Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Wang Dalang was a kind man. After saying a word to his wife, Sanniang, he personally escorted Qiao Ying and Shen Qingyu out of town. Not long after the two of them left, they happened to run into a merchant caravan on the official road heading toward Yunling Prefecture.

Qiao Ying paid the caravan some silver and asked them to take her and Shen Qingyu along for the ride. It was only two extra passengers, and with money in hand, the merchant was more than happy to oblige.

Although it was already late autumn, the afternoon sun today was still rather scorching.

Shen Qingyu sat on a wagon piled high with goods, his back resting against a stack of wooden crates. His body was relaxed, his manner carrying a trace of languid ease. Then, all of a sudden, he felt a gentle shadow fall over him, just enough to block the sunlight baking the side of his face. In an instant, the air around him became much cooler.

Then he heard the girl’s voice by his ear. “Are you hungry?”

The corner of Shen Qingyu’s lips moved slightly. “I am.”

Qiao Ying sat beside him, turned slightly toward him as she opened an oil-paper umbrella. It happened to shade him from the sun, saving that porcelain-white, jade-like skin of his from further torment.

She rummaged through her bundle for the dry rations she had prepared, took out a flatbread, tore it in half, and placed one half in his hand.

Shen Qingyu did not particularly care what food had been stuffed into his hand. As long as it was edible, he naturally brought it to his mouth. He took a bite of the flatbread, while his other hand unconsciously stroked the Blind Staff he was holding. Its cool touch felt especially refreshing beneath the clear sky.

Qiao Ying ate the remaining half of the flatbread, stole a glance at him, then shifted the umbrella a little farther toward his side to better block the rude and inconsiderate sunlight.

The young man had changed into a newly bought blue-green robe, which outlined his thin frame beautifully.

Beneath the shadow of the umbrella leaning over him, his white hair trembled softly in the wind. The silk band covering his eyes rose and fell faintly with his breathing, as though veiled in a layer of hazy light. Even the broken shadows falling across his shoulders seemed tinged with an ethereal quality that did not belong to the mortal world, making him look like someone who had stepped down from the clouds.

And yet the half of a flatbread in his hand somehow added an unexpected touch of earthly life to him.

He said, “You’re staring at me again.”

Qiao Ying was unexpectedly frank. “You actually noticed again.”

Shen Qingyu gave a soft laugh. “Because I’m good-looking?”

Qiao Ying nodded. “Yes. Because you’re good-looking.”

She was very strange.

Shen Qingyu thought to himself.

She had only escaped a tiger’s jaws last night, yet today she had already pulled herself together and swiftly planned out her next path. If he did not know that she had been plagued by nightmares all night because she had killed someone, so frightened she had nearly cried, he might truly have believed this weak, ordinary woman possessed a mind so strong it was impossible to measure.

The merchant traveling at the front called out, “Miss, we’ve reached the fork in the road.”

Shen Qingyu was going to Yunling Prefecture, while Qiao Ying was headed for Jade City.

That was because Wang Dalang had seen the jade pendant she wore. The white jade was exceptionally translucent, and the carved patterns on it were exquisitely refined. According to Wang Dalang, only the craftsmen of a place called Jade City could create such a flawless jade pendant.

If Qiao Ying wanted to learn where she came from, she had to make a trip to Jade City.

Here at the fork in the road, she and Shen Qingyu had to part ways.

Before she left, Qiao Ying placed the oil-paper umbrella in his hand. “Looks like it’ll stay hot for a while yet. Your skin is so nice-it’d be a shame if the sun ruined it. Take this umbrella and use it for shade.”

Shen Qingyu gripped the umbrella handle and smiled faintly. “All right.”

Qiao Ying climbed down from the wagon. Once her feet touched the ground, she looked back at the white-haired young man in blue-green robes. For a moment, she actually forgot he could not see, and waved at him. “Young Master Shen, safe travels. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Shen Qingyu inclined his head slightly, his smile rather intriguing. “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

The caravan left with the slender young man. Qiao Ying felt a little lost for a moment. After all, Shen Qingyu counted as the only good person she had seen since opening her eyes after losing her memory, and the two of them had even shared a life-and-death bond.

But very quickly, she classified this feeling as fledgling attachment, pulled herself together again, and looked toward the other road. Gathering her spirits, she took a step forward.

There were not many people traveling to Jade City, so hitching a ride would not be that easy.
Qiao Ying walked alone along the post road for a long while. When she lowered her head, she spotted a Boundary Stele that was almost completely ruined. It was very old, but the characters for “Phoenix” could still be made out faintly.

Yet across the Boundary Stele, several powerful sword marks remained clearly visible.

Qiao Ying came back to herself and looked around. Only then did she realize, to her shock, that after following a fork in the road, she had somehow returned to the territory of Phoenix Town.

She was just feeling puzzled when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“Miss Qiao, why have you come back again?”

Qiao Ying turned around and saw that it was Sanniang, holding her child. Beside Sanniang stood Wang Dalang, carrying a bundle of firewood on his shoulder. The couple were just as surprised to see Qiao Ying here.

Qiao Ying looked at the mountains and fields around them. “I don’t know what happened either. Somehow, I ended up back within Phoenix Town’s borders.”

Wang Dalang said, “The roads in our Phoenix Town have always been a maze. You must have taken a wrong turn for a moment and circled back.”

Sanniang smiled. “Exactly. Phoenix Town used to be Phoenix Mountain, and it was built along the mountain paths. Never mind outsiders-even we locals sometimes take the wrong road if we’re not careful.”

Wang Dalang was a kind man and said warmly, “It’s almost dark now, and there are no other households around here. It isn’t safe for a young lady like Miss Qiao to travel at night. Why don’t you stay at our home for another night? Tomorrow, I’ll personally see you out of town.”

The infant in Sanniang’s arms also reached out, babbling and smiling as if echoing his parents’ words.

Qiao Ying hesitated for a moment, then said, “I remember there is an inn in town. I wouldn’t want to trouble you, so I’ll stay there for the night instead.”

Wang Dalang did not press her. “Then Miss Qiao should come back with us. Don’t take the wrong road again.”

Qiao Ying nodded and followed behind the couple.

Sanniang turned back and chatted with her. “That young master isn’t really your elder brother, is he?”

Qiao Ying no longer hid it. “Young Master Shen is my friend. We said we were siblings because we were afraid you might misunderstand. I’m sorry.”

“When you’re away from home, it’s only right to be cautious. We understand.” Sanniang asked casually, “Then why isn’t Young Master Shen traveling with you now?”

“He has somewhere he needs to go, and I have somewhere I need to go.”

“I see.” Sanniang smiled and said no more, turning instead to tease the swaddled child.

Qiao Ying followed them at an unhurried pace. When night fell and the moon hung high overhead, the wind brushed past, and the shadows of the trees swayed. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the shadows on the ground.

Two human silhouettes twisted and shifted in the night, so distorted that for a moment they hardly looked human at all.

Qiao Ying’s nerves suddenly tightened. She raised her eyes again and looked at the two backs before her.

Wang Dalang and Sanniang’s fingernails were grayish-white, and black patches had faintly emerged on their skin. Beneath the moonlight, their faces looked frighteningly pale.

The baby’s laughter echoed through the night, inexplicably adding a touch of eeriness.

Qiao Ying’s steps grew slower and slower. Wang Dalang looked over with concern. “Miss, are you too tired to walk?”

Sanniang was very considerate. “Miss Qiao has been walking for so long, she must be exhausted. Dalang, why don’t you carry her?”

“No, no, no, that would be improper.” Qiao Ying hurriedly refused, a faint smile appearing on her face. “I’m not that delicate. I can still walk. Please just lead the way.”

“This place is all mountains. At night, wild beasts might come out and hurt people. In the past, there was even a Tiger that nearly carried off our child to eat while we weren’t home.” Sanniang still sounded shaken. “Miss Qiao, we need to walk faster.”

Qiao Ying nodded. “All right, I understand.”

Wang Dalang and Sanniang’s steps did indeed grow faster and faster. Rather than saying they were anxious to get home, it seemed more like they were in a hurry to do something.

At first, Qiao Ying kept up with their pace. Then, when Wang Dalang and Sanniang suspected nothing, she quietly slowed down. Finally, she turned around, whipped her head back, and without the slightest hesitation, ran the way she had come.