The bamboo leaves rustled, but Li Qiubai remained silent for a long time.
At last, he sighed softly. Without another word, he fetched paper and a brush and wrote a letter.
As he wrote, he said something seemingly out of nowhere:
"She recognized my worth and gave me my chance."
Jiang Che leaned over to look. The letter said only that Shen Suqiu had suffered cultivation deviation and was at death's door, and that he himself might also be in danger. He asked for someone to come to their rescue.
Even at this point, he refused to write a single word of accusation.
Jiang Che sighed too.
Writing the letter was enough. So long as he asked for help, there was no need to insist on anything else.
As long as this letter arrived and someone came down from Jingyan Peak, they could get through tonight and keep Li Qiubai alive. That should earn him a decent evaluation for this Instance.
Li Qiubai sealed the letter and rang the Message Bell in the courtyard. Before long, a disciple responsible for delivering letters arrived. The two exchanged a few words at the entrance before Li Qiubai returned.
"The letter has been sent by express delivery. In principle, Martial Aunt Ji Tian should receive it in an hour."
Hearing a familiar name, Jiang Che realized that Li Qiubai had received instruction from Ji Tian of Jingyan Peak. Jiang Che nodded slightly and said nothing more.
The two waited in the courtyard.
After what had happened, neither had much left to say.
Yet even after the sky darkened, no one came down from the peak.
"It's been two hours," Jiang Che could not help saying.
"...I know."
Judging by the time, Li Qiubai should have been leaving for his appointment now, but there