The forest was cool and quiet, a sharp contrast to the chaos Bai Yue had left behind in the village.
Hán Bīng walked ahead of her, silver hair swaying with each step, never once looking back to check if Bai Yue was following. She moved like she knew exactly where she was going, which, Bai Yue supposed, she did.
Bai Yue, meanwhile, was waddling.
There was no elegant way to say it.
"Can we... slow down... slightly?" she panted.
Hán Bīng paused. Turned. Her icy gaze dropped to Bai Yue's belly, then back to her face.
"You're struggling."
"Astute observation."
"The baby is healthy?"
"Very healthy. Extremely healthy. Possibly training to be a warrior."
Hán Bīng's expression flickered. She slowed her pace to match Bai Yue's waddle.
They walked in silence for another few minutes until they reached a small clearing, a circle of moss-covered stones surrounding a natural spring so clear it looked like liquid glass.
