Han Yue rose, smoothed her silver-white dress, and walked over to Lu Heng.
"Yao Lao and my father are looking after things up front. Senior Hei Qing won't go without food or wine. You spent half a year refining pills in Saint Dan City, then went to the ice plains and fought a brutal battle today. Even a body made of iron couldn't keep this up.
Go back to your room and rest tonight."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "She's right. You still have pills to refine tomorrow. Don't think about any of it tonight."
Lu Heng rubbed his aching brow. He could feel exhaustion rising from the depths of his soul.
The Chaos Qi Vortex might replenish itself endlessly, but he had been going nonstop for more than half a year, his nerves taut as bowstrings. Now that his enemies were gone, the tension finally eased, and weariness crashed over him.
"All right. I'm sleeping tonight."
Lu Heng stood and stretched.
At once, Han Xue grabbed Qing Lin and headed for the side courtyard, calling out as she went:
"Come on, Qing Lin! We'll sleep in the West Wing and let those three talk!"
Qing Lin let Han Xue pull her along. She glanced back to wave at Lu Heng, then slipped out of the courtyard with a blush on her face.
The courtyard fell quiet.
Only Han Yue and Xiao Yi Xian remained, standing on either side of the stone table.
The night breeze carried the faint scent of locust blossoms through the courtyard.
Moonlight softened Han Yue's usually cool expression. Her long silver-white hair stirred in the breeze, and her dress traced the elegant lines of her straight, slender legs.
Xiao Yi Xian stood quietly beneath the tree. Her purple dress was simple and graceful, her figure delicate.