Shui Bing'er Was Truly Moved

The clamor of the Sunset Forest faded into silence, and the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was once again shrouded in poisonous mist, as if nothing had ever happened. Yet, for everyone involved, this experience was etched deep within their hearts.

Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan and departed first. Before they parted, Dugu Yan stood at the edge of the Sunset Forest, her purple hair fluttering in the breeze. Her eerie green eyes looked at Ning Xiaochun, and she revealed a rare, soft smile.

"Xiaochun, remember to come to Heaven Dou City to find me and play! If anyone bullies you, just use my name, Dugu Yan! Although... it might not be as effective as your Sister Bing'er, I suppose."

She glanced at Shui Bing'er, who stood quietly to the side, her tone carrying a hint of teasing, yet also a trace of imperceptible melancholy at their parting.

"I definitely will, Sister Yan! Just don't find me annoying when I do!" Ning Xiaochun waved his hand with a grin.

Dugu Yan gave a light huff, said nothing more, and turned to follow Dugu Bo. Her figure soon vanished at the end of the forest path.

Next was Shui Bing'er.

According to their original agreement, she was free to travel between the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and Tianshui Academy until she reached adulthood at eighteen, and she would not be forcibly kept within the sect.

Tianshui Academy possessed the Cold Ice Lake, a mimicry environment better suited for her cultivation, and as the core of the Tianshui Academy team, she needed to return for training and competitions.

The luxurious carriage of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect pulled up before the elegant blue-and-white gates of Tianshui Academy.

Leng Ningshuang had already received word and was waiting at the entrance with several instructors.

When she saw the more refined, purer icy aura surrounding Shui Bing'er, and the soul power fluctuations that had subtly risen to level thirty-six, she could not hide the shock and ecstasy on her face.

She knew her disciple would gain something from her trip with the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, but she had not expected the gains to be this immense! This was practically a leap to the heavens!

"Bing'er!" Leng Ningshuang hurried forward and took Shui Bing'er's hands, so excited she was nearly incoherent. "Your soul power... and your aura... Heavens! What kind of precious treasures did the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect use on you?"

Shui Bing'er shook her head slightly, her cold, clear face showing little emotion.

"Master, it is a long story. Allow me to report it to you slowly in the future."

As she spoke, she subconsciously looked back at the luxurious carriage representing the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect parked in the distance.

The carriage curtain lifted a corner, revealing Ning Xiaochun's smiling face. He waved at her and mouthed two words: "Good luck."

Shui Bing'er's heart felt as if it had been gently plucked by something. She nodded slightly in response, then turned and followed Leng Ningshuang through the gates of Tianshui Academy.

The carriage slowly started and drove off in the direction of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

Ning Xiaochun let down the curtain and leaned back against the soft cushions, letting out a long breath. The events of the past few days were more exciting and thrilling than the last six years combined. He needed time to properly digest it all.

Meanwhile, as Shui Bing'er walked into Tianshui Academy, looking at the familiar campus, hearing the whispers of the surrounding students, and feeling the humid air filled with water-attribute soul power, she suddenly felt... somewhat unaccustomed to it.

What was it that felt off?

She walked along the tree-lined path leading to the dormitories, looking at the Ice Crystal Flowers blooming on both sides of the road, but her mind involuntarily conjured the image of that little figure who was always chattering "Sister Bing'er" in her ear, hiding behind her whenever danger arose, yet always managing to pull out an astonishing trump card at the critical moment.

Without that little brat who was always fawning over her and circling around her... it seemed, indeed, much quieter.

"Sister! Sister!"

A crisp voice, like that of an oriole, interrupted Shui Bing'er's thoughts.

A young girl of about ten, wearing her hair in twin tails and bearing a five or six-part resemblance to Shui Bing'er but with a more lively and spirited temperament, ran over like a gust of wind and grabbed Shui Bing'er's arm. It was Shui Bing'er's younger sister, Shui Yue'er.

Shui Yue'er tilted her small face up, her round eyes filled with worry and indignation as she looked Shui Bing'er up and down, as if checking to see if she was missing any limbs.

"Sister! You're finally back! I heard everything! Those people from the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect are too much! How could they do that! Relying on their wealth and power to force you to be... to be that child bride! Did they bully you? Did they do anything excessive to you?"

The more Shui Yue'er spoke, the angrier she became, her face flushing red. "No! I'm going to go find them and reason with them! Even if Tianshui Academy isn't as powerful as the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, we can't just let people bully us like this! Don't worry, Sister, I will definitely get justice for you!"

As she spoke, she actually rolled up her sleeves and prepared to charge out.

Shui Bing'er quickly pulled her back, feeling both amused and helpless. "Yue'er, don't be impulsive. They didn't bully me."

"They didn't?" Shui Yue'er looked at Shui Bing'er suspiciously. "Really? Don't lie to me, Sister! If you've been wronged, you must tell me! I'm your closest sister!"

"They really didn't," Shui Bing'er repeated, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness. But for some reason, when she said the words "didn't," her heart seemed to skip a beat, and her gaze drifted, not daring to meet Shui Yue'er's clear eyes.

She quickly changed the subject to hide her momentary guilt. "Yue'er, let me ask you a question."

"What question?" Shui Yue'er's attention was successfully diverted.

Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment, her ice-blue eyes looking toward the shimmering Cold Ice Lake in the distance, her voice carrying a hint of confusion and exploration she hadn't even realized herself. "Yue'er... tell me, what is... love?"

"Huh?" Shui Yue'er was stunned. She never expected that her sister, who had always been cold, indifferent, and focused solely on cultivation, would ask such a question!

She blinked, looking at Shui Bing'er's slightly unnatural profile, and a bold guess suddenly rose in her heart.

"Love, well..." Shui Yue'er tilted her head, trying hard to recall the tropes she had read in storybooks.

"It should be... that feeling where your heart beats faster, you blush, you want to see the other person all the time, you feel happy when you see them, you miss them when you don't... and also, you subconsciously want to protect them and not let them suffer any harm... right?"

After Shui Yue'er finished, she felt a bit cheesy herself and stuck out her tongue. "Anyway, that's what the storybooks say! Why are you suddenly asking this, Sister?"

Shui Bing'er did not answer her.

She just stood there quietly, and in her ice-blue eyes, it was as if something was quietly melting.

Heart beating faster? Blushing? Wanting to see them all the time? Missing them when they're gone? Subconsciously wanting to protect them?