A Cut of Resolve and a Shattered Truth

Li Xin’s delicate frame trembled, but the bewilderment and disbelief in her eyes were swiftly scattered by the wind. She lifted her gaze, her unwavering stare locking onto Lin Mo’s questioning eyes. “What should I do?” she asked.

“Approach her,” Lin Mo instructed, “and pretend to understand Lu Ping’an’s perspective.”

Li Xin bit her lip, a trace of confusion still evident. “She just tore into me, practically wanted to kill me. If I were to see her now, I imagine she’d just attack me… it probably wouldn’t go smoothly, would it?”

Lin Mo offered a knowing smile, tinged with a hint of cunning. “No, it is precisely because of this that Lu Ping’an will be more inclined to trust you. It is also because you possess loyalty and integrity, which Lu Ping’an has observed, that she did not kill you. Perhaps she still harbors a glimmer of hope, believing you might understand her. I do not know what transpired between you two, but whatever happened to Wei Qing must have been truly tragic. Even if it only erupted now due to Qiu Yue’s instigation, this alone proves that your relationship is far from ordinary. It is precisely because of this that Lu Ping’an spoke those words to you. In truth, she also yearns for your care, but your eyes… are solely on Wei Qing.”

“…Wei Qing’s family was ruined, leaving only an orphan… Lu Ping’an… her family fell into decline. I had always assumed it was due to poor management… but I never imagined… it was because of Wei Qing… I… I pity Wei Qing.” As she spoke, Li Xin’s voice trembled with sorrow and grief. She clasped her right hand around her left arm, lowering her head, consumed by profound self-reproach.

“Therefore, this is your chance. You must let Lu Ping’an know that she, too, is someone you care about.” Lin Mo stepped forward, cupping Li Xin’s face in his hands and gently wiping away her tears. “Now, follow my instructions, and you can make her truly believe you.”

Lin Mo leaned close to Li Xin’s ear, lowering his voice, and quickly yet clearly relayed his instructions.

Li Xin’s eyes widened progressively, her face etched with shock. “C-can this really work? What if…?”

“The fact that she didn’t kill you on the spot is the most reliable evidence. Moreover, should one not take risks to save a friend?” He patted Li Xin’s shoulder, his touch firm and steady.

She drew a deep breath, as if to pull all the cool air of the bamboo grove into her lungs. Then, with resolute determination, she turned and took tentative yet exceptionally firm steps in the direction Lu Ping’an had departed.

The bamboo shadows swayed, light and shade flickering uncertainly across her slender, upright figure.

The rest, she left to time.

Lin Mo also turned, nearly forgetting to buy breakfast for his young boss.

He set off with a light step, heading towards the dining hall.

The day passed swiftly.

The incident from that morning had caused quite a stir. Host Yun still hadn’t returned, and the manuscript she had not yet handed out hadn’t returned either. Yet, the Hall of Clarity had not issued any announcements.

The disciples of the domain, however, found that the substitute elder teaching their classes was someone they did not recognize.

The sunlight sank into the mountain gorge, its last vestiges gradually swallowed by the peaks.

The high-hanging ‘Bright Mirror’ now illuminated the ground in place of the sun. Its pristine moonlight became the sole source of light in the sky.

White dew shimmered upon an unusually dense bamboo grove.

This was not the grove near Lakeside Pavilion, but rather a secret spot previously discovered by Lu Ping’an, Wei Qing, and Li Xin.

The bamboo forest was verdant and dense, yet at its heart, a bubbling spring flowed, clear and transparent. It mirrored the pale moon in the sky, and reflected Lu Ping’an by the water’s edge.

Li Xin approached slowly, observing Lu Ping’an with her back turned, shoulders subtly shaking, as if… softly sobbing.

Li Xin’s footsteps instinctively softened. The profound pain and solitude emanating from Lu Ping’an’s back caused the nascent resolve in Li Xin’s heart to involuntarily soften once more. Little An, who used to smile at her in her memories, who would pull her and Wei Qing along to run wild in the summer…

Just then, Lu Ping’an spun around abruptly!

Her eyes were indeed red and swollen, and tear tracks still streaked her face. But the moment she saw Li Xin, those swollen eyes suddenly erupted with extreme venom and bone-chilling murderous intent! She was like a venomous snake with its tail trodden upon, bristling with fury!

“You! You dare to show your face here?!” Lu Ping’an’s voice was hoarse and sharp, like fingernails scraping against rusty iron, particularly grating in this open space that had just weathered a storm. A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted around her, her sleeves fluttering without wind, her right hand slightly raised, and a cold glint seemed to flicker between her fingers.

The air in the clearing seemed to congeal under the weight of her fury.

The night wind swept through the bamboo grove, and the brilliant moonlight bathed the two women, making the temperature feel even colder.

Li Xin, startled by this sudden outburst, staggered back a step, her face paling, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

“Little An—” Li Xin’s voice trembled slightly. “I… I just… came to apologize.”

“Apologize?!” Lu Ping’an seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, bursting into wild laughter. Her laughter was sharp and distorted, echoing repeatedly through the bamboo grove. “‘Hahahaha… Miss Li, apologizing to a ‘lackey’ like me, a nobody? What right do I, Lu Ping’an, have to receive such an honor?'”

She lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears—this was not an act, but… truly uncontrollable emotion.

Yet, at this moment, it was perfectly timed.

Her vision blurred by tears, she choked out, “N-no… that’s not it… I came because I was blinded by anger just now, and I said many terrible things… I shouldn’t have cursed you like that, shouldn’t have called you a lackey…”

She deliberately paused, leaving a space.

As expected, the mockery on Lu Ping’an’s face faltered slightly; she seemed not to have anticipated Li Xin would truly ‘apologize’. Her demeanor softened—but the vigilance and venom in her eyes remained undiminished. “Hmph, now you realize your mistake? Too late!”

Li Xin caught this subtle shift, her heart settling slightly, and continued, “Every word I cursed hurt you. Focusing on Qing and neglecting you, that is what I owe you.”

The last few words were spoken with immense difficulty, carrying the agony of a file scraping against flesh. “I… I truly didn’t know your family’s situation was because of Wei Qing. If you and I had been there back then, perhaps it wouldn’t have…” She trailed off, letting her silent tears complete the unspoken words.

“You didn’t know?!” Lu Ping’an’s tone suddenly rose, her emotions once again spiraling out of control, as she shrieked, “Yes! You didn’t know! You, Li Xin, the high and mighty Miss Li, accompanying your grandmother in and out of the palace, so glorious! How could you care about the lives of old friends like us?! Do you know? That fool Wei Qing, to save the reputation of some unknown person, actually publicly accused the daughter of the Minister of Rites of bullying! She offended them to death! Even tried to assault her!”

Tears once again streamed from Lu Ping’an’s bloodshot eyes, mingled with hatred and an even deeper self-pity. “The Minister of Rites! What’s the difference between someone like me and a dead ant?! Because of her family, all our suppliers turned on us overnight, demanding payment, even framing my family for colluding with enemy nations! In just a few months, my grandmother committed suicide in despair, and I fell gravely ill. All my family’s assets were seized! Do you know what those days were like? Do you know?! Everything was gone! Everything vanished overnight!”

Lu Ping’an practically roared, pouring out the misery that had been weighing on her heart.

Every word was like a blood-stained knife, cruelly gouging Li Xin’s heart.

Li Xin trembled all over; she finally understood the profound bitterness at the root of such hatred. The betrayal she had felt earlier now seemed so pale and powerless in the face of Lu Ping’an’s shattered life.

Her eyes completely filled with tears, she involuntarily took a step forward. “Little An… I’m sorry… I truly…”

As if stung by a venomous bee, Lu Ping’an sharply recoiled a step, murderous intent once more coalescing in her eyes. “Just concern yourself with your Wei Qing! Don’t bother with me! Don’t stop me! This is my—”

“I’m not here to stop you!” Li Xin straightened her posture, looking into Lu Ping’an’s eyes. “I’m here to help you… I’m here to help you… It’s my fault… I only cared about Wei Qing… about that little fool… but I forgot that you were also suffering…”

“Stop with the feigned sympathy! You—”

“I know, but I want you to understand my resolve.”

Before the words had fully left her lips, her storage ring flashed, and an ancient short sword appeared in her palm.

The familiar patterns on the hilt, the subtle wear on the scabbard…

Lu Ping’an’s pupils abruptly contracted to pinpricks—this sword!

How could she not recognize it? It was clearly the birthday gift she had personally given to Li Xin in their youth! The one that symbolized their carefree years together…

Before Lu Ping’an could speak—the sharp blade was unsheathed, its cold gleam like snow!

Li Xin did not hesitate in the slightest. Her body throbbed with pain, yet she felt none of it; her heart had long since grown numb. With her right hand, she unhesitatingly brought the short sword down upon the long hair at her waist!

Where the blade flashed, strands of dark hair were severed inch by inch!

The waterfall of ink-black hair fell silently to the ground, like half a lifetime of friendship cut short, scattering haphazardly in the moonlight-dusted earth. It revealed Li Xin’s profile, pale as paper yet exceptionally resolute.

“Is such resolve enough? If not yet—”

She raised the short sword once more, but the very next second!

A flying sword instantly struck the short sword from her hand!

Before she could even clearly see, a streak of a figure surged into her embrace.

Genuine sobs reached her ears.

“Enough… Li Xin… enough…”

It was joy.

It was sorrow.

And a myriad of other emotions intertwined.

Li Xin said nothing more, simply extended her arms and, after a long separation, embraced Lu Ping’an.

The night was devoid of insect chirps; only the gentle trickle of water in the courtyard served as the sole sound in the tranquil night.

Liu Ruyan still hadn’t seen Lin Mo today.

‘Why does it feel like Sister Wan’er is avoiding me?’

At this moment, she was in her room, pouting, angrily hugging a pillow and sulking.

Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door.

‘C-c-could it be Sister Wan’er?!’

Liu Ruyan dropped the pillow and swiftly ran to the door, opening it to find—Qiu Yue standing there.

“Senior Sister?” Liu Ruyan’s voice carried a hint of disappointment. “Why is it you…”

“Don’t you welcome your Senior Sister?”

“Ah! No, no, of course! It’s just… it’s just… I-I-I-I…”

“Alright, alright, I know you’re waiting for your beloved Sister Wan’er.” Qiu Yue stroked Liu Ruyan’s head, suppressing the urge to smash something, and spoke softly. “Come, let’s go inside. I have something to tell you.”

“Alright, alright~~ Welcome, Senior Sister!” Liu Ruyan scurried into the room and pulled out a box of homemade pastries from the cabinet, along with a plate, which she began to arrange. “Senior Sister, it’s so late, why are you looking for Ruyan?”

“Ruyan.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you willing to risk even the most unpleasant dangers, for the sake of saving Lin Wan’er’s life, and do you have the resolve to do so?”

At her words, the porcelain plate in Liu Ruyan’s hand immediately slipped and crashed to the floor, emitting a crisp, shattering sound.

She stiffly turned around, her face filled with disbelief.

“Wh-what… what’s going on? W-what happened?!”