Spring is the only season in my memory that remains untainted by sorrow. Riding swiftly along the sun-warmed thoroughfare, I watched as tender green buds sprouted from the locust trees lining the road. The golden-red remnants of the setting sun filtered through the slanted branches, softly draping us in its light, like a delicate hand gently massaging my back. It relaxed both my body and mind.

The springtime was too enchanting—a rare moment of ease in the year. It was the perfect time to choose a picturesque spot, let down my hair, and laze about. Traveling with friends, swaying willows, chasing swallows, laughing at blooming apricots, strolling leisurely along the paths—it was idyllic.

“Little Sister, what are you thinking about again?” A teasing voice came from behind me. I turned my head slightly to see Sister Rumen resting her pointed chin lightly on my shoulder, her face full of amusement. “Is the spring sunlight so bright it’s stirred your heart? Hmm?”

I raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways, speaking softly: “Big Sister, your words betray your feelings. All along this journey, I’ve only seen Brother Liu following closely behind my horse. ‘Dream, are you tired?’ ‘Dream, would you like some water?’ ‘Dream, I think Yunqing is tired too—why don’t we ride together?’ Ever since leaving Lixin Valley, this is the first time I’ve seen Brother Liu be so considerate.” I pulled gently on the reins, slowing my pace. “But Big Sister’s cold demeanor—is it truly because of a heart of stone, or is it deliberate, meant to conceal something more?” Smiling mischievously, I glanced at Liu Xunhe, who stood nearby, his eyes fixed intently on Sister Rumen, seemingly awaiting her response.

“What a sharp tongue!” She pinched my cheek lightly. I turned back, kicked my horse’s flank, and called out, “Hyah!” My black steed neighed and galloped forward. I felt the slender hands wrapped around my waist tighten, and the breathing behind me grew quicker.

A tense shout came from behind: “Yunqing! Slow down! Don’t scare Dream!”

I released the reins, raising my arms wide, gazing at the setting sun as if trying to chase after the colorful clouds. Ahead, three horses trotted side by side at a leisurely pace. Elder Brother spoke cheerfully, while Ye Jinglan, the stern-faced one, nodded slightly, his expression distant. Senior Sister watched the handsome man with great interest, her lively eyes flashing with cunning. I tightened the reins and sped past them. Big Sister reached out playfully, tugging on Senior Sister’s hair: “Yan’er, we’re faster now!” It seemed Sister Rumen had grown accustomed to riding fast and was now enjoying the thrill of racing against the wind.

I half-turned, challenging Senior Sister with a glance, pouting and shaking my head at her mockingly. Predictably, she couldn’t resist the provocation. With a flick of her short whip and a furrowed brow, she spurred her horse to chase after me. “Qingqing, hurry up! We can’t let Yan’er overtake us!” Big Sister exclaimed excitedly, shaking my body.

I smiled, loosened the reins, and called out: “Hyah!”

Horses trampled flying petals, the slanting sunset casting its glow. Willows wove thick smoke-like shadows; the spring river shimmered brilliantly. A streak of rosy clouds dyed the azure sky, and dappled shadows danced among blooming peach blossoms. Amidst vibrant reds and tender greens, the spring mountains smiled.

Chasing each other, we rode along until the last traces of the setting sun faded, and night silently kissed the earth. “Dream! Little Bird! Qingqing!” A warm voice called from behind. We stopped our playful antics and slowed to a halt. Elder Brother caught up on his horse, speaking gently: “It’s getting late. There’s no habitation for miles around here—we’ll have to camp for the night.” He raised his hand, pointing to a dense grove behind us. “Just now, Ye and I scouted the area. That patch of woodland is secluded and safe, perfect for resting. Tonight, we’ll have to make do. Tomorrow, we’ll set off early and reach Lianzhou, where things will be more convenient.” I nodded slightly and followed Elder Brother into the dark forest.

Five majestic horses gathered together, quietly grazing, occasionally snorting loudly. The spring night was cool. I leaned against Big Sister, sitting by a crackling campfire, sipping clear water from a bamboo tube and nibbling on a dry, hard bun. “Ah, how I miss those stir-fried kidneys we ate the other day,” Senior Sister sighed, leaning on Big Sister’s other shoulder. She poked a hole in her bun, spinning it around on her finger. “Dry rations—dry and cold, such a pain to eat!”

“Little Bird, when traveling, not everything can be comfortable,” Elder Brother said with a smile. “Speaking of kidneys, Aunt Pang from the valley makes the best stir-fried ones.”

“Mm-hmm!” Senior Sister licked her lips, nodding enthusiastically. “Aunt Pang’s stir-fried kidneys are simply divine!” Turning to Sister Rumen, she added earnestly: “Big Sister, next time we return to the valley, you must try them! They’re absolutely delicious!”

I smirked, blinking mischievously. “Senior Sister, drool… drool.”

She narrowed her eyes, wrinkled her nose, and lunged across Big Sister toward me. “You little brat! If I don’t make you beg for mercy today, I’ll call myself a roasted sparrow!”

Her temper flared again, but luckily I was prepared. Lightly springing up, I pushed off the ground and soared onto a tall elm tree. Gripping the rough trunk, I peered down to see Senior Sister puffing her cheeks, glaring angrily at me. “If you dare, don’t run!”

Pretending to inspect the branches, I covered my mouth, widened my eyes, and grinned at her. “Senior Sister, Senior Sister, there’s a nest of roasted sparrows here!”

“Ha ha ha“

Clutching the elm tree, I swung my braids triumphantly, feeling a sudden chill of scrutiny. Turning my face downward, I saw Ye Jinglan sitting cross-legged in the shadows, calmly poking the fire with a stick. Flames leapt high, scattering orange sparks into the air, illuminating his narrow, piercing phoenix eyes. I gave him a polite smile, and he nodded expressionlessly before turning his gaze elsewhere.

“Qingqing, come down now—it’s dangerous to stand so high,” Big Sister called out, concerned.

“Hmph!” Senior Sister stomped her foot and leapt after me. I didn’t rush to evade her, waiting until she climbed to the treetop. Just as she was about to grab my sleeve, I suddenly leaned backward, startling everyone below. In midair, I flipped gracefully, lightly touching the leaves, and landed on a poplar tree several zhang away. Turning back, I saw Senior Sister already closing in on me. It felt like returning to childhood, when she would tease me endlessly, and we’d chase each other playfully on Mount Wang, helping me gradually shed my solitary disposition. Her vitality, envied even by Elder Brother and me, made her a joyful sparrow whose chirping healed our wounded hearts.

The rustling of leaves echoed intermittently in my ears as my body moved lightly, like floating silk weaving between branches. I didn’t know how long we played until the sounds behind me faded. Finally stopping, I looked around. A gentle night breeze blew, and shadows deepened. I was now some distance from our campsite. Frowning, I scanned the bushes: Had Senior Sister lost track of me and returned?

Retracing my steps, I searched carefully. Finally, I spotted her silhouette in a clearing within the forest. Quietly landing behind her, I held my breath and leaned close to her ear, whispering chillingly: “I’ve been searching for you for so long~”

Senior Sister stiffened, slowly turning around. When she saw it was me, she exhaled in relief. I raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing her. “What’s wrong? Did you get into trouble again? You look guilty, like a thief caught red-handed.” Pushing her aside, I extended my hand to part the underbrush. Suddenly, I was shoved forcefully, stumbling through the bushes and barely steadying myself. Brushing my chest, I looked ahead to see a stream flowing gently, bathed in silvery moonlight. Following a cherry blossom petal floating downstream, my gaze was abruptly blocked by a tall figure. My heart jolted, and I froze, eyes widening.

There stood Ye Jinglan, his robe undone, hands clasped behind his back by the stream. His elegantly arched eyebrows twitched upward slightly, and his cold phoenix eyes stared at me. Could it be… could it be… that Senior Sister had intended to spy on him washing up? Now I was stuck carrying the blame! Biting my lip, I nervously looked at Ye Jinglan, wanting to explain but unable to find the words. He elegantly adjusted his clothes, watching me silently, his piercing gaze sweeping over me like blades meeting swords, striking directly at my face.

My feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move for a long moment. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I opened my mouth to explain. But suddenly, the sound of fighting erupted nearby. Overwhelmed with worry, I abandoned any attempt at explanation. Spinning around, I dashed through the underbrush, following the noise. The cheerful sound of the stream hadn’t traveled far when a blur of green shot past me, speeding ahead. My “Treading on Grass” technique was nearly on par with Elder Brother’s, yet he surpassed me with simple footwork—impressive qinggong!

Letting my hands hang naturally behind me, I summoned all my strength to keep up. The sounds of clashing swords and combat grew clearer. By the dim light of scattered campfires, I finally took in the scene. Thin chains crisscrossed in the air, forming a golden cage enclosing this patch of woodland. Inside, over a dozen masked black-clad men held chains in one hand and long swords in the other. Three figures stood back-to-back, forming multiple sword formations.

Liu Xunhe shielded Sister Rumen behind him, his palm extended as a paper fan spun rapidly, circling the sword formation. The two leaders of the attackers were already bloodied and disheveled. Turning to the southwest corner, I saw Elder Brother wielding his Youlong Sword , arms outstretched. With a single move, “Jade Splashing Wind Rising,” he sent three men flying apart like conjoined twins. Just as I began to relax, I saw nine men from three formations charge at Senior Sister. She drew her crimson whip, flipping through the air. The whip’s tip moved like a nimble hand, accurately coiling around several blades. Smiling faintly, she prepared to retract the whip. Unexpectedly, three others used the cage walls as leverage, their blades pointed outward, spinning rapidly like deadly flying wheels.

Summoning every ounce of qi, I tried to break through the golden cage. But the tightly woven chains merely trembled slightly, showing no signs of breaking. Helpless, I shouted urgently: “Senior Sister! Be careful!”

She glanced back, attempting to retract her whip, but it was already entangled in a desperate struggle, too late to escape. Drawing Xiaohun from my waist, I hurled it with all my might. A bone-piercing sound rang out as Xiaohun pierced through one of the black-clad men’s heads, tearing open a corner of the spinning wheel. Elder Brother’s face hardened as he slashed through one formation, his pristine face now stained with crimson blood. A shimmering chain of light—his signature technique, “Ten Thousand Ravines Competing in Flow”—cut the already fractured wheel into pieces, scattering bloody fragments everywhere. Before the remaining chains could hit the ground, the surviving black-clad men grabbed the ends, wrapping them around their arms. Instantly reorganizing, they formed sharper square formations of four.

This situation was growing increasingly dangerous. The priority was to break the golden cage and relieve Elder Brother and the others. Standing up, I noticed Ye Jinglan squinting at the surroundings. It dawned on me—the cage’s frame was the forest’s massive trees, with golden chains wrapped tightly around their trunks.

Exchanging a glance, we understood each other. I darted toward an elm tree, channeling my qi through eight meridians and focusing it into my right palm. Swinging my sleeves, I shattered the fabric. With a loud crack, a tree trunk as thick as several arms slowly fell to the ground. The chains rattled loudly. Looking up, I saw that the locust tree in the opposite corner, which two people could barely encircle, was now reduced to half its height. Ye Jinglan stood atop the stump, staring at me intently, his phoenix eyes gleaming with surprise. A thunderous crash echoed as two corners of the golden cage collapsed, shattering the formations inside.

Senior Sister retrieved her red whip, her beautiful eyes blazing like flames. With a sharp crack, two heads flew off. The scattered black-clad men were no match for Elder Brother and the others. Several chains loosened, and a corner of the golden cage cracked open. Ye Jinglan and I leapt down, joining the fray. Palms became blades, slicing, thrusting, hacking, lifting, hooking, and flicking. Qi surged outward, transforming me into a living weapon. Warm liquid flowed between my fingers, and a strong metallic smell filled my nostrils. Spotting my slender silver sword, I extended my left hand, tightening my fingers. Xiaohun whistled sharply, returning to my palm. Like a fish in water or a tiger gaining wings, the sword danced at my fingertips, flowing like silk. Tensing my toes, I suddenly kicked upward, sending the person in front of me flying two zhang away. Seeing someone approach Sister Rumen from behind, I bent low and swung my arm, sending the silver blade flying. A sharp sound rang out as Xiaohun pierced the attacker’s throat. Twirling gracefully, I dashed forward, my left palm empty, and in the blink of an eye, Xiaohun returned to my hand.

Turning around, I smiled faintly at the two remaining thieves in front of me. They exchanged a glance and charged at me simultaneously. Holding my sword horizontally, I shaped one palm into a blade. My left and right hands moved swiftly, and two muffled sounds of flesh tearing echoed. The masked figures’ eyes widened in unison as they slowly, slowly collapsed. Sheathing my sword and lowering my palm, I gazed silently at the corpses, murmuring softly: “East wind blows westward, scattering green duckweed in the pool.”

The flames of the campfire crackled merrily, twisting their bodies in the night breeze as if celebrating victory. Around us, golden chains glittered, blood darkened, and black-clad bodies littered the ground. Sister Rumen covered her nose and mouth, rushing to the side to vomit. Liu Xunhe closed his fan, standing attentively beside her and silently offering a clean handkerchief from his sleeve. Senior Sister stamped angrily on the corpses, her red whip snapping fiercely. “Damn it! Damn it! Where did these black dogs come from? Couldn’t they leave us a clean spot!”

Elder Brother sheathed his Youlong Sword and grabbed her wrist, patiently urging: “Enough, Little Bird. We’ll set off tonight. By the time the city gates open at the third watch, we’ll reach Lianzhou.” Senior Sister pouted but obediently retracted her whip.

Glancing sideways, I saw Ye Jinglan’s narrow eyes fixed intently on my torn sleeve. My cheeks flushed slightly, and I hid my right hand behind my back. Twisting my left wrist, Xiaohun hummed softly, now free of bloodstains.

“Qingqing!” Senior Sister avoided the corpses and rushed toward me anxiously, grabbing my arm. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Elder Brother hurried over, his expression urgent. “Little Bird, quickly help Qingqing to the side and tend to her carefully.”

I grinned, pulling my hand free and wiping it repeatedly on Senior Sister’s clothes. After a while, I raised my intact right arm, smiling brightly at them. “How could these amateurs possibly injure me? The tear in my sleeve happened when I split the tree earlier—it’s from the impact of my qi. And the blood isn’t mine.” Senior Sister examined me carefully and finally relaxed. After a moment, her brows furrowed as she looked down at her silk robe, now smeared red by my actions. Her breathing grew heavy.

Quickly retrieving Xiaohun and securing it at my waist, I hastily covered my ears. A thunderous roar startled the sleeping birds in the forest: “Feng Yunqing! You wash my clothes!”

Retreating behind the bushes, I changed into a simple robe. By the time I emerged, the campfire had gone out, leaving only a wisp of smoke and a few glowing embers. Mounting my horse, I rode alongside Senior Sister. Sister Rumen lay limply in Liu Xunhe’s arms, utterly exhausted.

We galloped swiftly, leaving behind the scent of blood.

Darkness kissed the memories of days past, whispering in my ear: “I am death, your mother. Reborn in despair, grasp Xiaohun tightly and protect all that you cherish.”

Moonlight bathed the flower shadows like water, stars illuminated the distant peaks. The southern wind carried fragrance as it accompanied us through the warm spring night.