

She untied the cloth strip tied to Taxue’s leg and unfolded it.

— “Safe and sound, don’t worry.”

The crooked and uneven four characters looked as if they had been secretly written on a piece of cloth torn from somewhere unknown, laid out on the soft bed covers with great difficulty.

Zhaoxue couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

It was Zhaolan who entered.

The eldest sister and the others hadn’t come by these past two days.

“Sis, what are you looking at?” Zhaolan asked curiously, turning her head.

“Ji Xueshou said he’s recovered and told me not to worry.”

“That guy’s getting better pretty fast, huh,” Zhaolan said with a strange tone, her eyes lighting up when she saw Taxue nearby. She reached out to pick him up. “Taxue, good kitty, long time no see, let me hold you!”

But the little black cat vanished like a flash.

Zhaolan: “…”

Zhaoxue put away the cloth strip, crouched down, and patted her hand under the bed. “Taxue.”

After a moment, a furry little creature rubbed into her palm and curled up into a ball.

Zhaoxue scooped it up, hugged it in her arms, and handed it to Zhaolan. “Here, hold him carefully. Don’t let him scratch you. That guy’s got a weird temper.”

The little black cat was passed into Zhaolan’s arms. It stared wide-eyed at Zhaoxue, as if questioning how she could betray it by giving it to a stranger.

Zhaoxue cleared her throat. “Not a stranger—this is Sister Zhaolan. She used to hold you before, don’t you remember?”

Taxue gave a soft “meow,” stopped looking at her, tucked its head back, and let Zhaolan squeeze and roll it, as if utterly resigned to life.

Zhaolan sighed contentedly, “Taxue is really adorable. That guy, Ji Xueshou, is so lucky. Every time I think about how he always hogs the cat for so long, I just want to punch his face.”

Zhaoxue replied, “He just got better from being sick. Besides, you’re both going to be at Heavenly Star Sect from now on. If you end up in the same master-disciple group, you might run into each other all the time. You’d better get along well.”

“Mm hmm,” Zhaolan nodded.

Zhaoxue: “…” Not very convincing.

But then she thought of Ji Xueshou again. He skipped the Hidden Sword Sect’s selection because of her and had a fever all night. The Ji and Shen families might fall out because of this. Even if not, their relationship would surely never be the same.

Also, Ji Xueshou was going to Heavenly Star Sect while she would follow her eldest sister to go demon hunting — they would soon be separated.

Although feelings between them were gradually improving, it was still uncertain.

She had to get Ji Xueshou to be honest with her eldest sister soon and settle things once and for all.

“Sis, what are you thinking about?” Zhaolan tilted her head, looking at her. “You seem really lost in thought.”

“Nothing,” Zhaoxue came back to herself. “It’s just… you and Xueshou are leaving in a few days, right? I’ll be going demon hunting with eldest sister too. So I was thinking about when we can all get together again.”

“Oh, oh, Sis, that reminds me!” Zhaolan brightened up. “Tomorrow morning, I have the Heavenly Star Sect selection, and in the evening, there’s the Lantern Festival. Sis, come with me!”

“Lantern Festival?”

Zhaoxue recalled the somewhat familiar yet strange term.

“Even though it’s a festival for lovers, people of all ages can go to the market and have fun. In the past, you never wanted to go — said it was crowded, stuffy, and hot. But the lanterns are really beautiful, and it’s so lively!” Zhaolan’s eyes sparkled. “Sis, you’ve missed so many years, it’s such a pity! Every year I want to guess riddles on the lanterns and give you the ultimate prize… but sadly, you were never there.”

“This year, come with me, how about it? Please, please?”

Zhaolan shook her arm, blinking her bright, puppy-like eyes.

Taxue took the opportunity to jump down and dart under the bed.

Zhaoxue had no choice but to say, “Alright, alright.”

After all, they were going to part ways soon anyway.

“That’s great!”

Zhaolan jumped up and paced back and forth in front of Zhaoxue. “It’s settled then—tomorrow morning I’ll go to the selection. In the afternoon, I’ll come find you—to give you a proper makeover! Then in the evening, we’ll go to the Lantern Festival!”

Zhaolan left, full of excitement.

Zhaoxue thought for a moment, found a piece of paper, and picked up her brush.

She hesitated for a few seconds, ink dripped onto the paper and slowly spread out.

Soon, she began writing a reply.

—”Lantern Festival, tomorrow evening. Going?”

That afternoon, during nap time, the young master of the Ji family accidentally fell off the bed while jumping and bruised his knee.

—

The next day at noon, after waking from her nap, Zhaoxue heard the news that Zhaolan had passed the Heavenly Star Sect selection.

Of course, Ji Xueshou had passed as well.

Zhaolan rushed straight to her room to share the good news, then pushed her to take a bath.

“It’s only just afternoon.”

Zhaoxue’s voice came faintly through the mist of steam from inside the bathing room.

“Of course, it’s because it’s so rare for you to go out with me.”

Zhaolan smiled brightly, “I’ve been getting ready for a long time too. Sister, this time you just have to obediently listen to me!”

Zhaoxue had no choice, for the first time, she took a fragrant petal bath, then the maid helped lift her out of the tub to fix her hair.

She sneezed several times.

The maids whispered their admiration as they styled her hair into a fashionable one-sided bun, and Zhaolan personally picked out a beautiful indigo long dress for her.

The upper part was blue and white with concealed buttons on the shoulders, and blue-purple tassels swayed with each step. The hem of the skirt was as lively as a swimming fish.

Zhaoxue asked the maid to select some arm sleeves from the wardrobe.

They perfectly covered the area where she had twisted her wrist during sword practice earlier.

Zhaolan pushed a mirror in front of her.

In the mirror, the girl’s skin was porcelain white, her eyes sharply defined with the corners drooping slightly, cool and clear like an early autumn moon. When she lowered her gaze and tilted her head to look into the mirror, she resembled a laurel tree in the Moon Palace, the whole person hanging heavy with melancholy flowers on the branches. Anyone who saw her couldn’t help but be captivated.

“I’m really jealous of those people who will come to the Lantern Festival this evening.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m your sister, and it’s so rare that I could invite you out before we part. But those people don’t know you at all, and the first time they see you, you’re shining so beautifully.”

Zhaoxue raised her hand to touch the hair by her cheek.

“There will be many more chances like this in the future, right?”

“No way! Heavenly Star Sect and Zangjian Sect are tens of thousands of miles apart. Even by carriage, it would take months.”

“You’re going to cultivate swordsmanship, right? Then surely you’ll learn something like… flying on a sword?”

“That’s true!” Zhaolan brightened again, “Then I can come visit you anytime! — Wow, Sister, this is so pretty! Try on these earrings!”

Before long, the door was suddenly knocked on.

Zhaoxue said, “Come in.”

There was a pause outside the door, then slowly came a creaking “creak.”

Zhaolan turned her head first, she stood frozen for a long moment, as if shocked senseless. Her earring clattered onto the table. She stammered,

“Mo—Mo—Mother!?”

Zhaoxue froze for a moment.

She slowly turned around and saw the woman standing at the door, holding one arm as she stepped inside. Her expression was as usual—stern and indifferent—but her eyes flickered slightly when she saw Zhaoxue.

Zhaoxue suddenly stood up with a start, almost pulling the chair over. She steadied herself on the dressing table, feeling nervous and uneasy as she looked at Shen Qing.

“Y-You… why have you come?”

Shen Qing glanced at Zhaolan and gestured to her, “You should go back to your room first.”

Zhaolan hesitated, “Mother, actually, I’m supposed to go out with Second Sister this evening…”

“I know,” Shen Qing nodded, “It won’t take long. I just want to have a word with your Second Sister.”

A word? About what?

Zhaoxue felt anxious and uneasy.

“…Alright.”

Zhaolan glanced at her worriedly but still left the room.

“Please sit down,”

Shen Qing said as she walked over to her.

“…Okay.”

Zhaoxue nervously held onto the chair, her mind elsewhere.

Before they parted last time, she said such harsh words. After that, she went through the kidnapping incident… Since then, they hadn’t seen each other even once. She had narrowly escaped death for such a long time, yet Shen Qing never came to visit her. So why did she suddenly come to her room today, wanting to talk?

But Shen Qing just studied her carefully for a moment.

Zhaoxue turned her head away.

“You…”

Shen Qing said, “You look very beautiful today, Zhaoxue.”

Why suddenly start with this casual talk?

Zhaoxue couldn’t help but look up to meet her eyes.

“Mother, you…”

“You really don’t need to dress up.”

Shen Qing pulled a chair in front of her and sat down. “After all, going out to have fun is for your own comfort and happiness, isn’t it?”

“Zhaolan really values this Lantern Festival.”

Only after Shen Qing sat down did Zhaoxue slowly lower herself onto the chair, then slowly look away.

“That child has always been like this.”

Shen Qing sighed helplessly. “She likes to make a big deal out of everything and doesn’t care much about others’ opinions. Because she’s young, everyone spoils her.”

“…”

“You’ve already heard about the demon hunting from her, right? Zhaoyang discussed it with me before. I originally didn’t want to agree, but your eldest sister weighed the pros and cons with me and persuaded me strongly. You’ll be leaving the family soon to hunt demons. She’s been very busy preparing these days, so she hasn’t come to see you yet.”

“Mm.” Zhaoxue said quietly, “I know.”

Her eldest sister has been so busy she barely has time to rest. She knows that well. But Shen Qing never came to see her either, right? This time she specially came to find her, probably to give her a serious talking-to. Besides scolding her for the harsh words she said that day, she’d likely remind her not to cause trouble, not to give her eldest sister more worries, and not to disgrace the family once she leaves.

Really.

Zhaoxue clenched her sleeve tightly.

Feeling both embarrassed and awkward, she was relieved that Zhaolan wasn’t here… Wait, could that brat be eavesdropping again this time?

If only she hadn’t said such foolish things in front of Madam earlier!!

Zhaoxue thought regretfully.

Just then, a cold, calm voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said last time. Ever since you left my room, I’ve been reflecting on how much harm, directly or indirectly, I may have caused you over the years.”

“…”

What was she suddenly talking about?

“Zhaoxue, you were originally such a reserved child, not good at expressing yourself.”

Shen Qing looked at her, as if recalling something, her expression suddenly turning somewhat sad.

“But back then, you were able to say such sorrowful and angry words to me. You must have had a very hard time all these years—I’ve been thinking this ever since, and I’ve also wanted to know,”

Zhaoxue was stunned.

She seemed unable to fully understand what the other meant at first.

“—Zhaoxue, do you hate me, your own mother?”