Let me Touch your Tail

Chapter 18

"......"

Feng Jin fell silent.

After a few breaths, she relaxed her grip on the bow, letting her shoulders drop, and exhaled.

"Yes."

Yan Zhao's expression remained unchanged, but her dark eyes began to sparkle.

Feng Jin added, "Let's head back to the village."

She then cast a furtive glance at the little fox in Yan Zhao's arms.

Yan Zhao held the fox tightly, gently stroking its fur.

After the dangerous events they had just witnessed, the fox's fur was stained with blood, though it seemed the blood was not its own. However, it was clear that the fox hadn't yet recovered from the shock and lay quietly, unmoving in Yan Zhao's arms.

Yan Zhao responded with a simple "Oh," and looked around.

She didn't know the way and was uncertain how long it would take to return to the village from here.

As she hesitated, a hand extended toward her, offering an invitation: "Junior Sister Yan, let me take you there."

It was Bi Lan.

This time, Yan Zhao did not immediately turn her face away.

She looked at Bi Lan with an expressionless face, frowning slightly after a moment.

Bi Lan felt anxious.

Yan Zhao's temperament was unpredictable and could not be easily understood, so Bi Lan was unsure if her gesture would provoke further displeasure.

But she thought, since they were fellow disciples, and Yan Zhao's dislike for her stemmed from her own mistakes, if she showed sincere remorse, perhaps Yan Zhao might be willing to forgive her.

In the end, Yan Zhao did not say a word and silently climbed onto Bi Lan's flying sword.

Bi Lan felt a surge of unknown happiness.

"Junior Sister Yan, hold on tight."

Feng Jin made no objections and, with Ah Ling in tow, took to the sky on her sword, leading the way.

On the way back to the village, Yan Zhao stood on the flying sword, feeling vaguely as if she had forgotten something.

But since she couldn't recall it, it must not be important.

Suddenly, Bi Lan felt a weight on her back.

Yan Zhao's head drooped and lightly rested on her shoulder. To her surprise, Yan Zhao fell asleep standing up.

Bi Lan glanced back and saw the night breeze lifting Yan Zhao's hair, revealing a fair, delicate face beneath.

When resting with her eyes closed, Yan Zhao's expression was soft and relaxed. Her long, thick lashes curled gently, and the earlier aloofness and hostility had vanished, leaving a remarkably benign and harmless appearance.

She was like a completely different person from the one in the courtyard.

Bi Lan quietly slowed the speed of the flying sword, forming a spell with her hand to activate a protective shield.

The gale blowing toward them was deflected by the shield, reducing the cold wind hitting their faces.

—

Unknowingly, the night had passed, and dawn was breaking in the east. The sky at the horizon turned a fish-belly white, with a faint purple mist swirling around, and all things began to awaken.