After spending a full hour in the spring, Mo Yuan deemed he was sufficiently recovered. He decided to seek Bai Qian out and found her sitting on the steps with her head bowing down. He immediately noticed something was wrong with her. She seemed tired and a little subdued; her eyes were red.

"What happened?" He gently guided her gaze back to his. His eyes secretly perused her unkempt cloth.

"It's nothing. It's just that…," she looked reluctant to continue. "Ye Hua was here. I told him I wanted to cancel our engagement. Then we had some disagreement."

"Is that so?" His thumb brushed her bruised lips.

"Can we go back now?" She asked quietly.

He put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed it lightly. "Yes, let's go back."

On the way back, Bai Qian remained strangely mute. Mo Yuan didn't ask her any question and just let her bury herself in his arms. He would occasionally stroke her hair.

That night after they reached Kunlun Mountain and settled down, Bai Qian begged him for a song. She sat beside him; her eyes staring unseeingly into space.

"He told me he loves me," she blurted out all of a sudden. "I never thought that he'd feel something like that for me. This is an arranged marriage after all."

The song stopped abruptly. Mo Yuan turned to look at her. "Do you want to," he stopped briefly, "be with him then?"

"What? No. I told him I can't marry him," she cried out.

"He made me so angry at first. Then he looked so…," she tried to find the right word. "...so crushed. I'd never seen him behave like that before. I just thought that he's still young, he'd move on from this - this fascination, this infatuation - soon."

"You don't want him hanging on to you," Mo Yuan stated.

"Exactly," she nodded. She respected Ye Hua too much to lead him on. It'd be unfair to him.

"Master, you won't blame me, will you?" she clutched his arm tightly. "He's your brother after all."

"You're both adults, capable to decide what you truly want. I think Ye Hua is a decent man. He'd eventually understand and respect your decision," said Mo Yuan. "Seventeenth, just give him the time to cool off. It's pointless worrying over what you can't control."

The next morning, Zhe Yan came to see her. He said it was about time for her mentor to recuperate properly. Then, he roped her into helping him preparing the elixir.

Since then, she spent her time in the elixir cauldron chamber by day and kept her mentor company by night. She was so busy that she didn't spare any time thinking about Ye Hua's overboard reaction the other day, until her senior came to find her.

"Seventeenth," Zi Lan shook her awake. She had been dozing on and off while brewing the medicine. Zhe Yan insisted that the elixir had to be done quickly, so her mentor could take it during his meditation retreat.

"The Crown Prince is here again," he informed her. "He asked to see you."

"I don't want to talk to him," she refused outright, still angry at his unwarranted assault on her person the other day.

Zi Lan hesitated, "Si Yin, isn't he your fiancé? Maybe you should come see him. I left him at the Lotus Pond."

"He's not my anything anymore, I've called off the engagement." she corrected him. "And between us everything that need to be said has already been said."

"Oh? I come at the right time then?" Zhe Yan who just entering the room said. He sounded pleased like he was about to watch a drama unfolded before his eyes.

"If you are the only one to think it is over, it does not mean it is truly over," Bai Zhen said from the hallway. "If you're going to move on, you should settle things between the two of you once and for all."

She pondered his words and found it not without merit. In the end she decided to go and see him. It turned out her brother was right.

It had been two days since their last meeting at the Realm of Supreme Purity, Ye Hua couldn't stop thinking about her – about them. Was there ever any chance that her heart would belong to him, had Mo Yuan not woken up? Or was it just his hopeful thinking that she would be his to love again?

The sound of footsteps made him look up. He sighed seeing that Qian Qian chose not to come any closer and waited for him to speak. At least she agreed to meet him.

"I came here to apologize. I shouldn't have taken liberties with you," he said. "Can you forgive me Qian Qian?"

"Your Highness thinks too much," she said cooly. "Such a small matter this old bone didn't take it to heart, you shouldn't have too."

It pained him to hear her speak so carelessly. "Qian Qian, don't say it like that."

"If that's all Your Highness wanted to speak to me about, I'll take my leave. Farewell." She turned around, having no intention to linger.

"Don't leave just yet," he caught her small hand in his and pulled her back slightly. "Qian Qian, I meant what I said the other day. I'm truly in love with you. You are the only one I want to be with," he insisted. "It doesn't matter if you can't take on those Heavenly Blazes. I can endure them alone."

Her rigid face softened a little. "Ye Hua, I'm really sorry but I can't."

"Why?" he asked. "All this time, everything you've done for me, was it only because we were engaged? You truly don't have any feelings for me?" He had to know. "Or did you look upon me as High God Mo Yuan, that's why you allowed me to stay in Qing Qiu?"

Bai Qian sighed at the mention of her mentor yet again.

"Ye Hua, it's not just because of the engagement. You have treated me well. I really appreciate for all that you've done for me. Someone else in an arranged marriage wouldn't have treated me as nicely as you did. So naturally, I must reciprocate."

"And please don't drag my mentor into this. He and you are two entirely different people. I have never seen you as my mentor, Ye Hua. You should have at least known that."

"I thought I knew," he admitted his own insecurity, "Now I don't know anything anymore."

"Ye Hua, listen to me, you're young. One day, you'll find the right woman who'd love you for you and as much as you love her."

"Are you saying this to make me angry? Or do you really not care, Qian Qian?" his voice was rough and intense.

"Ye Hua, I'm saying this because I truly care about you. I want you to be happy."

"My happiness is being with you. Give me a chance to show how much I love you, that you're the only one for me."

"I can't do that." She gave a slow shake of her head. "It'd be unfair to you."

"I don't care," he persisted. As long as she was willing to give him a chance, he'd fight for her, however slim the hope. He'd be everything she wanted. He wouldn't let her be sad or suffer anymore.

"But I do."

"Zi Lan. What are you doing?" Chan Song frowned when he becoming increasingly mystified by his junior's odd behaviour. He had flattened his back against the wall; his head cautiously poking out, toward the terrace adjacent to the Lotus Pond.

"Shhhh." Zi Lan turned around and put a finger on his lips to silence him.

Chan Song stretched out his neck and looked ahead, trying to pinpoint the object of his junior's attention. He only found Si Yin and the Crown Prince standing together. His eyes almost bulged out when he saw the Prince half hugging half holding Si Yin from behind.

"Why're you spying on them? You should be ashamed of yourself." He admonished softly.

"I'm not spying on them, Senior. I'm trying to look out for our sister - well Master too."

"What are you talking about?"

"Senior," Zi Lan drawled. "Haven't you noticed something was going on between Master and Si Yin lately?"

"What kind of thing?" He asked, perplexed, and blinked.

"Si Yin literally glued herself to Master these days." Zi Lan pointed out.

"Didn't she always do that?" He said drily.

"Last month, I saw them hugging and making moon eyes at each other," he revealed. "A few days ago, I saw Master leave Si Yin's room at an early hour. You're telling me there's nothing strange about that."

"Zi Lan," he looked scandalized. "You can't talk behind Master's back like that."

"I think they're together, you know. Si Yin and Master."

Chan Song choked. His mouth opened, gaping like a fish.

"Come on," Zi Lan made a face. "Haven't we always suspected this? The only difference is that Si Yin is actually a woman."

"And they can get married," Chan Song finished his thought. "No matter, let Si Yin handle this," he dragged his junior away from the couple. "It's not right to snoop on them."

"Oh, no!" Zi Lan suddenly cried out in distress. "If Si Yin gets married to Master, do I have to call her Mistress?"

"If Mo Yuan isn't here, what then? Would you give me the chance to love you?" asked Ye Hua.

She took note of the obstinate looks he wore and resigned herself to being honest with him. If today she didn't made it clear that there was no chance of romance between them, she was afraid he won't ever give up.

"Ye Hua, you have to understand; if not for my mentor, there'd be no Bai Qian today. I would've been dead long before you ever met me," she gently reminded him.

"You didn't know me back then, I was really disobedient and hard-headed. Father and mother didn't know what to do with me anymore. In the end, they sent me to Kunlun Mountain, hoping Master would be able to discipline me. Even after becoming his disciple, I was not a very good student, always causing trouble upon trouble. Every time I was in danger, Master was always there to rescue me."

"I would have done the same for you, Qian Qian," Ye Hua said quietly.

"It's not just that," she shook her head, "he was always there for me, you know. When I ran a fever, he stayed overnight to take care of me. If I drank too much wine, he brewed medicine for me. Even when I was heartbroken, he sat with me and held me when I cried.

"All my life, the thing I regret the most was the day Senior Ninth and I sneaked away and got caught by Qing Cang. Master was injured when he came to rescue us from the Grand Ziming Palace. Then he took on those three Blazes for my Heavenly Trials. He was severely injured then but never told anyone. After that, he even took me travelling with him, knowing I was depressed over my break-up. Back then, I thought he was really getting better. How utterly naive I was. If not because of those injuries, Master would be able to subdue Qing Cang and wouldn't have had to sacrifice his spirit that day."

"That last night at Roushui River, he entrusted me with the spell to subdue the Bell of Eastern Emperor. He hoped that one day I'd prevent the calamity before Qing Cang could break free. He had faith in me, Ye Hua. Me, the laziest disciple who always did things half-heartedly. Since that day, I've changed. I couldn't afford to be that spoiled and careless Si Yin anymore. So you see, without him, the Bai Qian before you could never exist."

"Ye Hua, he did so much for me but never for himself. He would rather suffer alone in silence than make me sad. He had protected me at the cost of his own life. No one has ever been good to me, like he is. How could I not devote myself to him? How could I not love him?" she asked, her eyes implored him to understand how much her mentor meant to her.

"Before, I was too slow to realize my own feelings. I didn't know what I felt for Master. I was too young to understand and Master died too early. For seventy thousands of years I waited for him, desperate to see him awaken. Still, I thought it was just because it felt natural having him by my side. I never questioned myself, nor looked into my heart why it was."

"But now that I understand, I couldn't - I wouldn't do that to you - letting you wait for me," she said. "Qing Qiu women, once we love someone with all of our hearts, we remain devoted to that person alone."

So she did love him . His heart throbbed in pain. He never stood a chance.

Her words also unknowingly reminded him how much he had failed her; for all those times she need him the most. He recalled with clear detail the day she jumped down the Zhuxian Terrace. She said that they didn't owe each other anything anymore. She had truly and completely let go of him, not even a trace of love was left.

Compared to Mo Yuan and her, the love between them over those years was perhaps just a trial for her ascension to high goddess, it was not worth enough remembering and was instead a burden to her. That was why she chose to completely remove him from her memories.

"Ye Hua, hear me out, I truly wish for your happiness but I'm sorry I can't be that person for you," she met his gaze. "I am thankful and will never forget your feelings for me. In the future, if there's anything I can do for you, I'll be glad to help."

"I understand," he spoke in an almost-inaudible low voice. "It was just my wishful thinking all along."

He had thought they could start all over. He would made her fall in love with him once more. And they'll be family again. He'll cherish her with all his might. How utterly wrong he was.

"You truly never felt anything for me, Qian Qian," he said, disappointed.

He turned around; not wanting her to see the tears in his eyes. Perhaps this was karma. He had wronged her and made her suffer so much. Now he was being punished; to see her happy and in love with someone else. No, it was not someone else - it was his own brother. How absurd it was.

Bai Qian watched him leave Kunlun Mountain with heavy heart. She could only hope he'll understand what she tried to tell him.

That evening, she took the medicine cup from her senior and went to her mentor's room.

"Zi Lan told me my brother came here today," said Mo Yuan after he finished the cup. "What did he want?"

Bai Qian nervously tugged her earrings. "He came to apologize for the other day."

"Did you make peace with him then? He seemed to care a lot about you," Mo Yuan commented.

"I tried. The rest is up to him now, I've made everything clear to him." She said with finality. "I could only offer friendship but I can't be that person for him. I really hope he'll understand."

"I see." he looked thoughtful.

Mo Yuan played the zither long into the night. Bai Qian was half asleep; her head was perched on his leg. He gently shifted her into his arms and brought her to his bed.

Bai Qian's eyes barely opened when she felt the movement; then she laid her head back against his shoulder.

He tucked her into the bed and sat beside her. "Seventeenth, you've said Kunlun Mountain is your home and you want to stay here.

"Yes, I did," she mumbled sleepily.

He touched her delicate face. "Is that true? Are you really willing to stay here with me forever?" he asked expectantly.

She opened her eyes wide and let them roamed his face. Her heart skipped faster at the implication of what he said. Since the day she had that talk with Zhe Yan, Bai Qian found that she had secretly harbored this feeling for him for a long, long time.

The threat Qing Cang posed and the possibilities of losing him all over again had her rethinking. No matter how much time had passed, her heart always yearned for him and him alone. From the beginning until now, it was always him that she wanted. She could no longer deny her heart desire – to spend the rest of their days together - if he would have her.

"Master, I'm a woman. Mother and father want me to marry and settle down. I've missed my marriage arrangement twice already. Now you ask if I want to stay here indefinitely. I'm afraid I'm doomed to end up as an old maid..."

Mo Yuan glanced down at her, amused at her boldness. He lowered his head and placed a feather-light kiss on her temple, then slowly trailed down her earlobe, to the corner of her lips. "I guess I'll have to volunteer myself to be your lifelong companion then." He brushed a light kiss against her soft lips. "Then this is where you'll always be."

Bai Qian closed her eyes involuntarily. Those soft touches sent shivers down her spine. Then he pressed another lingering kiss and then again. When Mo Yuan swept his tongue between her lips and sucked them lightly. She trembled and grabbed his lapel tightly. Soon, she was running out of breath and opened her mouth to breathe in the air. He reluctantly let go of her lips.

"Now - now you're bullying me," she panted softly. "you are going to take responsibility, aren't you?"

He dropped small kisses on her face. "I'll tell your parents that I wish you to take you as my bride," he whispered; his hot breath tickled her ear. "Unless you have any objections."

A delicious shiver went through her. She hid her feverish face in his neck and refused to look at him. "Fine. You do that," she mumbled breathlessly, still a little dazed from their shared kisses.

Mo Yuan's chest vibrated with laughter, his spirited Seventeenth seemed really quite-lady-like at the moment.

The next morning, Bai Qian found her mentor had gone from bed before she woke up - which was good, very good in fact. She didn't know how to face him after last night. She touched her lips lightly remembering how his lips felt on hers and how his small touches had made her whole body trembled.

Her face flushed deeply; she had truly became a pervert. She quickly pulled the quilt over her head and wished she could stay in the room today. Someone was bound to notice how red her face was. Alas, that couldn't be, she still had to assist Zhe Yan.

When she was done brewing medicine in the evening, Bai Qian decided to seek Zhe Yan and her brother out. She found them concentrating on yet another match of chess. She tried to get them to notice her to no avail. Zhe Yan flicked a covert glance at her antics; he was amused.

"What is it you want to say, fifth sister?" asked Bai Zhen when he could no longer keep up the pretense.

"There's something I would like to ask you," she nervously twisted her hands together, "it's about the wedding engagement between me and Ye Hua."

"Oh? What about it?" asked Zhe Yan.

"I already told him," she paused, "I want to cancel it."

She had gained their full attention now. Both of them turned to face her and waited for her to continue.

"I guess he didn't take it well," she mentally winced at the thought of what had happened, "but it's done. Now you have to make the annulment official."

She caught the end of Bai Zhen's sleeve, begging him. "Brother, will you talk to father and mother for me?"

"And what reason should I give them?" he raised an eyebrow.

She shyly lowered her eyelashes and wriggled uneasily. "Master and I had come to an understanding," then she blurted out, "we're together now."

Bai Zhen and Zhe Yan found each other's eyes across the table. "Are you certain about this, fifth sister? This matter is not to be taken lightly."

"I'm certain, brother," she said, her face was bright red. "I love him. And our feelings are mutual. Master said he'll talk to our parents. But I think if you're going to ask them to dissolve the marriage arrangement, why not tell them of this new development as well. This way they'll be prepared when he goes to see them."

"Oh, Mo Yuan said that?" Zhe Yan looked intrigued. "Why the rush, fifth sister?"

"I just want to take care of him. I don't know how long he'll go into seclusion. It could be ten years. I decided to wait for him here. I can't do that if my engagement still stands," she explained. "Will you do this for me, brother?" she asked again.

"Zhe Yan? Maybe you could also help persuade father and mother too?" She said cheekily, "Don't you want your brother and your sister-in-law to be happy?"

He feigned horror at the thought.

"Fifth sister, what about Ye Hua. Don't you like him?" asked Bai Zhen.

"I do like him but not like that," she exclaimed. "I think he's very capable young man. It's just he's so serious most of the time and you know how I am. We're not really compatible."

"Besides I don't really like the Ninth Heaven," she added, "they're too pretentious and uptight for my liking, especially that Sky Lord. No wonder Ye Hua feels suffocated living there."

"And…," she trailed off. "I always admired Master, you knew that. I don't want anyone else."

"Fine, if you know your heart that well, I'll do what you asked," Bai Zhen relented.

"Thank you, brother. You're the best," she beamed at him and Zhe Yan. "I'm going to see Master now. You two keep playing."

Note: Special thanks to Midorizawa who proofread this story for us. :)

#SkylerKnight : MY is nothing but tolerant. He can't ripped off SL head without good enough reasons (no matter how we wish) lol ... Remember, he had a particular trying day: first learning MY's his brother and MY/BQ acts lovey dovey, then LJ touches her then .. well you know. Thing between YH/BQ seems to end in chapter .. or maybe not. :D

#Weissfreya : Usually I update the story once a week, mostly on Sunday. I hope you heart won't beat too fast now, least I've to send Shifu to do CPR. :P

#loreinacadis0412 : Thanking for leaving comments to me. I always relish reading your reflections. I don't like the demurred BQ. She's too placid in my opinion. And Shifu is here, she has no one to fear anymore. If she did that, Shifu might actually nosebleed. The UST is thick in the air. *fanning* Thank you for the info, 3L3W youtube's zither songs played by fans are really beautiful. Love all of them.

#bebepantheon : Welcome new reader! Hope you've having good time reading this new update.

#Kaz : I update the story once a week, Kaz. You can check back for more another Sunday. Sorry I can't update more often than that. :'(