Snow flew through the dark chamber, white blossoms fluttering down.
Tai Pei'er suppressed her thoughts and hurriedly closed the Dao Scroll. The myriad visions immediately dispersed like clouds.
She turned her gaze back to the desk, relief and dread mingling in her heart. With the scripture in hand, the road ahead was no longer utterly dark, but even with all her schemes and calculations, the treacherous, shifting currents within the grotto-heaven remained impossible to predict.
Had Jiang Yang not been beside her to warn her, had she faced this alone, she might have knelt before that desk until she died, with no one the wiser.
Her gratitude was written plainly on her face. Tai Pei'er said little, merely gathering her skirts and dipping into a solemn curtsey before Jiang Yang as she said softly:
"Thank you for saving my life, Brother Jiang. I will never forget it. Whatever you ask of me in the future, I will not hesitate."
Jiang Yang hurried forward to support her and replied gently:
"There is no need. As long as you are unharmed, Miss Tai."
Tai Pei'er clasped Jiang Yang's hand in return. Seeing his utterly earnest expression, she knew he had clearly missed her "hint." She could not help gritting her pearly teeth, yet looking at that face, she could do nothing about him.
After this ordeal, neither wished to linger. As they were leaving, Jiang Yang hesitated for a moment before reaching out and drawing the final scroll on the desk into his hand. Without opening it, he tucked it straight into his sleeve.
The two had spent little time in the Scripture Repository, but the drastic changes outside still made their faces pale when they emerged.
An enormous breach had opened in the sky, drawing up loose stones and vegetation from