Spring Winds

"There is one way," Senior Sister answered.

"Really!" I exclaimed. "Tell me!" This is great! If I use this technique, doesn't that mean I wouldn't need to go into closed-door cultivation at all!

"First, sit still."

"Okay," I crossed my legs and waited for Senior Sister to continue.

"Now, lean a little bit closer to me."

"Alright," and leaned a bit closer to Senior Sister. I wonder what we will do after this?

"Now, close your eyes."

I took in a small breath and slid my eyes shut and waited for Senior Sister to say something. Am I doing this correctly?

Suddenly, my face felt a little prickly as Senior Sister came closer. Cold fingertips landed on the side of my face and I couldn't help but shiver a bit at the chill.

How is Senior Sister not sick? Her hands are so cold!

But they weren't unpleasant.

The cold fingers moved to brush back so strands of hair from my face, slowly tucking them behind my ear. The hand continued to move, as the back of Senior Sister's hand brushed down the side of my neck.

I unconsciously shivered at the light touch. How is this supposed to help me cultivate faster? I don't feel any different.

Then Senior Sister's hand stopped at my shoulder, just before the soft sloping edge of my arm.

I could feel Senior Sister's eyes on me, as her sharp eyes wandering around me features. As if she were trying to drink me in.

For some reason, I couldn't help but gulp a little as she kept looking at me. Though I couldn't see her, I imagined her glaze.

Her deep black eyes meticulously analyzing every inch of my face and how her brows would crease ever so slightly whenever she's deep in thought.

I wouldn't tell her this, but whenever she was doing something, I would sneak a few glances at her.

At first, it was just a game to see if she would notice me and look my way. I'm sure she probably knew but chose to ignore me.

However, somehow those small glances would turn into long periods, of which I would stare at Senior Sister.

Eventually, after doing that for so long, I would notice a few details about her that I didn't see before.

The way she would wrinkle her nose whenever she was reviewing work, or she would slowly tap her fingers against a flat surface in a rhythmic pattern.

It was interesting to see that Senior Sister was someone more than a cold-hearted noblewoman.

Not that I had ever seen her that way, of course, but I had heard whispers about Senior Sister here and there.

Not surprisingly, Senior Sister also has quite a following of her own. It makes me jealous.

Senior Sister took a deep breath, and I could feel her lean towards me.

"Smack!"

"Ow!" Holding my throbbing forehead, I gave Senior Sister an accusatory glare. "What was that for!"

Crap! That hurt!

Feeling around my forehead, I could already feel a bump growing. Wasn't Senior Sister supposed to help me cultivate faster! What sort of trickery is this!

"A lesson," Senior Sister merely replied as she too rubbed her forehead. Though it didn't seem to be that damaging, a small red patch was evidence of where our heads connected.

"Huh? A lesson?" What sort of nonsense is this! Senior Sister, don't you know that teaching children through pain isn't the healthiest method! You could cause some severe mental damage with that mindset. "Senior Sister, how could you play such a cruel trick!"

Senior Sister merely looked at me with an amused smile. I take back what I said! You are a cold woman, Senior Sister! "I think it's going to leave a mark," I moped.

"Really?" Senior Sister leaned in to check out my forehead wound. "Hmm, you're right. It looks like a giant bee sting." Is that a joking tone I hear? Senior Sister, you exceeded my expectations.

"Well, since you caused this, take responsibility!"

"Hmph," Senior Sister shook her head as a small smile played on her lips. Her cold palm laid on my forehead as cold waves cooled the hot wound. "Better?"

"Ehm, no."

"Hmm? Still not enough?" Senior Sister retracted her hand and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I wonder…"

Hmm, what's that mysterious on your face for, Senior Sister?

Suddenly a soft pair of lips touched my forehead.

"Wahh." My face suddenly seemed to have been doused in heat. I fell into Senior Sister's embrace, as I dumbly look off in the distance. What just happened?

Senior Sister wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. Huh, I wonder how long it been since someone hugged me like this.

"There, does that feel better," she asked as her hands slowly rubbed up and down my spine.

"Um, yeah," I shivered at the light touch, my shoulders scrunching up as her hand traced along my spine, from the top of my neck to my lower back.

It felt warm like this.

Leaning in more to Senior Sister's chest, I heard faint thumping noises.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Gripping onto Senior Sister a bit, I could hear the same loud and rapid thumps ringing through my head. What is this? I never felt like this before.

Are they Senior Sister's or my own?

"A-Ran, are you alright," Senior Sister stopped her hand, a pulled back slightly to get a look at me; concern written all over her face. I must have grabbed too hard.

"uh, " I mumbled dumbly. "I think I need to lay down for a second."

"A-Ran."

"...." Senior Sister strangely seems to be more transparent. I must be crazy, why are the lotus flowers visible right through Senior Sister?

"A-Ran! Talk to me!"

I tried to reach out and hold Senior Sister, to tell her everything was okay. But, my hand went right through her. "What?"

"Zhu Na Ran!"

---

"Uhhh!" Breaking through the surface, I gasp for air. My lungs began to hack up water as they greedily took in more breaths.

I paddled over to the edge of the pool and tried to pull myself together.

Reminder to self, never cultivate in a pool of water. Ever.

I know that it was sort of my fault for getting in the pool, but it was Master who threw me in here with no supervision, so I blame any damages on him.

"Umm, I hate cultivating," crawling out of the water like a half-dead fish, I plop myself on the cold stone ground. "Sweet dry ground," and stroked the surface of the cracked stone.

Although I was momentarily distracted by my near-death experience, what had happened before reintroduced itself quickly.

Sitting upright, I slapped my forehead. "Senior Sister kissed me!"

Sure, it was the forehead, and many people do forehead kisses, but this is different than any of that!

"Hooo, my goodness," I held my face between my hands. "What am I going to do!"

How am I going to face Senior Sister after that!

"Wait! What am I saying!" Two resounded slaps echoed in the dark cave. Holding my two now swollen cheeks, I attempt to refocus thoughts.

Shuffling back over to the pool surface, I look at my watery reflection.

Familiar confused eyes look back at me.

"Zhu Na Ran," I started. "You are a strong girl, alright! You've gone through worse before and felt worse before. So, are you going to let something like a small little kiss affect your life! Your relationsh.i.p.s! The answer is no! Plus, many people do forehead kisses, okay! Parents, siblings, lov- married people! See, many do it! So what makes this one any different? You're going to march right through that cave mouth, and face whatever the heck is out there! Now pull yourself together."

I gave myself one more self reassuring smile before getting up and walking towards the cave entrance.

"Await, I need clothes first."

---

"Ho ho, ho! What's this?" Master dance around me with a monkey-like grin. "My dear disciple, who hates cultivating, actually advanced two whole levels! The heavens must have truly fallen!"

Flashing Master a hard glare, I ignored him as I continued to walk back to the manor. Who knew that Master would be waiting at the exit!

"I wonder if I should forc- advise you to go into closed-door cultivation more often, hmm," Master hummed as he followed me. "I should have done this sooner. Ahh, missed opportunities."

I did my best to ignore Master and his taunts; it was getting increasingly difficult for me. Not only was he annoying, but I was still wet and cold! My hair had yet to dry and was making large wet puddles down my back, darkening the light grey fabric.

Master, can you do this disciple a favor and give me some space!

"Hmm, not replying, huh? Hmph! Fine, this old man will find entertainment elsewhere." A chilly breeze signaled his departure.

My teeth chattered as cold winter chills went down my spine. That old fox! He did that on purpose.

"If I get sick, Master, it's on you," I hollered to the wind. Geez, wait until I tell Senior Sister about that mountain of snacks in your room! That'll teach you!