Chapter 166: When Will We Trim the Wick of the West Window Together?
Xu Xiaoyan sighed, “I have to go find her, no matter what.”
Hou Bomin said, “Think about it. Those people are clearly not ordinary. And the East Sea is vast. Where will you even begin your search?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I’ll start by finding Grandpa Zhong.”
Hou Bomin shook his head, “That’s useless. According to him, there were no islands nearby. Those people just appeared out of nowhere. And that mist… it came out of nowhere. Those people were walking on water in the mist.
“He wasn’t even sure if they were human.
“Even if you find him, he won’t be able to help you find them.”
Xu Xiaoyan gazed at the rising crescent moon, “I have to go, no matter what.”
Hou Bomin sighed, “Very well. But…” he gestured subtly towards the manor, “Have you considered asking him to go with you?”
Xu Xiaoyan shook her head, “The East Sea is far. And this is my own personal matter. I don’t want to burden him.”
Hou Bomin said, “If you ask, I’m sure he’ll go with you. Why not consider it?”
Xu Xiaoyan hesitated, then shook her head resolutely.
Shi Hao walked through the garden under the moonlight.
Although Gong Muhong and Daoist Chuan had urged him to stay, he had decided to leave the Ba Mountains the day after tomorrow.
He reached the back garden and saw Yue Ya’er and Du Yuejiao chatting and laughing.
He approached them and smiled at Yue Ya’er, “Thank you for your help. We wouldn’t have won so easily last night without you.”
Yue Ya’er waved her hand dismissively, “It was nothing.”
She released Du Yuejiao’s arm, “I’m glad we could help. I should be going now.”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “So soon?”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “I have to take these men back. Someone told me to leave as soon as possible. Staying too long would arouse suspicion.”
Shi Hao nodded inwardly… That was a valid concern.
Du Yuejiao, hearing Yue Ya’er was leaving, was relieved, yet she also linked her arm through Yue Ya’er’s, trying to persuade her to stay.
Yue Ya’er felt a sudden urge to stay, just to see Du Yuejiao’s reaction.
Shi Hao and Du Yuejiao escorted her out of the manor.
Her men were waiting for her, their formation neat and orderly.
“I’m leaving. Don’t miss me too much,” Yue Ya’er said, mounting an Yingzhao beast and then, with a flick of her wrist, she soared into the sky, her men following closely behind.
“I didn’t expect her to leave so soon,” Du Yuejiao said, her voice filled with disappointment, “I wanted to chat with her more.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Really?”
He had been busy these past few days, the battle last night particularly intense. Now, finally, he could relax.
They strolled through the garden for a while, then returned to their quarters, where Shi Hao, lifting Du Yuejiao into his arms, carried her to his room.
They spent the night together. The next morning, as they lay sleeping, a knock came at the door.
Du Yuejiao, rubbing her eyes, sleepily climbed off Shi Hao’s chest, “Who is it, so early in the morning?”
The person outside, hearing her complaint, chuckled, “It’s me!” Du Yuejiao muttered, “What does she want, so early in the morning?”
Xu Xiaoyan’s voice came from outside, “I’m here to say goodbye.”
Goodbye? Shi Hao looked towards the door, surprised.
He quickly got dressed, opened the door, and saw Xu Xiaoyan standing there, wearing a simple dress with a flower pattern.
She was much shorter than him. She looked up at him and grinned, “I’m leaving.”
Shi Hao couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Jiangzhe.”
Shi Hao looked at her, puzzled, “Why so suddenly?”
Xu Xiaoyan waved her hand dismissively, “It’s not sudden. I’ve been wanting to leave for a while, but I couldn’t just abandon you. So I stayed.
“Now that things have settled down, I don’t want to stay here any longer. I’m the Night Lily of Jiangzhe, not some… mountain bandit. And it’s getting too cold here. I’m not used to it.”
Shi Hao said, “I’m also planning to leave tomorrow. Why don’t we travel together?”
Du Yuejiao, who had just entered the room, adjusted her robe and sash, and said softly, “That’s a good idea. We can leave together tomorrow.”
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “I have some… personal matters to attend to. I can’t stay.”
Shi Hao, looking at the small bundle she carried, knew her mind was made up.
He said, “Then I’ll see you off.”
Du Yuejiao said, “Yes, we’ll see you off.”
They escorted her down the mountain.
Reaching the foothills, Xu Xiaoyan drew the Plain Sword from her sash and handed it to Shi Hao, “Here’s your sword back.”
Shi Hao shook his head, “It suits you better. Keep it.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “No, it’s yours. Take it,” and tried to place it in his hand.
Shi Hao smiled, took her hand, placed the sword back in her palm, and said, “Although it was mine, it’s yours now. A gift.”
“Oh,” Xu Xiaoyan, no longer refusing, tucked the sword back into her sash.
She turned and said, “I’m leaving.” She walked away.
Shi Hao watched her silently, his heart heavy.
Du Yuejiao, noticing his silence, looked at him.
Xu Xiaoyan’s departure brought her a sense of relief.
Although she and Shi Hao were now… intimate, she knew he had initially approached her for the information about the God-Sealing Stones.
Many things had happened since then, bringing them closer.
But deep down, she felt he cared more about Xu Xiaoyan.
Even Yue Ya’er hadn’t made her feel so insecure.
Xu Xiaoyan’s departure eased her worries. Even in peaceful times, people from different parts of the world rarely stayed together for long.
And in these chaotic times, this parting might be their last.
Although relieved, she wisely remained silent, simply staying by his side.
Shi Hao called for Hou Bomin, Xiang Gu, and He Guangtao.
He had brought them here initially.
He glanced at Hou Bomin, wanting to ask him if he knew why Xu Xiaoyan had left so suddenly.
He suspected there was a reason.
Hou Bomin might know.
But he didn’t ask. Since Xiaoyan hadn’t told him herself, it wasn’t his place to pry.
He told them he was leaving.
And he spoke from the heart, “Although Xiong Wanghu has taken over the Hanyang Gang’s territory and power, making our efforts seem… pointless, we still achieved our main objective.
“The Ba Mountains are easily defensible. Xiong Wanghu’s expansion will be limited. And his plan to join forces with Sheng Menghui in the south has been disrupted.
“Whether he expands north or east, the Danyang Society will face strong opposition. And without control of the Ba Mountains, they can’t isolate West Shu.
“But for the same reason, there’s not much we can achieve here either. I had hoped to use the Ba Mountains as a base for further expansion along the Hanyang River after defeating the Hanyang Gang. But now, we have no reason to oppose the Danyang Society. Attacking them would be seen as an act of aggression, and even the Nine Villages wouldn’t support it.”
“We’ve completed our mission here, but we can’t go any further. It can’t be helped.”
He paused, then continued, “But this has taught me the importance of reputation. I spent so much effort uniting the Nine Villages. But Xiong Wanghu, with just his nickname, the ‘Tiger Roaring Saber Hero,’ has attracted countless followers.
“Strength and reputation are essential for achieving greatness in these times. Although our efforts in the Ba Mountains weren’t entirely successful, we’ve gained recognition. At least, everyone in the Ba Mountains and the Hanyang River region now knows the name Shi Chongyun.”
He looked at them and asked, “Will you continue to follow me?”
Hou Bomin chuckled, “This old man has nowhere else to go.”
Xiang Gu nodded silently.
He Guangtao said resolutely, “If it weren’t for you, Master Shi, the Nine Villages wouldn’t have achieved peace so quickly. I will follow you wherever you go.”
Shi Hao said, “Thank you.”
He looked at He Guangtao, “I want you to stay in the Ba Mountains. This region is strategically important. Although difficult to develop, it controls access to West Shu, the Central Plains, and the Xiang River.
“In these turbulent times, having someone here, influencing the Nine Villages, could be invaluable.”
He Guangtao nodded, “I understand.”
Shi Hao turned to Hou Bomin and Xiang Gu, “As for you two, focus on your own cultivation for now. Sometimes, personal strength is more important than anything else. I’m going to search for the ingredients I need for my next breakthrough.”
Hou Bomin nodded, “Reaching the fifth rank will certainly enhance your reputation. What ingredients do you need? Perhaps I can help. I have some connections in the unorthodox circles.”
Shi Hao said, his head aching slightly, “The Illusory Sea Lingzhi shouldn’t be a problem. I still need three Dream Grasses and an Azure Sky Vermilion Fruit. The Vermilion Fruit is the most troublesome. I have no idea where to find it.”
“I know!” Xiang Gu, who had been quiet, suddenly said, rubbing her hands together, a spark of excitement in her eyes, “I know where to find it!”
Leave a Reply