Love & Redemption
Chapter 64 - 21 Together Along the Way

Chapter 64: Chapter 21 Together Along the Way

As expected, Lu Yanran had already left when everyone woke up the next morning. Linglong had risen early and accompanied her all the way to the outskirts of Wangxian Town before reluctantly returning.

By that time, Zhong Minyan and the others were already up, having breakfast and chatting with Boss Zhao. Linglong looked around and didn’t see Xuanji, sighing involuntarily, "It looks like younger sister didn’t wake up after all."

Zhong Minyan took a sip of porridge and humphed, "The day she knows how to rise early at the cock’s crow, the sun will rise from the west!"

Linglong glared at him, pouting, "You always pick on sister, really annoying!" Having said that, she ran off to her room to wake Xuanji and dragged her to have breakfast.

After breakfast, Yu Sifeng took a map from his bosom and softly said, "To the east of Wangxian Town lies a deserted forest. There’s no need for us to walk through it; we can fly directly to Gao Mountain with Sword Control. Near there is Hongze Lake, which I heard has a stunning scenery."

Upon hearing there were sights to be seen, Linglong immediately nodded eagerly. Ruo Yu said with a smile, "There’s a Zhongli City nearby, a famous large city too. Min Yan, you guys usually cultivate at Shouyang Mountain and haven’t visited bustling areas, right?"

Zhong Minyan nodded, "Master instructed that cultivators should maintain a calm heart undisturbed by worldly splendor."

"Not everything is about what master instructed, Min Yan! Now that we are out, we should enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Ruo Yu, what’s there to do in Zhongli City?"

Once Linglong spoke, Zhong Minyan just played dumb and obediently followed others’ suggestions.

Ruo Yu smiled, "I’ve only heard that in February each year, there is a large sacrifice held there, drawing everyone in the city into a spectacularly lively event. Although we are a few days early, it doesn’t really matter."

As soon as Linglong heard about the festivities, she could hardly sit still, stuffing her breakfast down in a hurry, almost choking herself. After wiping her mouth, she immediately went to pack up to leave. Seeing her rush, Xuanji thought there was some urgent matter and quickly stuffed the remaining half of a pancake into her mouth, choking herself in the process, frantically thumping the table with her hand.

"Slow down, here, drink some water." Yu Sifeng quickly passed a cup of tea to her lips, helping her sip it slowly. Seeing her complexion ease, he said with a wry smile, "You’re like a grown child. Who eats like that?"

Xuanji finally managed to swallow what was in her mouth, then widened her eyes and asked softly, "Is there some urgent matter? Where are we heading later?"

Yu Sifeng continued to smile helplessly. Noticing some lint on her hair, he couldn’t help but pluck it off and said softly, "I wonder when you will actually focus on what others are saying. That day the sun will indeed rise from the west."

After speaking, seeing her still looking at him obliviously, he gently said, "No matter where we go, just follow me."

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

Si Feng had been acting strangely lately. As Xuanji went back to her room to pack, she thought back on the events since meeting him. It seemed he hadn’t changed at all, still knowing a lot and managing everything methodically; yet somehow, he had changed a lot, often speaking ambiguously. Although four years passed, she felt everything was the same, but maybe for him, things were different.

Linglong, who had already packed her things, came over and efficiently helped her pack, seeing her so distracted that she was wrapping and rewrapping a piece of clothing into a ball of cloth, and couldn’t help but tease her, "What are you pondering so deeply about? Come on, tell your sister."

She adopted an "I understand you" demeanor, grabbing Xuanji’s hand and sitting beside her, her eyes sparkling.

After hesitating a bit, Xuanji finally said, "Linglong, have you noticed that Si Feng seems a lot different?"

Linglong had already guessed that the topic would be about Si Feng. Knowing her sister was still naive in certain aspects, she teasingly said, "What’s changed? You tell me first."

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

Linglong couldn’t help but chuckle secretly, yet seriously said, "Indeed, you are overthinking. In my view, Si Feng hasn’t changed at all. Don’t you like him?"

"How could that be!" Xuanji hurriedly defended herself, "I... I really like him! Si Feng seems to know and do everything tremendously, and he’s so nice to us. How could I not like him?"

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

Eh, could that be the real truth? It dawned on Xuanji that maybe it was because she hadn’t contacted him for four years, making him angry. That’s why he spoke so strangely that night, and that’s why his attitude had changed!

Linglong saw her twisting her belt back and forth into a twister, nearly bursting into laughter. Holding back her laughter, she sighed again, "Speaking of which, he still refuses to remove his mask, indeed becoming a stranger. Probably still angry at you for not writing to him for four years. Forget it, Xuanji, such matters can’t be forced. From now on, don’t make Si Feng angry, talk to him more. Men need to be wooed by women to feel comfortable. Remember to woo him more, understand?"

So that was it! Hmm, please him, please him...

Finally having packed everything up and having declined the constant entreaties of the Zhao Family Manor’s people, the group of five set off together, flying eastward toward Zhongli City on their swords.

When flying with Sword Control in Qingming, it’s crucial to have a mind free of any distractions; otherwise, you could easily fall off the sword. It’s a long way down from such a height, and falling wouldn’t feel pleasant at all. Xuanji used to be the fastest and the most stable flyer with her sword because she never had any stray thoughts. However, today, for some reason, she was flying slowly and low, almost falling off the sword several times, which frightened Yu Sifeng to the point that he stayed close by her side, turning back to call out to Linglong, "Xuanji’s not in good shape today. Linglong, can you fly with her?"

Linglong, harboring her own secrets, pretended not to hear and sped off ahead with Zhong Minyan. Ruo Yu saw these personal matters of the young ones and decided not to intervene, also pretending to be deaf and flying off until she vanished from sight.

"Alright then, climb up."

Yu Sifeng lifted Xuanji with ease and gently positioned her behind him, flying steadily forward. After a while, he felt her gripping his sleeve tightly, her fingers twisting and turning, tangling the pattern on his sleeve into a knot. He couldn’t help but laugh, "What are you so worried about?"

After murmuring to herself for a long time, Xuanji finally looked up, her eyes bright and earnest, and asked seriously, "Si Feng, how can I please you to make you happy?"

He was taken aback, and his foot slipped on the sword, nearly causing them both to fall.

Why would she ask that? Yu Sifeng felt frustrated. He looked down at Xuanji, who was indeed taking the question very seriously. He chuckled bitterly inside, yet he replied calmly, "Who taught you to say that?"

Xuanji, thinking he was still unhappy, anxiously tugged at his sleeve, "Si Feng, it was my fault for not writing for four years. Please don’t be mad, okay? Or you could scold me, or even hit me a couple of times if that helps!"

Smiling beneath his mask, he teased her, "Do you think scolding or hitting you a couple of times would dissipate four years of anger?"

What should she do then? Xuanji felt helpless.

"I... don’t have anything valuable to give you as compensation."

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

At this, she was completely speechless.

The wind from all directions blew upon them, and her hair brushed against his neck, a tingling and cool sensation. She was such a person, always unintentional. Unintentional in making mistakes, in holding grudges, turning others’ lives upside down while remaining nonchalant and confused herself.

Sometimes, he truly believed she needed a little punishment, just to make her understand the full extent of her actions.

But...

Her hands touched his gently, soft as a spurned kitten’s. Without even mewing, the pitiful sight was enough to make one’s heart flutter.

He really didn’t have the heart.

Even knowing that the pitifulness was always unintentional, he still couldn’t bear it.

Perhaps just as his master had said, he had met the demon of his fate, without even a chance to struggle, willingly embracing his doom.

Suddenly, he grasped her hand back tightly and spoke softly, "Xuanji, I’m not at all angered with you. Don’t worry... even if it’s four years, or fourteen years, or forty years, what does it matter!"

Having spoken the words he’d hidden in his heart, he felt as if his chest was thumping wildly like a little rabbit. 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. After a long while, she lifted her head, her face bright with a smile, "Forty years is too long, Si Feng. From now on, let’s not be apart even for four days."

Really?

His throat tightened, and he could no longer utter another word. (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, where Chapters are updated frequently, supporting the author and legitimate reading!)