[South-Hidden Manor · A Night of Rest]
Night fell, and the South-Hidden Manor glowed with a gentle radiance under the starlight. In the courtyard, the chirping of insects harmonized with the rustling wind, and lanterns cast swaying shadows of bamboo against the walls. After dinner, the elderly Keeper had arranged a quiet inner courtyard for the group to rest, providing hot baths infused with aromatic herbs to wash away the dust of their travels.
Gu Xingyu sat quietly on the long veranda, a half-finished cup of tea beside her. The pocket watch lay silently in her palm, appearing as though it too were asleep. She stared blankly at the tranquil pond until the wooden floorboards creaked softly, and a familiar presence drew near.
"Not asleep yet? What's on your mind?" Luo Ye sat down, intentionally close, holding freshly roasted chestnut cakes. His voice was unusually soft.
Xingyu glanced at him. "You aren't asleep either."
"I was worried about you." He handed her a warm cake. "The cook here makes great desserts. Want to try? It's warm; good for the nerves."
She took a bite and her expression relaxed. "...Thank you. It's sweet, but... it's actually very good."
Luo Ye rested his chin on his hand, watching her. Gone was his usual stubbornness and teasing. "You were... very lost today, weren't you?"
Xingyu startled. "I wasn't."
"You were," he whispered, his voice almost melting into the wind. "I know you keep a lot inside, but I can tell... that feeling of 'I have to hold it together.' You try to hide it, but you can't escape my eyes."
She looked down in silence, her hand tightening around the watch.
He reached out and placed his hand over hers. His palm was slightly hot, but his touch was gentle. "We all know you aren't some high-and-mighty Saint. But it's because you doubt, because you get sad, because you miss home... that's why we are willing to follow you. To protect you."
"...If you keep talking like that, I'm going to cry," she said with a half-smile, though her eyes were misting over.
Luo Ye smiled back, his tone sincere. "Then cry. In front of me, you can cry, you can be weak—you can be anything. You don't have to stay strong."
The wind brushed through the bamboo. After a moment, Xingyu leaned her head gently against his shoulder. "I told you... you make me feel like I have a home."
"Yeah, and you also said I'm like your mother!" He didn't move, afraid she would pull away, letting her lean on him in the silence.
Hearing his slightly aggrieved tone, Xingyu burst into a small laugh.
"You have the nerve to laugh? I don't know whether to laugh or cry myself!" Luo Ye gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm working really hard not to be treated like a mom, you know!"
"Alright, don't be mad. I promise I won't say you're like my mom ever again," she teased, patting his shoulder playfully.
Luo Ye stood up, his movements a bit stiff. He stared at the stone tiles for a moment before speaking. "You don't understand... I'm not mad because you compared me to your mom."
He paused, as if the words in his throat were too hot to speak. I'm... afraid you'll forget me once you go back to your world. He didn't say it. He clenched his fists, suppressing the surge of emotion. "Forget it. I'm going to bed."
He turned and walked away, his silhouette uncharacteristically heavy. Xingyu watched him disappear, scratching her head. "Why did he suddenly get so grumpy...?"
Later that night, the manor was submerged in stillness, save for a warm yellow light in the study. Gu Xingyu walked in to find Lin Lie sitting by a low table, flipping through a thick, ancient tome.
"Still awake?" he asked, nodding to her.
"I couldn't sleep. You too?"
"I wanted to read more about the Yao Holy Temple." He pushed the book toward her. "It mentions the conditions for opening the Source Gate, but... the records are fragmented."
"You're always so diligent," she said with a hint of admiration.
Lin Lie smiled faintly. "I feel that if I know a little more, I can help you a little more."
Xingyu's heart warmed. "You've already helped me so much."
"I want to do more." He looked at her, his gaze gentler than the lamplight. "I hope that whether you are the Saint or... just yourself, someone will be by your side so you don't have to carry it alone."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small cloth pouch he had sewn himself, embroidered with her name. "For you," he said calmly. "To hold the sentences you want to remember, or the courage you're afraid to lose."
Xingyu took it, her fingers brushing the fine stitches. "Thank you, Lin Lie. If I hadn't met you all, I would have run away long ago."
Lin Lie didn't answer immediately. He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers were cool, but his touch was more solemn and tender than any words. "Even if you return to your world one day..." he whispered, "I hope you remember this place. Remember us."
Finally, Xingyu wandered out toward the small bridge over the stream. She heard a soft humming and found Cang Yuan leaning against the railing, swinging his legs.
"Ah, the moon is beautiful tonight," he chirped. "I was thinking of tapping on your window, but you came to me instead."
"You wouldn't tap; you'd just climb right in," she joked back.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the water. Then, Cang Yuan asked softly, "Still thinking about today?"
She nodded.
"I don't understand missions or 'Saint' stuff," he said, his gaze softening. "But I know that without you, none of us would have made it this far. Before, I only had my brother. Now... I have the team. And I have you."
He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Gu Xingyu, sometimes even water wants to stop moving... for the sake of a shore."
She froze. The words felt like moonlight rippling across a still lake.
Cang Yuan laughed, returning to his usual playful self. "I won't tease you anymore. I know you need peace right now, not pick-up lines." He handed her a silver-blue silk handkerchief. "This was my brother's. He gave it to me so I wouldn't get cold on night roads. I think you need it more."
"Thank you, Cang Yuan."
He looked at her with rare sincerity. "Being the Saint is hard. But if you're tired, remember there's someone who's willing to let you lean on him for a while." He patted his shoulder and grinned. "Free of charge, too."
Xingyu laughed, her heart full of warmth. The night air wasn't cold, and the sound of the water was gentle.