Wandering Swordsman |

Seeing Zhao Xue's actions, He Yun felt a pang of doubt. He glanced at his own hand and realized he was still tightly holding Zhao Xue's other hand. This discovery made his heart race and his cheeks flush. He quickly released her hand, stammering, "Um... Xue... it's getting late. Let's pack up and get going."

Zhao Xue found He Yun's flustered appearance quite adorable. She secretly covered her mouth and chuckled, quickly suppressing her shyness, then turned to He Yun with a tender look in her eyes: "Brother Yun, you held my hand all night last night, and you even slept right next to the bed. You probably didn't sleep very well. Why don't you go back to your room and rest a bit? We can continue our journey after you've rested."

Hearing Zhao Xue's words, He Yun felt even more flustered. He remembered that he had indeed held Zhao Xue's hand all night to comfort her, but now, faced with this situation, the love-struck He Yun felt somewhat at a loss. So He Yun quickly made an excuse and said, "Okay, Xue. I'll go back to my room first." After saying that, He Yun quickly got up and hurried towards the door.

He Yun's heart was in turmoil, like a raging sea. He recalled the scene from last night: Zhao Xue crying in his arms, him holding her tightly, and vowing to protect her for life. Those tender moments replayed in his mind, filling him with sweetness. But at the same time, he also felt a strange tension and unease. After all, this was the first time he had been so close to a woman, and being so young and inexperienced in love, he didn't quite know how to handle these feelings.

Zhao Xue watched He Yun's departing figure, her eyes filled with hope. She knew that although He Yun appeared somewhat shy, he harbored genuine feelings for her deep down. She sighed softly, her heart overflowing with warmth and happiness. She knew that with He Yun by her side, she was no longer a helpless person, but had a shoulder to lean on.

As He Yun walked out into the living room and closed Zhao Xue's bedroom door, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement. He turned and walked back to his own bedroom, his steps somewhat hurried. He kept looking back, as if afraid Zhao Xue would suddenly open the door and chase after him, yet also hoping she would.

Back in his room, He Yun closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a deep breath. He felt his heart was still pounding, and a slight blush lingered on his cheeks. He walked to the window, drew back the curtains, and the morning sunlight streamed into the room, bringing a touch of warmth. He stood by the window, gazing at the distant scenery, silently pondering his relationship with Zhao Xue.

He recalled the scene of Zhao Xue crying in his arms last night, and a strong urge to protect her welled up inside him. He knew that his feelings for Zhao Xue had now transcended simple friendship, but he hadn't yet figured out how to express them.

He Yun sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. He recalled the days he had spent with Zhao Xue and Shen Mo, from their first encounter in the forest to the perilous situations they had faced together—every scene was vivid in his mind. Although Shen Mo was no longer with him, the sense of responsibility Shen Mo had left behind made He Yun even more determined to protect Zhao Xue.

......

On the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, snowflakes drifted down on Changbai Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, He Yun and Zhao Xue walked hand in hand, carefully making their way up the snow-covered path. The mountain air was fresh and cold; each breath was accompanied by white mist exhaled from their mouths, as if condensing into tiny ice flowers in the air.

The surrounding scenery resembled an exquisite ink painting, with white snow covering the mountains and crystal-clear icicles hanging from the branches. Occasionally, a few small birds would flit across the snow, leaving behind a trail of tiny footprints.

The snowscape of Changbai Mountain was breathtakingly beautiful, but it also brought great difficulties to their journey. Thick snow covered the mountain paths, making the once clear trails indistinct, and every step required careful exploration. He Yun and Zhao Xue's shoes left a series of deep footprints in the snow, but these footprints were quickly covered by falling snowflakes, as if nature was constantly erasing the traces they left behind.

He Yun held Zhao Xue's hand tightly, feeling the warmth of her palm. His gaze swept around, and he couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful scenery of the mountains. But beneath the beauty lay endless hardship. Every step required more effort, and the slippery snow made them extremely cautious with each step. He Yun would occasionally turn to look at Zhao Xue to make sure she hadn't slipped, his face showing concern.

"Ah Xue, are you cold?" He Yun asked softly, his tone gentle.

Zhao Xue shook her head, a slight smile appearing on her face: "With you by my side, I'm not cold at all." As soon as she finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew by, snowflakes dancing in the air as if accompanying their dance. Zhao Xue gripped He Yun's hand tightly, as if seeking more warmth and strength.

The two continued on their way, when He Yun suddenly spoke up: "Ah Xue, aren't you curious why I came to Changbai Mountain?"

Zhao Xue raised her head, her eyes filled with tenderness. She smiled slightly and replied softly, "I believe you will tell me when the time is right. So why should I ask?"

Hearing Zhao Xue's words, He Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He stopped and turned around, looking intently at Zhao Xue. Zhao Xue's eyes shone even brighter against the backdrop of snowflakes, and her smile held a firm resolve and trust. He Yun felt deeply touched by this trust, and he gently squeezed Zhao Xue's hand, as if to tell her that he trusted her in the same way.

"Ah Xue, you're always so understanding." He Yun's voice was deep and gentle, his words tinged with emotion, and he said with a relieved expression, "Ah Xue, actually, my original intention in coming here was to see Situ Meng, who is known as the 'most beautiful woman in the world'."

After speaking, He Yun immediately observed Zhao Xue's reaction, afraid that his words might cause her misunderstanding or displeasure. A hint of surprise flashed across Zhao Xue's face, but she quickly regained her composure and did not ask about Situ Meng.

Seeing that Zhao Xue didn't press the matter, He Yun finally felt relieved. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhao Xue with gratitude, his eyes filled with warmth and appreciation. Zhao Xue's understanding and trust made him feel incredibly at ease. He gently squeezed Zhao Xue's hand, as if silently expressing his gratitude.

"But!" He Yun continued, his tone firm, "Ah Xue, I only have one goal now, which is to deliver Brother Shen's message to Jing Tian Pavilion. As for the rumors about Situ Meng being 'the most beautiful woman in the world,' that's no longer my concern."