Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao (4)

Lu Xueqi fell silent for a moment. She looked into Bi Yao's open, honest eyes, which held a passion and directness she herself could never possess.

"The righteous and the demonic walk different paths." Lu Xueqi slowly spoke those four words. Her voice remained cool, yet it seemed to carry a certain weight.

The light in Bi Yao's eyes dimmed for an instant, then brightened again with a trace of stubbornness. "So what? Liking him is my business. Him being a Qingyun Sect disciple is his business. But what do any of that have to do with the fact that I like him?" She paused, her voice lowering with a faint, imperceptible wistfulness. "I know the Qingyun Sect's rules. I know righteousness and evil cannot coexist. But I like him. I can't control it, and I don't want to."

Lu Xueqi listened quietly, and something deep within her was gently stirred. She could not control it, and she did not want to. How simple those words were, and how difficult. What about herself? Could she admit it so frankly? Even if she did, what then? Her sect, righteousness, the responsibilities on her shoulders... layer upon layer of shackles, far more tangible and burdensome than the four words "righteous and demonic walk different paths."

"He'll be caught in a difficult position," Lu Xueqi said, unsure whether she was speaking to Bi Yao or to herself.

The light in Bi Yao's eyes flickered. She pressed her lips together and looked toward the side door through which Su Han had left. "I know... That's why I've never asked anything of him. Not before, and probably not in the future..." Her voice carried a bitter note of self-mockery. "As long as he is still willing to hold my hand and stay by my side