Several days later.
White mist blanketed the lake. Zhang Wan heard waves of hissing roars and miserable screams coming from afar. Dazzling flashes occasionally lit up the sky beneath the endless drizzle, as if immortals were fighting. She could not help worrying about Bai Yujun.
Even complete strangers would grow accustomed to one another after living together for several months.
Zhang Wan had grown used to the aloof, taciturn Bai Yujun. Every day she could not see her, she found it hard to set her mind at ease. It was as though that slight figure was the sole support for all the old and young women in the house. With her there, they feared nothing.
Mother Zhang walked over to her daughter.
"The meal is ready. Shall we wait for Miss Bai?"
"No. She told us to eat once the food is ready. We don't need to wait for her."
"That's true. It makes no difference whether immortals eat or not."
Mother Zhang had inadvertently hit upon the truth. To Bai Yujun, eating or not really made little difference. She swallowed everything in one gulp before she even had time to taste it.
The women sat around the battered wooden dining table and ate...
Just as they were nearly done, the door opened, and Bai Yujun entered wearily with Hengdao in hand.
The opened door let the wind and rain blow into the room, bringing a chill with them.
The women eating froze. They saw a patch of red at Bai Yujun's waist, blood seeping out. Her usual calm, indifferent demeanor had turned weary as well. After entering, she went straight to the couch before the window, lay down, and did not move.
Zhang Wan hurriedly rose and went to her.
"You're injured?"
"Mm."
"I'll bandage it for you. We