Chapter 26: Night Journey

  Perhaps for Song Xiaoshi now, it doesn't matter who he goes with or where he goes. He even thinks of himself as a born jinx, and it's good enough if he doesn't bring bad luck to others. As for Zhu Xiantown, there's nothing left that's worth his attachment or nostalgia. From then on, he was like the wind, desolate and alone. However, at his most bewildered moment, a handsome young man smiled and said to him: "Follow me! I'm the Heavenly Lone Star, more awesome than you."

  Song Xiaoshi still refused to follow Qi Xian back to the city, he had long been accustomed to hiding during the day and going out at night, and he really wasn't used to walking in the city during the day. Qi Xian didn't force him either, she just made an appointment with him to meet under the city wall of Longyangguan tomorrow. Although Ah Guan had arranged everything well along the way, Qi Xian still felt that this was just her own lonely journey, but now that she had met Xiaoshi, she suddenly felt like she had found a partner who shared her aspirations and values, perhaps it was just because they had similar experiences in life and therefore felt a sense of sympathy for each other. Past life... Had he really forgotten?

  It was already dusk when they returned to Zhuxian Town. Zhu Chengxun, who had been entangled by the county magistrate, would not return to the inn again. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the inn, he saw the master and servant duo. Originally, there were only some suspicions, but the county magistrate's series of actions confirmed some thoughts in his heart. That pig must not be a simple noble son either. It's better to respect him from afar. Because of this consideration, when Qī Miǎo entered the inn, he just glanced lightly in that direction.

  Ah Guan has already gone to prepare everything needed for the journey, and at first, Old Master let Qiuxi choose to take a detour from Xiqin because this route passes through more towns, making it convenient to replenish supplies. The wound on her back is still throbbing in pain, and she should have applied medicine earlier. Qiuxi walks slowly with her waist bent, supporting herself, and at this time, the inn is bustling with activity, with people coming and going in the corridor. Despite being careful, she still bumps into someone, and just as she's about to scold them, thinking "What a careless person!"

  Instead of the expected look, he was met with a pair of slightly angry eyes. The man didn't care if this would hurt Qī Xié or not, and grabbed him like a chicken, dragging him towards his own room. Qī Xié had resisted before, but hadn't expected that the pig-like man, who looked as thin as a bamboo stick, actually had such great strength. What was he so angry about? Wasn't it just because he pretended not to see him earlier?

  After entering the room, Zhu Chengxun threw Qi Mei onto the bed. Qi Mei instinctively tightened her collar, but then thought to herself that she wasn't dressed as a man, so what was there to be afraid of? Was she really afraid that this little kid with no hair would eat her up? With this thought, she regained her confidence and was about to speak when she heard him coldly throw out a few words: "Apply the medicine, lie down!" Zhu Chengxun held something similar to red flower oil and slowly approached Qi Mei, who naturally retreated backward. Zhu Chengxun's body had a pleasant osmanthus fragrance, a sweet and soothing scent that normally made people feel at ease, but at this moment, Qi Mei couldn't calm down no matter what. Her heart was racing like a deer, her face flushed bright red, looking like a ripe tomato. She felt as if there was an aura around her, pressing down on her until she could hardly breathe.

  "I'll go myself." The young man didn't force the issue, but left the medicinal wine on the bedside table. When he walked away, that suffocating atmosphere instantly disappeared. Zhu Chengxun stood with his hands behind his back, facing the window: "This young master just finds life in Kyoto too boring. Even when I was in Shazhou, I thought Ah Qi was a very interesting person. I thought that if I followed you around, we would definitely encounter some fun things." Actually, when Zhu Xiantown and this young master met again, he had already felt the strange aura on his body, especially after that green bean-eyed official appeared, the invisible gap between them seemed to grow deeper and deeper, until now, it was as if he saw a shadow of the past on his body, that young man who would fight with him for buns and call him Ah Qi.

  Is life too boring? He's probably bored, he said something about following his own secret, but still didn't mention anything about his identity, even though both of them knew it in their hearts. Just now the sky was full of red clouds, but suddenly it became overcast with dark clouds, and a big rain is coming, the wind started to blow, Zhu Chengxun closed the window and turned around, this man has a pair of eyes shining like stars.

  。。。。。。

  As the five of them left Longyang Gate, they were considered to have left the territory of Eastern Jin. After another half-day's journey, they would probably arrive at Hezhou. The scenery along the way also underwent some subtle changes. The blue-brick and tile-roofed houses by the roadside gradually faded out of sight. The farther west they went, the more they felt a desolate atmosphere from the vast desert. When leaving Shazhou City with Ah Guan, there was still a hint of melancholy in his heart. However, after crossing the border of Eastern Jin, his heart was filled with longing for that ethereal and elusive city. What was originally a lonely journey became interesting due to the addition of Zhu Chengjun and Song Xiaoshi.

  It wasn't until they spent more time together that it was discovered, the stubbornness and madness Song Xiaoshi displayed in front of the Song residence's gate were just a facade. In reality, he was somewhat shy and taciturn. Every time Qī Liǔ spoke to him for a few sentences, he would lower his head. Zhū Chéng Jūn often teased that he looked like a girl, but he didn't get angry. Qī Liǔ also let out a quiet sigh in her heart, thinking maybe Xiao Shi was just not used to talking to people. A young man who could only walk freely on the streets at night.

  Ah Kuan and Xiao Yi were naturally the laborers of the team. Fortunately, everyone in the team knew where they were going, and except for some necessities, there were almost no extra items. This place is not far from the border between the two countries after all. Occasionally, merchant teams traveling between the two countries can be seen, with a row of Eastern Jin merchant teams following behind them, probably also going to Western Qin to earn foreign exchange. Being on the same road, the two teams would occasionally chat for a few sentences.

  They had chosen to take the road at dusk, and the sky quickly darkened. Fortunately, there were often a few small inns along the way, and business-savvy merchants naturally saw the endless opportunities on this small path between two countries. After they found an inn to stay in, they were surprised to discover that the Eastern Jin merchant group was also staying at this shop. After exchanging greetings, they each returned to their rooms to rest. The five of them had booked three rooms: Qi Xie had a single room, Zhu Chengjun and Xiao Yi shared one, and Xiao Shi and Ah Guan shared another. Because of this, Zhu Chengjun teased Qi Xie about his big young master's temperament.

  Qī Xiāo was a person who easily lost sleep, and even when she finally fell asleep, it was always very light. Especially on the night before Gan Jing had entrusted her to be more careful outside and not to sleep too soundly at night. But this evening, Qī Xiāo only felt that there was a faint scent of fragrance in the room, and it seemed that everyone in the entire inn was sleeping very soundly, except for those people on the second floor in the west wing, except for Xiao Shi Tou.

  Qī Xiāo was dreaming that she was holding a large basin to catch the golden ingots falling from the sky. She was so happy that her mouth couldn't close, but suddenly she felt a chill on her face. When she opened her eyes again, what she saw was no longer the golden ingots, but a person standing in front of her bed. The night was too dark, and the person's face was just in the shade.

  Qī Xiāo was shocked. No wonder she had been feeling especially sleepy tonight. Had someone put her under a spell? Who was this person? A thief? A flower thief? She wiped her face, which was full of water: "You..." But before she could finish speaking, the person covered her mouth.

  (Note: I've kept the translation as close to the original text as possible, but some minor adjustments were made for better readability and grammar in English.)