She hadn’t intentionally placed it so close to herself. When she first brought it back, she had casually thrown it on the table. After a while, she thought if the cleaning staff got ideas, she would have received this gift in vain. With her actions matching her heart, she picked it up again and placed it by the bedside, pressing it under her pillow when she went out.
Thinking of this, Qu Yao smiled bitterly. Why was she so concerned about a gift from a woman? Even more ridiculous was that she had given her sword to a third-rate martial artist.
On the day Yan Ziyan left, all the men of the small secluded pavilion abandoned their dignity and ran outside to bid farewell.
She was initially a bit sad, but seeing their genuine reluctance, her heart overflowed with happiness, and she comforted them instead.
Qu Yao practiced sword half an hour longer than usual. After sitting for half a day, she mounted her horse and rushed out.
“You fool, I thought you weren’t coming to see me off!” Yan Ziyan rode a white horse leisurely, seeing Qu Yao approaching from behind. Her mouth curved, her eyes smiling.
In white clothes on a white horse, radiant under the sun, Qu Yao was momentarily dazed. She silently lowered her gaze and threw the sword to her.
“You’re giving me a sword?”
“Your martial arts are poor.”
Yan Ziyan was surprised. This was just an ordinary sword. But the smooth sword handle, held in hands for years… She was deeply touched by this gift.
“You fool, thank you.” She didn’t refuse, hugging the sword close, smiling sincerely.
Qu Yao turned and hummed, “I received your jade pendant. This is just a return gift.”
Yan Ziyan thought for a moment, tilting her head, “If I come to the Central Plains in the future, can I visit the Qu family?”
“The family master will decide.”
“You fool, you can come play in Guangnan. Just ask anyone, and they’ll know me.”
Even if someone doesn’t know me, show them my jade pendant, and they’ll bring you to me.”
Qu Yao nodded faintly, “You should go.”
Yan Ziyan leaned over to pat her shoulder, then cupped her fists, waved, and rode away.
