Chapter 318: Waving Goodbye

Approaching prosperity, the post road gradually widened. Xu Fengnian and the disfigured woman rested in a small town not obscured by prominent city walls, with the state capital still three days away.

She wore Xu Fengnian's scholar's robes, which were slightly loose. The four scars on her face had begun to scab. Fortunately, to avoid leaving any clues and to ensure her injuries seemed consistent with Zhong Gui's death, she was able to apply ointment, slightly speeding up the healing process. However, the coarse desert wind and sand, even with her face wrapped in a headscarf protecting her no longer delicate features, often left her bloody in the preceding days. The piercing pain she endured was probably no less severe than if a dagger had cut her face. She did not cry, and Xu Fengnian never offered words of comfort. Both remained silent. It was Lu Chen who occasionally initiated questions about jianghu matters, and Xu Fengnian answered them directly, always with serious, gentle words, perhaps fearing that making her laugh would cause her further pain.

Just as Xu Fengnian and she entered the town, the sky suddenly changed. Dark clouds obscured the sun, and though it was midday, it became as gloomy and dark as night. A sandstorm was approaching. Xu Fengnian had no choice but to enter a humble inn with Lu Chen. The inn owner, taking advantage of the situation, raised prices exorbitantly. Xu Fengnian initially didn't mind being overcharged a few taels of silver, just wanting a place to stay. Unexpectedly, Lu Chen stubbornly dug in her heels, tugging at his sleeve and refusing to be ripped off like a fool. It seemed her claim of being good at managing household affairs was genuine. Xu Fengnian, helpless, turned away under the inn owner's disdainful gaze, thinking of finding a more reasonable establishment. Before he even crossed the threshold, he saw merchants and travelers swarming down the narrow street. From the looks of it, if they didn't stay here, they would likely have to sleep on the street or hide in alleys to escape the sandstorm. Xu Fengnian smiled at her, and she no longer insisted. The narrow-minded inn owner, deliberately making things difficult, doubled the price again. Lu Chen's shoulders trembled with anger. Xu Fengnian put a hand on her shoulder, shook his head, and dutifully paid the deposit, taking the wooden key to their room in the back courtyard.

Lu Chen, her face hidden by her headscarf, seemed a little sullen. Xu Fengnian opened the wooden door, and a strong smell of mildew filled the room. After closing the door, he took off his scholar's case and the Spring-Autumn Sword. There was a clay pot on the table; he shook it, and not a drop of water remained. Lu Chen sat quietly on the stool, untied her headscarf, and gently turned her head away, avoiding Xu Fengnian's gaze. She simply asked, "Given your remarkable skill, why do you stoop to such meekness with these common folk? You wouldn't even need to draw your sword to scare them witless."

Xu Fengnian tightly closed the two drafty windows, then sat at the table and smiled, "Do you think all masters must have eyes that gleam with cold light? Or be built like tigers and bears, as if they carry the carcasses of two tigers and leopards on their backs? Or perhaps they need to be laden with knives, spears, staffs, and poles to look impressive when venturing out?"

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth curved slightly. Hearing the teasing in his words, her mood improved somewhat.

Xu Fengnian bent down and pulled a few martial arts manuals from his scholar's case, placing them before her. He then sat cross-legged on the stool, looking relaxed, and softly said, "I've been flipping through these when I had nothing to do these past few days, and I even practiced some of the moves inside. It turns out it's quite fun."

She softly asked, "Want to show me some?"

Xu Fengnian waved his hand, "No, I can't. What if the sky collapses and the earth splits open?"

Before she could speak, Xu Fengnian gently said, "Don't laugh."

She immediately straightened her face.

Xu Fengnian picked up the clay tea pot and said, "I'll go get some water and food. Wait here."

Lu Chen nodded, picked up one of the imitation manuals, and casually flipped through it. Before long, Xu Fengnian returned, carrying a tea pot filled with cool water. Lu Chen looked up and asked, "Did you spend money again?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "No choice, these imps are troublesome. Half a tael of silver for a pot of water. We'll just have to pretend it's divine nectar when we drink it later. Oh, and the food will take a bit longer."

Lu Chen looked down at her book and said, "I can wait."

Without knocking, an inn attendant brazenly pushed the door open. Lu Chen quickly grabbed her headscarf and turned her head, frantically wrapping it around herself. The attendant held a large wooden tray in one hand, carrying a few carelessly prepared, coarse dishes. He unintentionally caught a glimpse of Lu Chen's face, was startled, and almost dropped the tray. He hastily put down the food, ran out, and as soon as he crossed the threshold, loudly yelled, "Come see, come see! There's an ugly monster in there! I've seen a ghost in broad daylight!"

Lu Chen tugged at Xu Fengnian's sleeve. But Xu Fengnian lightly shook his arm free, strode out, and with one kick, sent the foul-mouthed wretch into the courtyard wall, his fate unknown. After returning to the room, Lu Chen sadly said, "I was already ugly to begin with."

Xu Fengnian calmly said, "Yes, it's not good-looking. With your face disfigured, it would be strange if it were. But anyone who dares to say it, if it reaches my ears, I'll make them..."

She interrupted, "Die?"

Xu Fengnian said with a straight face, "How could I? I'm not a demon. I've always preferred to convince people with my good looks; only if that fails do I resort to virtue."

Lu Chen stared at the scholar, who was hard to tell if he was a good person or a bad one. She pursed her lips, half-smiling, half-not, and shook her head, saying, "That's not funny at all."

Xu Fengnian simply smiled and ignored it. He distributed the bowls and dishes, then buried his head and wolfed down his food. Lu Chen, covering her face with one hand, chewed slowly and delicately, maintaining the elegant demeanor of a lady who eats in silence. As she put down her chopsticks at the same time as Xu Fengnian, she hesitated, then said, "I thought you would say some pretty words to comfort me just now."

Seeing that she still had leftover food, Xu Fengnian didn't stand on ceremony. He moved it all in front of him, and while eating, he said, "Didn't you say you hated being lied to the most? Whether you believe it or not, in my eyes, you are still that delicate and graceful woman. You might not be beautiful, but you're not ugly either."

Lu Chen asked, "Really?"

Xu Fengnian nodded as he continued eating.

The storm lingered for half the afternoon, then gradually calmed. Xu Fengnian pushed open the window and looked out. The sky was clear enough that their journey wouldn't be delayed. As he and Lu Chen left the courtyard, the unlucky inn attendant who had caused trouble had already been carried away, and there was no sign of any retaliation from the inn. Xu Fengnian bought her a veiled hat in the street, and they rode slowly. Perhaps knowing their destination was near, Lu Chen became livelier in her speech and began to willingly ask Xu Fengnian about jianghu anecdotes, starting from the story of the Wu family's Nine Swords defeating ten thousand riders. There was no longer any attempt at probing; both man and woman had, consciously or unconsciously, let go of their guardedness. Lu Chen herself was an inherently spirited woman, otherwise, she wouldn't have traveled alone with Zhong Gui.

Every meeting has a parting.

Nearing the state capital, the post road was already as wide as some of Beiliang's main thoroughfares.

Lu Chen gazed at the majestic city, which lay like a colossal beast on the yellow sand, her heart filled with trepidation. She bit her lip, lost in thought. After a long while, she looked back, wanting to catch one last glimpse of the man, even just to say goodbye.

But he was already nowhere to be seen.

She smiled. Though she couldn't see him, she still turned her horse around and waved.

In the distance, Xu Fengnian, who had witnessed this scene, slowly leaned back, lay on his horse, and chewed on a blade of wild grass.