"Why?" I asked in disbelief. "All I did was …"
I stopped, suddenly understanding. This wasn't about picking a fight or exposing the loopholes behind the tournament. Zhong Yilan was the Gatekeeper's niece, and after what had already happened to Chu Xi, it was little wonder that the Gatekeeper could no longer tolerate my presence.
Bai Ye sighed again, seeing my realization. "This was my fault," he explained. "When you were at East Village, I—"
"I heard of it." To my surprise, I couldn't help smiling. "It's a pity that I missed seeing Chu Xi chased by a dog all over her village. I would've loved the scene."
He laughed softly. "It was a satisfying one," he admitted. "Though that wasn't the only thing I did. I spread rumors afterward that the dog biting her was mad … and I expect the villagers are still arguing at this very moment over whether to oust her or burn her." He added at my startled look, "They won't do either, I promise. But Chu Xi needs a taste of what life is like when everyone turns against her. It might help her understand the feelings of those she had harmed before."
I swallowed the comments on the tip of my tongue. I knew Bai Ye was doing this for my sake, but to see his vengeful and almost vicious side like this … made me shudder ever so slightly. He sounded almost like a different person.
"The Gatekeeper should've heard of it by now," he continued. "I doubt he has proof that I was the one who did it, though he must be suspicious. Today's incident was only an opportunity for him to take out his anger on you. I'm sorry, Qing-er."
"You couldn't have foreseen it," I said, and my mixed feelings over his relentlessness vanished at the thought of how much farther the Gatekeeper went in return. Maybe I was still too naive when it came to forgiveness. "And thanks to you, I'm still unharmed."
His lips curled. "Thanks to the water mirrors that I had always thought was the bane of my life."
Oh, the water mirrors. I had forgotten that masters at Mount Hua shared a way to communicate through spells. The ponds outside each hall served as portals to display surrounding scenes and events to the observer summoning the spell, thus called water mirrors. When I tossed the pastries into the pond outside Zhong Yilan's hall, it must've disturbed the mirror and caught Bai Ye's attention.
He had always hated that spell for disrupting his quiet solitude, but this time, it had saved me.
"Also thanks to them, I was able to witness your feat," he added.
I tensed. Too distracted by the Gatekeeper's threat earlier, I had forgotten to explain to him in detail what happened today. He was still the one to determine what discipline I needed to face as a result of this fit of courage. "Will you forgive my recklessness?" I asked a little timidly.
In all my five years at Mount Hua, he had never punished me or even scolded me for anything I did, but I had also never broken any fundamental rules. This time was different. I had sought out Zhong Yilan purely out of personal grudges, and I had insisted on the fight despite Wen Shiyin's warning. It was blatant defiance, and I could only wish that the punishment he saw fit wouldn't be too severe.
But the look in his eyes was warm and tender. "Why did you insist on the challenge, knowing the consequences?" he asked. "Was it an act of impulse, or did you not fear what your actions might cost you?"
His question was similar to the one from the Gatekeeper earlier, but instead of admonishment, there was only care and concern in his voice. I looked up at him, touched by the stark contrast. "Zhong Yilan poisoned Senior Xie Lun because of me," I said, "and I won't be able to forgive myself if I can't help him seek justice. Even though I knew the price of it, this was the only choice I could make. I couldn't let anyone think of me as so weak and defenseless that I'd stand back and watch my friends get hurt."
He smiled. "Then why do you ask for forgiveness?" He tousled my hair gently. "You did nothing wrong, Qing-er. I'm proud of you, and glad."
I stared at him. That was not the response I had expected.
"I hope you'll remember this feeling in you today," he added, "the determination to do what you believe is right, no matter what others tell you or what the rules say. Don't let what the Gatekeeper did deter or scare you—he won't make another move against you any time soon, now that I've made my stance clear. He isn't hotheaded enough to risk the fragile peace between us quite yet."
"Master …" I said, still somewhat stunned. "You don't blame me at all for what I did?"
He arched an eyebrow. "Did you expect me to?"
A flash of disappointment fleeted across his eyes at my lack of reply. He lowered his head and hid it. "I wish I could prove it to you, Qing-er … that I will always be by your side no matter what happens." He gathered me in a light embrace. "Next time when you have to make a hard decision, I hope you can think of me as someone to rely on for help and support … instead of someone to judge and punish you."
I felt a lump in my throat. I should've known. He had always wanted only the best for me, and I should've known that he would never say a word against me defying the rules to defend myself. After all this time, I should've let my guard down and believed in him without holding back.
I closed my eyes, letting his familiar warmth envelope my senses and my guilt.. "I promise," I said, "I won't doubt you ever again."
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