Qing Xuan slowly woke up. He got up and looked around. The familiar furniture layout came into view.
"You're awake. I'll go call Master and the others." Lu Shu had been eating in the room. Hearing the noise, he casually glanced over and saw Qing Xuan sitting up.
"Hey..." Qing Xuan opened his mouth but found his mouth extremely dry and couldn't make a sound. Taking advantage of his daze, Lu Shu had already run out.
Soon, he came back with a large group of people.
"Qing Xuan, how do you feel?" With his wide sleeves fluttering along with his hasty movements, Master Ji Yunxi walked to the front.
"I'm all good." Qing Xuan stretched out his arms and turned around. It felt so good to have a physical body. Qing Xuan flexed his fingers, a delighted smile on his face.
"You're finally awake. Lu Shu has been taking care of you these days. He's been really busy." Yun Luotian sized up Qing Xuan, making sure he was truly okay.
"At least he has a bit of conscience." Qing Xuan smiled and punched Lu Shu in the chest. Lu Shu quickly caught his fist, with a look of disgust on his face: "Get lost." This made everyone burst into laughter.
"Qing Xuan, have you remembered anything?" Seeing that his mental state was good, Ji Yunxi asked.
Qing Xuan's expression turned a bit disappointed: "I haven't remembered anything. It's all blank."
"It's okay. Take your time." Ji Yunxi patted his shoulder and comforted him.
"We have other things to do for now. Maybe you'll remember at some point. Don't worry." Yun Luotian also encouraged him. Qing Xuan looked at them gratefully.
"By the way, we're going back to Nanyan." Ji Yunxi told Qing Xuan this news so that he could prepare.
"Okay. When shall we set off?" Qing Xuan was a bit confused but didn't say much. He just asked Ji Yunxi about the departure time.
"I haven't decided yet. This time it's something private." Ji Yunxi said as she looked at Feng Xingzhi.
"I think we should set off as soon as possible. Only after we handle this matter can we focus on dealing with Jiang Yaoji." Feng Xingzhi didn't say anything, but Li Jiuge voiced what was on his mind.
"Alright. Then we'll set off tomorrow." Everyone had no objections after hearing this and all agreed.
The news quickly reached Gu An's ears. At that time, he was flipping through an ancient book in his room. After learning the news, he couldn't concentrate on reading at all. He simply pushed the book aside, got up, and walked to the window to look at the scenery outside.
At night, Gu An couldn't fall asleep. Unexpectedly, he met Ji Yunxi, who was also suffering from insomnia. The two met unexpectedly in the courtyard.
"I've already sent people to prepare the carriages and all the things you'll need on the way. I've also prepared two more carriages." Gu An took the initiative to break the silence.
"Thank you." Ji Yunxi looked at Gu An seriously and sincerely thanked him.
Ji Yunxi bowed slightly to him and then turned around and left. Gu An watched her figure and didn't leave for a long time until she disappeared around the corner.
The next day, Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi led Qing Xuan, Lu Shu, Li Jiuge, and Ji Yunyi and left.
"Yunxi, see you later!"
"Go back. We'll be back soon." Yun Luotian was still a bit worried. She saw everyone off at the door and also wanted to go with them.
"Don't cause trouble. Ji Yunxi may have some family matters to handle when she goes back this time. What we need to do is to forge the God-Slaying Blade as soon as possible and give it to her." Yun Hui said to her earnestly.
"Got it, got it. I was just saying." Yun Luotian reluctantly bid farewell to Ji Yunxi. Watching their figures getting further and further away, she felt empty inside.
The group set off for Nanyan. Along the way, they passed different towns, experiencing different local customs, various delicious foods, and beautiful scenery.
"Boss, give me a steamed bun."
"How much is this candied hawthorn on a stick?"
"Wow, the wontons smell so good. Give me a bowl."
Qing Xuan was very excited to have a physical body. Finally, he could eat and drink to his heart's content.
"Come on, you look like you've never seen the world." Lu Shu crossed his arms and looked at Qing Xuan disdainfully.
"Try not eating or drinking for thousands of years. I'd like to see if you can stand it." Qing Xuan was dissatisfied and retorted directly.
Lu Shu was speechless and silently handed over some food.
"Then I won't be polite." After saying that, he took a big bite. The food was fragrant and melted in his mouth. Qing Xuan looked extremely satisfied, just like a cat that had eaten and drunk its fill in the afternoon.
"It's very hot. Let's go to a teahouse and sit down." Ji Yunxi noticed that Li Jiuge didn't look well and proposed.
"Okay." The others had no objections. A large group of people swaggered into the teahouse.
After entering the teahouse, the others ordered cold tea and chatted and laughed.
"What's wrong with you? You've been looking preoccupied all the way. Aren't you happy to be going home?" Ji Yunxi saw that Li Jiuge had been silent and looked solemn, so she asked what was going on.
"Yeah, I'm going home. Of course I'm happy." Li Jiuge looked out of the window as if she had fallen into memories. She gently parted her red lips, her voice so soft that it seemed ethereal. Outside the teahouse was the direction of Nanyan.
"Jiuge..." Ji Yunxi was just about to say something when Li Jiuge interrupted her.
"I'm sure I was summoned back to Nanyan because the court officials submitted a memorial, hoping that my cousin would arrange a marriage for me. But I don't want to get married." There was firmness in Li Jiuge's eyes, as if she was ready to fight to the bitter end.
"Every cloud has a silver lining. We'll definitely find a way. Don't think too much. If you really don't want to get married, Feng Jiangming won't force you." Ji Yunxi chose her words carefully. She looked at the others playing and joking beside them and suddenly felt that there seemed to be a barrier around Li Jiuge. From the moment they set foot on the journey to Nanyan, all the happiness had been blocked out.
"Yunxi, don't deceive yourself. Such lies can only deceive a three - year - old child. I've grown up. I'm no longer the child who would laugh happily at the sight of a piece of candy." Li Jiuge let out a bitter laugh and withdrew her gaze from the window.
Ji Yunxi also felt bitter in her heart. Wasn't she in the same situation? Being forced to grow up by this world. If possible, she just wanted to be that carefree senior sister again, staying with Feng Xingzhi forever.
"Yunxi, sometimes I feel that I should shoulder my responsibilities. But when I think about spending my whole life with a man I don't love, I dare not think any further. People are selfish, aren't they?"
What Li Jiuge said surprised Ji Yunxi. She wanted to comfort her but found that she didn't know what to say.
Everyone stopped chatting at some point and listened to their conversation.
"Don't worry. I'll never let you marry someone you don't want to marry." Ji Yunyi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. His determined look made Li Jiuge feel a warmth in her heart, but there was also more bitterness. She couldn't escape. Fate, she couldn't escape.