Night had already fallen over mountain Jinghu but, the grand hall of fame was still ablaze with light.Inside, rows of long tables stretched as the air filled with roasted pheasants, fresh wine and the low hum of conversations.
It was a banquet in honor of general Han RuiYing— and the Lin clan knew how to host.
On the high dais, even though the matriarch had already left— the elders were in a rare spirit, toasting the guest of honor. RuiYing again sat at the right side of the main seat, charming the table with tales of the borderland. She drank freely and had the old commanders hooked on her every word.
Seated by the left, Lin Yuehan was picture of a perfect statue, as always. Her posture was rigid, expression polite.
But she wasn't listening to a single word the other worrier said. Because, her world had narrowed down to a single, dimly lit corner of the same hall.
There, seated away from the boisterous main crowd, was Lian Zhiqiu. She had changed out of her training robes into a simple set of deep indigo silk that made her skin look like porcelain under the lantern light. It seemed like the crowed had started to adore this mysterious woman, after that battle.
Yuehan watched her over the rim of her cup as some disciples flocked around ZhiQiu like moths to the flame.
A young man bowed nervously, stammering a congratulation. " senior Lian, your fighting style is unbelievable."
"yeah.. it was so graceful. How did you do that…?"
One of the girls said " Lian shijie… can you teach us that movement later… please?....."
Every gender, every rank, every age— someone had to say something to her.
Yuehan watches as JiLan set her cup down and smile softly at the flock of people around her. She didn't scowl or ignore them but, she answered everyone with that same, polite smile.
Without realizing it, the corners of Yuehan's own lips curled upward. She found herself smiling at ZhiQiu's smile, captivated by the way the light caught the silver pin in her hair, the way her eyes crinkled just slightly at the corners.
"She looks… soft" Yuehan thought, a dangerous warmth spreading through her chest.
RuiYing had been explaining something about western training camps to the elder when she noticed Yuehan wasn't listening. Her eyes followed Yuehan's gaze.
"Ahh…That's how it is now… your skills, aren't bad…. Little one…" RuiYing thought as corner of her lips twisted upwards when she realized where the general's focus in on.
" General Lin?..."
That was when Yuehan snapped back to reality. Her head turned sharply towards the others at the table but they were already staring at her.
" are you doing alright general Lin? You look... Red…"
"N-No… I mean sort of…. You can continue… excuse me, please.."
Yuehan couldn't think of anything rather than hurriedly excusing herself and going out of the hall.
But RuiYing just grinned, wickedly pleased.
Down in the corner, JiLan didn't look up. She didn't need to. She had felt the weight of that gaze since the moment she sat down—heavy, intense, and confused. It felt like a physical touch.
She lifted her tea to her lips to hide the smirk that bloomed there.
"Caught you…"
But after another incense stick burned down, the noise of the hall began to grate on JiLan's nerves too. In the end she offered a shallow bow to the disciples near her, and slipped silently toward the side exit, melting into the shadows.
Up on the dais, General RuiYing's eyes flicked to the side. She didn't miss a beat in her story, but her gaze sharpened. She saw her little sister had left.
"My apologies, Elders," RuiYing said, standing up and stretching her arms with a groan.
"The wine is excellent, but the air in here is a bit stifling for a woman used to the open plains. I think I'll take a walk to clear my head."
The Elders bowed. "Of course, General."
RuiYing stepped off the dais, her stride long and purposeful, heading for the same door JiLan had used.
Outside, RuiYing didn't head for the guest quarters. Instead, she followed an instinct honed by years of sisterhood, her boots silent on the wooden walkways that ran through the Lin Clan's gardens.
After a couple of minutes she found the very person she'd been looking for at the edge of the Mirror Lake.
An open air pavilion floated on the lake water, connected to the shore by a slender bridge.
Inside, JiLan stood by the railing, staring up at the vast, yet mesmerizing sky. The moonlight turned her indigo robes to silver, making her look less like a warrior and more like a serene, lonely spirit.
The soft creak of the wood made JiLan turn. But, the second she saw her older sister, a soft, warm smile bloomed on her face.
"Jie…"
RuiYing felt her chest tightened. Even if it's been several hours she had first seen her younger sister after so long, she felt how much her little one has changed during past few months…
But she smiled back as she closed the distance and stood close to JiLan. A heavy sigh escaped her involuntarily – part exhaustion, part relief.
"you doing alright…. Baby doll..?"
An amused laugh broke out of JiLan. " you can't keep calling me that…Jie.."
RuiYing's laughter also followed "Who says I can't?... You're my baby… Xiao Hua also used to call me mom, remember?—"
JiLan didn't answer right away. But her smile melted away into the darkness. After a long time she hummed, her eyes distant.
RuiYing felt the burden in her heart. After her Xiao Hua died , she vowed to protect her A-Yan with her life. That was the exact reason why RuiYing agreed to come to the Lin clan in the first place.
RuiYing didn't knew how to respond. She simply wrapped her arm around JiLan's shoulder and leaned against her.
"Are you really ok…A-Yan…?"
JiLan looked back at her older sister and smiled, nodding her head in confirmation. "How is everyone…?"
RuiYing's voice came out like a whisper. "Aunty misses you, a lot….uncle and brothers… you know… they wouldn't say a word"
JiLan's breathe hitched for a fraction of a second, but— RuiYing felt it.
"I know..." JiLan whispered as she heaved a heavy sigh. " I miss you all too…"
RuiYing smiled, patting her younger sister's head gently. They both looked back up at the moon, finding comfort in the same sky that covered their home in the West.
But the air shifted, they felt it. The sisterly warmth cooled into an iron armor.
"So…how is it going?" RuiYing asked, her tone dropping.
JiLan's expression also sharpened. "Smooth."
RuiYing nodded. "Did he come here? The contact?"
JiLan shook her head slightly. "No."
"And the big fish?" RuiYing asked, referring to the Matriarch. "Did she approve?"
JiLan scoffed lightly, a flash of her arrogance returning. "Hmm….What else she can do?"
RuiYing chuckled, looking down at the black water.
But they had felt that disturb in the silent night. A qi disturbance. The distinct, clumsy suppression of breath from a dozen different lurkers.
RuiYing's eyes danced with mischief. If they were going to be watched, she might as well give them a show. Why not have some fun..?
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial purr. "So… how is your love life?"
JiLan blinked, thrown completely off balance. "What—?"
RuiYing hardly bit back her grin. But behind the trees, leaves rustled— disciples nearly fall off there branches.
"I mean…" RuiYing continued her yap. "did you find another… sparring partner?"
"Well.." even though JiLan was also aware of the human monkeys on the trees, she wasn't sure about what her sister was planning to do.
" the lotus general … I mean… now I'm technically her— disciple… right?"
"not her… I mean before her…?" RuiYing's voice thinned with each word.
JiLan was utterly lost of words. " what are you even talking about..?"
"Oh, come on, darling," RuiYing teased, her voice carrying perfectly on the night air. "Don't be so dramatic. We used to be partners too before you left. Remember?"
JiLan stared at her. "So?"
RuiYing made a face of fake, tragic disappointment. "So? So what? Don't tell me you didn't find anyone after me."
JiLan, still thinking about combat training, rolled her eyes. "I didn't want any. But how is that a problem?"
A collective gasp echoed from the tree line.
Behind a large willow, a disciple clamped a hand over his mouth. "T-they—they were—"
"Heavens," another whispered, eyes wide. "Were they really in a—relationship?"
"Look at them," Bai Suwei, who was also in the gossip crowd, hissed, her voice dripping with poison. "That girlie is literally on top of the General. This is unacceptable. How can someone be so shameless?"
"So what's wrong?" a female disciple retorted sharply. "If they really were lovers, and reunited after so long… of course anyone would cling to their partner."
Han JiLan, oblivious to the romantic narrative being spun, assumed her sister was just being annoying. She shook her head, turning her gaze back towards the night sky.
Han RuiYing, however, knew exactly what she was doing. She smirked, wrapping both arms around JiLan's waist and resting her chin on her shoulder.
The bushes rustled with fresh gasps and squeals of laughter.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow," RuiYing murmured.
JiLan's head snapped toward her. "Really? But why? You just came, Jie…"
Behind a rock, a girl clutched her chest. "Jie… Oh heavens—she just called her Jie…"
"Our single souls can't handle this," her friend moaned.
"Love in the air… wait…hold on… that's basically how a wife would call her spouse… isn't it?.."
Even an Elder, perched indignantly on a tree branch, cracked a smile.
"Elder Ji, what are you doing up there?" one of the male disciples whispered.
"Young love," the Elder huffed, adjusting his robes. "Is a nice theme for poetry. Now shut up, I'm looking for inspiration."
"yes sir… we too."
In the pavilion, RuiYing sighed. "Aunty asked me to return as soon as possible. She's afraid something will happen."
RuiYing turned her head. "Oh… ok. Travel safe then."
RuiYing turned JiLan around and hugged her tightly. A fierce, protective embrace. JiLan also hugged back, closing her eyes. A soft smile dancing on her lips.
"When are you coming back?" RuiYing asked, her voice low.
JiLan whispered back. "Soon."
The hidden audience felt like intruders on a sacred moment.
"Should we leave?" one of the female disciples asked.
"Parting from a lover is the hardest thing…"
But Suwei was fuming. "A secret relationship? Between a General and a disciple? Do you know how inappropriate—"
"Don't be so rude!" someone hissed. "I don't think Senior Lian is just a disciple. Maybe she's a commander. Didn't you see how she fought?"
Others also agreed. "True…"
Whatever JiLan's internal condition was, RuiYing was having too much fun, she nearly bust out laughing.
Time for the ultimate kill.
" I want a goodbye kiss…"
Silence. But the audience was screaming like maniacs internally.
JiLan pulled back, frowning. "No. Hugging is enough."
"Oho… Senior Lian is so stone-hearted," a disciple whispered.
"You are so heartless, baby doll," RuiYing pouted. "Fine. If you don't, I'm not leaving."
JiLan looked at her sister, seriously doubting her maturity. "You're married, Jie. Don't be like this. I've kissed you enough."
THUD. A disciple fainted in the bushes.
"They are – they are MARRIED? Oh my—"
"So what?" RuiYing countered. "It doesn't mean you can no longer give me a kiss. Come on, just one." She offered her cheek.
JiLan backed away. "Just go, will you? We are in public, Jie. I'll meet you later."
"Listen here, little one," RuiYing grabbed her arm. "What's there to be shy about? You used to kiss me all the time back then. Moreover no one is looking at—"
Before she could finish, JiLan sighed, leaned in, and quickly pecked her cheek.
"Happy now?"
RuiYing beamed like she had won a war. "Yes. See you later, darling."
She grabbed JiLan's face and planted a loud, smacking kiss on her cheek before turning and running off down the bridge, laughing.
JiLan stood there, frozen, wiping her cheek. "Unbelievable," she muttered to herself.
She shook her head and turned to leave the other way. That was when she spotted them. JiLan stopped right in her track.
The bushes exploded with movement. Disciples and Elders scrambled out, bowing frantically.
"Sorry! Just passing by! Nice moon! Bye!" They scattered like cockroaches in the light.
JiLan watched them go, shaking her head, she walked away.
High above, in a darkened cabin, Lin Yuehan stood alone.
She had heard everything. From start to the end. Everything was clear as day to her now.
That person— the phantom, she always heard stories about. The person she wanted to fight face to face, was at her sight for months.
She hated herself.
She hated how she didn't noticed the perfect lie.
She hated how she neglected the suspicion.
She hated how that woman managed to make a fool out of her.
She hated herself—for how much she had fallen for that person….
She hated herself— for breaking the faith on her soulmate for this liar….