Baili Chenfeng suddenly said to Xiao Zuo in a very serious tone, "I have something to tell you."
Xiao Zuo raised his eyebrows and entered the room without hesitation. Baili Chenfeng immediately followed and slammed the door shut.
Gong Feicui and I stood outside the door, exchanging glances. She looked at me questioningly—what happened? I shook my head, indicating that I knew nothing about it.
A furious shout suddenly rang out from inside the room: "What did you say?!"
Gong Feicui and I exchanged another glance, this time her confusion turning into astonishment. Actually, I hadn't expected Baili Chenfeng to speak to Xiao Zuo in such a tone. What's wrong with him?
"...I disagree! I won't allow you to do this!" came another angry shout. Then Xiao Zuo's voice rose as well: "I have made my decision, and it cannot be changed whether you agree or not."
Perhaps Baili Chenfeng was too agitated, because his words were erratic, and I naturally heard them in fits and starts: "Is Baili City really that important to you... If you value our friendship—let's call it friendship for now—then please... You know perfectly well that the situation in the city is irreconcilable, with the four elders of the east, west, south, and north disagreeing. If things continue like this..."
Xiao Zuo interrupted him: "So, you should disappear as soon as possible. I'm enough..."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. So it was internal strife… I really hadn't thought much of it at the time. With Baili Wenming dead, the selection of a new city lord was imminent. Several factions were supporting different candidates, locked in fierce competition. The person from earlier was naturally from Baili Chenfeng's faction, but—
A very serious question arises: what role did Xiao Zuo play in all of this?
Just then, a loud crash came from inside the house, and the sounds of wood breaking, porcelain shattering, and hard objects hitting the ground all blended together.
Finally, silence returned.
Other guests came out upon hearing the noise, looking at me and then at Gong Feicui with curiosity. Gong Feicui and I made eye contact for the third time, and then turned around and went back to our room together in perfect unison.
Gently closing the door, Gong Feicui sat down at the table and bit her lip, saying, "This is the first time I've seen the two of them argue."
I casually replied, "It seems to be related to Baili City."
"What do you think it could be?"
I remained silent for a long time before answering, "I don't know." I really didn't know; anything could have happened.
It was completely dark by then. I lit the oil lamp on the table, and the dim yellow light spread out, illuminating Gong Feicui's eyebrows and eyes, which looked more worried and gentle than usual.
I said softly, "Miss, are you hungry? You ran out without eating anything. I'll go and tell the waiter to bring you some food."
She shook her head, then suddenly glanced at me twice, her eyes filled with a strange mix of doubt, analysis, and rejection.
"Young Miss, what's wrong?"
"No...no." She turned her head away awkwardly, stared at her sleeve for a long time, and then whispered, "You don't need to worry about me. Jin Zhaoyu will take care of me. Go back to your room and sleep. We have to travel early tomorrow morning."
I smiled slightly: "Okay, then I'll call Jin Zhaoyu and the others over."
"Mmm." The voice that answered was soft and weary, strange, there was something odd about it.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Xiao Zuo standing outside. He was about to knock when he saw me and was taken aback.
There was no sign of Baili Chenfeng behind him.
Gong Feicui suddenly stood up and was about to speak when Xiao Zuo walked over and grabbed her hands. His voice, which was usually lazy and irreverent, changed: "I only came to say one thing to you."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Don't worry."
Gong Feicui looked up at him and surprisingly stopped saying anything.
I was taken aback; such docility was so unlike her! Then I looked at Xiao Zuo's eyes—gentle, warm, and refined. Candlelight cast shadows on the wall, outlining two silhouettes, as if creating a world that belonged only to them, a world no one else could intrude upon.
So the guess that had been swirling in my mind was finally confirmed—she and Xiao Zuo had most likely confessed their feelings to each other and secretly pledged their love... a secret life commitment, that's troublesome!
With this thought in mind, I quietly left through the door. The corridor was dim, and my shadow was superimposed by the light from different rooms, pieced together but never complete.
It cannot be completed.
I stretched out my right hand under the strongest light, and laid it flat. There were faint red marks on my palm and fingertips, marks left by the kite string when I flew the kite earlier. It was so difficult to control, yet people are unwilling to accept it and insist on being in control, struggling against fate.
But Feng Qiansu, are you the kite or the one holding the string?
"Grand Steward." Someone called me from behind. I turned around and saw it was the leader of the Iron Cavalry. He said respectfully, "I've come to ask what time we'll depart tomorrow?"
I took a deep breath and replied in a deep voice, "We'll get up at 5 a.m., depart at 1 a.m., and arrive in Shangzhou around 5 p.m., which is our next stop—Hecheng."
Volume 1, Chapter 7: A Startling Dream in Crane City (1)
Section 1 Birdsong and Fragrant Flowers
Because we underestimated how difficult the roads were, we arrived in Hecheng an hour later than expected.
Since entering this city, a question has been lingering in my mind—what is the connection between this Crane City and "cranes"?
In fact, I didn't see a single crane!
In such situations, Xiao Zuo would typically find his place. After his explanation, I finally understood: the city is located north of the Dan River, backed by Jinfeng Mountain and facing Guishan Mountain, resembling a crane in flight, hence the elegant name "Guishan Crane City".
Although I still cannot see where the shape of this city resembles a crane, I cannot deny that this small town, surrounded by mountains and clear streams, is indeed very lovable.
So, after we finished dinner at the inn, when Xiao Zuo suggested going for a walk, I was the first to jump up from my chair and exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Although it's already late and we can't see the 'Dawn at Longshan' you mentioned, it would be nice to see the 'Sunset at Xiong'er'! Sister Qiansu, let's go!"