Because
I love jade

Ye Yu was sitting on the big jars, waiting for Yulian. She jumped off when she arrived.

"In the fresh evening air, let's have a walk
We still have lots to share over a long talk" she rhymed, already leaving in the street towards the exit of the city.

Yulian followed after, keeping her arms crossed under her bust as she did so, her keeping herself mellow as she walked. "Hush...With all your rhymes..."

After a few minutes of walk outside the city, Ye Yu eventually stopped following the trail, going into the hills instead, looking for something. She continued to climb in silence for a few more minutes before stopping, pointing at a nearby cliff on top of which large trees were blossoming. "We're going there!" she declared in a confident voice.

She actually grew a small bit confused, as they were walking off into the wilderness, into the distance from the village. If the other was just concerned with coin, she could've gotten it and then some by now, so this choice of local was most certainly interesting to note.

She hummed softly, letting her gaze shift around and about carefully now, following after her, by this time, she'd allowed her bashful nature to ease itself, to a more neutral tone, her arms still wrapped, crossing under her bust but she no longer looked embarrassed to feel 'undress' without her veil or hat, instead she was simply taking in everything as it came by, watching everything with those analyzing jade hue'd eyes. "Mm. Where are you leading me I wonder...? And moreso, why?" She let out finally, though kept her attentions out and around them.

"Because it's where we have to go, don't you hear the call in the breeze? I will be perfect. Oh! By the way, be helpful and carry this!" she said, placing the large bag in Yulian's arms without asking any questions. With a wink, she resumed her enigmatic walk.

"Soooo Miss Zhuge, are you going to tell me the reasons that put such a pretty lady on the roads? Shouldn't you be in some palace or flirting with nobles, instead of paying meals to unknown travelers? If you share your story, I may let you know where we're heading!"

She blinked, her brow furrowing some as she was unceremoniously cast a bag in such a way, her hands laced around it as she hugged it close to her chest, actually holding it up to herself in a way she could hide if just the slightest bit behind it, keeping her expression hidden against it. "H-hush..." She murmured quietly as she continued to follow after her as they walked.

"I...I've already told you why I can't." She murmured quietly, "I've...a lot I must do and very little time to do so. My travels all hold important to achieving these goals. Sitting about and flirting is...not something that would help me achieve my...my goals." She stated, sighing softly once more, "And I already told you -more- then enough about me, what else do you desire, dove, what I eat for breakfast...? Rice. Are you pleased now...?" She tipped her head.

"Your time is running off and yet, you find time to have a romantic walk in the hills with a stranger? Just to get back your hat and your veil? What a weird sense of priorities! Unless this hat is important to you? I do know someone whose hat is vital to them. But you? Is it only pride? Not willing to leave me with more loot for the day? Or more loot -from you-?" she sneered again before stopping at the foot of the steep cliff.

-Free- hands on her hips, she raised her head, evaluating the difficulty. Such cliff would have been an easy promenade for any martial artist with basic lightness skill. Her expression, a mixed of doubt and resolve, was hinting to an absence of such skill. The simple musician turned to Yulian's, her eyes alternating between her and the big bag.

"Mhhh... Put the bag in those bushes" she eventually declared, hesitant. "Hopefully, nobody will come here at such hour to search for hidden items. I'll come later to fetch it. You'll need both your hands to climb safely. Or we can take a whole tour but it will takes us ... maybe an hour more? It is up to you:

Do you have time to spend for a light promenade Or time for difficulty, you prefer to trade ?"

She blinked slightly, watching Ye Yu closely, her expression, her very ability, there was a pause as she started to speak, the teasing of course made her huffy, yet even that was shortlived, instead her focus was on the second half of her words, the clear bit of where she was wanting to go -up- the stone surface and was talking of...needing to cast the bag to the side?

For a short moment, Yulian's brow lifted and she let a small sigh escape herself, a sudden motion given, as she moved to hand the bag back to her, before her own body lowered, suddenly attempting to grasp her arms around her, one under her legs, the other around her upper frame, trying to keep her wrapped up in her very arms, holding her like one may've expected a 'bride' to be carried off, though without the sensual grasp to it. This was more practical. For such a small frame, Yulian would quite easily be able to hold her body weight within her arms, "Hang on. We're not going to waste time."

She stated with a small tut of her tongue, before her body pushed upward, a burst of qi suddenly pushed outward as her body leaped upward, if she was allowed to grasp Ye Yu to begin with, they'd now be gliding through the air, it wasn't effortlessly, given carrying another person like she was, was actually quite difficult, yet she'd pushed that ability forth, able to grasp the other's foreign weight, and support it while she glided through the very air, up and toward the top of the cliff-face, before landing with -both feet downcast, and moving to let her back down. "...There." .

Ye Yu blinked several time, like a butterfly flapping their wings. She looked at the small woman who just transported both of them, her bag and her instruments onto that 25m high cliff like it was just a big jump over a stream.

"... interesting" she simply declared, securing her instruments on her back. "Sometimes, a simple walk can tell more than a day of talks. Come, let's go!" she said while going towards the plum trees.

Yulian indeed wasn't playing pretend when it came to her martial arts, she was in fact quite skilled indeed, going so far as to be able to pull off extraordinary feats to the uninitiated within the martial world. She clearly held good teachers, even with her lithe, otherwise softer looking body-frame. She blinked as she heard her words, though let her lips simply purse, nodding her head once or twice as she did so, clearly understanding what she meant by -that-, one look at Yulian and one may've seen a beautiful, if not fragile girl. But those looks often were ever deceiving indeed.

Something she outright admitted to prior and now shown physical proof of her prowess now. With her hands settled behind her back, she'd move to take a few steps behind her, "This is a beautiful spot..." She murmured aloud, staying close next to Yu in that moment. "Are...you finally going to tell me what we're doing or why we're headed to this secluded spot...?"

She did not answered immediately, for a moment immersed in the view. Many plum trees were coloring the hills and cliff in white and pink shades. Some building in the distance, a temple or a pavilion, were adding hints of red and green, while a stream was throwing itself meters below, the waterfall playing a constant watery music. "You liked it?" she asked. "I just discovered it. Told you it was where we were meant to be, the breeze never lies! I should bring her here some day...". The last phrase was mostly whispered for herself.

Coming back to the current moment, she put down all her belongings under a tree, returning to Yulian to get the bag back which she simply threw with the other stuff. Then, grabbing the martial artist by her shoulders, she moved her in a particular spot under the sun, back facing the nice landscape.

"Now, you are going to give me something very precious!" she called, stepping back a little. "Want to bet what it may be?"

She listened quietly, her brow lifting, as she heard the way she was following the breeze, so to speak, the winds of destiny themselves blowing them through the pathways. Though she was caught slightly by that last bit, her head tipping some as she heard it, "Someone...important to you?" She paused softly, clearing her throat, "No, uh...f-forgive me. I didn't mean to intrude."

She stated, a gentle pinkness forming across her cheeks once more as she blinked a few times and shifted herself away from her, though that moment ever shortlived indeed as she was directed where to stand. She was made to stand with her backside to the landscape, facing Ye Yu once more, her hands clasping together in a slightly bashful pattern by her own waist as she squirmed just a bit where she stood, "Uhh...." She chewed in her bottom lip, "Do you want to paint me or something...? I...uh can't really imagine why else you'd position me out in a lovely landscape like this...?"

"Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Indeed. I will be taking more of your precious time because I need to immortalize this encounter -and your pretty face-. It's important if I want to illustrate my future songs about that cute Princess, so easily taken aback by simple joys in life, like... A kiss under the moon, a night shared by two souls, two body becoming one~" she teased.

Pulling some artsy material from her own bag, she prepared her painting setup. "I need you to take the pose that you feel like ... it would be 'your' pose, the one that speak truly of yourself. And we are talking about the true yourself, not that pretended character you try to lure people into thinking it's you!"

Pulling out her brushes, she added with a more calm voice: "And... it's okay. Let's make a deal, shall we? As we're going to be here for a few hours... I'll tell you something about me, a confidence, and you tell me one about you. How does this sound? And do not move!"

She...bliiiinked at everything she was saying aloud, there was an immediate brightening of her cheeks once more, that lovely blush started to stain across her features once more, beautifully highlighting her feminine charm, as her lips contorted into a soft little pout as she further listened to her choice of wording. In truth, that soft, pouty expression really did highlight her beautifully elegant face so very nicely like a perfect shade of pink set across stretched from ear to ear.

Yet from the furrow of her brow, it was clear she would NEVER allow the painting to expose that side of her. Instead, she reaffirmed herself, hardened her very gaze and expression, let her blush fade and her pout grow neutral-laced, into that sharp stare she held once more. Neutral-laced, but a dangerously sullen stare. "You will paint me exactly as I am, this is the real me, silly girl." She stated with a soft tut, keeping her head raised in a regal, but serene fashion. "And fine, I...agree to your terms. But you will start it off with something about yourself, I...-do- believe I've given you far more about myself then I've learned of you."

"I will paint you the way I see you, silly pretty lady" she retorted, her voice suddenly severe. It wasn't the thief anymore, nor the playful wanderer, but the artist and whatever mission or intent she was pouring in her canvas. She started to sketch lines with a pencil, regularly moving her head back and forth from the model to her new creation.

"And I can tell you what can't be seen is often what is the most precious thing people carry. Fragile dreams, harden pains, twisting desires... You want to know something from me? Fine. I'll let you choose the question. If I feel like answering, I'll do it honestly. Otherwise, I'll just made up a story."

She rose her brow at her words, but in that moment, Yulian just remained with her arms crossed even more-so, in that typical hardend, no-nonsense stance she often portrayed when dealing with others. Though she listened inward, understood what she was saying, and let her head tip if just the slightest bit. "Mmm...? Oh... I see." She hummed quietly, tipping her head somewhat.

"Well...I...Tell me a bit of your past then? You act as if you're never going to eat tomorrow, but you hold a..." She swallowed down, her brow furrowing some as she shifted her gaze away if just the slightest bit, "A natural beauty, a softness to you. A unique allure, like that of your different colored gaze. I would hardly believe it to be true, if you told me your life's place was just to be a thief. You hold a vivid unique edge to your very essence...I...desire to hear what unique songs your essence sings and why, like myself...you've taken a path into the shadows too."

The painter stopped a moment, her brush hovering above the canvas longer than usual. Maybe was she pondering about the choices of colors, or the technique to use?

"My past?" she repeated. "Mhhh. Well.... I suppose my past is quite similar to a lot of people in this world". She resumed her creation as if nothing ever troubled her concentration. "My past is... Like a painting also? Or... More like a mural actually. It started from nothing, then, an explosion of colors! With many vivid, bright, colorful gradients and shapes drawing blissful summers and carefree years" she described joyfully. The sun warmth of estival evenings, of festivals' songs and chants could be heard in her animated voice while her eyes were shining like fireworks.

"Of course, there are also cold, dark tones too... Black and gold, dark crimson, ashes grey, dull blue, maroon... Some winters are also monochromatic, blend of white and black."

She leaned her head, half visible behind her canvas, looking at some references on Yulian before disappearing again. "Why am I travelling? Let's say... Mhh... Let's say I'm currently looking for new dyes to experiment with, new colors to continue my mural piece?"

She leaned again to watch Yulian, eyes squinted because of the sun slowly setting behind her.

"My turn... Is there a place you would call home, Miss Zhuge?"

She remained quietly listening, her brow raising upward some as she watched her, watched every little motion she made, swirl of the brush, the soft answers she gave. She gave a small little bit of a tip of her head, one hand pressing against her chin and cheek, "I'm not sure if your answer held a deep level of depth or was vague enough to be a non-answer~ But..." She let a soft giggle escape her lips, but she remained mostly unmoving, quiet and set in her place.

She was watching, which was the most she could do when standing still, perfectly so, a beautiful model for the painting to be set, even if it held slightly hard for her at times, but this was hardly the first time she'd set out to help with someone's artistic visions, nor the first time she had to stand so still for a painting. "A place I would call home...?" She stated with a small tip of her head, thinking briefly as she did so.

"A little west of Chang'an, is where I was raised. I don't really have a 'home' to go back to, not anymore. My path is on the road forward and that's where my vision lies forth these days. My illusions of my 'home' only live on in my own psyche I suppose~" She hummed with a small shrug of her shoulders, "So, suffice to say, no...whatever inn room I decide to find myself staying within at the end of the night is currently 'home'." She shifted her attention back toward her, "But I do have someplace I can return to, that...houses old things of my family, including my father's wealth. I go back at times." She offers a small shrug of her shoulders, "What of you...? Do you have a more traditional 'home' then I?"

Her brush froze in mid-air again, while her eyes were absently fixing the canvas. She resumed again, not letting more than a subtle tremor of her hand and voice, that could be from the fresh breeze of the evening.

"If by 'home', you mean a building to get shelter in, no, I do not... Not anymore. I'm not wealthy enough to own a permanent place nowadays. Why would I? It would be more of a burden anyway. If by 'home', you think of a family, a neighbourhood, someone dear to your heart to come back to... Then I can see my home when I close my eyes, isn't it enough? To be able to carry it everywhere you go, like a snail? Everywhere I go, I can see my home..."

Her voice was wistful, almost longing for something lost. She began to sing softly.

"Today I walk amongst the stars,
Always looking for distant shores,
I carry nothing but old scars,
Ghosts of the past sealed within scores."

She hummed some three notes air for a moment before asking another question, still focused on her creation. It was difficult to know if the was just chitchating to entertain her model or if she was genuinely curious.

"You talked about your father. Tell me more about your family? Any siblings? How are your parents? Any cousins? Don't you miss them?" .

Listening to her speak of home left, the little swordswoman pursing her lips if just the slightest bit. She understood such, perhaps not in the regards of, 'not being able to afford it' yet there was no home, home was where the heart was, afterall and she'd had such forcefully torn from her torso and stepped upon. No longer was there anything waiting for her, anywhere, but the remembrance of things that would never return. She offered but small little bows of her head at this rate, and remained quietly set in that moment.

She didn't verbally reply with anything other than that simple little gesture of a nod. The more she was reminded of her family, the more her pout fully presented itself across her full lips. She just shook her head, it was clear she was -not- going to speak on her family, instead just opting to say, 'She had none' non-verbally, her jade eyes lowering some, a vivid sense of sadness clung to her very expression. The little swordswoman, poutily stood, quiet. Before finally clearing her throat, "A-and what of you...? W-what of your family...?" She finally broke her silence to ask.

"Family? Just like home. I can see them when I close my eyes but some faces are getting... blurry with times? I can still hear their voices in melodies I play. I need to find new instruments to broaden the range of voices I can recall."

She looked at the sunset, pensive for a moment, before leaving her painting tools aside, making a few steps to join her model. Stopping next to her, she watched the landscape, silhouettes of tree and buildings on the orange sky.

"It seems that you and me have a few things in common, both traveling, both... Without roots? Where are you going, next? You said you were on a crucial quest?"

She swallowed in her plump bottom lip, a gentle thing, chewing, almost a nervous pattern about her, as she shifted on her feet. She was catching how similar their paths were, with no real home, seemingly no real family left for either of them if she was being truthful. She watched her walk past, and presumed that her part as a model had come to an end, so she slowly but surely let a small sigh escape herself, and her body shifted to better twist to face her now.

Her eyes looking Yu up and down briefly, before her gaze shifted back over. "I..." She let a small sigh escape herself, "I..told you the princess' story already. You know what I must do, and where I'm going will only be the viper's nest..." She murmured quietly, "B-but I owe it to them all, to most of all my father. I will...not be able to rest without my revenge..."

Yu Yu's lips curled into a playful smile. "My intuition was right! I can totally call you 'Princess' then!"

She looked at the sun, slowing hiding behind the temple's buildings, before turning towards the swordwoman on a mission.

"Going to hunt beasts with no legs then? Do you know where to start? What to look for? I think you should begin with a good night: sun is almost set and it would not be wise to travel alone by night, even for a mighty martial artist as Your Highness. Let's go back to the village, you'll tell me more about... the Princess revenge. I need to know more for the story to be credible!"

She smiled and went to her painting material, packing everything back in her bag.

She cast her SUCH a large pout, after she'd made such a deal earlier about making sure she wasn't called 'Princess' and the like, to fully admit to it now, and for Yu to seem so amused by it, to infact dub her 'Princess' once more, she gave that beautifully blushing pout that she so often did.

"H-hush..." She murmured aloud, her brow furrowing and her body growing a slight bit more tense with her embarrassment fully shown. "G-give me my hat back already." She stated with a sigh, her hand lifting and it was -clear- she was expecting it back. "I...don't know where they are, no. I don't even know WHO they are. That's why I travel, because I follow their lead, their traces, and I slowly destroy the men and women that did this to me. I won't stop until each and every one joins my family across the great bridge." She stated with a small click of her tongue before she moved to follow after her.

After finishing packing her belongings, Ye Yu did now walked back. Instead, she walked towards the cliff and the waterfall, now looking at the moon rising, bathing the surrounding in a blueish light.

"Come, follow me" she simply said, carefully walking on the edge until she found a large spot under a tree where to sit.

She followed after her, a brow furrowing still as she came to settle herself directly beside Ye Yu, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she set her big behind down against the stone, but with a graceful drop nontheless. Her gaze shifting back over toward her as she gave her a soft little pout, "Y-you are going to give me my hat back, right...?" She stated with the slightest tip of her head as she watched her, waiting for her to reply.

Ignoring her question, she closed her eyes, listening to the waterfall's powerful stream, the wind in the nearby leaves, the soothing sounds of the night. Then, she mixed her voice with them:

"To follow your path of revenge,
How many necks to trench?
In blood, will you drench
A whole generation to quench?"

She blinked, listening to her words there was a sense of disbelief, or perhaps moreso a disconnect...? The soft, little blushing maiden she seemed to be, hardly the bloodthirsty killer that would be after her revenge, yet they held one and the same, her gaze followed downcast, to the rushing waters below, and her head gently moved, oddly enough, to rest against Yu's shoulder if it was allowed, leaning against her in that moment, as she listened to the calming melodic rushing of the waters, the wind itself, and of course any further notes that her newfound friend may've stated aloud.

"I...do what is required of me. Nothing more, nothing else. If not me, then those guilty souls walk free. Their abhorrent natures to continue their path, and poison, sully, and defile more lands in which they attempt to place their influence. I...cannot sit by and let that occur... even if I die in the process...I must try."

"To die to clear one's name,
To lay cold is quite a shame
Dead people don't earn any fame
Life's not a toy, nor it is a game" she sang, not moving an inch when the little future or present assassin rested against her shoulder.

"If lives you're willing to end
Take care! Your soul you condemn
To be haunted by ghosts
Of people, to erase you made oath"

She let a small sigh escape herself, she listened to every little word she sang, and of course there was vivid senses of truth within them. She knew full well that her path was lead down and completely dominated by that sense of darkness within. There was a whisper in her psyche, constantly urging her onward and onward she would go, never allowed to stall or turn back. Her soul shifting to the blackness of the void with each passing day, condemned, indeed. She whimpered and let her face shift, to burrow into her shoulder, perhaps in a moment of her humanity clinging out, she understood the weight of her burden, and she hid away into Ye Yu, scared of it, something she almost never shown aloud. Softly whimpering, trembling against her even, her whole body, mind, and soul hiding against her.

Ye Yu softly carressed the girl's hair, almost maternally. "There, there..." she whispered, comforting her in the cold night.

"Whatever be your choice, be it mercy or death,
Do listen to my voice: stay away from Lethe.
If in darkness you're lost, soul crushed resentfully,
Somewhere, you're loved the most and missed endlessly."

Trying not to break her position, still patting the girl who seek refuge against her, she grabbed her Konghou and started playing a serene, nostalgic melody.

She remained quiet, for the moment, there was infact a very, very long quiet. To the extent she seemed to allow herself a long moment in leaning against her, quietly, hiding her face away. It wasn't until she started to play her song once more, after her words finished, and the soft little swordswoman pulled her head finally away, as to not obstruct or impede her playing. Instead she took a soft, full deep breath, and allowed her jade-cast gaze to settle over by the rushing water.

Mixing the moment of serene beauty, the softness of nature itself, along with the lovely notes of the one beside her. Her hand lifted to rest over her own heart, and her eyes slowly shut once more. "I'm sorry. I don't...like appearing like this before others..." She murmured, "Just...forget I told you any of this...W-when I get my hat and veil back, I'll disappear into the shadows once more, and may all this be nothing but a distant, forgotten memory..." She spoke, barely above a whisper. "I hope you're able to live a more full life, then I, Miss."

Still playing a few notes absently, eyes closed, Ye Yu continued to talked as if she was speaking general truths that needed to be heard.

"You don't need to hide, you don't need to pretend
Home may be a place, home may be a friend
If you'll disappear once your hat returned
Maybe your request, I should once more spurn?"

She looked at Yulian with another playful smile, shrugging as she dismissed both her request and her previous declaration. She wasn't going to let the girl disappears alone with her ghosts. Not yet, anyway.

Her brow lifted, she heard everything she said, but of course wasn't expecting her to deny her once more, she chewed on her bottom lip and squirmed her rear against the stone as she better faced her. "I...I will give you all the coin on me right now. You will not have to struggle for a while." She swallowed down briefly, "I...I know that each passing moment, I remember the past, I remember what I wanted, I remember where my father wanted me to be, and my heart aches to return back to those days. Long since last..."

She swallowed down some more, shaking her head, "I must...do what I must do, I could never look my father in the eyes, or any of my ancestors, knowing I let what occured go f-free..." She let a soft whimper out, "I cannot just...live freely, with such a black weight hanging over my head. Knowing, waiting to fall and crush me under it...I...just..." She whimpered out once more. "W-what can I do for you...?"

Ye Yu stared at Yulian for a long moment, only playing a few notes to prevent the silence to settle between them. Then, she sighed and stored her intrument away before standing up, stretching to the moon.

"If your choice is made, and your mind resolved,
Do what you must do, you shall be absolved.
But do remember, alone you are not!
Story end to tale, to me then you ought!" .

Her eyes widend briefly, being told she wasn't alone may've seemed like a small gesture to some, but the little Swordsmaiden kept her eyes wide, her head visibly lowered, as her black locks gently hung over her soft features, perhaps small little sniffles could be heard a few moments after, yet her hand rose upward and she gently rubbed at her eyes. "....O-okay..." she murmured, lifting herself upward now to meet where Ye Yu was. "L-lets...go back to the inn, it's...very late..."

She stated with a soft clearing of her throat but she didn't quite look at her, infact she kept her gaze obscured, by her hair, and just keeping her gaze cast elsewhere, away from her. "T-thank you..." She whispered out toward her, her tone cutely soft, and she seemed appreciative of the gesture, even if it wasn't meant in full. She couldn't help herself but get lost in that moment so wholeheartedly..

She nodded and handed over her hat back, first of the two borrowed goods. "Indeed, it's late. We should go back and find a warm place where to spend what remains of the night" she agreed. Looking around for any forgotten item, she squinted her eyes when watching the waterfall. "What is that shining..." she mumbled for herself. "Stay here Princess, I'll be right back, I just need to check something, I'll be real quick!" Hastily, she started to run on the edge of the cliff, jumping from rock to rock to get closer to the waterfall, balancing herself on wet stones to cross the powerful stream and reach some promontory halfway.

She watched her move along, her brow lifted as she felt her cheeks gently take on that pink hue once more. Here she was, a powerful, feared assassin who had taken the lives of plenty of men and women before, and she was being labeled as a 'cute princess' by the other. A soft, pet name. Her face vividly burned with that beautiful blush as she followed after her, not fully, but enough to where she could watch her carefully from the distance. Her brow rising, wondering just -what- she was up to in that moment. She hummed and shifted on her feet, her hands clasping together at her front, as she tried to gaze upon whatever it is Ye Yu saw.

Shouting over the waterfall's uproar, Ye Yu brandished a large, shiny rock, waving it above her head. "LOOK! IT'S A BIG JADE! I KNEW IT! The breeze never lies! What a good evening! I wonder how many taels I'm going to g-aah!--" She never finished her sentence. The big stone dropped into the water as her temporary owner slipped on the seaweed-covered rock, falling several metres below into the crashing waves. Or had she jumped in, hoping to retrieve it? It was too dark to tell.

There was...a blink of her eyes, everything happend so quickly, her jaw dropped, and the little martial artist watched the other fall off the ledge and sink downcast, into the watery depths below. She was stunned, she had no idea what to do, if she should follow, if she'd fallen or chosen, yet after a mere moment or so of shocked confusion, she shifted her weight and twisted, a rush of force pushing through as her body cut through the very air itself, within a swift pattern, the little swordsmaiden pushed forward and sunk, pushing, cutting through air and dunked into the water, her jade eyes widend, trying to peer into the murky depths, the sky dark around them, the waters hard to see, but she sensed for qi all around her, trying to snatch that of Ye Yu's very notion, her body soaked from head to toe, submerged into the river's depths, she'd try to find the fallen comrade!

The fallen musician was struggling under the strong waterfall current. Was she even conscious? Her body was swirling randomly, stuck in the underwater looping currents, all curled up, either to protect herself from the many rocks she was hitting against, or to secure her precious finding. All around her was nothing but screens of soil, foam and bubbles. Where was the up? The down? Left? Right?

"To lay cold is quite a shame
Dead people don't earn any fame"

Her own rhymes came to her mind, momentarily making her laugh and lose some air. Was she going to die for a big jade? But it was a big one! A hit on her head knocked her off, her survival wasn't her to decide.

She found her, conciousness fading in those final moments, under the rock surface, she let her arms fully wrap around her, bracing around her frame and she immediately lifted her upright. Keeping her head cradled, safe, and keeping her remaining perfectly in her arms. She was careful now, not to drop her, not to allow either of them to slip, instead she'd move to swiftly but careful as could be, waddle through the shallow river bank and keep her closely clutched to her chest. Once she'd gotten them free from the watery depths, she'd cough a few times, her body now soaked to the bone, likely the case for both of them.

Cold water clinging to their clothing and soaking their skin, she clung to the other, attempting to watch her carefully so. "No...You'll be fine. -Hush-." She murmured, a serious tone about her, she'd just faintly heard those words, the flowy, singing like lyrics of the other having lead her to her infact, the only thing that drew her there, and now she had her out of it, cradling her in her arms, gently moving set her down on the dry land, while lowering herself, to rest her head softly on her lap, "You'll be okay, I promise...I...I'm here..."

"Devouring appetite!
Lured by cupidity
I fell from great heights
The stone were slippery..." she murmured softly, eyes closed.
"Am I in Heavens yet?
Why it is to utterly wet?
Who are you, pretty lady?
Some angel coming for me?"

She coughed and spit out some water. Her whole body shivered from the cold night coupled with her wet state. Eventually, she opened her eyes and, with her hand, she felt Yulian's face. "Yes... No... I'm not dead yet... You look too... real..."

She blinked, listening to every soft, shakey word from the other. It made her cheeks flush a little again, but her hand couldn't help but gently moving to free the other of her hat, to make it easier to lay her head down upon her lap. Gently, she'd let her hand pet against her head, a soft, gentle motion, again and again, trying to ease her touch against her, trying to ease the pain she may've felt. Her hand continuing that, "N-no...I...j-just your friend, who will protect you, w-who won't let anything hurt you, I promise...Y-you'll be o-okay, you're fine..." She smiled down upon her, her soft pink painted lips showing her that softness she never often shown. "D-do you trust me to make sure you're...alright, Miss...?"

Trying to stand up, she pressed a hand against her temple with a large grimace.

"Do I have the choice?
But hearing your voice
Truly, I rejoice.

Miss Zhuge, Lady Princess
The law, was going to transgress
Only to save a damsel in distress.

Got me out of those flows
I am indebt to you now.
But to repay you, how?" she continued to half-sing, half-cough. Slowly coming back to her senses -and pain-, she started to check if her instruments were still present and intact, even before checking her own wounds.

She blushed a little at all of her lyrics, a soft sigh passing through her lips as she let her head tip, there was a quiet sense flowing in that moment, her hand one again gently stroking along the side of her face, though pausing as she tried to stand up, she instead moved to lift herself upright, her hand lifting in order to press onto the side of her face, near where she was clutching, she cast a sense of Qi inward, connecting her own Qi with that of the injured girl's own, and surged her Qi into not healing the wound, but alleviating some of it's pain, pushing her Qi into energizing her, it wouldn't do much in the way or fixing the issue, but it at the very least would begin to numb the sharpness, the ache in her head, and give her some clarity of thought and mind enough to function at least semi-normally.

Oddly enough, the little assassin seemed to have training as a qi-based healer indeed... "Y-you said I wasn't allowed to leave, and that I needed to stay with you, atleast for now...so it's only fair I look after you, and protect you too...mm? You'd have done the same for me if I had fallen in, I'm sure..."

"Diving into a certain death
Having to hold my breath?
I... yes, for sure I would have done the same...
Not saving you... It would be such a shame..." she coughed.

"Even if... I'm not a very good swimmer, as you can see... I...". She shivered again, the cold night and her wet clothes, coupled with the recent shock was slowly putting a toll on her.

Yulian lifted one hand to gently begin to press her fingertip against the base of her lips, "Hush pretty girl, conserve your strength. We'll get you back to the inn..." She stated softly, moving her head forward, to settle a soft kiss to the top of her head, meant to hold soothing, moreso then anything else. She'd gently shift downcast, her arms attempting to wrap tightly around Ye Yu's very frame, and lift her upward into her arms. She'd cradle her closely, carefully, both soaked to the bone from the waters below, still dripping wet, but she kept her close to her frame, letting their natural bodyheat through the wet cloths keep each other warm, as she turned back in the direction of the Inn, "Just...keep your eyes closed dove, and we'll be back in but a moment. You do trust me, yes?"

Ye Yu blushed furiously but, fortunately, the night hid her embarrassment. Yet, her voice betrayed her current state, which wasn't only shock. Or it could be, but not from her recent fall only. "II--... I... hii... I can.. I can walk!" she stammered, wriggling around before grimacing. "Ouuutch... my ankle..." she whimpered. Taking some slow breaths, she very timidly put her arms around Yulian's neck. "D-don't let me down... I mean... down... on the ground. I-... huh... Hem... It's... I..." she continued to say incoherently.

Yulian sighed at her stammering and wiggling, perhaps in that moment something wasn't quite fully captured in her psyche, but her hand gently tapped against her backside, almost in a teasing way. "Hush." She murmured quietly, holding her closer, not allowing her to fall downcast and away from her as she let those jade gaze settle upon her features. "I'll let you down once we're back into the town safely and you can rest in bed. Do not be a bratty little thing and struggle, mm?"

She stated with a small wink toward her before she shifted. Her body moving to face the direction of that of the inn, "Keep your eyes closed...You likely won't be used to moving like this, it may scare you dove." She stated calmly, keeping her weight firmly captured in her arms as she did, she'd wait until Ye Yu was positioned and hopefully listening, before her qi channeled within her feet, a burst of lightless qi would send her gliding forward with a suddenous, attempting to take her back toward the Inn, in a very swift timely fashion, yet, accounting for another in her arms, she couldn't go too swiftly, too suddenly, and she was maintaining herself nonetheless.

"Mhh? Hey, I'm not a fragile little thing. I can totally handle being carriedHYAAAaAAA!--" she exclaimed, hiding her face in Yulian's neck when she suddenly lifted off the ground, using her lightness skill to bring them back to the inn way more faster than she would have thought.

When she landed, the fast nature of the moment left them both with some of the soaked, water having come off from both their outfits, yet, they also were cutting through the air, vividly, carefully, severely. There was a chill to both of them, likely quite heartily so, so Yulian unintentionally clung a bit more to Ye Yu's frame, just to keep that built warmth between them. Likely both cold enough to experience a soft shiver.

She had absolutely noted the cute little squeal, aswell as the way she clung onto and into her frame too, so that likely also made Yulian wrap her up all the more -into her arms. "You...truly are cute." She stated with a giggle, as she walked through the doorway, "I had the forethought to pay for a place to rest with our food earlier~." She hummed, walking inward into the small room she'd gotten earlier, while the other was sat upon the jar and waited for her as she paid. She moved over toward the bed and moved to settle Ye down carefully, "How are you feeling dove...?"

"I--- I'm not cute!" she protested weakly, like a little mouse trying to squeal her frustration. Being laid down on the bed, she reluctantly let Yulian go from her arms. "T-Thanks... I owe you more than a meal now..." She tried to stand up on her bed but grimaced again when the pain in her ankle throbbed. "AH-YAA.... Snap... I hope I haven't broke my ankle..." she lamented, shivering in her cold, wet clothes. "Oh! I... How about you? I hope you did not hurt yourself when you came to save me? Are you fine?" she asked her skillful martial savior.

She hummed quietly, just letting her lips remain in a thoughtful little smile, lowering her body some, she let her fingertips gently place itself along her leg, slowly but surely with a gentle touch she'd begin to free the area of it's clothing restraints, attempting to pull the boot free off her foot, and roll the pant-leg up some, to keep the ankle free and unobscured. Assuming she was allowed to do this in the first place, her jade gaze watched and examined the injury, peering upon the rolled ankle, she was looking for how discolored it may've been, how swollen it may've been, and any clear indications there was a break.

"Mm, it does appear you've been hurt, dove..." She stated with a soft pout, though still trying to gather just -how- much. "And I'm a martial artist, if I was hurt from every fall, I should change my changing to a dancing maiden who shakes her bum for a living instead, Mm? It'd be far more worth of my time if I couldn't handle such a fall after every bit of my martial training." She'd state, her attentions however focused in full about her injury.

"Heeey heeey! Undressing me already?! I'm.. It's a bit soon for... Oh, right. Hem... nevermind, forget what I've just said!". She hid her growing embarrassment again in her cushion, groaning when her movements stirred some more pain in her sprained ankle. "I... I think that some rest and herbal ointment would be enough to heal...?"

She hummed softly, she reached inside of her own garments, by her belt carefully, clasping free that of a small ointment of some sort. It seemed chilling, coldcast, and she'd bring the paste over toward Yu's very ankle and move to gently begin to spread it against her bare, swollen skin, with her fingertips. Spreading it closely across it. The ointment would instantly have a chilling effect against the inflammed skin/muscle, cold, chilling, and then numbing, as she let her lips purse some.

"Mm...Yes, yes, pretty girl, I wasn't doing that to you for anything naughty~ Just rest. Relax, ease and let me finish up, Mm?" She hummed, her hands gently motioned to attach their qi's together in that moment, much as she did last time, allowing the duo to connect together, she'd attempt to surge her qi into Yu's leg, to kind've keep the blood flow from clotting as much, to ease the area with the effects. "Rest, will definitely be crucial. So you won't be a brat and try to run around for a day or so, right?"

Ye Yu pursed her lips, trying to conceal her deception. On which part, the first sentence or the last, it was difficult to know, unless Yulian could read minds too. "... ... Fine. I won't move... but only at one condition! You need to come and visit me often, so I don't get bored!" she demanded like a spoiled child. "Otherwise... I may very much try to get out of bed to go for a walk! Oh! Or... I could even return to that waterfall to recover the... borrowed bag, it has sunk deep in the lake... What a shame... My precious loot..."

She shook her head and started removing her damp top. "So... Don't leave too soon for your snakes hunting, right? Can you... postpone your quest a bit longer maybe?"

She listened to her words, there was an odd feeling forming inside her chest, a flutter, of something or another. She didn't often get these such requests. Someone wanting her presence there, not to hunt someone die, not because she was a beautiful girl, but because she seemed to genuinely want her presence shared. That perhaps when she wasn't there, it would be missed. She hummed quietly, and moved to stand upward. "I'm your physician for the time being, dear."

She stated with a small tut of her tongue, "That means, it's my responsibility to nurse you back to health~." She stated with a -firm nod, almost one that was commanding of authority in the situation. She blinked and gasped however, her eyes going wide as she noted her starting to strip of the damp clothing, "I...I...I'll go get you something c-comfortable to wear!" She murmured, that beautifully pink blush starting to form -across Yulian's soft features. "S-surely there will be a nice tailor somewhere within this village... " She cleared her throat, moving to stand and wander toward the door, "I...w-will try and be quick."

Ye Yu would regain her composure, seeing Yulian being shy now. Like some communicating vases or power play, they were always switching places, sometimes confident, sometimes timid. "What...? Don't tell me you never saw a woman naked?" she asked with a teasing voice.

She blinked some, a small gasp escaping past her lips, as she shifted her gaze over her shoulder some, she chewed on that plump bottom lip, and she looked her over carefully some. "I...O-of course I have but..." She swallowed down, shifting her gaze away, "I am a-also aware that... we s-shouldn't be so -naughty-. You are afterall, soaked t-to the bone. And I'm not one to take advantage of a situation to e-enjoy a beautiful sight...!" She nodded once more, "W-would you rather I stay and keep my gaze locked on you? That would make me -incredibly- naughty..."

"If I am soaked to the bone, would it be a pertinent to dry me first and heat me up a bit? Your body warmth was... very effective~" she continued to tease. Now removing her pants, carefully avoiding to move her hurt ankle, she ended up wearing some very light clothing. "So, what are you up to? Leaving to find a tailor or staying to ensure I don't die of hypothermia?"

She swallowed down gently, her cheeks almost immediately taking on that pinkish hue, she shifted her gaze away and almost immediately twisted on her heel and moved back over toward the bed itself. She moved to grasp the blanket set upon it and gently move to wrap it around her frame, making sure careful, not to naughtily stare upon her in that moment, before she softly moved to settle herself down beside that of her, moving to gently let her arms wrap about her frame and pull her inward, attempting to press Ye Yu's back against her, and cuddle into her face, "H-hush....F-fine..I...I'll -w-warm you..."

With a large, satisfied smile on her face, Ye Yu snuggled up against Yulian. "I'm feeling already better" she yawned, her eyes closing without her will. "I hope you won't disappear when I'll wake up. I still have many questions to...". She did not finished her sentence, tiredness claiming her.

Yulian remained quiet, silent in her ways, this...wasn't exactly something she was used to. Mayhaps she'd have spent nights cuddling in one's arms, for work, setting someone up for an easy assassination as they presume her a slim, little plaything for the evening, rather than what she was which held a skilled assassin.

This however, was not that. She was here, laying close to another, laying with her body pressed against her, she was wrapped in the blankets, sure, but it was still a completely foreign closeness she'd not felt with another in truth. She swallowed down, and let her eyes shut briefly. Her face holding that beautiful shade of pink across it, vivid, set, fully secured across her feminine features. With each passing moment she kept herself there, kept herself close to Ye Yu, and let her arms cling to her if just the slightest bit more then necessary. "I...I won't -just leave. I promise..." She murmured to her.