After we got back, we helped Qianya tidy her room; the linens were hotel-clean, white as new snow, so we needed nothing extra and finished quick as a spring breeze.

“Ah—this bed is so soft—” I dove into it like a drifting cloud and took a deep breath. “Inhale—there’s a hint of lavender, like twilight fields.”

“Tangxue, up already. Doing that on someone else’s bed is rude,” Snow Orchid said, her voice straight as a reed in wind.

“It’s fine…” Qianya shook her head gently, a willow leaf wavering.

“See, Snow Orchid? Qianya doesn’t mind. Let me lie a bit longer. It’s so soft, like floating on mist.”

“Aiya, Tangxue, honestly…” Snow Orchid fussed, but the girl on the bed curled like a cat in the sun.

Watching, Qianya smiled without reason. Maybe this kind of life isn’t bad… After we finish this matter, maybe…

‘Years ago, a Goblin tribe gathered at the base of a cliff. They had some way to leap from that bottomless maw to the summit in an instant. They’ve harried nearby villages and robbed merchants and travelers, endangering nearly a hundred lives. Soldiers from Starfate City formed squads to suppress them, but the gorge’s throat made a full purge impossible. We hereby petition Lady Kerlinveil Xuewei to cleanse this threat…’

Late at night, Xuewei sat alone on the roof of the sky pavilion the academy set aside for her; moonlight pooled like water as she read the scroll.

“Goblins? A cliff, instant movement—interesting.” Her voice was cool as frost. “Moderate danger. Good for this mission.”

“But… is it really just a Goblin calamity?” She breathed out, mist thin as silk. “Whatever it is, I can keep it under control.” Xuewei closed the scroll with a soft click.

“Cliff, instant movement. I think I know what it is.” Her eyes were stars behind thin cloud. “The students this time—some are not quite normal. I’ll watch them perform.”

“Almost eight years have passed…” She lay back on the tiles, a pendant in her palm like a cold moon. “Why won’t you come find me…”

Though she lived here in the sky pavilion, Ling Yehan’s original house bore a ward, a net of frost only siblings could pass; if anyone breached it, Ling Xuewei would know at once.

“Have you really stopped wanting me, brother…” Her whisper fell like dew.

“Time to sleep… Today, you still didn’t come. It’s been 5,126 days…” Night closed like a black feather.

At first light, I was up; my sword cut the dawn like a silver blade, and I went to rouse the two of them. Qianya had already left, though, leaving a letter: she’d meet us at noon and we shouldn’t look for her.

Honestly, I wanted to take her strolling through the streets; now it would just be Snow Orchid and me, two sparrows in a vast city.

“Snow Orchid, up… Hey, you’re already awake?”

“What’s with that disappointed face, Tangxue?” She was dressed, calm as a still lake, and looked at me speechless.

“What? I wasn’t trying to wake you.”

“So you came this early just to wake me, huh?” Snow Orchid’s smile darkened like gathering rain.

“Of course not.” I straightened, heart firm as a drum. “Since it’s early, let’s hit the streets. We only gather in the afternoon, right?”

“Go out?” She thought for a beat, finger at her chin like a petal. “I’ve been here a while and haven’t looked properly… Which street?”

“Cuifeng Street. Lots of good food, and tons of shops.” The name floated like green wind. “Aunt Yuqiu’s place is there too.”

“Alright, we’ll do as Tangxue says. But breakfast…”

“Let’s eat there; plenty of breakfast stalls.” I grinned, light as a swallow. “I already ate, but eating twice never hurts.”

“Then let’s go, I’m starving. Oh right, call Qianya.”

“Qianya said she had things to do. We should go ourselves.”

“Eh??? Tangxue, you didn’t come to call me first? Boohoo…”

“What does it matter, geez.” My words flicked like pebbles.

“It totally matters. Oh, forgot—little Tangxue is too dense to get it…” Her tease was a needle of rain.

At that nickname, my fur bristled like a small fox. “You’re the dense one, little Snow Orchid… Looks like I need to teach you a lesson or you won’t listen. Heh.”

“Wait, wait, Tangxue, what are you doing?”

“You tell me~”

“Ah—no—hahaha—stop—hahaha—so ticklish—hahaha—”

“Nope~” My fingers danced like dragonflies. Bullying girls turned out delightfully wicked; ah, I was slipping down a sweet slope. No wonder Sister Xuanxiao loved teasing me… Wait, am I just a cute girl in her eyes?!

We stepped out close to eight. No big deal. We weren’t ordinary. Starfate City sprawled like a sea of streets, but for Snow Orchid, already third tier, the distance was a breeze.

For breakfast, I took her to a noodle shop with a killer aroma; back when I was a broke adventurer, I loved eating here. The flavor leaned hot and fragrant, like fire under rain, and the price was kind—an egg to reward myself never weighed heavy.

Judging by Snow Orchid’s constant huffing, she couldn’t handle spice; her breath fluttered like a startled sparrow. Hahaha.

“Mmph… Tangxue! Don’t laugh at me…”

“Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t hold it in.” Joy bubbled like spring. “You look too cute like this.”

“Cute…” Her chili-red face turned even redder, bright as a cherry.

“If it’s too much, add soy milk. Don’t force yourself, Orchid.” I’d finished already, so I poured a cup and handed it over, then tipped it into her bowl like pale river.

“I… I’m okay.” She steeled herself, courage gathering like a small flame. Tangxue is my only friend; I won’t falter over something like this.

“I said don’t force it.” I nudged the bowl. “The first time I ate this, I cried from the spice.”

“Really?” Tongue out, eyes wide as twin moons, she stared. “Tangxue, you aren’t just comforting me, right?”

“No…” I glanced aside, thoughts drifting like smoke. “It’s just—I’m not quite who I used to be anymore…”

“Anyway, I wouldn’t lie to you. Back then, I wanted to find a hole and crawl in.”

“Hahaha… I can see it.” Her smile bloomed, red as a little apple.

“Anyway, that’s that.” I rubbed my head, sheepish as a fox. “Finish up; we’ve got other places to play. Aunt Yuqiu’s shop is about to open.”