Looking at Xiao Zuo again, there was a faint smile at the corner of his eyes and lips, but that smile seemed indescribably eerie to me.
A sense of unease suddenly welled up inside me, as if I had unknowingly said something wrong that might lead to unpredictable consequences. Just as I was feeling alarmed, another pair of thoughtful eyes came from the side. I turned my head and saw Baili Chenfeng.
Without saying a word, he reached out to pour me tea. The emerald green Xinyang Maojian tea flowed from the spout into the smooth white porcelain cup, reflecting my face in the shimmering water. My smile remained unchanged.
For the first time, I admired myself for being able to control my emotions so perfectly when I saw him again after such an embarrassing incident. Baili Chenfeng, I'd rather reject you than deceive you. There are many people in this world I can be insincere with, but not you.
Do you know what? I don't want you.
The three of them drank tea in silence for a long time until a gasp rose in the hall. We then turned around and saw Gong Feicui, accompanied by Jin Zhaoyu Cui, gracefully walking down the stairs.
I was right. That dress suited her perfectly. However, as she walked over, although she praised me, her eyes glanced at Xiao Zuo and asked, "What do you think of Sister Qiansu's taste?"
Xiao Zuo glanced at me, seemingly casually, and smiled, "Chief Steward Feng's vision has always been exceptional."
I pretended not to understand the hidden meaning in his words and said casually, "Not at all, Miss looks good in anything."
This was exactly what Gong Feicui wanted to hear. Sure enough, her eyebrows arched, and her smile became even more radiant. The leader of the iron cavalry walked over and whispered a reminder, "Chief Steward Feng, it's already 7 PM."
"Alright, let's get ready to hit the road." I stood up first, glanced at Xiao Zuo and Baili Chenfeng, and smiled. "No objections to traveling through the night, are you all okay with that?"
After the battles at Thunderbolt Hall and Yellow River, the Iron Cavalry has been reduced to only thirty-five men, five of whom were wounded, greatly weakening our forces. If this continues, we fear that we will be wiped out before we even reach Baili City.
I frowned, mounted my horse, and this time, Baili Chenfeng didn't ask me to ride his. I glanced back at him—black robes and a white horse. When did this man, who hadn't even exposed the skin on his hands when we first met, become so close? So close that I could see the loneliness in his eyes and brows very clearly.
Lowering my eyelashes, I saw my hand gripping the reins trembling slightly. When I tried to hold it with my other hand, both hands trembled together.
That's terrifying.
Love is indeed something one should not be tainted by; it makes me restless and makes it difficult for me to regain my initial composure.
Frustration, resentment, and unwillingness surged into my heart. I raised my whip and lashed my horse hard. The horse, in pain, immediately bolted and galloped away. Houses and pedestrians on both sides flashed past my sight. The copper nails on the tall city gate gleamed in the evening light.
I rode closer and closer, faster and faster, and finally, to the astonishment of the city guards, I was the first to rush out of the city gate.
Outside the city gate, the green grass stretches endlessly, seemingly reaching for the heavens.
That night, we traveled non-stop through towns such as Bailiang, Heichi, and Huayuan. The next day, we crossed the Wei River and arrived in Huayang at dusk. After discussing it, we decided to rest there for the night and continue west the next day, bypassing Huashan and taking the route through Xinghua Town before heading south to Hecheng. So we stayed at Xingning Inn, the largest in Huayang.
While having dinner in the lobby, I overheard this discussion coming from the next table—
"Hey, have you heard? The Dragon King is dead!"
I looked up immediately, and Xiao Zuo, who was sitting opposite me, also stopped eating and listened attentively.
Not just him, almost everyone around looked at the person who had spoken. His neighbor questioned, "Are you out of your mind? How can you say something like that?"
Seeing that he was being suspected, the man shouted even louder, "I'm not making this up. My brother-in-law is a disciple of the Dragon Gate. He received a message by carrier pigeon this morning saying that the Dragon King has passed away. He has already packed his things and is on his way to the Dragon Palace to pay his respects."
I saw Xiao Zuo's chopsticks tremble slightly. Gong Fei Cui beside him looked at him with a gaze that was both tender and sorrowful.
"That's unlikely, isn't it? How could the Dragon King suddenly fall ill and die?"
"Why would I lie to you? It's said that after he died, his newlywed wife immediately drew her sword and committed suicide. Tsk tsk tsk, what a virtuous and chaste woman! With a wife like that, what more could a husband ask for!"
"Snap!" Xiao Zuo put down his chopsticks and stood up abruptly, saying in a deep voice, "Excuse me, I'm going out for a walk."
Watching his departing figure, Gong Feicui suddenly bit her lip and called out, "Wait for me!" She immediately chased after him, and the two disappeared outside the inn in no time.
Meanwhile, the man at the next table continued his incessant chatter, discussing who would take the Dragon King's place now that he was dead, and whether the various chieftains and leaders of the Yellow River would seize the opportunity to cause trouble, and so on. More and more people listened, and more and more people joined in the fun, and for a time, the hall was bustling with activity.
I suddenly lost my appetite. Although I knew about it yesterday, I still felt a pang of sadness when I actually heard he was dead. "This man was truly devoted; he couldn't bear to ruin his wife's reputation even in death. In doing so, he fulfilled that woman's wish."
Baili Chenfeng suddenly spoke up: "If it were me, I would do the same."
My heart skipped a beat. When I looked up at him again, he wasn't looking at me. He just kept his head down, his expression quiet, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
That silence stirred a wicked thought within me, a desire to destroy it! So I slowly rose and said, word by word, "I think the Dragon King is very foolish. Extremely foolish."
I put down my chopsticks and hurried out of the lobby. Even as I went upstairs, I could feel the burning sensation on my back. Those piercing eyes seemed to burn through my skin, leaving an indelible mark on my soul.
Baili Chenfeng, you are truly foolish. Extremely foolish.
Book 1, Chapter 6: Mutual Affection (1)
The First Chapter: Deep Affection
Compared to the ancient and elegant Hancheng, Huayang, a city famous for its proximity to Mount Hua, is truly disappointing.
I hurried out of the inn, and all I could see were rows of houses and crowds of people, a scene of hustle and bustle. I could not find Xiao Zuo anywhere.
I told him to wait for me, but he still walked so fast!
I stomped my foot, a wave of disappointment washing over me—I had thought he would want me by his side when he was sad and upset, but it turned out I had been delusional!
Thinking about it this way, my disappointment immediately subsided, and anger surged up like a tide. Originally, I only wanted to comfort him, but now I just wanted to give him a good scolding!
But with such a huge crowd, where am I supposed to find him?