Love & Redemption
Chapter 61 - 21 Journeying Together

Chapter 61: Chapter 21 Journeying Together

As expected, the next morning, Lu Yanran had already left. Linglong got up early and escorted her all the way to the outskirts of Wangxian Town before she reluctantly returned.

By that time, Zhong Minyan and the others had already gotten up and were having breakfast and chatting with Boss Zhao. Linglong looked around, did not see Xuanji, and could not help but sigh, "The younger sister really hasn’t gotten up yet."

Zhong Minyan took a sip of porridge and snorted, "The day she knows to rise with the crowing of the cock, the sun will rise from the west!"

Linglong glared at him and pouted, "You always have to disagree with your sister, really annoying!" After saying that, she ran to the room to wake Xuanji up and dragged her to have breakfast.

After breakfast, Yu Sifeng took out a map from his embrace and said softly, "Leaving Wangxian Town and heading east, there should be a deserted forest. There’s no need for us to trek through it; we can fly directly to Gao Mountain with Sword Control. Nearby there is Hongze Lake, which is said to have spectacular scenery."

Linglong, hearing there was something fun, eagerly nodded. Ruo Yu smiled and said, "There is also Zhongli City nearby, which is quite a famous large city. Minyan, you and the others usually cultivate at Shouyang Mountain and have not been to such bustling places."

Zhong Minyan nodded, "Master advised that cultivators should keep their minds as calm as still water and not crave the splendors of the mortal world."

"Sixth, stop always talking about what master advised! Since we’re out, we should enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Ruo Yu, what’s fun in Zhongli City?"

Once Linglong spoke, Zhong Minyan played dumb, obediently becoming compliant.

Ruo Yu smiled and said, "I’ve only heard that every February, they hold a big festival there. Everyone in the city participates, making it exceptionally lively. Although we are a few days early, it shouldn’t matter."

As soon as Linglong heard there was excitement to witness, she could hardly sit still, quickly stuffing her breakfast down so fast she almost choked. She wiped her mouth and was about to gather her things to leave. Xuanji, seeing her in such a hurry, thought something urgent was happening and quickly stuffed the remaining half of her pancake into her mouth, only to choke on it, frantically pounding on the table.

"Slow down, here, drink some water." Yu Sifeng quickly handed her a cup of tea, helping her drink it little by little. Seeing her complexion ease, he then ruefully said, "You really are like a child who never grows up. Who eats like that?"

Xuanji finally swallowed everything in her mouth, then widened her eyes and asked lightly, "Is there something urgent? Where are we going later?"

Yu Sifeng could only continue to smile helplessly, noticing some lint on her forehead and couldn’t resist flicking it away while softly saying, "When will you ever pay full attention when someone is speaking? The sun would truly rise from the west then."

After finishing, seeing her still looking at him with a blank expression, he said softly, "No matter where we go, just follow me."

She obediently nodded, earning a slight smile from him, "...as long as you’re not afraid that I’ll sell you."

Si Feng had been acting very strange lately. Xuanji went back to her room to pack her things, while recalling the events since she had met him. He seemed the same, still knowledgeable and orderly; yet he also seemed much changed, always making ambiguous comments. Although it had been four years, she felt everything was just as before, nothing was different, but perhaps for him, things were a bit different.

Linglong had already packed her things swiftly and came over to pack Xuanji’s belongings. Seeing her so absent-minded, rewrapping a piece of clothing again and again into a cloth ball, Linglong couldn’t help but tease her with a laugh, "What’s on your mind? Come on, tell your sister."

With a look of understanding, she took Xuanji’s hand, sat beside her, and blinked her sparkly eyes.

Xuanji hesitated, then said, "Linglong, don’t you think Si Feng has changed a lot?"

Linglong had known she would bring up Si Feng, and considering her sister was good in other areas but naive in some ways like a three-year-old, she teased, "Changed in what way? You tell me first."

"He seems to say things that are hard to understand, and his attitude seems different from before... am I overthinking things?" Xuanji was worried she was being too sensitive.

Linglong couldn’t help but snicker while maintaining a serious face, "Indeed, you are overthinking it. To me, Si Feng seems just the same as before. Don’t you like him?"

"How could I not!" Xuanji quickly defended herself, "I... I really like him! Si Feng seems to know and can do everything, he’s incredibly capable, and he’s so kind to us, how could I not like him?"

Linglong sighed, "Then... maybe he just doesn’t like you."

Ah, could this be the truth? Xuanji suddenly realized; indeed, it was because she had not contacted him for four years, so he was angry, which is why he had said those strange things the other night, and why... his attitude had changed!

Linglong saw her twisting her sash back and forth into a twist, almost laughing her stomach out, but she suppressed her laugh and sighed again, "Speaking of which, he still refuses to take off his mask, indeed it’s become quite unfamiliar. Probably still blaming you for not writing to him for four years. Forget it, Xuanji, such matters can’t be forced. You should not make Si Feng angry anymore, talk more with him, men... they need to be coaxed to feel comfortable. Remember to please him more, understand?"

So that’s it! Hmm, please him, please him...

They had finally packed up everything, declined the relentless invitations from the Zhao Family Manor, and the five of them set out together, flying towards Zhongli City to the east using Sword Control.

While controlling swords in Qingming, it’s essential to keep one’s mind free of distractions; otherwise, it’s very easy to fall off the sword, and falling from such a high altitude would not be a pleasant experience. Xuanji used to be the fastest and most stable in flying due to her mind always being free of stray thoughts, but today, for some unknown reason, she was flying slow and low, and several times she almost fell off her sword, tilting to the side and frightening Yu Sifeng, who stayed close by. He turned back and called out to Linglong, "Xuanji is not in good shape today; Linglong, can you lead her in flight?"

Linglong, with her own troubles, pretended not to hear and pulled Zhong Minyan ahead to the front. Ruo Yu saw that it was inappropriate for him to interfere in the private affairs of young people and simply feigned deafness, flying out of sight early on.

"Forget it, you come up."

Yu Sifeng lifted Xuanji gently and placed her behind himself, flying steadily forward. After a while, he felt her clutching his sleeve tightly, her fingers coiling around and around, twisting the pattern on his sleeve into a bundle, and he couldn’t help but chuckle, "What are you worried about?"

Xuanji mumbled for a long time before finally looking up, her eyes bright and earnest, and she seriously asked, "Si Feng, how can I please you so that you’ll be happy?"

He was suddenly stunned, and the sword under his feet immediately slipped, nearly causing them both to fall.

Why would she ask that?! Yu Sifeng felt very frustrated. He looked down at Xuanji, and she really was treating it as a serious question. He smiled bitterly inside but kept a calm face, "Who taught you these things?"

Thinking he was still not pleased, Xuanji, anxious, tugged at his sleeve and said, "Si Feng, it’s my fault I haven’t written in four years. Please, don’t be angry, okay? You can scold me or even hit me if that helps!"

Behind the mask, he smiled slightly and teased, "A few hits and scolds will relieve four years of anger?"

What should she do then? Xuanji felt helpless.

"I... I don’t have anything valuable to compensate you with."

He still smiled, "Can money buy back four years of memories?"

She was completely at a loss for words.

The wind from all directions blew together, and her hair brushed across his neck, chilling and thrilling. She was always like this, thoughtless; she made mistakes without malice, held no grudges, turned other’s worlds upside down, yet remained utterly oblivious herself.

Sometimes, he truly should punish her a little, to make her understand what she had done.

But...

Her hand came up softly, like a disgraced little cat, not yet meowing but her pitiful look was enough to stir the heart.

He really didn’t have the heart.

Even though he knew that behind those pitiful looks was always thoughtlessness, he still didn’t have the heart.

Perhaps, just as his master said, he had encountered the demon of his fate, with not even a chance to struggle, and had willingly succumbed to the demon.

Suddenly, he reached back, grabbed her hand tightly, and whispered low, "Xuanji, I’m not mad at you at all. Even if it’s four years, or fourteen years, or forty years, what does it matter!"

He finally voiced the thoughts buried in his heart. After he spoke, he felt as if there was a trembling rabbit in his chest, thumping wildly. He waited for a long time, but the girl behind him remained silent. He had to turn back to look at her, only to see her head bowed in thought, and after a long while, she looked up and smiled brightly, "Forty years is too long, Si Feng. Let’s not be apart for even four days in the future."

Really?

A lump formed in his throat, and he could no longer utter a word.