209: New Rumor

New Rumor

Time always seems to pass more quickly when one is busy. After going through our impossibly large inventory of books, swords, herbs, and miscellaneous supplies, the fifth day was already upon us.1

"Is this everything?" I asked as Bai Ye revoked the seal over the door to the sword vault, readying the space for the next person that might move in to this hall after our departure. It felt unreal—this was really happening. At the end of today, this place where I had called home for over five years would no longer belong to us.

"We've checked all the storage spaces and taken everything that is ours," he confirmed. "Though if there is anything else you feel attached to … You might need to remember them quickly, because we only have until the end of the day to get them."

In all honesty, there were too many things I felt attached to, and I was reluctant to let go every time we put away a sword or a book that didn't belong to us. Each one of them had been like a faithful friend to us all these years, after all. But the excitement of a new life waiting for us overcame those melancholies, and I knew Bai Ye was right when he told me that we would always make new memories together, wherever we might end up next.

"I've packed up everything I need already," I said, deciding that it was time to finally get over those petty regrets. "I don't have too much over only five years anyway, but I assume there must be more that you'll miss from here."

He chuckled. "Things that I'll miss … There are a few indeed. Our beds, the tea table, that tub in the bathing chamber …"

It took me no time to figure out that those were all the furniture pieces that had witnessed … certain events between us, and my cheeks burned a little at the memories, especially when I recalled what he had done with those candied hawthorns on the tea table. "B-Bai Ye!" I grunted. "We are having a serious discussion about moving out of here!"

"And replacing furniture is a serious topic," he countered, pulling me into his arms. "If I can't take what we currently have, then I'll need to buy new ones wherever we decide to settle, and I'll have to put in more effort to make them bear those same memories again …"

Glaring at the shameless smile that had returned onto his face without forewarning, I punched him on the chest. "Don't try to distract me," I grumbled. "We only have a few hours left, and there's still a lot to do."

Letting out a feigned ouch, he brushed his lips over my forehead, then reluctantly let me out of his embrace.

~ ~

It didn't take us too long to sort out the rest of the tasks related to the hall. By the time everything was taken care of, the sun was still high up in the sky, and I decided to pay a trip to the main peak—it would be rude to leave without saying a proper goodbye to the people who might miss us, however few that might be.

Xie Lun's hall was my first stop. Qi Lian and a few other junior disciples were sparring in the front when I arrived, so I greeted them first and told them the purpose of my visit. There was no sign of Xie Lun, and I wondered if he happened to be on an errand again this time.

Everyone stared at me with wide eyes upon hearing my news. "You don't know when you'll return?" Qi Lian asked. "What is this trip about? Where will you be going?"

"I'm not sure of it myself," I replied. "I need to search for a solution to a rare illness, and the trip will take however long it takes for me to find it, probably years. It will likely be a while before I get to see all of you again."

That was only a half-truth, of course. But I had learned the art of half-truths from the best, and I was glad that I didn't have to make myself feel guilty for lying to them.

"Are you going by yourself?" another disciple asked. "Does Senior Xie know this?"

"I'm going with my master—" the title had to remain unchanged in front of this group, "—and I was hoping to find Senior Xie here and tell him the news as well. Is he out today?"

A few confused looks were exchanged within the group. "He is," Qi Lian said. "He is getting close to ascension, so he's been traveling a lot lately before going into his retreat. He will be sad to hear you're leaving, I'm sure."

"Senior Xie is almost at his breakthrough?" I gasped, feeling thrilled at the news. "Please do send my congratulations to him when he returns! It's such a regret that I won't be here to see it … But I'm sure he'll become one of the strongest immortals in no time. I envy all of you to have such a senior to be proud of."

A few more glances from the group, this time slightly awkward. "S-Senior Yun," Qi Lian grimaced. "H-Have you heard the rumors recently?"

I blinked. Rumors? Having been locked inside a room with Bai Ye for almost two months, I wouldn't have known it even if the Gatekeeper's hall had collapsed. "What rumors?" I asked. "About Senior Xie? Please don't tell me he might be expecting danger on the breakthrough …"

"No no, he is not," Qi Lian said hastily, though he grimaced again and scratched his head. "It's actually about you … Last time when you came to look for Master, there seemed to have been some misunderstanding …"

I grew more and more confused. "About me?" I asked again. "What misunderstanding?"

Qi Lian let out a dry chuckle. "Well … Since Senior Xie went on a mysterious trip with you a few weeks before that … and you had never asked to speak with Master until then … We … We thought you were here to ask him about … becoming daoist companions with Senior Xie …"

My jaw fell to the floor.

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