Back at the Thatched Hut's little courtyard, Little Ye Zi had already fallen asleep sprawled across the desk.
After wandering around all the way, Ye Zi had not been in high spirits. Only after returning to the familiar, warm Thatched Hut did she brighten up. She ran inside and struggled to lift Little Ye Zi, whose face was covered in drool, onto the bed. After gently wiping her little face clean, she lay by the bedside and quietly watched her sister sleep.
Bai Yujun crouched down to look at Little Ye Zi as well.
"Teacher."
"Mm?"
"From now on... can we never go down the mountain again? I'll do the laundry and chop the firewood~"
Hearing that, Bai Yujun reached out and stroked Ye Zi's dry, yellowing hair. Ye Zi narrowed her eyes and let out a comfortable little hum, like a stray kitten. Children who went through too many terrible things easily developed a desire to hide away from the world.
"Living in this world, one cannot always do as one wishes. Many things cannot be avoided. Not only people—even demons cannot be truly free and unbound."
Ye Zi's mood sank.
Bai Yujun stroked her little head again. Her fluffy hair felt very nice to touch.
"Ye Zi, be strong. You still have to take care of your sister. There is good and evil in this world; you'll get used to it."
Bai Yujun began making dinner. Ye Zi was responsible for washing the bowls and scrubbing the pot, but cooking was Bai Yujun's job. She could hardly expect a seven-year-old girl to make delicious food.
She went down to the lotus pond at the foot of the mountain and dug up some fresh, tender lotus roots, first making sure there was no Lotus Spirit around.
She washed the