Proofread by Claire.KK
When it was all settled, Xie Mengxuan departed. They respectively rode a horse along the way and had a short rest on an occasional basis. Different from those n.o.ble ladies in the Imperial Capital, Xie Mengxuan was better at horse riding than men.
Uncle Luo and Gu Yusheng were a little bit surprised at her.
Girls tended to be delicate, more or less, while Xie Mengxuan was an exception.
After two hard days’ journey, they arrived at a place called the Twilight Town the next evening. Considering their needs to change their horses and buy some clothes and solid food, they had to take a rest for one night.
“Xuan, we’d better find a place to put up for the night. Purchases could be made tomorrow.”
“Okay. Let’s roam around the town first.”
Xie Mengxuan nodded as a response, but she somehow put forward such a request. Gu Yusheng looked a bit confused while Uncle Luo was very clear about the whole matter.
In the end, they chose the Twilight Restaurant where business was booming. The waiters were more diligent, and moreover, the menu on the wall was manifest at a glance.
After having some dinner at random, they rested on the second floor. In the deep night, it turned silent in the street while Xie Mengxuan was still awake. A pigeon fluttered from the window into the room.
Xie Mengxuan put down the cup of tea which helped stimulate her. She caught the pigeon in order to get the message in its mailbox. It only took a glance to make her face change.
Geng Zhishan had gone missing!
Her subordinates failed to meet anyone. What was wrong?
Xie Mengxuan was on pins and needles, but it was impossible for her to go back in the current situation. After a short moment of thinking, she fed the pigeon at first. She fetched a white note and took something down. When she placed the note well into the mailbox, she immediately set the pigeon free.
She didn’t have a peaceful sleep over the night, but she forced herself into sleep for the arrangements on the following day.
On the early morning of the next day, there came the roar of traffic from outside. Xie Mengxuan could no longer fall into sleep so that she got up to dress herself. Without greeting to Gu Yusheng and Uncle Luo, she directly left the Twilight Restaurant.
The Xie family was doing business around all corners of the country. As well there was some property of her family in the Twilight Town, but it remained secret rather than obvious.
As a result, when they didn’t wake up, she might as well go to ask about the related information as soon as possible.
However, when she had visited several shops in a row to ask about the situation in the Imperial Capital, she ended up with nothing. They were all overcautious in speech as if their lips had been sealed. The sole advice from them for her was to go to Jiangna first.
The heart of Xie Mengxuan sank at once. Now that they refused to utter a single word, even if she made a detailed enquiry, she would fail to figure out the truth. She could do nothing but shelve her question.
Xie Mengxuan muddled along in the street and purchased some clothes at will. She didn’t return until she bought solid food for the journey.
To her surprise, the instant she reached the entrance of the Twilight Restaurant, she saw someone familiar standing there, facing Gu Yusheng.
Even though the man didn’t turn around, she already recognized that he was Geng Zhishan.
Gu Yusheng pulled a long face. With his back towards her, she failed to notice the look of Geng Zhishan, but she was immediately excited with joy and also anger.
Filled with fury, she strode forward. “Geng Zhishan!”
Geng Zhishan was burning with wrath, but he changed his look upon hearing her voice. Confused, he turned around. “What’s wrong, darling?”
The brows of Gu Yusheng were knitted in a permanent frown. Xie Mengxuan seemed to have not heard his address for her. She just went forward, simmering with indignation. “What’s going on with you? Why not stay in the temple for a rest?”
“When I woke up, I happened to hear from the abbot that you were going to Jiangnan. Therefore, I borrowed the horse to catch you up. Darling, to tell you the truth, I’ve almost tired two horses to death. Fortunately, I’ve got a spare one from the abbot.” Standing by her side, Geng Zhishan said with a smile.
Furrowing her eyebrows, Xie Mengxuan reached out to grab him. “Let’s have a detailed talk in the room.”
“Xuan, you’re back?” Gu Yusheng hurried to greet her.
Xie Mengxuan grabbed Geng Zhishan on his sleeve with one hand so that she just nodded slightly towards Gu Yusheng. “Why not go into details inside?”
Afterwards, they entered in to the room of Xie Mengxuan. Bent over the table, Geng Zhishan let out a long sigh. “I’m utterly exhausted for the tough road. Why didn’t you wait for me, darling?”
Xie Mengxuan was accustomed to his address for her, but thin-skinned, she felt a bit unease. “Geng Zhishan, have you forgotten?”
“I’ve been used to call you this way. Meng, I’ll keep it in mind next time.” Simple-minded, Geng Zhishan said with a smirk.
Sitting at the table, Xie Mengxuan poured him a cup of tea. “How are you? The doctor said that although there were few wounds on your body, but there was congestion in your hindbrain due to the hit. Why did you wake up so early?”
Geng Zhishan drank it off at one draught. “Unconscious though I was, I could hear your conversation. As I was eager to catch you up, I became awake.”
Xie Mengxuan considered it incredible but she never fell into a coma so that she failed to confirm whether it was true or not. “Really?”
Geng Zhishan looked honest. “It’s true. I swear to heaven. The abbot has told me that it was you who had entrusted others to take good care of me. However, I’m still worried about you so that I come here.”
Gu Yusheng said low. “You could do nothing but become a burden for us.”
In a haze, Geng Zhishan put on a pitiable look toward Xie Mengxuan. “Meng, am I a burden for you?”
Xie Mengxuan had a look at Gu Yusheng who had given injurious remarks. “How could you trouble us? We just have one more member.”
She observed the reaction of Geng Zhishan. “But you haven’t recovered from your injuries. Do you really want to run off your feet all the way in our company?”
Geng Zhishan nodded without thinking. “Yes. Meng, I have to rely on you now since I can no longer return to the Zhoujia village. Even though you’ve given me the token, I’m always afraid that I’ll be put into prison once I show it to others.”
Xie Mengxuan could not help laughing. If he just took it out, he was highly likely to be mistaken.
She curved into a smile. “It was me who failed to take it into consideration. Well, let’s go together, and later I’ll find a doctor for you.”
“Okay. It’s all up to you.” Geng Zhishan nodded.
Gu Yusheng pounded the table in anger. “Xuan, we’re not to enjoy the beauty of nature.”
Xie Mengxuan held up a finger and pointed at herself. “It’s me who has something to do with. Big Brother Gu, I’d like to trouble you to help look after him.”
She emphasized the word “me”, which clarified her stand.
Aware of what she meant, Gu Yusheng looked at Geng Zhishan and casted a glance at Uncle Luo who subtly shook his head. He let out a sigh behind her back. “Well, I will.”
“I don’t need your care. Except martial arts, I can match you in every aspect.” Geng Zhishan didn’t flinch from looking directly into his eyes.