The hot spring was a luxury Lin Tian could finally appreciate without a trace of guilt. The water, infused with gentle spirit energy, steamed around them as they soaked, the tensions of the last few weeks leaching away into the mist.
Xueya rested her head against the smooth stone edge, her silver hair fanning in the water, while Su Lan sat across from him, her eyes closed in quiet contentment. The bonds between them hummed with a steady, warm frequency, like three notes in a perfect chord.
This is peace, Lin Tian thought, letting his own head fall back. This is what we fought for.
It lasted until dawn.
A crisp, formal knock echoed through the pavilion's main chamber just as the first light touched the peaks. The sound was insistent, bypassing the outer door's muffling formations.
Lin Tian was already pulling on a fresh inner disciple's robe, the fine blue silk cool against his skin. Xueya and Su Lan exchanged a glance, their relaxed postures shifting into something more alert.
