That Jade Temple disciple kept her promise and didn't bug with more questions about Bai Ye, letting the last two days of the lessons pass in peace. At the end of the week, their Keeper announced with excitent that it was finally ti for the real purpose of the trip—the tournant—to begin.
I wasn't nearly as excited though. Like what Wen Shiyin had said, the tournant was a hunting ga composed of two rounds, one for groups and one for individuals. Each round would last as long as it takes for the top prize to be found, which could easily be up to a week. Since the entire ga was to be held in a designated area away from Jade Temple, it would an that I'd barely get a chance to see Bai Ye for the remaining ti of this trip.
Bai Ye saw my disappointnt when I returned to my room that night. "Don't like the assignnt?" he asked.
It took a little while to realize that he was referring to the team assignnt sheet in my hand. I shook my head. "It's a good team … I'm just not quite ready to go yet."
He understood what I was implying and smiled. "The sooner you find the top prize, the sooner you can get back. Use it as an incentive."
I sat down next to him. "You think my team has a good chance of winning?" I asked, skimming over the na list. "I don't know anything about other sects … but even just for Mount Hua, there are other groups with more experienced mbers."
I was assigned to the sa team with Xie Lun, Wen Shiyin, and another disciple around the sa experience level as , Peng Yao. It wasn't a bad combination with two senior and two mid-level disciples, but there were other ones that looked better. Li Yuxian's group, for example, had three seniors and two juniors.
"Experience doesn't determine everything." Bai Ye circled an arm around my waist, reaching from behind to point at the nas. "From what you've told before, Wen Shiyin is good at target sensing. A crucial but frequently neglected skill in hunting gas like this. Xie Lun is top of his peers with a sword. I haven't t Peng Yao, but I know her master's focus is in talismans, which ans her skills should complent the rest of your group well."
I saw what he was leading to. "It's a balanced team," I said. "And if anyone gets injured, I could be of use as well."
"You will be of much more use than that." He rubbed my head lightly. "Rember how you ca up with those tactics during your challenges at the last tournant, and how you figured out the way to defeat those invisible demons in the forest? No one else matches your quick thinking when it cos to analyzing your situation and forming solutions. Even Teng Yuan ca to ask if I'd like to put you on the sa team with one of his disciples."
I looked at him in surprise. "Did masters plan these assignnts? I thought they were randomly picked."
He chuckled. "Not random at all. If I were to guess, Su Nian probably went out of her way to put Wen Shiyin in the sa group with Xie Lun."
Those words surprised even more. "You know about their story too?" I asked. He wasn't usually interested in gossips like this. "It's a good try. I'm hoping that the two of them being in the sa group could bring so changes to the situation as well."
A strange look fleeted across his eyes. "You want them to be together?" he asked after a little pause.
I nodded. "Senior Wen told about their past. They kind of grew up together … and I think they really care about each other. Maybe Senior Xie just hasn't realized it yet, and I hope he'll change his mind about the celibate path once he figures it out. A daoist companion doesn't necessarily an a distraction … Even the Gatekeeper has children, after all."
"Changing his mind won't be an easy task," Bai Ye said thoughtfully. "Xie Lun is a bit like when I was young … The art of sword ans too much to him, and it becos the only thing he sees. He'll need to et a special person to realize what he's missing out in life, and Wen Shiyin … doesn't seem persistent enough for that job."
My eyes widened more and more as he spoke. "Bai Ye?" I gasped when he finished. "You've never, ever comnted on soone else's love affairs before," I smirked. "What have I done to you?"
He blinked, and that innocent look made chuckle. "I'm happy to hear it though," I added, "Maybe in that case, I should consider giving Senior Wen so help during this group round. Create so opportunities for them or … convince her to take more initiative …"
"Qing-er," Bai Ye shook his head, "that's not what I was suggesting …"
I giggled and turned in his arm to face him. "Then are you suggesting I'm lucky that soone else did that job on you for ? If even Senior Wen is too soft for it … I'd never have a chance to get your attention if you are still obsessed with swords like Senior Xie is."
The look in his eyes wavered a little in the candlelight. "You know you're special," he said softly.
Of course, I did know. But the thought of him once being soone so cold-hearted towards a lover tickled sothing in , and I wanted to tease him. I ran my forefinger down his cheek, stopping over his lips. "Prove it to then," I breathed. "Show how special I am to you."
He laughed, and suddenly he toppled over, making us both fall into the bed in an ungraceful heap.. The assignnt sheet fell to the ground, soon buried beneath our pile of clothes.
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