By the time Xueyi finished mending the torn clothes, the two red candles had burned down to their ends. The three of them in the little mountain village house settled into their beds for the night. Perhaps because the Mountain Imp and Tree Demon nearby had been swept away, the village was unusually peaceful that winter night. Lying on his bed in the outer room, Xing Yan heard only the occasional sound of tossing and turning from within. That must have been little Qiong Rong, too excited to sleep after hearing she would be visiting her big brother's home. After a while, a few scattered barks sounded in the distance. Exhausted by the day's work, the young man gradually drifted off as well.
The next morning, Xing Yan had just finished scooping up water to wash beside Jadewater Pond when he saw the water spirit woman, Su Shui Ruo, dressed entirely in white, gracefully approaching along the village's dirt path beside the clear pond.
Her arrival reminded Xing Yan of what she had said the day before, and he hurried to welcome her into Snow-Suitable Hall.
Once inside, however, Su Shui Ruo did not rush to discuss returning to the mountain. Instead, she sat quietly in the outer room of the cottage and chatted with Xing Yan. Whenever he happened to mention returning, she merely smiled and softly told him they must wait for Miss Xueyi to join their discussion. Meanwhile, Xueyi was at the red-lacquered dressing table in the inner room, helping the little girl who had slept poorly and risen late wash and dress.
During their desultory conversation, Xing Yan learned that Snow-Suitable Hall, where they had stayed these past few days, was where Shui Ruo and her husband had celebrated their marriage. Before Xing Yan and his