Time travel, quick transmigration

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Shi Yan has been at Dongling Temple for a year and eight months.

In December, Chang'an was so cold that no one wanted to go outside. The howling wind and cold air covered the ground with a layer of frost. Shi Yan, a southerner, experienced the difference between winter in the north and winter in the south for the first time. Winter in the north was not as damp and cold as winter in the south, and the snow fell earlier and more heavily.

In winter, the sky in Chang'an is mostly gray. Because she has to do morning and evening classes, Shi Yan has to get up early. But it's so cold that sometimes it's really hard for her to get out of her warm bed. Fortunately, she has always managed to persevere.

Charcoal had been prepared in the flower pavilion long ago. After Shi Yan finished her morning lessons and had breakfast with Xiao Die, she took a blanket, covered herself up, and snuggled on the couch to read miscellaneous notes.

A day after mastering the Autumn Goose Sword Technique and bidding farewell to Daoist Yuanzhen, Xiao Huanling descended the mountain, riding his Flowing Cloud Horse without stopping towards Chang'an. He was eager to return home, and had missed Shi Yan constantly since their separation. The Azure Feather hovering above him seemed to sense his soaring spirits and was also quite joyful. Over the past year, the Azure Feather had frequently sent messages to Shi Yan and had become familiar with her. Because Shi Yan often fed it, it naturally grew close to her as well.

Upon arriving in Chang'an, a heavy snow began to fall. Xiao Huanling did not return to the Xiao residence immediately, but instead went to the Suxinzhai restaurant in the market to buy some pastries and a bag of dried fruit for Shi Yan.

Despite the biting cold wind, Xiao Huanling felt a warmth in his heart as he thought of the person he was going to see. Even though the road to Dongling Temple was desolate and he couldn't see a single person, everything he looked at was extremely beautiful.

Halfway there, he came across a tree of red plum blossoms in full bloom, and on a whim, he broke off two branches. Amidst the snow-covered landscape, the young man, dressed in a red robe and a black cloak, riding a white horse, seemed even more beautiful and captivating than the vibrant plum blossoms, mesmerizing all who beheld him.

Leaving Liuyun outside the courtyard wall of Huanqing Residence, Xiao Huanling carried in one hand the pastries and dried fruits he had bought for Shi Yan and the gifts he had brought for her, and in the other hand a newly picked red plum blossom. With a light step, he leaped over the wall and landed steadily inside the courtyard of Huanqing Residence.

Xiao Huanling arrived at the flower pavilion by instinct. Seeing the door open, he went up and felt a slight warmth coming towards him. He was certain that Shi Yan was inside, so he went straight in without hesitation.

As soon as he entered and saw Shi Yan nestled on the couch, covered with a blanket and looking relaxed and carefree, he suddenly stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to go in or back, and lowered his head, dumbfounded.

Shi Yan was engrossed in watching when she heard a series of clearly audible footsteps. She looked up in surprise and saw Xiao Huanling, whom she hadn't seen for over a year, standing right in front of her.

"Ah Ling!"

Xiao Huanling gave a soft "hmm".

Only then did Shi Yan realize that it really was Xiao Huanling who had returned. Seeing the person covered in snow, Shi Yan threw off the blanket covering her and was about to get off the bed to talk to him. However, the movement was too sudden and aggravated her slightly aching lower abdomen. She immediately felt a rush of blood. When Shi Yan realized what was happening, she had no choice but to endure the discomfort and sit back down.

"Oh my god, how could I forget that I've started my period?"

"Woo..."

Shi Yan was extremely embarrassed, and felt even more discomfort in her lower abdomen.

Having practiced internal energy cultivation for over a year and swordsmanship for over a year, Xiao Huanling naturally possessed exceptional hearing. He noticed Shi Yan's faint groan just now. In his anxiety, he disregarded the boundaries between men and women and stepped forward to the bedside to look at her, his eyes filled with concern.

Are you feeling unwell, or are you injured?

Shi Yan was touched to see the care and concern in Xiao Huanling's eyes. Not wanting the other person to worry about her, she spoke up to comfort him.

"I'm not injured. How could I be injured? Don't overthink it."

Xiao Huanling, however, was still uneasy and looked at her carefully for a while. Seeing that Shi Yan's face was pale and her lips were also pale, he became even more certain of his guess.

"Don't hide it from me, I'll only worry more if you don't tell me."

Seeing Xiao Huanling's uneasy and worried expression, Shi Yan could only choke out in a low voice.

"Well, actually, it's just those few days that all girls have, you know?"

Xiao Huanling seemed to be thinking about something but didn't know why, so he could only shake his head in confusion.

Seeing his stern expression, she decided to go all out.

"I just got my period and wasn't feeling well. I was a little excited to see you just now, and I got up quickly, which aggravated my stomach, so..."

Xiao Huanling was initially confused, but then he realized the meaning behind Shi Yan's words and his ears immediately turned red. His fair and delicate face also became hot. He even suspected that he was burning up because he was so embarrassed.

"Um, that... I... I... I understand... I understand."

"If you're not feeling well, don't move. Just stay here... Don't bother me."

"Oh, right, I brought you some pastries and fruits from Suxinzhai, and this too. This fur contains a fox I hunted in the mountains last year. I made you a fox fur coat because I thought it would be cold in Chang'an during the winter."

As Xiao Huanling spoke, he placed the things he was holding in front of her.

"and this."

Feeling a little embarrassed to look at Shi Yan, Xiao Huanling handed the two red plum blossoms he was holding to Shi Yan.

"This was picked halfway through the journey. It looks quite nice. You are of refined and elegant character, so you must like these elegant things. Placing it in your room will not only be pleasing to the eye, but also bring a touch of fragrance."

Shi Yan smelled the faint fragrance of the red plum blossoms and felt Xiao Huanling's sincere feelings. She felt a warm glow in her heart, as if she were being held in someone's palm and carefully protected.

He took the red plum blossoms that Xiao Huanling handed him and brought them close to his nose to take a light sniff.

"Thank you, I like it very much."

"Ah Ling, sit down, sit next to me, it's closer to the charcoal brazier. You've come all this way and gotten soaked in snow water, quickly warm yourself up, be careful not to catch a cold."

Xiao Huanling was too embarrassed to listen to Shi Yan. Although he really longed to be close to Shi Yan and was reluctant to be separated from her, he was too embarrassed to stay any longer.

"You should rest well and not move around too much. I just came to see you, I have to leave now, I'll come back tomorrow..."

As he spoke, he turned around and started to walk out.

Shi Yan knew she couldn't let Xiao Huanling leave so easily after braving the heavy snow. So, she quickly came up with a plan and hummed in response.

Startled, Xiao Huanling immediately turned around and rushed to her bedside, anxiously watching her.

"Didn't I tell you not to move around? Why are you in so much pain? How can I help you? Wait for me, I'll go find a doctor to take a look at you..."

He said this in a hurry and was about to leave again.

Shi Yan was touched by Xiao Huanling's concern for her, and also felt guilty for deceiving him and making him anxious.

"Ah Ling, don't go, don't go. I'm fine, I just need some rest."

"Come sit down, let's talk. I have so many questions for you. I feel so lonely without you."

"You must not have had a proper rest since you came back from Mount Hua. Come and sit down, how about having some snacks with me?"

Xiao Huanling could no longer take another step. Of course, he couldn't bear to leave the woman he loved alone.

So he did as he was told and sat down at a distance from Shi Yan.

"Anything you want to ask me, I'll answer to the best of my knowledge."