"I'm a student," Yun Jue replied, sitting comfortably on the branch opposite her, his legs dangling over the edge of the abyss without a hint of fear. "My family has... connections to the Abbot. I spend my winters here to clear my head. It's better than the city. No one asks me about business or 'The Plot' here."
He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. "You've grown, Pigtails. But you're still trying to escape the group, aren't you?"
Huaijin sighed, leaning her back against the trunk. "It's exhausting, Yun Jue. Everyone wants to protect me, or use me, or watch me. Sometimes I just want to be a tree-climbing kid who gets stuck and has to be rescued by a 'Little Brother' who has clearly spent the last two years getting way too good at gymnastics."
Yun Jue laughed again. "I'm not a 'Little Brother' anymore, you know. I think I've officially passed you in height and rank."
"Rank? You're just a monk-in-training!"
