7 Peeping

The question troubled me. When I returned to my room late in the afternoon, I decided to ask Bai Ye about it.

Bai Ye's hall was on the second peak of Mount Hua, separate from the main peak where the Gatekeeper and most other immortal masters lived. Bai Ye said he had chosen the secluded location because he liked the quiet, and the lower peak attracted less attention and brought fewer guests.

It was the norm for disciples to live in side chambers in their master's halls, so I've stayed here with Bai Ye ever since I came to Mount Hua five years ago. Sometimes I wondered if the isolation from the main peak played a part in my lack of friends and training partners. If only I had met people like Xie Lun and Qi Lian earlier, I might've been able to improve my skills with swords much sooner …

I shook the thought out of my head. I didn't need friends, as long as I had Bai Ye's company. And why did I keep doubting his ability to give me the best training? He was one of the most powerful swordmasters ever lived, and I had heard many legends of his past battles against great evils. Who was I to second-guess his judgment?

Besides, he gave me these swords that he treasured so much, only to help accelerate my progress. I should be more than content with what I had.

My steps slowed as I approached Bai Ye's room, debating what I should say when I saw him. But when I got to his slightly opened door and peeked inside, all thoughts were gone from my head.

Bai Ye was standing by the tea table with his back to me. He must've just bathed, as his hair was wet and draped loosely over his back. He wasn't wearing his usual white robe today. In fact, he wasn't wearing a robe at all, only a light underrobe that was almost transparent after soaking up the water from his hair. A set of gray outfits for commoners lay on the table in front of him.

I froze, not daring to make the tiniest sound. Had I just walked into Bai Ye changing clothes?

My heart skipped a beat. A part of me wanted to cover my eyes and turn away from the sight. It was probably the right thing to do, but another part of me kept my feet steadily planted on the ground.

The world became very quiet. I could only hear the sound of my heartbeat and the rustles of fabric as Bai Ye picked up a mid-layer shirt and swung it across his shoulders. His underrobe shifted with the motion, and through the soaked spots, I could vaguely see his lean muscles flexing underneath.

Late afternoon sunlight poured in from the window next to him, shining through his clothes and glowing around him like a golden halo. It reminded me of the day I met him, when he descended from the sky like a true god, bringing a ray of light into the life that was all gloomy prospects for me.

I was still lost in my reminisces when Bai Ye turned around. He paused in motion, clearly not expecting my presence.

Embarrassment and regret consumed me. I tried opening my mouth to explain, but I couldn't find any words that could justify my peeping. I lowered my head instead and waited for his admonishment.

"Qing-er," Bai Ye recovered quickly from his shock and said. "Would you hand me the sash on that chair next to you please?"

I looked up, uncertain that I heard him right. He was smiling at me, and there was nothing akin to embarrassment or anger in his eyes. For a moment, I thought he looked almost amused.

"Yes, Master," I answered and fetched the sash. I wasn't sure why Bai Ye chose to pretend that I didn't just do something totally inappropriate. Was he trying to make me feel less guilty of my mistake, or did he simply not think it was a big deal?

That thought struck me. After all, Bai Ye had lived over five hundred years, and I was only thirteen when he found me. Maybe I was no more than a child in his eyes, and he wouldn't mind a child walking in on him changing.

My hand trembled slightly while I brought the sash to him. It wasn't that I ever expected him to treat me as anything beyond a disciple, but to think that he might consider me a mere young girl …

I gasped when Bai Ye held my hands gently in his, instead of taking the sash from me.

"Qing-er," he asked softly, "why were you standing at the door?"

So he had meant to ask it all along. I didn't dare look into his eyes, so I fixed my sight on my hands. They were still trembling. Bai Ye's long fingers clasped over mine, his skin radiating a silky glow in the golden sunlight, and I burned at the sensation of his touch.

He had never touched me before, except when treating my wounds or correcting my form movements. He had always been an exemplary master, gentle and caring, but never stepping beyond what his responsibilities required or allowed.

What did he mean by this?

Seeing my silence to his question, Bai Ye sighed lightly. "Qing-er, you've always been quiet with your thoughts. But sometimes … some things, unless you tell me about it yourself, I don't want to guess or assume. Do you understand?"

I looked up at him in shock. He looked different up close with loose hair and under robes. More casual. More … intimate. Without a sash, the front of his robes hung slightly open, and a sliver of his chest showed between the collars. I felt my face burn, and I lowered my head again.

"I … I didn't mean to," was all that I could manage to say. It wasn't an answer to what he just asked at all, but I didn't want to think too deeply about what he implied.

"I'm not blaming you." Bai Ye brushed his fingers over the back of my hands before he let go and took the sash from my grip. I didn't dare look while he wrapped it around his waist and donned the last layer of outer robe. "I'm short on time today, but if you want to tell me more when I get back, I'll be glad to hear it."

My head shot up. "Get back?" I asked, finally realizing he was leaving Mount Hua. That was why he changed into a commoner's outfit.

"There was a demon attack reported at East Village," Bai Ye said as he combed up his half-wet hair. "It should be a quick trip, no more than two days."

I was baffled. A demon attack rarely required a master's attention. Simple tasks like this were usually assigned to disciples as real-life training opportunities.

As if he read my mind, Bai Ye added: "The Gatekeeper wanted some rare herbs from the mountains over there as well, and no disciples know how to find them … yet." He smiled. "Keep up the good progress while I'm gone, Qing-er. Maybe I'll be able to use your help on the next trip."

He swept out of the room before I could reply. I remembered all too late that I had completely forgotten to mention my sword practice.