Letting go {SVSSS}

Letting go

Yue Qingyuan stops at the foot of the mountain.

The Cang Qiong Mountain Sect towers over Yue Qingyuan, its peaks reaching into the clouds.

The man sets a foot on top of the first step and begins to climb up the mountain.

It was a nice day, not too sunny and not too cold either. The black robes with silver accents that Yue Qingyuan wore every day fluttered slightly against the mild wind.

While slowly ascending the stairs, Yue Qingyuan was also fidgeting with something in his hands. It was a silver hairpin.

It wasn't just a normal hairpin. It was a spiritual hairpin that allows its wearer to not get wrinkled skin after staying in water for too long.

Yue Qingyuan made his way up to the peak. Qing Jing Peak to be precise.

The head disciple, Ming Fan, greeted him when they saw him walk past. Another disciple, Ning Yingying was it? also waved a hand. The sect master nodded to them with a smile before entering the back of the peak.

He then, with his hands behind his back still fidgeting with the hairpin, makes his way to the small house within the bamboo forest.

The little dwelling in the clearing was peaceful.

Separated from the rest of the world by a forest, feeling as if the ones who lived here were living in a different world entirely.

Yue Qingyuan took a couple of steps and reached the wooden door. He first looked around. Everything in the picture was indeed peaceful, serene. It was almost like he was intruding on someone else's dream. He doesn't belong here. Not him.

Yue Qingyuan almost hesitated as he raised a hand to the door. Then the man knocks on the door.

It took a while for the door to open. Yue Qingyuan was greeted by a man dressed in light green robes, half of their hair was tied up neatly in a bun.

Shen Qingqiu blinked in surprise. What was Yue Qingyuan doing here? Again?

"Master Yue? What brings you here?" Shen Qingqiu asked, trying not to fan himself too quickly. Damn it, he's here again!

Yue Qingyuan smiled, and said, "May I come in?"

Shen Qingqiu forced a returning smile on his face and replied, "Oh sure!"

The two men walked inside the house.

Yue Qingyuan sat down on a cushioned chair in the room. Shen Qingqiu remained standing.

Then the seated man reached inside his sleeves and took out the hairpin. He placed it on the table.

"I saw this in the market today and I thought Xiao Jiu-

"Qingqiu," Shen Qingqiu interrupted the man. "Please. It's Qingqiu."

Yue Qingyuan blinked slowly. "Right. I'm sorry, I forgot. You used to hate being called Qingqiu."

Shen Qingqiu waved a hand, "Well, that's all in the past, isn't it? So what about this hairpin, Master Yue?"

Yue Qingyuan smiled almost painfully. To Shen Qingqiu this conversation is getting awkward fast.

"Ah, I saw this hairpin in the markets today, it allows its wearer to preserve smooth skin even if they were in the water for hours on end, I thought it would be useful to Xiao- Qingqiu."

"Oh," Shen Qingqiu said. "Uh- thank you."

Shen Qingqiu didn't know what else to say.

Yue Qingyuan smiled. Then there was silence as neither man knew what to say next.