It was Spring

He set the parcel down on the table and drew a deep breath. His mind was racing.

Suzhen sat by the windowside, sewing at the shirt that she had been making for him. With all the things that had been happening, it had lain in her sewing basket untouched. Now, finally, she was putting the last finishing stitches to it.

She was smiling to herself, or at least the curve of her lips looked restful and happy in the light streaming in from the window. He felt a pang as he looked at her. How could he let Fahai catch her?

Fahai would never let her off. He would blame Xuxian's softheartedness on her, and take it upon himself to force them apart. Xuxian knew enough of the monk's character by now to know that Fahai had kept his silence all this while because he wanted Xuxian himself to make the decision before he stepped in. He knew that it would be useless to try and persuade Fahai; the more he pleaded for Susu, the more Fahai would think that Susu had entrapped him.

Xuxian had no idea about cultivation levels. To his physician's eye Fahai's bad health made him seem weaker than Susu. He had vague memories of how huge and powerful the white snake had been. Compared to the gaunt, wasted figure of the monk, Xuxian felt that Fahai had no chance. If it came to a fight, Susu would surely kill him.

He did not want that either. He did not want her to have any more blood on her hands, even though there did not seem to be any other way.

Abruptly Xuxian turned to Suzhen. "Susu," he said cheerfully. "It's spring. Isn't the weather beautiful?"

She put down her sewing and looked at him with bright eyes. "It is indeed."

"Let's go to the mountains. We said we would go swimming again when it was spring, and I would make pancakes for you. Have you forgotten?"

"Of course not. But today? So suddenly?" She looked amused, but she clearly did not suspect anything.

His heart was beating fast. Coming up to her, Xuxian rested his hands on her shoulder, trying his best to look carefree. "Why not? I'm suddenly feeling impulsive. Do you want to? If you take the clothes down from outside I'll make some pancakes and we can set out before noon."

Suzhen laughed. "What's wrong with you today?"

He was already pulling her up. "Come on, hurry."

As he pushed her out of the door, Xuxian was already turning things over rapidly in his mind. He would pack more than just pancakes. When the door closed behind him he took up the quilt from their bed and folded it carefully inside his herb basket. His hunting knife. Some tinder for fire. Dried meat. They could probably catch some fish from the lake now, and there might be mushrooms as well. Thankfully it was spring; one could survive on the mountains now.

A thought hit him and he reached for his medicine pack with a moody expression on his face. He hoped and prayed that this would not be needed, but---

Suzhen draped the clothes over her arm, humming. She was as eager as a child; it had been so long since she last swam. What was more, after the painful experience of their separation, it was doubly meaningful if they could do this again, just like they had in the happy past...

But she wondered why Xuxian had made this sudden decision. After all, he knew Gui Yuan was still on the mountain. Was he not afraid they might run into him?

She smiled as she wondered if it was because he trusted she would protect him. The thought was very precious to her, and she let herself dwell on it for the sheer pleasure it gave her.

Brushing aside a vague sense of uneasiness, she told herself that she could surely beat Gui Yuan if they met him. Even if he had grown stronger like Qingqing told her, he could not possibly have come near her level of cultivation. She had lost a lot saving Xuxian, but gaining his love back had given her new strength. Suzhen was confident that she could protect him.

This time, if Gui Yuan dared attack them again, she would kill him. She was no longer held back by having to keep her true form from Xuxian. This time, she could use her powers freely. This time it would be different.

Her eyes fell on a stray log that had fallen from the woodpile onto the ground. Suzhen glanced around carefully, making sure that no one was around. She stared fixedly at the log from a distance, eyes narrowing as she aimed. Beneath the clothes hanging from her arm, her fingers stiffened and channelled a stream of energy that hit the log and split it neatly down the middle.

She went up to it to check and smiled to herself as she saw how straight and even the line was. Suzhen nudged the two pieces back to the woodpile with her foot and returned to gathering the clothes off the line. Her face was impassive at first but after a while a small, mischievious smile curled at the edges of her mouth. Somehow this small action made her bubble over inside with glee. She hugged the clothes to herself to contain the feeling.

She felt so light, the happiness was bursting within her. Oh, the gods had been merciful to her. It was all worth it, after all. She had gone through such excruciating pain, heartbreak that she couldn't even have imagined, but she had won Xuxian's love and trust. They were united now, bound to each other without the fear that had always hung over her head in the past. There was a mindblowing freedom she was still grasping in knowing that he knew--he knew it all now!

Feeling fresh determination and confidence surge through her like wine, warming every muscle in her body, Suzhen laughed out loud. It was a beautiful spring day, and all around she saw the grass growing, the leaves budding again. The wisteria had woken up this morning frosted with little green nibs that would soon unfurl themselves into leaves.

It was spring, and they were going to the mountains to swim; and Xuxian was making pancakes for her. Could life be any more beautiful?