Yue Rin thought about stopping, but seeing Han Suyien unbothered, she kept her pace.
The ignored Pei Jinglan grew even angrier. With all eyes on him, he swallowed it down, biding his time to report her behavior to the master later.
Han Suyien suddenly stopped. It almost looked like she'd finally decided to pay attention, but the reason became clear right away: a shivering girl was clinging to her robe, Qin Xueyi, who'd somehow slipped up beside them without anyone noticing.
"Thank you…"
Han Suyien almost doubted her ears. This girl, who always tried to trip her, was apologizing? But that didn't change much. Han Suyien pried her fingers loose and continued walking, only to hear a scream from behind.
"Acting so high and mighty. Who do you really think you are!"
Han Suyien didn't bother to answer. She let Yue Rin lead her toward their resting spot. After Han Suyien sat, Yue Rin started gathering kindling, then froze when she noticed Han Suyien was suddenly bone-dry, not a drop clinging to her hair or clothes.
Amazed, Yue Rin blurted, "What was that?"
"Just a basic art to remove moisture from my body and clothes."
"Then why didn't you do it earlier before leaning on me!"
Han Suyien smiled. "Where's the fun in that?"
Yue Rin huffed, and thinking back to when Han Suyien had dashed to the riverbank made her curious. "Why did you save her? I thought you hated her."
"Hating someone doesn't mean they deserve death." Han Suyien's tone stayed flat, then she shifted smoothly. "It's been some time. Have you decided what to do next?"
Yue Rin nodded seriously. "I want to investigate the shrine. Maybe with you I'll find something I missed!"
Han Suyien rose. "Alright. Lead the way."
Yue Rin blinked. "Eh, immediately?"
Han Suyien raised an eyebrow. "What are you dawdling for?"
Yue Rin realized how lazy she sounded and quickly grabbed her backpack. Then, seeing Han Suyien empty sheath, she asked, "Where's your sword?"
"A beast took a liking to it."
Yue Rin thought for a moment, then tossed her own sword toward Han Suyien. Who caught it cleanly, surprise flickering across her face. "You're giving it to me?"
Yue Rin nodded. "It's useless to me. Let's go!"
She headed into the forest. Han Suyien sheathed the sword at her belt and followed after her. Due to her weakened senses, Yue Rin didn't notice that they were being followed, but Han Suyien did. Though she pretended she hadn't.
"Hey, Han Suyien, what do you think that feather did to me?"
"I don't know. Might be an inheritance… or you were just unlucky and it only destroyed your cultivation."
"An inheritance?" Yue Rin's eyes lit up at that, before Han Suyien dampened it.
"It's only a possibility, and a small one. I've never heard of an inheritance damaging the inheritor to the point they almost crippled themselves."
"Did you get an inheritance before?"
Han Suyien shook her head.
Yue Rin took the opening to learn more. "So what are inheritances exactly? And are they really rare?"
Seeing Yue Rin so interested, Han Suyien explained, "They are, especially in the open world. An inheritance is whatever a being decides to leave behind. Either for someone worthy, someone fitting their taste… or someone they already chose as the inheritor. And it can be anything, a technique, a manual, an artifact, a formula, even a fragment of their power. The stronger it is, the rarer it is to find, and the harder it is to claim."
"Does that mean whoever gave me the feather thought I was worthy?" Pride swelled in Yue Rin's chest. Maybe her 'bad luck' wasn't so bad after all.
"Perhaps."
After that, the conversation died down. Yue Rin focused on leading the way while Han Suyien watched the trees and the ground, alert for anything that might lunge out.
As they neared the border of the swamp, Han Suyien motioned for Yue Rin to stop. Yue Rin, confused, still did as she was told.
With a quiet sigh, Han Suyien spoke to the trees. "For how long are you going to follow us?"
At first, there was only silence. Then a figure stepped out from behind a trunk.
Yue Rin stiffened when she saw it was Qin Xueyi.
Han Suyien didn't bother with pleasantries. "Why are you following us?"
Having been found out, Qin Xueyi stuttered for a moment, then blurted, "Pei Jinglan sent me to watch over you! So you don't do anything stupid and dirty our Mooncrane Sect reputation!" She tried to look righteous, but her hands shook at her sides.
"There's no need, I've already been expelled from the sect."
Qin Xueyi fumed. "No you didn't! Pei Jinglan doesn't even have the authority to do that!"
Han Suyien looked too tired to argue. "Go back."
"What?" Qin Xueyi snapped. "You think I'm some sort of deadweight or something?" She glared harder when Han Suyien's expression didn't change.
Yue Rin, who'd been watching from the side, hesitated… then spoke up. "Um, Han Suyien. She already came all this way. Maybe we should take her."
That stunned Han Suyien. Was Yue Rin defending Qin Xueyi now? A small, unwelcome sting rose in her chest, but she kept her voice steady. "Why?"
"Well…" Yue Rin leaned in and whispered, "I think she's a tsundere."
"A tsundere?" Han Suyien had never heard such a word before.
Yue Rin explained quickly, "It's like someone who hides their feelings and pretends they don't care, even though they do. If I'm not wrong… I think Qin Xueyi is in love with you."
Han Suyien's thoughts stalled. That girl, who always tried to ruin her day, was in love with her? She didn't believe it. "How are you so sure?"
It was a bit far fetched, but Yue Rin had plenty of reasons. She was even surprised herself; the girl she'd assumed was just the 'green tea' in the drama turned out to be a hidden tsundere. "You already know if that guy wanted to send someone to watch you, he'd choose someone else. And even if he chose her… she wouldn't have agreed, right?"
Han Suyien nodded, still unconvinced. It was too ridiculous to accept without proof.
Yue Rin saw it on her face and decided to strike. "I can tell you how to test my theory. Want to do it?"
Qin Xueyi had been watching them whisper and act like she wasn't there. When she tried to listen, she realized Han Suyien was blocking sound with Qi. And seeing Yue Rin so close to her made something sour twist in her stomach.
Then Han Suyien looked at her with a complex gaze Qin Xueyi had never seen before. Yue Rin wore a mischievous smile beside her, making goosebumps rise along Qin Xueyi's arms.
Han Suyien started walking toward her.
Qin Xueyi backed up on instinct until her spine hit a tree. "Wha-what are you doing? Don't come any closer!"
Han Suyien noted how although Qin Xueyi had space to slip away, but didn't take it.
Maybe Yue Rin was onto something.
When Han Suyien stopped in front of her, Qin Xueyi was shaking like a shy maiden, face tight with panic and stubborn pride. Han Suyien didn't waste time. She wrapped her arms around Qin Xueyi's waist and pulled her into a hug.
Feeling those arms and that warm body close, Qin Xueyi's world crumpled. Her face turned bright red. She 'resisted' weakly, hands pressing at Han Suyien's shoulders trying to push her away.
"W-what… what's gotten into you Han Suyien? L-let go of me!"
And surprisingly, Han Suyien did let go.
Qin Xueyi's legs had turned to jelly. She slid down with a squeak and landed hard on the ground.
"What was that?" She looked up with glare that would've been intimidating, if she didn't look so flustered.
Han Suyien found herself thinking that Qing Xueyi looked… cute. Like an angry puppy. Her eyes softened before she could stop them.
Qin Xueyi saw it and quickly averted her gaze, heart thudding. Then her eyes snapped to the only person she could blame.
"Purple Rouge!" she accused. "What did you do to Han Suyien?!"
Yue Rin didn't even blink at the jab. She only smiled as Han Suyien returned to her side, which made Qin Xueyi feel like she'd been used and tossed aside. The ache that followed surprised her more than anything.
Then Han Suyien said, "Follow us, or don't. I won't protect you."
Qin Xueyi forgot everything else. She scrambled to her feet and hurried after them anyway, still unable to stop herself from snapping, "Wasting time. You should've said that from the beginning!"
Yue Rin watched Han Suyien from the corner of her eye, seeing something complicated in her expression. She decided to let her sort it out. Finding out someone you always hated loved you in secret was... a lot.
Qin Xueyi fell silent too, though her thoughts were anything but clean.
And so, as the sun continued its slow course, the three of them crossed into the swamp forest.