"Can you help me achieve this?" Zhao Ji wasn't in a hurry to answer her question.
"Well, within my capabilities, I'll do my best to help you."
Zhao Ji nodded with a smile. "Thank you. I only hope to be buried with my younger sister. With me accompanying her on the journey ahead, she won't be afraid."
"Okay, I understand."
Looking at Zhao Ji's relieved expression, Wei Shuxuan couldn't quite tell what she was feeling at the moment. She had simply wanted to live her own life, yet ended up in such a situation. Perhaps this outcome was the best ending in his eyes.
Zhao Ji turned himself in, clearing Wei Shuxuan of the false accusations. He was sentenced to death. How could a man who had taken three lives escape legal sanctions?
Xin Zizhao held his sword and watched as Wei Shuxuan collected Zhao Ji's ashes and put them into a red sachet. Seeing that Wei Shuxuan was about to leave again, Xin Zizhao frowned slightly. "Where are you going?"
"I promised Zhao Ji that I would bury him with his younger sister. I'm just going to take their ashes to a quiet place and bury them."
"...Are you a pushover?" Xin Zizhao lazily raised his eyes and asked her.
"No. From a legal perspective, whether it's Li the Elder, Li the Younger, or Zhang's mother, or even Zhao Ji, they are all unworthy of sympathy. But from a humanitarian perspective, I feel sorry for Zhao Ji. After all, the person who died was his only family member. Moreover," Wei Shuxuan turned around and walked deeper into the forest. "I've already promised him."
Wei Shuxuan looked completely different from her usual carefree self when she said this. Her eyes seemed to have already firmly set her mind, and her words were truly admirable.
Xin Zizhao frowned. "Then hurry up. I'm leaving this place."
"Then wait for me at the teahouse we went to last time."
"Okay."
Wei Shuxuan found a scenic spot near the dilapidated temple and buried the red sachet there. She piled up a few small stones. Looking at the place where she had just buried the sachet, she said, "I've fulfilled your only request. You can now rest in peace on your journey."
After bowing, Wei Shuxuan left the dilapidated temple and walked towards the teahouse. But at that moment, she heard a faint sound behind her. When she turned around, she only saw a sparrow flying by.
"How strange... Could I have misheard?" Although Wei Shuxuan found it strange, she didn't take it to heart and ran towards the teahouse.
The teahouse owner didn't expect to see the official who was as handsome as a celestial being come for tea again. "Sir, you're here again. What kind of tea would you like?"
"Pu-erh."
"Coming right up."
People of status were really different. The owner quickly served Xin Zizhao a pot of brewed Pu-erh. Xin Zizhao ignored the owner's obsequious smile and sipped his tea on his own.
Before long, Wei Shuxuan appeared in the teahouse. She was gasping for breath. She came to Xin Zizhao's side, casually picked up a teacup, and poured herself a full cup of tea. "Ah, I'm so exhausted!"
Xin Zizhao frowned. "You're too casual."
"What? Do you want me to order another pot of tea? We're at least friends traveling together."
Wei Shuxuan was still as carefree as ever. She just plopped down beside Xin Zizhao.
Since they didn't need to hurry, Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan just rode their horses slowly forward. Xin Zizhao had estimated the distance. It would only take about two hours to get from Liuyun Town to the next town.
"Where are we going next?" Wei Shuxuan, who was following behind Xin Zizhao, slightly accelerated her horse and walked side by side with him.
"Yuwu Town."
"Are we going to stay there for a few days?"
"No. We're just staying for one night. Then we'll continue our journey the next day."
They set off at noon and arrived at Yuwu Town almost at dusk.
For some reason, Wei Shuxuan always felt as if someone was following them. But when she turned around, she saw nothing. Was it because her martial arts skills weren't high enough?
She had thought about telling Xin Zizhao, but if Xin Zizhao really felt that someone was following them, he would have said so before her. However, he didn't.
"We'll stay here."
Xin Zizhao was too lazy to look for another inn further ahead, so he chose a nearby inn with nice decoration to stay in.
"Two esteemed guests, are you here for food or accommodation?" The waiter greeted them with a big smile.
"Two top - class rooms."
"Coming right up."
Xin Zizhao found it quite rare that Wei Shuxuan, who usually chattered non - stop beside him, was so quiet now. He turned around and saw Wei Shuxuan with a solemn expression, looking down as if she was thinking about something.
He wondered what was wrong with this girl.
After entering the inn, Wei Shuxuan felt that the feeling of being followed seemed to disappear. But was she just being too paranoid?
Unable to stand Wei Shuxuan's state any longer, Xin Zizhao called out to her. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"...What?" Wei Shuxuan looked up at Xin Zizhao.
However, Xin Zizhao just gave her a cold look without answering her question and then turned around and went upstairs.
"Sir, your rooms are upstairs. Please follow me this way."
The waiter's voice brought Wei Shuxuan back to her senses. She nodded repeatedly. "Oh, okay."
As night fell, the moon quietly climbed onto the treetops. The room was still brightly lit. Wei Shuxuan sat at the desk, propping her chin up, and sighed silently.
Maybe she was really overthinking. It was better to go to sleep quickly.
Originally, Wei Shuxuan planned to blow out the lamp before going to bed, but then she thought better of it. She just took off her outer clothes, climbed onto the bed, and fell asleep.
The candlelight on the table flickered slightly, and a shadow quickly flashed across the paper window...
The wick in the oil lamp burned all night, leaving a table full of wax. And Wei Shuxuan was still sound asleep in bed.
Xin Zizhao knocked on Wei Shuxuan's door, but no one answered. The vein on his forehead twitched slightly. Could this girl still be in bed?
Xin Zizhao had no choice but to leave a note for her with the innkeeper, telling her to catch up with him on horseback as soon as she woke up.
When Wei Shuxuan woke up, it was already noon. She went to knock on the door of the next room, but the waiter told her that Xin Zizhao had already left and told her to catch up with him on horseback after waking up.
"This iceberg..." Wei Shuxuan didn't know what to complain about him.
Walking on the road alone, the feeling of being followed became even more obvious. Wei Shuxuan turned around...