Shen Fei woke first the next morning.
The bamboo couch was hard and uncomfortable to sleep on. He had woken twice during the night, once when a night bird called outside, and once when the wind made a wallboard of the wooden house creak.
The second time he woke, he turned his head to look toward the bed. Xiao Ning'er lay wrapped in her quilt, facing the wall, breathing evenly without moving.
He closed his eyes again. When he next opened them, gray-white morning light was filtering through the paper-covered window. Dawn had come.
Shen Fei sat up, folded the thin quilt, and set it at one end of the bamboo couch. He put on his outer robe and fastened his belt. His movements were light, but the wooden floor still creaked twice.
Over on the bed, Xiao Ning'er rolled over. Before her eyes opened, her hand found the corner of the quilt and tugged it up over her shoulder.
"Awake?" Shen Fei asked.
Xiao Ning'er murmured an assent, then sat up a few breaths later. Her hair was a little messy, and she smoothed it twice with her hands. Without a mirror, she simply tied it into a casual ponytail.
Neither said much. They each sat cross-legged, one on the bed and the other on the bamboo couch, closed their eyes, and began circulating their cultivation arts.
Shen Fei completed a full cycle of the Dark Prison Reincarnation Art, spiritual power flowing slowly through his meridians. Last night's meal had long since been fully digested, and his dantian felt empty. After completing the cycle, he had recovered somewhat.
When he opened his eyes, Xiao Ning'er had just finished her cultivation as well. The phantom of the Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow faded behind her, and the lightning dispersed.
Footsteps sounded outside