I looked down in astonishment. Under the dazzling sunlight, the light blue Xiangyun yarn seemed particularly glaring. I suddenly recalled my conversation with Feng Qiansu that day.
"There was a rush, so the sewing isn't very fine. Please make do with it, Miss."
"Thank you, Sister Qiansu."
Just as he was in a daze, he heard Xiao Zuo softly advise, "It's too early to draw conclusions now. While we can't be careless, we also can't wrongly accuse good people, and we certainly can't alert the enemy, can we?"
I nodded subconsciously, but I was still worried. I couldn't wait to pull Xiao Zuo back to the starting point.
Volume 1, Chapter 6: Mutual Affection (2)
Section Two: Why Did They Separate?
The twilight was like smoke, and the crimson clouds resembled brocade.
It's hard to tell whether it's compassion or cruelty, but the more beautiful the scenery, the closer it is to the end.
There was a large open space in the backyard of the inn. I was looking up at the setting sun, the golden light stinging my eyes. The kite became a heart-wrenching speck in the clear sky, magnified infinitely before my eyes, until it filled my entire field of vision.
The wheels spun rapidly, the line taut in the wind, and I gradually felt that I could no longer control it.
So this is what flying a kite feels like—a sense of control, yet also resistance; a struggle against fate, a ceaseless struggle amidst the ever-flowing wind.
Very well, I'll just be the kind-hearted person and grant your wish.
I pulled hard and snapped the string with a loud crack. A surprised exclamation came from behind me. When did this girl get here? I saw her gazing regretfully at the kite flying further and further away, pouting, "What a pity, it broke..."
What a pity? I looked up and saw the brown Bagua kite, bathed in the glow of the sunset, soaring away on the wind, never to be bound again, to the ends of the earth. How wonderful, so free now.
It's unfair to hold back something that yearns to fly.
"But I've heard there's a custom that flying a kite is like releasing misfortune, letting all your unhappiness fly away with it." Jin Zhao smiled sweetly at me. "Does the Grand Steward also have things that make him unhappy?"
Before I could answer, she interrupted, "I know! It must be because of the many dangers we encountered on the road! Sigh, those people really risk their lives to steal the treasure bottle."
"Birds die for food, and people die for wealth; this has been true throughout history." Human desires are endless.
Jin Zhao nodded as if he understood, and I asked, "Did you need something?"
"Oh, well, Miss and Young Master Xiao haven't returned yet. I was thinking, should we go out and look for them? We're unfamiliar with Huayang, and it would be terrible if we ran into an ambush again!"
My expression changed, and I immediately turned and walked back. After taking only a few steps, I sensed a strange gaze and instinctively looked up—in a window on the second floor of the inn, Baili Chenfeng was silently watching me. My gaze met his in the air, and in that instant, it felt like a thousand years.
Human beings are naturally prone to infatuation, and this sorrow has nothing to do with the wind and the moon.
What an interesting coincidence—the morning breeze, so delicate and gentle, the wind blows on him and on me, there is wind but no moon.
I nodded slightly to him and entered the inn through the back door. Just as I was about to go upstairs, I heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar. When they reached the entrance of the inn, they stopped abruptly, and a man with a white sash dismounted and rushed in with a few large strides.
Just as the innkeeper's waiter was about to greet him, he had already run towards the stairs. Just then, another waiter came down from upstairs carrying a washbasin and a copper kettle. It seemed that the two were about to collide, but in that split second, the man pressed his left hand on the railing, and his whole body soared into the air, leaping over the waiter's head. He landed without stopping and thumped upstairs.
"Impressive lightness skill!" I squinted. Meanwhile, a chorus of speculations had already gathered in the hall:
"Judging from that posture, it's like a swallow skimming across the water three times. Could this person be from the Flying Swallow Hall?"
"No, I think it's the Lingyun Step. They must be disciples of the Yinshan Sect, right?"
That person clearly just leaped casually, yet these people insist on giving him a name; it's truly laughable. This person has a white headband; if I'm not mistaken, he should be a disciple of Baili City… Why are they in such a hurry?
I lifted my skirt and went up to the second floor. As I passed Baili Chenfeng's room, I didn't stop, but I looked over. The inn wasn't very soundproof, and I could hear muffled whispers inside, as if they were arguing about something.
Just as I reached my room door, Baili Chenfeng opened it and came out with the other person. As I suspected, this person was indeed a disciple of Baili Cheng!
Baili Chenfeng glanced at me, then turned to the man and said, "Alright, take this message back with you."
"But—" The man was still anxious and uneasy. Judging from his appearance, could something have happened in Baili City?
Baili Chenfeng interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument: "I will handle this myself, you should go back now!"
The man sighed, "I'm afraid even if you get the message back, it will be in vain! In any case, be careful." He glanced at me, then turned and went downstairs without further hesitation.
His gaze... My heart skipped a beat, and I staggered backward, my arm hitting the wall. Before I could even cry out in pain, Baili Chenfeng caught me: "What's wrong?"
My voice trembled uncontrollably: "He... his killing intent is so strong."
Actually, I had already held back my words. The way that person looked at me just now clearly meant he wanted to kill me!
Who is he? Why did he want to kill me? What exactly happened?
Baili Chenfeng immediately looked embarrassed and said, "He...he was just worried about me."
What does worrying about him have to do with killing me? I don't understand.
"He thinks the reason I haven't returned yet and why I'm not going with him is because of... you, so..." He didn't finish his sentence, but I understood what he meant. Something big must have happened in Baili City, and Baili Chenfeng needs to go back quickly, but he still chose to travel with us, which is why that person was so anxious and even disliked me.
I lowered my head, unsure of what to feel. Baili Chenfeng refused to return to the city with him; was it really because of me? And what major event had occurred in Baili City? Along the way, we had encountered ambushes and suffered heavy losses, but Baili City had not sent any reinforcements. I was wondering about this, but it turned out that another major change had taken place in the city.
Just as I was pondering the various possibilities, I saw Gong Feicui and Xiao Zuo walk up side by side. Although they looked no different, there was an intimacy in their every glance and step that set them apart from others. Could it be that the two of them...