Chapter 131: Spring mountains meet snow, no…

**Chapter 131: Spring Mountains to Snow, Unfinished…**

After slaying Wei Changyin, rescuing Lin Ye, and crushing Huoqiu’s remnants in Great Zhou, Li Weiyan led the officials of Jianye into Bianjing and took Princess Changning Ye Liushu as his empress. Upon entering the city, the Zhang clan of Guanzhong welcomed him with officials, both civil and military, while the young emperor of Northern Zhou stepped down for a worthy successor.

In February, Great Zhou was unified, and Li Weiyan was honored as emperor. The court was abuzz with new energy, preparing for the major event of crowning an empress.

These were matters of state, but since Xue Li had played a role in Wei Changyin’s death and the defeat of Huoqiu, she personally escorted Li Weiyan safely to Bianjing. Previously, the bridal procession had taken a full year, yet Xue Li never reached the capital. Unexpectedly, after all was settled, she finally arrived in Bianjing.

Bianjing was prosperous, its streets fragrant with golden grains, flowers lining every road.

It was a sight reminiscent of, yet wholly different from, Jianye, the ancient capital of Southern Zhou.

Perhaps Li Weiyan had grown used to the sense of safety Xue Li’s presence provided, or perhaps he missed the company of old friends. In this new dynasty where allies and enemies were unclear, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. He repeatedly invited Xue Li to stay, dangling various palace guard posts before her with lavish promises.

Even Lu Qingmei silently agreed: with the Snow Girl by the emperor’s side, he would indeed be safer.

Zhang Bing, standing nearby, recounted how Emperor Xuanming’s alliance with martial factions had led to disaster. His meaning was clear. Li Weiyan shot him several sharp glances, while Lu Qingmei fixed him with a cold stare, sizing up how much trouble he might cause in court.

Xue Li had no interest in their persuasion or quarrels.

She simply refused, saying only that someone back home needed her care.

Everyone knew who she meant. After a long silence, Li Weiyan sighed and let her go.

So, Xue Li attended a night banquet at the Great Zhou palace, watching the dances and songs, then unfazed, walked past the music of strings and pipes, leaving the palace for her temporary residence. Bianjing’s night streets glittered, bright as day.

Snowflakes drifted down, but it did nothing to dim the city’s splendor. At night, the city sparkled with silver and fire. The closer she got to her residence, the quicker her steps became.

Unable to resist, she leapt with qinggong over the wall.

As snow swirled around her, she landed in the courtyard and turned—first seeing the gently swaying lantern beneath the fine snowfall, then the young lord sitting on the steps, chin in hand, watching the snow.

It was Lin Ye.

Of course, it was Lin Ye.

Propping his cheek on one hand, he gazed at the sky as snow and lantern light fell upon his face, making his features glow softly in the dimness. Perhaps chilled, he wore a heavy cloak woven with peacock feathers, their shimmer suiting him perfectly.

Alone in the house, he’d let himself go—his hair loosely tied with a jade pin, dark strands cascading over the cloak. A few wisps blew in the wind, clinging to his pale, slender cheeks.

He sat there quietly on the steps, serene and faint, like a ghost fading away.

Xue Li froze, staring at him in a daze.

At first, Lin Ye didn’t notice her. But he wasn’t blind—if a fairy stood motionless by the wall and tree, he’d see her soon enough.

Lin Ye feigned anger: “I’m not a ghost. I’m alive. I have a shadow. I can talk, run, jump. I’m just seriously ill, just need to watch my diet, just have to soak in medicine all day, just barely survived death’s door and suffered for it, so now I can’t even leave the house—I’m stuck here like a ‘wife-watching stone.’ Despite all these ‘justs,’ I’m still a living, breathing person!”

He said sternly, “A Xue, don’t treat me like a ghost. Don’t ask others if they can see me anymore. Everyone can see me. My being alive isn’t a dream or illusion. I exist—really.”

Ever since he returned from the brink of death, ever since surviving only to fall gravely ill again, collapsing and coughing blood without warning, Xue Li had often doubted his reality.

He had simply suffered too much. The sword wound had been fatal, and even with the finest medicine Li Weiyan sent, he needed time to recover.

Lin Ye had always been cheerful, laughing easily. But days earlier, he overheard Xue Li ask Li Weiyan and the others, “Can you see him?” Under their strange looks, he realized how deeply she feared losing him.

Since then, Lin Ye made it a point to remind Xue Li daily: “I’m alive.”

Tonight, as snowflakes settled on the young man’s dark hair, jade pin, long lashes, and dark eyes, he launched into a speech, coughing weakly twice from frailty. Only then did Xue Li calm down and walk toward him.

She was convinced he was alive.

After all, no matter how many illusions she had, she could never imagine a Lin Ye as quick-witted as this.

His animated expressions, his smooth way with words—these were things her limited imagination could never conjure, yet she found herself unable to look away.

Xue Li approached Lin Ye, and he tilted his face up to smile at her, quickly spreading a corner of his fur cloak over the steps to invite her to sit. Xue Li sat down beside him, leaning against his shoulder. The faint medicinal scent around him eased the tension in her body.

She lowered her eyes, feeling a flicker of joy.

Yes, this was joy. Her heart pounded, rising and falling, nothing like the calm she was used to.

As Xue Li lingered over this new emotion, Lin Ye spoke proudly, “Do you know I did it on purpose?”

Xue Li: “What?”

Lin Ye said with a cocky grin, “I deliberately sat on the steps waiting for you to come home. That way, you’d think someone was waiting for you, and you’d be distracted, anxious. No matter how dazzling their banquet was, no matter how beautiful the performances, if you cared even a little, you’d wonder whether I ate properly, took my medicine, or if I was lonely and pitiful by myself… So A Xue would rush home to me. Pretty clever, huh?”

Xue Li thought, *I wouldn’t think that much.* Still, she *had* been distracted, wanting to return early.

And…

Xue Li murmured softly, “Home?”

Lin Ye blinked. “Isn’t it? Wherever I am, isn’t that ‘home’? Don’t I count?”

He was at it again—turning his face toward her, eyes dark and glistening, clutching his chest, looking close to tears. He was so handsome, his gaze so clear, and his antics only made her like him more.

Xue Li curved her lips, her eyes bright.

Lin Ye froze, his hand still on his chest, staring at her. His daze turned into sudden embarrassment; his face flushed and he quickly looked away, silent.

Now that he wasn’t teasing her, it was her turn to tease him.

Xue Li leaned closer and whispered, “A Ye, I’m smiling.”

Lin Ye’s cheeks burned. “…I know.”

After a long pause, he stammered, “It’s… it’s beautiful. So beautiful I… I couldn’t help it.”

Xue Li drew nearer, her breath almost brushing his cheek. “Help what?”

Lin Ye stiffened, not daring to look up. His mind raced, heat flooding his cheeks, her smile replaying endlessly. He already knew he was hopeless, but every time Xue Li smiled even slightly, his fingers tingled, his head spun—and he—he—

His grip tightened over his chest.

Xue Li misunderstood. “Is your heart hurting again?”

Lin Ye startled.

He loosened his collar and smiled. “No.”

But Xue Li’s hand reached out, her warmth pressing close. He stayed perfectly still, thoughts racing as her palm rested over his heart, her gentle energy flowing into him. Realizing she was using her energy for him again, Lin Ye quickly caught her hand.

This time, he finally dared to meet her eyes.

Lin Ye smiled softly. “A Xue, I was just playing. It really doesn’t hurt. I’ve been taking my medicine diligently, not causing trouble, not begging to go out… My body is recovering bit by bit. The mighty General of the Shining Night you’ve never seen—soon enough, you’ll see him. Then you’ll know just how amazing I am.”

Xue Li nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

She was the sole person in this world who believed every word he said.

Yet Snow Li’s fingers still did not move from his collar. When he stopped her from transferring *qi*, she obeyed, halting entirely. Her fingers simply remained there, resting lightly against his chest, feeling the heartbeat beneath. In her mind surfaced the image of Lin Ye after barely escaping the jaws of death—the sword wound at his heart.

That injury had been fatal.

It was only thanks to the medicine provided by Li Weiyan that they had managed to stabilize him, buying them time for treatment and recovery…

Snow Li asked softly, “Was the pain unbearable?”

Lin Ye hesitated.

Snowflakes settled on her lashes as she kept her gaze lowered, her expression unreadable. Her tone remained as calm and detached as ever: “That wound was from Song Wanfeng—a coward’s strike from behind. I recognize his techniques… Back then, was it unbearable? When you couldn’t speak a single word, when you heard me calling but couldn’t respond—was that tormenting?”

“Just twenty years old… and already made to endure all that.”

“Did it leave you feeling wronged?”

Lin Ye murmured, “Wronged?”

Snow Li nodded. “Yes. I have analyzed it thoroughly… You are so young, yet so many close to you have died. You’ve had to manage everything alone, conceal your emotions, and comfort everyone else. You wore down your once-strong body, and few truly understood or appreciated it… People say such burdens would leave anyone deeply resentful.”

She paused. “It pains me.”

Lin Ye let out a quiet laugh.

Of course, she didn’t realize how endearing beyond words she was when she expressed concern with that impassive face. But just as Lin Ye himself failed to realize—after enduring pain for so many years, having become everyone's rock and tactician—how a simple question like “Did it hurt?” or “Were you wronged?” could make his eyes redden.

Snow Li lifted her gaze to meet his.

He had meant to hide his emotions, but under the weight of her stare, he was laid bare.

Unable to resist, he leaned in, his fingers brushing her cheek. His touch traced upward until his fingertips rested at the corner of her eye. Gently, he swept over her lashes, his gaze helplessly drawn to hers.

Captured by those bottomless eyes, he had long known he was willingly ensnared.

The night snow fell thick and silent, like drifts of salt or soft down, blanketing the world and wrapping the young couple beneath the swaying lantern light on the steps.

Snow Li gazed steadily at him, watching as Lin Ye’s fingers lingered near her eye. He murmured, “A Xue, don’t gaze at me that way. I can’t hold back.”

Setting aside questions like “What exactly can’t you hold back?” or “What are you resisting?”, Snow Li instead asked, “What kind of look am I giving you?”

Lin Ye lifted his gaze, his eyes clear and bright as polished obsidian. A faint smile touched his lips. “A look that loves me. A look willing to follow me into anything. The more you look at me like that, the more I fear I might overstep with you.”

His voice was husky, his throat bobbing as he leaned closer, his gaze dropping to her pink lips.

His heart pounded wildly. He bent forward, tempted to cast all restraint aside and claim a kiss, his mind filled with thoughts like “Now’s the moment,” “It’s been far too long,” and “A Xue likes me—she won’t push me away.”

Indeed, Snow Li did not push him away.

But just as Lin Ye’s breath was about to brush her lips, he heard her say, “But you really did wrong me.”

Lin Ye froze mid-motion. Only an inch apart, he lifted his eyes to hers. Snow Li saw his face pale slightly.

It seemed the shrewd General Zhaoye knew precisely what she meant.

Snow Li spoke evenly, “You knew I was naive to matters of the heart, so you used my ignorance to keep me in the dark. When you were in Fengxiang, you must have met Master Yu Long. At the very least, by then, you already suspected him. Fearing he and Song Wanfeng might harm me again, you concealed it from me and went to confront them alone. On the morning we left Fengxiang, you waited for me on the steps, asking repeatedly if I liked you. Did you think that if I said no, you could die content?”

“You lied to me. You promised not to use the third drop of blood, but you did. You said we’d leave together after the war, but you broke that promise. You left me behind. You truly did wrong me.”

Lin Ye’s fingers, resting at the corner of her eye, trembled slightly, his breathing uneven.

He stepped back, lowering his gaze. “I’m sorry, A Xue… I couldn’t…”

Xue Li grasped his hand.

“I don’t consider myself foolish,” she said. “If I hadn’t trusted you, I wouldn’t have been deceived by your actions that day. You exploited my trust to deceive me into facing death. You assumed I wouldn’t suffer much, but I did—deeply. I know you couldn’t bear it—you were afraid Master and Song Wanfeng would hurt me again. So much time has passed, and I don’t know if I could’ve survived their betrayal had I been in Luoyang’s palace that day. But in the end, it was you who bore it for me.

“I don’t like this. You’re clever, but I’m not lacking either. You’re accustomed to acting alone, but you underestimated the bond between us. With Master and Song Wanfeng gone, if anything like this happens again, we must face it together—no more acting on your own.”

Xue Li whispered softly, “It felt so lonely.”

Lin Ye looked at her dazedly, murmuring, “What?”

She gazed at him quietly. “A world without you, A Ye, is unbearably lonely.”

Just that one sentence, and the world fell silent.

Just that one sentence, and nothing else mattered anymore.

Lin Ye’s eyes reddened abruptly, the emotions he’d barely held back now surging forth. He could no longer control himself, nor contain them. His face flushed as he leaned in and pulled Xue Li into his arms, pressing her tightly against his heart.

He held her fiercely, his breath scorching her cheek, his body trembling faintly.

Lin Ye’s voice was hoarse. “A Xue, you sense it too, don’t you?”

Xue Li didn’t answer.

Lin Ye cradled her tenderly. “Time and again, you’ve asked me—why do we cling to life? After countless regrets and sorrows, why do we still cling to life? If life is nothing but schemes and betrayal, if every step forward is no different from marching to death, then why do we still cling to life?

“But now, you understand why, don’t you?

“For integrity, for purpose, for companionship, for dignity. For life only comes once, for existence itself is precious enough. Love may be a mystery to you, but you must feel it—here, beneath the endless snow, amid spring’s brilliance, someone loves you, cherishes you, cannot bear to lose you.

“A Xue, I know you understand now.”

Xue Li replied, “Yes, I understand.”

She spoke slowly, “For you, A Ye, I remain in this world.”

Lin Ye’s voice cracked with pain. “If you understand now, then my deception must have hurt you deeply, didn’t it? A Xue, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you—only to protect you.”

Xue Li nodded.

She eased back just enough to meet his eyes before smiling again. “I forgive you.”

Lin Ye couldn’t help but smile with her.

Emotions swelled like a tidal wave. Beneath the night snow, Lin Ye leaned in at last, pulling her close, their lips meeting in the whirl of snow—

He heard the sound of melting snow.

He heard the sound of a heartbeat.

Far in the distance, the floating ice on winter rivers cracked and splintered, piece by piece, from solid sheets to fragments, scattering into the snowmelt flowing down from the heights. The melting snow surged onward, roaring and unstoppable, and so, beneath the crisp sound of breaking ice, the slumbering landscape awoke anew. The ice thawed, the spring waters swelled, and on this night, spring truly arrived.

--

Once, Lin Ye had written for Xue Li in the snow: *“I vow to follow A Xue through the years. Break this oath, and my soul shall scatter.”*

And tonight, Xue Li carved her response into the snow with the dagger he gifted her, *Snow Inquiry*, answering his love: *“I vow to walk with Lin Ye through countless days, myriad moons, and eternities beyond count.”*

--

In March, when Lin Ye's health improved somewhat, he no longer wished to remain in Bianjing. Brimming with excitement, he urged Xue Li to take him traveling the jianghu.

Clearly, the innocent young man, though a genius on the battlefield, was filled with longing for this adventure, having never traveled the world before. Xue Li was more experienced—she had already wandered for a full year and didn’t think it was all that fun.

But since Lin Ye yearned for it, Xue Li said their goodbyes to Li Weiyan and the rest, leaving Bianjing with him.

They headed first to Qingzhou.

Ming Jing had established the "Zhuju Kingdom" in Qingzhou, where her former female soldiers now resided with her. She was holding a husband recruitment campaign, while maintaining friendly trade relations with Great Zhou. Thanks to the remarkable marriage alliance she once facilitated, Ming Jing now enjoyed the backing of Emperor Li Weiyan, making life for the Fulans far better than their days in the Western Regions.

Xue Li and Lin Ye rode on horseback, handing over their name cards at the newly built city gate, waiting for their old friend to greet them.

Dust and sand swirled through the air, but the bustling crowd remained undeterred. Guards maintained order at the gate, while streams of people and caravans came and went, making the place lively.

Xue Li asked, "Has it always been this crowded here?"

The guard, knowing they were the queen’s friends, replied warmly, "Of course not. It’s just that the queen is holding a husband recruitment campaign—young, beautiful, and even willing to teach the Magic Flute. Plenty of young folks have flocked here to Qingzhou for this..."

Xue Li narrowed her eyes, observing passersby dressed as wanderers. "There are women too."

The guard didn’t bat an eye. "What if the queen prefers women?"

Xue Li’s eyes went wide, intrigued by this novel idea. Beside her, Lin Ye coughed and shot a glare at the talkative guard. He didn’t want his lovely Xue Li getting any funny ideas.

The little celestial who’d come down to earth was his and his alone.

Lin Ye eased his horse closer to Xue Li’s, their mounts bumping heads. Sitting tall on her horse, Xue Li was distracted by the sudden movement. Her eyes flickered as she watched Lin Ye lean in like a magician, tossing something to her. "A Xue, guess what this is?"

No matter how casually he threw it, Xue Li caught it effortlessly.

It turned out to be a blank journal. The leather cover was tightly wrapped, bound with twine, and coated in a layer of honey-colored wax. As she unwrapped it layer by layer, before even admiring the blank pages, her eyes landed on a few bold, sweeping characters—

《XXXX》.

Xue Li: "...” She didn't recognize a single character.

Fortunately, Little Peacock proudly read it aloud beside her: "It’s 'Xue Ye’s Journal.'"

Xue Li turned to Lin Ye.

Lin Ye blinked mischievously. "The old journal was lost, wasn’t it? I’m giving you a new one."

Xue Li let out an "Ah," suddenly remembering.

After *Xue Li's Journal* fell into the Luo River, it was lost for a full year. She had only recovered a few scattered pages, nearly ruined by water damage. No matter how hard she tried to salvage them, the lost entries were gone forever.

She wasn’t particularly upset, but Lin Ye, worried she might be, had gifted her a new journal.

Okay, but why change the name *Xue Li's Journal* to *Xue Ye’s Journal*?

Lin Ye put on a serious face, shamelessly pointing at himself. "This is our shared journal... You can write in it, and so can I. We’re together, so of course the journal should be shared."

His cheeks pinked with glee as he fantasized. "A journal we write together could become a family heirloom, passed down to future generations..."

Xue Li: "Then I’d have no secrets left."

Lin Ye glared. "What secrets do you need? I don’t keep any from you. You’re the one who told me not to hide things—are you planning to hide something from me now? A Xue, let me tell you, no way—I’m, I’m totally possessive."

Xue Li didn’t buy his tough act—she just found it funny.

Her eyes crinkled again, and his gaze darted around nervously.

Then Lin Ye heard Xue Li say, "I have a gift for you too."

Lin Ye froze for a moment, then his face lit up. As he turned, something resembling a scroll was tossed toward him. His mind raced with possibilities as he caught it and carefully unrolled it. He had imagined countless things the scroll might contain, but never expected it to be a covert decree—

Assassinate the White King of Huoqiu Kingdom.

Lin Ye: "..."

He gaped at Xue Li, his expression falling.

Xue Li: "The bounty is ten thousand gold."

Lin Ye: "..."

Xue Li continued, "This came from Li Weiyan. The Lu and Zhang families all stamped their seals on it. That means if I successfully kill the White King of Huoqiu, I’ll receive ten thousand gold. With the emperor, the Zhangs, and the Lus all sealing it, they hold each other accountable—I don’t have to worry about anyone reneging."

Lin Ye thought for a while before asking, "Do you really need the money that badly?"

Xue Li nodded.

Before Lin Ye could speak, Xue Li rattled off, "The daily medicinal herbs A Ye needs, the toys A Ye likes, the food A Ye enjoys, A Ye’s clothes, and the occasional expenses when A Ye goes out... Naturally, I need to earn a lot of money to take care of A Ye properly."

Lin Ye clenched the scroll tightly in his hands.

After a long pause, he chuckled. "I’m not short on money. I can support myself..."

Xue Li shook her head. "It’s different."

Xue Li: "I chose to bring you along. Of course I want to treat you well—I won’t let you suffer through a hard life like mine. I want A Ye to live comfortably."

Lin Ye lowered his gaze.

What he felt—gratitude and joy—was only the surface of his emotions. Though he had no intention of constantly expressing his affection, his fingers traced the words on the scroll, revealing an attachment difficult to put into words. After a long silence, Lin Ye muttered, "Assassinating the White King isn’t simple..."

Xue Li said, "Maybe an old friend will help."

Only then did Lin Ye, whose martial arts were weaker than Xue Li's, realize someone had been silently following them throughout their journey. He had a faint sense of it before, but dismissed it as his imagination, especially since Xue Li, being stronger, hadn’t mentioned anything. But now...

Under the city gate, Lin Ye peered over his shoulder.

Xue Li called out, "You’ve been tailing us this whole time. Aren’t you coming out?"

Lin Ye saw a young man on horseback slunk out reluctantly from a side path. The boy was shameless—the moment he spotted them, he beamed and greeted them enthusiastically, straightening his posture and bowing politely, deliberately lowering his voice. "I am Liang Chen. I feel an instant connection with both of you. Might I join your company?"

Lin Ye stared at the boy.

His eyes gleamed faintly, but he played it cool. "Looks like someone disobedient has run away from home again, huh?"

Liang Chen’s eyes reddened slightly, but he grinned.

Nudging his horse closer slowly, he said, "This time, I didn’t run away. I left with my family’s blessing—my sister and parents all know about it..."

Lin Ye smirked lazily, "And what exactly can *you* do?"

Liang Chen retorted, "Hey, don’t count me out! My martial arts have improved a lot. I won’t slow you down."

While the two bantered, Xue Li interjected, "That’s not all."

Lin Ye and Liang Chen both froze, then turned to look behind them once more. They saw the setting sun casting its glow as an old horse ambled forward, led by a black-robed youth wearing a conical hat and rain cloak, approaching them from the direction of a tea stall beneath the city gate.

As the youth drew near, he raised his head.

The black-robed youth calmly cupped his hands in greeting: "Yang Zeng, Commander of the Palace Guard of Great Zhou, dispatched beyond the Jade Gate on a secret mission. If you need anything, I shall brave fire and water without hesitation!"

The slanting rays of dusk shone from behind as the main gate of Qingzhou City swung open, and a brightly dressed figure rode forth. A young queen, dressed in the dress of a western tribeswoman, her hair braided and adorned with a floral crown, was adorned with jewels that glittered brilliantly, radiant and dazzling. This maiden galloped out of the city gate, racing toward them:

"Liang Chen!

"Lin Ye, Xue Li, Eldest Brother Yang Zeng... how wonderful to see you!"

--

"So, we're just missing one more person?" Lin Ye asked with a smile.

Liang Chen and Ming Jing immediately clustered together, talking excitedly. The young queen showed no royal bearing, still charming and adorable. When she jumped up to punch someone, her eyes shone with tears, her expression lively, as lovely as ever.

The two had endless things to say, while the others examined the imperial decree, pondering their path beyond the pass.

Yang Zeng propped his chin on his hand, glancing at Xue Li leisurely. "Dou Yan's engineering expertise would be quite useful... but 'Qin Yueye' is currently isolated in the mountains. We don’t know which part of the Tianshan range the snowy mountain lies in, nor whether Lady Dong Jun would be willing to leave her post and join us on this long journey."

Xue Li said, "I know where the snowy mountain is."

Xue Li: "Let’s go. We’ll find Dou Yan."

--

In the third month of the year, the group of youths rode out beyond the pass, circling the Tianshan Mountains and turning toward the Hexi Corridor, journeying westward.

They traversed towering peaks and lush rivers, their horses galloping faster and faster as the silhouette of the Tianshan Mountains grew ever closer on the horizon. The endless snowfall fell thick as rain, transforming into morning dew amidst the thundering hooves.

They rode beneath the morning dew, their laughter scattering over the golden, shimmering waters of the Tianshan, the snow-capped cliffs reflecting layers of rippling light.

They chased the setting golden sun and gazed upon the rising jade moon. Dawnlight filtered through thin clouds as eagles circled and swooped across the sky, their sharp cries echoing through the breathtaking landscape. The journey was long, the scenery magnificent through the ages. Winter receded further behind them, replaced by the gentle warmth of spring. The youths sang loudly as they rode, reveling in their youth, turning back to see the mountains clothed in green—

Spring had finally arrived.

"Fifteenth day of the third month, Yiyou Year. The chill night extends endlessly as we venture west beyond the heavy passes. Spring mountains meet snow, without regard for direction.

—From 'The Snowy Night Log'"

—The End—

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