Under Wu Ling's directions, the group quickly divided tasks and spent the next two days constructing several more simple huts for each person to rest or cultivate in as they needed. Xiong Dahuo dedicated most of his time to processing the slain wolves and hunting for something appropriate to feast on. Throughout the process, he rather forcefully included Yu Jinqi under the auspices of 'turning him into an outdoorsman.' While the young alchemist put up a token resistance, Wu Ling suspected he was starting to enjoy following along with the aggressive Brawler.
Even the injured Jin Wuya helped, despite only being able to use one of her hands. She eagerly followed along with Su Xiang, using her significant strength to carry several large bundles of bamboo back to the camp, hauling water or tending to dozens of small tasks that, while they needed attention, didn't require deft handling.
At one point, while the two women were away from the camp, Jin Wuya worked up the courage to ask Su Xiang a question.
"Sister Su," the muscular woman said hesitantly, trying to decide how she wanted to approach the delicate topic. "I couldn't help but notice. You have a very close relationship with Brother Wu Ling. I, I was hoping to trouble you for some advice…"
"No, no, not you too," Su Xiang said, a horrified look spreading across her face. First it had been Yao Meifeng, who Su Xiang honestly approved of. After that, however, whether it was Alchemist Huang Yeyan or the friends Su Yao had invited to her banquet, Wu Ling seemed to attract the eyes of women like flowers attract bees.
"You're not falling for my brother are you?" Su Xiang asked hesitantly, afraid that she was about to witness yet another woman fall for her sworn brother's charm.
"What? No!" Jin Wuya said with a vigorous shake of her head. "Why would you think that?"
"Thank the Heavens," Su Xiang said with a deep sigh. "My brother is dangerous around women. He has several admirers already, and one woman he's courting. I was afraid that you were going to ask me for advice about approaching him."
"Oh," Jin Wuya said, pausing for a moment to consider. "I suppose that he's attractive in some ways," she finally said as though she didn't quite believe it. "There are some women who might enjoy a delicate man. I'd be afraid of hurting him," she added with a faint pink tinge coloring her cheeks.
"So, if you're not interested in Brother Ling," Su Xiang asked quickly. "What kind of advice are you looking for?"
"Well, it's just," Jin Wuya began, trying to gather her courage to put her feelings into words. "During the battle, Senior Brother Zhang, he, he called out my name while he was fighting. He wanted to protect me," she said, her voice growing quieter as she spoke. "He fought so hard and suffered so many wounds. I, I don't know how to respond to his feelings," she finished awkwardly.
"Do you have feelings for him?" Su Xiang asked directly. After all, if Jin Wuya had no feelings for her Senior Brother, being honest and making that clear would be best. It might hurt for a moment, and it could make things awkward on the rest of the journey, but since they had time to spend at the lakeshore, she felt it would be better to say any unpleasant things that needed saying now so both people could have time to process their feelings afterward. After all, if Jin Wuya was looking for advice on rejecting Zhang Buyan, she felt doing so long before they faced danger again would be best.
"I, I don't know if I do or not," the taller woman said, fidgeting with a piece of broken bamboo with the fingers of her good hand. "He's handsome, don't you think?"
"I," Su Xiang started only to stop as soon as she'd opened her mouth. Was Zhang Buyan really attractive? Perhaps he was, but in much the same way that Wu Ling didn't appeal to Jin Wuya, Zhang Buyan's rugged features held no particular attraction to her. "I think many women would consider him such," she finally answered diplomatically. "But seeing him as handsome isn't the same thing as having feelings for him," she pointed out.
"I've never had feelings for anyone," Jin Wuya admitted. "In the sect, people keep their distance from me. My grandfather's status isn't low and my father can be a little… overbearing if someone expresses interest in me. I spend most of my time cultivating with my senior and junior sisters."
"In that case," Su Xiang said. "I think you shouldn't worry about whether you have feelings for Brother Zhang or not. I think you should just spend time with him. Come to know him better and allow him to know you better. If there are feelings that unfold from it, I think you will know."
"Then, if there are, what do I do about my family? My father still hopes for me to reach the Inner Sect but Senior Brother has been sent out of it. I don't think that…"
"It doesn't matter," Su Xiang said firmly. "If you two find that there is love, then you fight for it. If you find that there isn't, then you remain good friends who have faced danger together. That's what I believe. If you have love for each other, then that's worth fighting and nothing else matters," she said with conviction.
Within her heart, Su Xiang's evolving sense of the Virtue of Love grew even stronger. Fang Lin had come here to curry favor in his pursuit of Su Yao, not because he loved her but because he wanted to possess her. Yun Kong had died because the parents and sect of the woman he loved didn't approve. Her own sect was trying to force her away from the sworn brother she loved dearly. Again and again, people involved themselves in the love of others where they had no business doing so.
Love shouldn't be caged like this!
Slowly, a soft silvery light gathered around Su Xiang, drawing a startled gasp from Jin Wuya who felt like the other woman was approaching a breakthrough. Moments later, however, the light dissipated and Su Xiang's focus returned to her new friend.
"I'm sorry," she said. "For a moment, I felt like your situation is far too common. It's what I want to fight against. Choose who you love, whether that's Brother Zhang or someone else. Even," she flushed brightly at the thought that occurred to her but she said it anyway because it was honest. "Even if you decide someday that you love Brother Ling," she mumbled.
"Haha, Sister Su, I promise, your brother and I… I admire him, but I doubt I would ever love him that way," Jin Wuya said with a smile. "Thank you, Sister Su, for your advice. I'll spend more time with Senior Brother Zhang and… we'll see what happens."