Chapter 26

As a heavy rain poured down, Stone Meimei sat on a horse, feeling the warmth of Bai She's breath on her neck. The slight heat was enough to make her face flush. Bai She sat behind her, holding a knife in one hand and the horse's reins in the other, while Stone Meimei, in her dress, sat sideways on the horse, her ears still red.

Bai She chose a lesser-traveled path, encountering few people along the way. Soon after leaving the city, they were on the official road, surrounded by solitude.

Stone Meimei didn't dare lean back and had to sit sideways due to her dress. She couldn't hold the reins, so she clung to the saddle, twisting her body uncomfortably.

Bai She smirked slightly, enjoying their solitary journey on the less-traveled road.

"Are you tired?" Bai She asked, thinking Stone Meimei might be uncomfortable sitting for so long.

"Huh?" Stone Meimei turned around, finding herself face-to-face with Bai She.

"Tired?" He repeated.

Initially tense and somewhat awkward in such close proximity to a man for the first time, Stone Meimei was too self-conscious to respond. Realizing Bai She's concern, she admitted, "A bit, yes."

"Well..." Stone Meimei hesitated, then shook her head, adding, "It's okay..."

Bai She's lips curled up slightly as he softly suggested, "You can lean on me."

Stone Meimei paused briefly, then shook her head, declining the offer.

Bai She gently guided her closer with one hand on her waist.

Startled, Stone Meimei found herself leaning against Bai She's chest, too stiff to move.

He asked, "Is this more comfortable?"

Feeling a bit more at ease, she nodded and said under her breath, "Next time I go out, I'll wear trousers."

Bai She glanced down, and Stone Meimei quickly tucked her shoes under her dress, glaring at him warningly, signaling him not to look.

Bai She raised an eyebrow, inquiring, "What's that scent?"

Confused, Stone Meimei asked, "What scent?"

Bai She leaned in closer, sniffing lightly, "It's very fragrant."

"It's agarwood," Stone Meimei replied.

Bai She nodded and asked, "What's the difference between agarwood and ordinary fragrances?"

"Well, agarwood has a mild scent that lasts long," Stone Meimei replied softly. "It's best suited for women."

Bai She smiled, noticing the pearl earring dangling playfully from Stone Meimei's ear, finding it amusing.

As they approached a turn, Bai She lifted his other hand, which was holding a sword, to steer the horse's reins.

Stone Meimei glanced at his hand, then at her own, gripping the saddle.

"Your sword..."

After turning the corner, Stone Meimei suddenly asked Bai She, "Why is it called the Ghost Sword?"

"It's a sword that can slay ghosts," Bai She explained. "Another version says it's a demon sword, using it requires turning oneself into a ghost first."

Stone Meimei laughed and said, "I took a glance at it last time; it's quite beautiful."

Bai She nodded, "Deadly things often are."

"Hmm?" Stone Meimei turned to look at him.

Bai She gazed downward, "That's why there are not many beautiful things in this world."

Stone Meimei nodded and asked, "May I take a look at it?"

Bai She extended his hand, offering the sword to her.

As Stone Meimei reached out, Bai She cautioned, "It's heavy, use both hands."

"Oh," Stone Meimei exclaimed as she took the sword with both hands. Despite Bai She's warning about its weight, she was still surprised, "This must weigh over ten kilograms, right?"

Bai She nodded, "Seventeen kilograms and seventy-seven grams."

"Why so many sevens?" Stone Meimei inquired curiously.

"The sword was forged by the Sword God, Pu Yuan, for his beloved, known as Seventh Lady," Bai She explained. "It's made from the steel of three thousand previously used swords. Legend says before the sword was completed, Seventh Lady married someone else. In his mixed feelings of love and hate, Pu Yuan's breath became a sigh of blood, hence the strong resentful energy in the Ghost Sword."

Listening to the eerie story, Stone Meimei turned back to him, asking, "Is that true?"

Bai She nodded solemnly, "Pu Yuan died not long after... The Ghost Sword has been used by generations of famous warriors, slaying countless people, making its resentful energy even stronger."

Stone Meimei gently unwrapped the cloth covering the sword, asking, "May I open it and have a look?"

Bai She nodded in affirmation.

As Stone Meimei slid the cloth down, she saw nine dragons engraved on the blade, appearing vivid and lifelike. The shiny blade was undoubtedly extraordinary. Despite its new-like luster, it bore the weight of time, clearly an ancient relic.

"Why cover such a beautiful sword with a cloth?" Stone Meimei noticed a silver incense ball hanging from the hilt, feeling delighted by how well it matched. Curious, she reached out to fiddle with it.

Hearing her question, Bai She just smiled and replied, "What's beautiful and beloved should be hidden away."

Stone Meimei looked up, meeting Bai She's smiling eyes, "To prevent others from coveting and stealing it."

Stone Meimei lowered her gaze, continuing to feel the sword's blade.

After a while, she asked, "Haven't we reached Dayu Mountain yet?"

Bai She pointed towards a distant mountain, "Over there."

Estimating the distance, Stone Meimei looked up at the sky, concerned, "It's so far? Won't it be dark by the time we get there?"

Bai She commented, "Grave robbing is naturally done at night; otherwise, the authorities would catch you."

"Digging graves at night?" Stone Meimei shivered at the thought.

Bai She nodded in affirmation.

"But you just said... we could return before dark," Stone Meimei muttered softly.

Bai She raised an eyebrow, "Did I?"

Stone Meimei internally grumbled, questioning his integrity as a hero, feeling deceived.

Noticing her expression, Bai She whispered, "I must have misunderstood. I thought you were asking if we could return before dawn."

Stone Meimei felt frustrated, realizing Bai She was fabricating excuses again, but she also wondered how they would manage outdoors late at night.

As she pondered, suddenly the sound of thunder rumbled ominously.

"Ah, it's thundering. Is it going to rain?" Stone Meimei looked concerned, wishing she had brought an umbrella.

Bai She looked at the sky, "Possibly. There should be a dilapidated temple ahead where we can seek shelter."

After saying this, he cautioned Stone Meimei, "Hold on tight."

"Okay." Stone Meimei gripped the saddle firmly. Bai She, fearing she might fall, kept one hand protectively around her waist as they galloped towards Dayu Mountain.

Sure enough, as they journeyed, large raindrops began to fall. Bai She pulled Shimei closer to him, raising a hand to shield her head as they hurried towards an old temple at the foot of Dayu Mountain.

Instinctively, Stone Meimei clutched Bai She's sword tightly, protecting it from the rain, sensing Bai She's treasured possession.

Soon, they reached the entrance of the dilapidated temple, and Bai She, seeing the high temple doors, rode the horse directly inside.

The temple, long neglected, had half its main hall roofless, leaking in the rain.

Bai She chose a dry spot, dismounted, and checked Stone Meimei, noticing droplets on her shoulders. However, her outer sky-blue gauze skirt, being water-repellent, shook off the droplets easily.

Stone Meimei turned and, seeing droplets on Bai She's face and hair, reached out to wipe them off.

As her hand touched his face, Bai She grasped her fingers, feeling quite cold, and asked her, “Cold?”

Stone Meimei shook her head and quickly withdrew her hand, finding Bai She's fingers warm.

The two remained seated on the horse for a while longer, until the horse snorted, shaking its head and glancing back, seemingly suggesting they dismount.

Bai She held Stone Meimei and dismounted in one smooth motion.

Just as they landed and before Bai She could set Stone Meimei down, the horse shook its mane vigorously, spraying them both with water droplets.

After setting her down, Stone Meimei felt her face wet and turned to see the horse approaching, seemingly ready to shake again. She quickly pushed its head away and moved behind Bai She, asking, “What’s your horse's name?”

Bai She patted the horse's neck, saying, “I haven't named it.”

“Don’t people in the martial world usually name their horses?” Stone Meimei asked as thunder roared and the rain intensified outside.

Bai She looked around the temple and found remnants of previous bonfires. He gathered some firewood and set up a new bonfire, retrieving a small jar from the horse.

Stone Meimei, curious while patting the horse dry, inquired, “What’s that?”

“It’s fire oil,” Bai She replied. He poured a little onto the woodpile and struck a match, igniting the bonfire.

Once the fire was lit, Bai She fetched a meditation cushion from in front of the temple's altar and gestured for Stone Meimei to join him by the fire.

Stone Meimei took a seat by the fire, and Bai She sat next to her, occasionally prodding the fire with a stick.

The warmth from the fire enveloped them. As she sat beside Bai She, their horse approached, seemingly eager to bask in the fire’s warmth too.

Stone Meimei patted the horse's head, remarking, “This horse is quite interesting, not at all shy.”

Bai She’s mouth twitched slightly as he commented indifferently, “It's friendly because it likes you. It bites those it doesn’t favor.”

“Really?” Stone Meimei quickly retracted her hand that was holding the horse's ear, surprised to hear that horses could bite.

Bai She looked at the sky and frowned slightly, "This rain doesn't seem like it will stop anytime soon."

“What do we do then?” Stone Meimei asked, “Did we come here for nothing? In this heavy rain, we won’t meet anyone.”

“Not necessarily,” Bai She said. “On a sunny day, it's hard to encounter anyone in the vast mountain, but on a rainy day, this dilapidated temple is the only shelter in Da Yu Mountain, so...”

Hearing this, Stone Meimei looked at him, questioning, “How do you know this is the only place to take shelter in Da Yu Mountain?”

Bai She met her gaze, calmly responding, “As a person of the martial world, I am familiar with the nearby terrain.”

Stone Meimei couldn’t quite connect how being a martial artist related to knowing the terrain, so she asked another question, “Do you always carry fire oil with you when you go out?”

Bai She nodded, “It's always good to be prepared.”

Running out of questions, Stone Meimei sat hugging her knees, staring blankly into the fire.

Bai She took a wineskin from the horse’s back and handed it to her, “Have a drink.”

Stone Meimei took a sip, grimacing at the taste, “This isn’t wine…”

"Ginger tea," Bai She continued.

"You carry ginger tea with you?" Stone Meimei asked, "Or do you often encounter such heavy rain and cold, taking shelter in a dilapidated temple?"

Bai She smiled softly, whispering near her ear, "Always good to be prepared."

Stone Meimei, somewhat exasperated, took another sip of the ginger tea, feeling a bit warmer. Wiping her mouth, she then heard Bai She whisper, "Someone's coming."

She glanced towards the entrance and asked, "Could it be grave robbers?"

Bai She raised an eyebrow, "Could also be wandering spirits in the mountains."

Stone Meimei felt a chill run down her spine, widening her eyes at Bai She.

Bai She chuckled softly, "Just kidding."

Relieved, Stone Meimei saw Bai She lower his hand, adding in a low voice, "Ghosts don’t make footstep sounds; they just float in."

Suddenly, their horse snorted loudly near her ear.

Startled, Stone Meimei jumped and fell sideways, caught by Bai She, who then whispered in her ear, "There they are, three people."