It was a wooden ship large enough to fit a hundred people. The dark planks glinted against the rising sun, the white sails blowing full as it docked in front of us. But there was no wind, and obviously no water for it to sail on.
"A ship moving on spiritual power?" Wen Shiyin came to the realization first and glanced over at Xie Lun. "You made this?"
"I'm no shipbuilder," Xie Lun laughed. "The Gatekeeper bought the ship. I only made a few additions to make it sail differently—"
"Only?" Qi Lian interrupted. "You modified the canvas, the capstans, the wheel … It's practically a new ship now with all new mechanisms and power sources." He turned to Wen Shiyin and me. "And did I tell you this thing steers on its own? All it needs is a supply of spiritual power and a destination. No one has to man it on our entire way to the Jade Temple."
I chuckled at Qi Lian's excitement. "You sound so proud of it that I would've thought you were the one who built this," I joked.
Wen Shiyin smiled next to me. "It's a blessing to have a senior that you can be so proud of," she said. There was a hint of envy in her tone.
The Gatekeeper stepped onto the ship, and the rest of us followed. The ship was way too large for a group of barely thirty people, and we could've just as easily made it to the Jade Temple on flying swords, but I suppose this was a show of talent and power for Mount Hua. The Gatekeeper must've really trusted Xie Lun to have handed him such an important task.
Under Qi Lian's imploration, Xie Lun agreed to show us how the modifications were made, so Wen Shiyin and I followed his group for a tour of his masterpiece. We circled around the deck. Xie Lun pointed at the main mast and was starting to explain how he made the sail to control its own tack when, from the corner of my eye, I saw Bai Ye strolling towards us, stopping about twenty paces away and leaning over the railings.
"The spiritual power will turn this piece …" I heard Xie Lun say, but I was no longer listening. Suppressing the urge to turn towards where Bai Ye was standing, I tilted my head a little so that he was fully within the edge of my vision. He was gazing into the distance, his face slightly turned towards us, and I knew he must be looking at me from the corner of his eye as well. I fought back a smile. The ship had just started moving, the wind from our speed blowing his hair behind him, fluttering the sleeves of his white robe. Against a backdrop of flaming morning clouds, he looked just like the way he did when I first met him five years ago.
"Master."
Wen Shiyin's voice startled me. I pulled back my surreptitious glance in a hurry and saw her turning to her side with a bow. When I followed her lead with the rest of the group, Su Nian's voice rang above my head: "No need for formalities. Don't let me interrupt you."
My heart clenched. By the time we straightened, Su Nian had already passed through, and I didn't need to look to know that she was walking towards Bai Ye. What was she going to talk to him about this time? As a disciple, I couldn't stop her or interrupt them … and I couldn't even stare at them boldly in the open. I strained my hearing, hoping that I was close enough to catch a portion of their conversation.
It was Qi Lian's chuckle that I caught first though. "Senior Wen, Senior Yun," he said in the lowest voice possible, "when was the last time your masters saw each other?"
Xie Lun gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "Gossiping behind a master's back is utterly disrespectful, Qi Lian."
Qi Lian grimaced, but the eager curiosity didn't fade from his face. He squatted down behind the mast as if trying to study it, but his eyes darted towards where Bai Ye was standing. He was obviously intent on watching the show.
Xie Lun shook his head and shrugged. Wen Shiyin was expressionless. After considering for a brief moment, I joined Qi Lian—it was probably the only opportunity I could get to see Bai Ye today, and since Qi Lian had created such a convenient excuse for me, I'd take it.
From behind the cover of the mast, I saw Su Nian placing herself next to Bai Ye, so close that their shoulders were almost touching. "Have you decided?" she asked familiarly.
Qi Lian let out a slightly confused gasp. "They seem much closer than I thought," he whispered. "Senior Xie said they rarely see each other, but it sounds like they've been in touch quite frequently."
Bai Ye was right, I thought. Su Nian did like to talk as if she knew him better than anyone else. I fought back a wince. Then I heard him reply: "I will let the Gatekeeper know once I have an answer. I appreciate you passing the message for us, Su Nian, but no need to trouble yourself further on this."
It was the same tone I heard him speak to her with last time, polite but aloof. Su Nian's beautiful brow knitted at the sound of it. "Do you have to always talk to me so distantly?" she asked. "Even today? Today is Mid Autumn … In the commoner's world, this is the time for families to take a break from their daily chores and get together under the full moon. You've been like family to me ever since I came to Mount Hua—"
"Su Nian," he cut her off. "Careful with your words. Your master and disciples are your families here. It will hurt their feelings if they hear you say this to me instead." He stepped away from the railings. "There's still time before we arrive at the Jade Temple. I hope you'll spend it well."
Su Nian's face ashened as Bai Ye strode away. She turned and looked around, as if to check if anyone had witnessed her embarrassing moment. Qi Lian and I buried our heads behind the mast hastily. "Remember what I said months ago, Senior Yun?" Qi Lian whispered.. "Your master is indeed difficult to get along with."
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