Sleeves Like Swords

1.

For the first half of her life, Wei Gening was proud and arrogant, never willing to bow her head. Only twice did she face a life-or-death crisis she could not escape on her own.

The first person to save her was Tang Zhiyuan. Wei Gening swore to serve him faithfully and follow him forever.

The second person to save her was Pei Yun'e. Wei Gening declared that one day she would cut off his head.

The academy disciples secretly started a betting pool over when Pei and Wei would finally make peace. Some bet a year, others three. A classmate who knew the truth said it would take a lifetime. Pei Yun'e laughed and punched him, saying it wouldn't come to that.

Everyone called Wei Gening an ungrateful little ingrate, but Pei Yun'e didn't see her that way.

Until the day the Xiling army laid siege. The enemy dragged their hostage to the front lines and humiliated him, ordering the defenders to open the gates. Pei Yun'e, barely conscious, had just raised his head when Wei Gening on the city wall shot an arrow straight through his heart.

2.

Anyone could save Wei Gening, just not Pei Yun'e. And yet it had to be Pei Yun'e. They had fallen out and parted on bad terms the day before, only for her to be forced to owe him her life the next day. The frustration nearly made Wei Gening spit blood.

"If you ever find yourself surrounded, I'll save you once too, and we'll call it even. But if you think this will make me go easy on you in the future, don't even dream of it."

"Do you really have to make things so absolute? We can't be enemies for the rest of our lives."

On the city wall, the moment Wei Gening released the bowstring, she suddenly remembered the spring night seven years ago when Pei Yun'e had carried her back to the academy. His unfamiliar body heat warmed her blood-drained body, and the thin back of the young man beneath her trembled with laughter.

"Wei Gening, we can't be enemies for the rest of our lives."

It already has been a lifetime, Pei Yun'e.

Premise: Debts of money are easy to repay, but debts of kindness are hard, entangling them across two lifetimes.