Twilight (7)

Spirit Pool Peak's afternoons were always wrapped in a damp chill. The clouds and mist were not as heavy as they were in the morning, yet they resembled water-soaked cotton wool, veiling the sun until only a hazy halo remained. Even when it spilled over the bluestone platform, it was no more than a faint wash of white.

The wind carried the dampness of the pool, and when it brushed past their robes, it was three parts colder than the late spring at the foot of the mountain.

With one matter temporarily settled, Lin Huaixu had already begun making his own little calculations.

At that moment, he sat amid the breeze of Spirit Pool Peak, twirling a folding fan between his fingers. Its ribs tapped softly against his palm. He narrowed his eyes slightly and cast a thoughtful gaze in Shen Yuxi's direction.

Shen Yuxi, seated opposite him, had calculations of his own and paid no heed to that gaze. Lin Huaixu had always acted on whatever whim struck him; if Shen Yuxi tried to figure out every one of his moves, he would never be done figuring.

A moment later, there came a crisp click. Lin Huaixu snapped his fan shut, held it in one hand, and gave Shen Yuxi a slight salute. His posture was dashing without lacking courtesy.

A smile rested on his lips, but the corners of his eyes tilted upward, concealing a restless spark. "Second Senior Brother, the wind on Spirit Pool Peak may nourish the body, but sitting in meditation for too long stiffens the bones. Why not accompany your junior brother for a little exercise?"

There was three parts amusement and seven parts fighting spirit in that smile. Even though Shen Yuxi remembered that his junior brother's injuries had yet to fully heal,