Chapter 260: Returning Home

Pei Ye felt as if his heart had been crushed into silence.

At the same time, a furious irritation surged up—he felt suffocated by the air in his mouth and nose, thinking of his own cowardly acceptance, his half-hearted escape, his indecisiveness.

He couldn't understand how he'd become so rigid and lifeless; the moment he saw the girl, irrational fear and timidity wrapped around his heart, erasing every thought he'd had, leaving his mind blank.

What he'd planned last night was nothing like this.

He should either pretend ignorance and shut down all her advances, or outright reject her, then stand quietly before her, staying with her until the stars hung low in the night.

Not leave behind some ambiguous words and then flee like a coward.

Because in this matter, he should have been in the superior position—possessing such calmness, composure, and patience.

He was clearly in an invincible position; the threads of the girl's emotions lay in his hands, and he bore the responsibility to gently return them.

But this process had first wounded him.

His agitation over his own performance was not the worst part of Pei Ye's turmoil.

It only made him feel like a worthless failure, but that could be eased—no one could ever do everything right, and he was merely a boy unfamiliar with such emotions, terrified by them.

What now truly weighed him down, pressing the breath from his chest, was something else.

From the dark stone street, from the emerald willows of the cold cage, from the cool drizzle, from the gray walls and black tiles—from everything around him now. This was a discomfort Pei Ye had never felt before—not pain, not sorrow, but as if his heart had been stuffed into a sealed steamer, stifled and twisted.

Though he'd made a mess of it, he had indeed shown his stance; the pressure that had weighed on him these days had found an outlet, and he should have felt a lightness, a release, even in his low spirits.

But he didn't.

Only deeper oppression settled over him. Pei Ye walked quickly, then suddenly gasped hard and kicked the willow tree beside him.

Raindrops scattered like flying pearls.

He roughly raked his fingers through his hair, bowed his head, and hurried back to the martial arts hall.

As he pushed the door open, Yang Yan was still under the eaves, reading *Falling Snow* intently. Seeing him return, she raised an eyebrow, stood, and handed him the book: "Did you talk that long? You must practice the sword quickly."

"Stop bothering me!" Pei Ye waved his hand aside, slipped into the room, and slammed the door shut with a bang—then came the heavy thud of him throwing himself onto the bed.

The courtyard fell silent again, as if no one had ever returned.

Yang Yan stared blankly: ".?"

——

By the lake.

Rain fell like woven silk, ripples layered thin.

Li Li Piaoqing stood quietly on the boat, her delicate hairpin slowly softened and sagged by the drizzle; even after the boy's frantic back vanished from sight, she remained motionless as a statue.

Long after, she walked slowly down the boat, retying the mooring rope, then squatted in place, lost in thought.

She still felt as if she couldn't find her own body.

Beautiful petals accumulate through many laughs and joyful words, but one gentle push is enough to shatter them.

So Pei Ye didn't like her.

The thought floated up from her heart, numb and unsharpened—the girl felt no sharpness, no cutting pain.

After a moment of silence, no one around, no one to hold her, she pushed herself up from the mooring post and once again felt the chill of rain and mist.

A cool wind blew from behind; she turned to look at the lake surface—this serene scene had once stirred her heart with uncontrollable fluttering, now it was merely an ordinary sight.

She shivered slightly, warmed her body with Qi, lowered her head, and walked along the stone street, kicking her steps lightly.

Actually, it wasn't much.

She thought.

Pei Ye not liking her… was perfectly normal.

You've been too happy these past days, Li Li Piaoqing. You were bound to be charged back a little—how could everything go smoothly?

In fact, Pei Ye must have suffered too—those awkwardnesses and pressures were imposed by you; now that it's out in the open and has fallen flat, it's actually better this way.

Nothing stands between them anymore; this strange thing has been shed. They're still close friends, talking without restraint.

Pei Ye must be feeling much lighter now.

Thinking of this, the girl's heart truly sank—but quickly, she felt genuine comfort.

You've been too much trouble, Li Li Piaoqing. Tomorrow, apologize properly to him.

The girl's heart lay veiled beneath a faint, almost imperceptible membrane, lost in thought.

——————

Back at the Huang Feicui Feather courtyard, she pushed open her door to find Li Li Weiru seated in the main hall, sipping tea.

Seeing the girl, he raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Why didn't you take an umbrella? You're soaked through."

The warm room and this familiar, gentle smile made Li Li Piaoqing's nose sting; she lowered her head, said nothing, and walked around toward the inner chamber.

"Huh?" Li Li Weiru leaned forward, laughing, and caught her arm, "What's wrong?"

The frail, kind old man tilted his head, eyes wide, looking up at her: ". What's happened? Are you going to cry?"

". No." Li Li Piaoqing spoke softly.

". Who in today's Bowang could make our Huang Feicui Feather's Young Master feel wronged?" The old man joked as usual, but his eyes betrayed clear concern and pity; he gently pulled her beside him, "What is it? Tell Master."

This was the comfort she'd often received as a child when she cried; now, that distant reflex stirred, and Li Li Piaoqing's nose stung again.

But she was no longer a child; she'd long outgrown the age when she'd rush to the old man's side, chattering about every little thing. She could tell Shen Zhao about this—but she no longer wished to speak of it before him.

". Nothing." Li Li Piaoqing kept her head down, "Just a small matter. I'll go to my room now."

". Alright." The old man lowered his eyes, but his smile didn't fade, nor did he press further, "But you can't go to your room just yet."

"Hm?" Li Li Piaoqing lifted her gaze.

"I've arranged for Secretary Sui to see you tomorrow."

". Oh, right—the Yi Jian Academy matter?"

"Yes." Li Li Weiru nodded, genuinely pleased, and sighed softly, "I've always said, while I can still hold on for two more years, I must push you higher, lest your talent be wasted in a lifetime of mediocrity. Today I spoke with Secretary Sui—he's quite open. He said you were already on the shortlist, and he's willing to spare time tomorrow to take a proper look at you."

". Oh." This was indeed a real matter; Li Li Piaoqing gathered some spirit, "Then I… should prepare?"

"Yes. Don't be nervous. At the recent martial contest, your newly learned *Washing Tree Bronze Shadow* was excellent—just show it to Secretary Sui."

"Alright." Li Li Piaoqing nodded, turned and took two steps toward her room, then remembered, turned back, "Where? Immortal Platform or the Prefectural Office?"

"Changdao Martial Arts Hall." Li Li Weiru smiled.

". Why there?"

"It's from today's council meeting."

"Oh."

"And Secretary Sui won't show himself. You go to the hall's training ground tomorrow morning, perform your sword form once—he'll observe from hiding."

". Alright."

Li Li Piaoqing was about to return to her room when she saw the old man rise, sword in hand: "I won't be back these few days. You and Shen Yao must handle more of Huang Feicui Feather's affairs."

The girl froze: "What are you doing?"

"Also a council task." Li Li Weiru smiled, "Things are starting. Everyone's busy."

"."

"I'm watching another 'fruit.'" Li Li Weiru strapped the sword to his back, voice lowered, "The council today said the Joyful Death Pavilion might still come, so we set this trap. Secretary Sui is watching Pei Ye; An Sifeng and Inspector Wuhe Inspector must appear openly—so I'll watch this one."

". Shang Haitong?"

Li Li Weiru smiled approvingly, pulled on his cloak: "Alright, I'm off. Get some sleep."

". Mm." Li Li Piaoqing didn't know what to say; her mind still felt sluggish, "Take care."

Li Li Weiru nodded, smiled, and vanished into the darkening sky.

Li Li Piaoqing stood quietly in the main hall for a while.

Though she truly didn't want to confide in the old man, his presence in the hall had given her warmth and support; now that he was gone, the room felt hollow again. She thought for a moment, realizing she should prepare for tomorrow's sword trial.

So she returned to her room, took out *Shicui Sword*, and practiced for two hours—night had fully fallen.

Everything around was silent.

She noted minor flaws in her mind, rehearsed several times more to ensure no mistakes tomorrow, stood still for a moment, felt the silence around her tugging at something within her heart, took a quiet breath, sheathed the sword, and walked back into the room.

She lit a candle, opened *Huang Feicui* on the table—its pages were filled with dense notes from past practice, the oldest dating back two years.

Li Li Piaoqing carefully turned each page. Though tomorrow's trial wouldn't include sword theory questions, one's understanding of sword principle could be revealed through swordplay; she'd heard the Yi Jian Academy favored those with clear theoretical insight over raw combat skill—this needed attention.

*Stepping on Water, Plucking Scales*

*Hiding in Clouds, Catching Sparrows*

*Sweeping Fire Through Waterfall*

*Unmoving Amid Danger*

The girl turned each page, reading carefully alongside her own notes, studying the summary and analysis of each sword technique. The candlelight flickered; her expression remained calm, one finger tracing the air as if drawing a sword.

She turned to the next page.

*Breaking Leaf, Returning Wave*

Suddenly, the girl frowned, seeing the line: "The boundary of the third section lies in this technique—before it, ordinary; after it, spiritual."

She'd read this many times; its meaning was clear—starting with *Breaking Leaf, Returning Wave*, this sword form became significantly more complex, its power clearly elevated a level; calling it the beginning of the "spiritual" was justified.

But after learning *Washing Tree Bronze Shadow* a few days ago, she now saw this line with new understanding.

Is this… not referring to the sword technique itself?

Starting from this technique, the Huang Feicui as an observing image no longer merely stepped on trees, skimmed water, hunted, or rested—it seemed to have gained autonomous awareness and greater capability.

This realization made the girl's eyes snap wide open. She immediately picked up the brush beside her and scribbled it down, then drew a heavy circle around it.

Halfway through drawing, she froze.

On this same page, there were already two identical circles—the ink long dried.

The first few pages contain even more.

All were insights or confusions that had arisen when the girl had read scriptures recently, marked with a circle—waiting to discuss with Pei Ye next time.

The girl sat frozen for a moment; the sourness had already risen from her heart, yet she forced herself a smile, finished drawing the circle as usual, and murmured softly: "I'll ask Pei Ye when we meet."

But when the word "meet" passed through her mind, the vast weight it carried suddenly engulfed her thoughts, and she fell silent again.

How should they even meet?

Pretend nothing had happened, like before, and just walk up to him with this book?

Of course not. Since something had happened, to return to normal relations, they had to resolve it.

If they meet, they must first talk about this.

Then how should they talk?

Use a light tone, crack two ordinary jokes, grin and tell him, "Pei Ye, it's nothing," and then he'll point at me and tease, "Haha, Li Li Piaoqing! You like me!"

Then I'll glare at him.

And that's how it ends.

This image made the girl's heart suddenly lighten; a smile tugged at her lips—but the next moment, inexplicable sourness and hurt crashed over her, her nose stung, and her eyes turned red.

Is this how it ends?

How could it end so vaguely, so carelessly?

Is my feeling really so cheap and fleeting? And would Pei Ye think I never took it seriously at all?

The girl suddenly realized she could never accept this outcome—it deserved a proper, serious conversation.

She had to tell him clearly: Pei Ye, I'm serious. I really… really like you. But if you don't feel the same, that's fine too, anyway—

She froze again.

But what does Pei Ye think?

Could he already be tired of me?

Maybe he never wanted to be "best friends" with me again—had I, in all those past moments, only ever been a burden to him?

Maybe after today's departure, he already assumed I'd never bother him again.

After all, I'm smart. He knows I'm smart.

The girl's heart slowly clenched into a knot. She put down her pen, crouched on the chair, and wrapped her arms around her knees.

Pei Ye wouldn't really think that, would he? Before today, they'd still been having such pleasant talks—what if he still had even a little, just a tiny bit… of feelings for me?

Panic surged up; Li Li Piaoqing suddenly realized she had no way at all to know the answer.

She needed to test the waters, but any test would only bring another round of guesses.

She suddenly felt a furious, bitter hurt—why couldn't she just go and tell him directly?

Just ask him outright. Didn't they always communicate openly? When had they ever needed guesses?

But her heart sank again: Don't you already know the answer, Li Li Piaoqing? Haven't everything that happened today been obvious enough? Is it really necessary to ask again, to pester and disturb him? Are your so-called doubts just excuses for your own unwillingness to let go?

At that moment, Li Li Piaoqing realized she had grown icy cold all over.

She suddenly understood: she and Pei Ye could never return to how they were before.

Those carefree jokes, that open, unreserved trust—when she had been unable to stop herself from obsessing over how to meet him, they had already been lost forever.

She could pretend nothing had happened, pretend she didn't care—but she couldn't fool Pei Ye, and she couldn't fool herself.

A barrier had been planted forever between them. When they met again, they would no longer exchange a knowing glance—only stiff, distant smiles, or forced cheerfulness.

There would be no more "best friends." All her thoughts and troubles, Pei Ye would never again volunteer to share with her.

In an instant, the veil that had hung over her heart since she stepped off the boat was cruelly torn open—the sharp, bloody pain struck her senses before her mind could even think or soothe her; her heart had already shriveled into a tight ball.

She felt like a foolish child who had lit a fire for quick thrills, only now realizing its terrifying consequences—a great terror rose within her. She gripped something on the desk tightly, her voice trembling with tears: "No… no…"

Damn, no time to revise—submitted at the last minute, might be wordy or jarring, bear with it for now.

(End of Chapter)