Ding Jiexiang once heard an elder say: "Profound love is fleeting; supreme wisdom brings its own ruin." Thus, …
Ding Jiexiang once heard an elder say: "Profound love is fleeting; supreme wisdom brings its own ruin."
Thus, whenever she saw that man posturing and flaunting his brilliance, an inexplicable spark of anger would ignite within her.
"They say true wisdom hides in plain sight. Which true sage have you ever seen act as boastfully as you, Ye Zhuo?"
The man would just narrow his eyes and smile with that roguish air of his.
"They also say a razor's edge on the tongue hides a soft heart beneath. For all your bluster, no one is more tender-hearted than our Third Sister."
Ding Jiexiang could only admit defeat, leaving behind a hasty scoff as she quickly walked away to hide her shifting expression.
This fox was too clever. She could never gain the upper hand. With just a few words, he would completely shatter her defenses. She loathed the arrogance carved into his very bones, yet despite herself, she was entirely captivated by it, as if there was truly nothing in this world that could baffle him.
She hated the feeling of being seen through, yet whenever they bickered, every word he spoke seemed to make her want to laugh.
She hated his arrogance, perhaps because it made her feel she was unworthy of him.
She hated being seen through, perhaps because she believed he would never like her true self.
In the game of love, the players are always blind. The entire world knew that she and Ye Zhuo belonged together. Everyone, except her.
Ye Zhuo could not heal the scar upon Ding's face. But through the quiet passage of time, he silently smoothed over the scars hidden within her heart, until that day finally came.
The world's most flawless performance will always crumble before raw instinct.
When Ding spurred her horse through the dead of night to catch up with the departing group, she saw panic flicker across his face for the very first time.
Ye's expression turned cold, sharp as a winter icicle hanging beneath the eaves. Ding felt like a mischievous child who had snapped that icicle off simply to wave it around in play.
So, this smug fox also had moments when he was at a loss?
"Ding Jiexiang, leaving the mountain is easy, but returning is a path barred! To leave without permission is treason against the sect. Do you truly understand?"
"Ding Jiexiang, this is no sightseeing trip! This is city defense and open war. People are going to die out there!"
"Ding Jiexiang, is it because you like me that you insist on clinging to me? Must you shadow my every step?"
"Ding Jiexiang! What on earth are you doing? If we all leave, who will take care of the Master?"
"Ding... please go back... I'm begging you. Just this once, go back."
Ding Jiexiang followed the group in silence. As the sky began to brighten, she turned to Ye Zhuo and smiled. For the first time, her smile carried no burden.
"If the whole world were like you all," she said softly, "if everyone could look past the scar on my face... do you think I wouldn't have married you long ago?"
Ye Zhuo froze. He fell entirely silent. He knew then that his words no longer had the power to turn her back.
"Ye Zhuo, you merely received the news a heartbeat before I did. We descend the mountain for the exact same reason... Because we are Mohists."
The morning sun surged over the horizon. With open confidence, Ding held her head high, allowing the brilliant light to bathe her face and the scar across it.
In that early dawn light, every one of them was blazing.