“Customer, your Yangchun noodles are here.” The old lady brought over a bowl of noodles, and Shi Cuiyan paid for it before pushing the food in front of Xi Fuhong.
“Xi, weren’t you hungry? Eat while it’s hot.”
“Thank you, Sister Cui.” Xi Fuhong turned her attention back to the noodles, and the aroma immediately hit her, making her swallow a few times. She quickly grabbed her chopsticks and started eating. The noodles were soft yet chewy, and the broth was clear and refreshing. Even though it was just a simple bowl of noodles, Xi Fuhong ate as if it were a delicacy, making Shi Cuiyan wonder if it was really that good. This simple village girl was easily satisfied with just a bowl of noodles.
Shi Cuiyan didn’t know whether to envy or pity her. She turned her attention back to the people on the street. Unlike Xi Fuhong, who was just watching the hustle and bustle, Shi Cuiyan’s sharp eyes were observing the martial artists disguised as commoners. So many people coming to Que Yi indicated that the news about Yu Xiang hadn’t fully spread yet. If these people knew that Gui Po wasn’t in the valley, they’d be jumping with anxiety, which was just as well.
“Xi, where do you think Gui Po would go if she knew so many people were after her?” Shi Cuiyan asked casually, playing with her hair.
Xi Fuhong stopped her chopsticks when she heard Gui Po being mentioned.
In truth, she had no idea. To her, the old woman was both a benefactor and a master. She never dared to ask too many questions about her, even after ten years together. All she knew was that the old woman liked to eat red meat, raise insects, and sit outside listening to the rain. As for where she went when she left the valley, Xi Fuhong had no clue.
“Well, wherever she goes, it’s fine,” Shi Cuiyan said, smiling at Xi Fuhong. “Xi, I saw the pendant on your chest last night. It’s quite pretty. Did Gui Po give it to you?”
“Pendant?” Xi Fuhong was taken aback, grabbing the fabric on her chest. “I don’t know. I’ve worn it since I was little.”
Shi Cuiyan’s eyes twinkled. “It’s probably for protection. You should cherish it. I’m going to take a walk around the market. Stay here and don’t wander off. I’ll be back soon.” Without waiting for Xi Fuhong’s response, Shi Cuiyan disappeared into the crowd.
Without Shi Cuiyan’s company, Xi Fuhong felt uneasy. She changed from eating in big bites to small ones, but the bowl was empty in no time. Seeing more customers arriving at the stall, Xi Fuhong felt embarrassed to keep occupying the seat and left quickly.
Standing by a low wall, she stared blankly at the crowd until she noticed children gathered around a stall, laughing happily. Driven by curiosity, she joined them. Behind a large table sat an Old Man, holding a small stick in one hand and manipulating dough-like material with the other. In just a few moves, he shaped it into a sparrow.
“It’s a sparrow! Mom, I want a sparrow!” A child next to Xi Fuhong tugged at a young woman’s sleeve, shouting. The woman affectionately patted the child’s head, gave the Old Man some money, and left with the happy child.
Xi Fuhong watched, entranced, unconsciously following them. She never had a mother, only the old woman. Although the old woman was kind to her, she never patted her head or bought her sweets.
…If I had a mother, would it be like that?
“Wow! An ugly monster is here!” A shout interrupted her thoughts, and before Xi Fuhong could turn around, she was hit twice on the backside with stones. Three boys appeared, pointing at her with stones in their hands. Xi Fuhong frowned, not wanting to engage with them, but after a few steps, she was hit hard on the back again.
“Ugly monster! You must be Wang A Mi’s sister! Just as ugly!” The bald boy laughed as he spoke.
Xi Fuhong glared at them and hurried away, hearing the children behind her shouting not to come back and calling her a monster. Those words didn’t mean much to Xi Fuhong, but as she walked, rubbing her sore backside, she felt a bit sad. Was a red mark on her face really worth being pelted with stones?
At that moment, Xi Fuhong didn’t notice the girl appearing at the corner.
“Xi! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Shi Cuiyan approached, leading a horse.
Seeing Shi Cuiyan, Xi Fuhong’s frown turned into a smile. She curiously approached the brown horse, which blinked its big, dark eyes adorably. Seeing it so docile, Xi Fuhong carefully reached out to stroke its coat, feeling the slightly prickly fur and strong heartbeat, which intrigued her.
“Alright, stop staring. You’ll get to ride it later,” Shi Cuiyan laughed.
Xi Fuhong withdrew her hand, looking puzzled at the woman with the braided face.
“Weren’t you the one insisting on finding the old woman?” Shi Cuiyan tugged the reins. “Let’s head out.”
Xi Fuhong took the reins, looking slightly dazed.
“But… how… we…” She looked at Shi Cuiyan, full of confusion.
Weren’t we supposed to wait for a reply before setting out? Where are we going now?
Shi Cuiyan smiled mysteriously, deftly mounting the horse and pulling Xi Fuhong up onto the saddle. Suddenly, they were pressed close together, and Xi Fuhong could even smell the fragrance on Shi Cuiyan, her face turning red.
“I know what you’re worried about, but seeing you so restless, let’s head north first. There are too many unsavory characters here, and staying longer is pointless.” Shi Cuiyan positioned Xi Fuhong in front of her, wrapping her arms around her waist to hold the reins. “You probably can’t ride, right? You’ll have to put up with this for now.”
Xi Fuhong nodded obediently. She didn’t feel it was a bother, but worried about blocking Shi Cuiyan’s view, she deliberately hunched forward, curling up in front. Shi Cuiyan, seeing her so timid, felt inexplicably annoyed and pulled her into her arms. “Leaning forward like that, do you want to fall off the horse? Don’t worry, I’m not that weak. Just lean into me.”
“I-I wasn’t… I just didn’t want to block your view, Sister Cui.” Xi Fuhong squirmed in her arms, feeling her ears burning.
“Alright, just stay still and you won’t be in the way.” Seeing Xi Fuhong’s flushed ears, Shi Cuiyan couldn’t help but smile, leaning forward to whisper in her ear, “Do you dislike my braided face? Should I take off the mask?”
Xi Fuhong quickly shook her head. “No, no! I-I won’t move, don’t mind me.”
Hearing this, a silvery laugh echoed in Xi Fuhong’s ears, making her shrink even more. Shi Cuiyan gave a light tug, and the brown horse neighed, its hooves clattering on the stone path. The breeze brushed past, and for the first time, Xi Fuhong felt the thrill of riding a horse. The powerful movement beneath her and the changing scenery made her feel exhilarated. In no time, they had traveled from the south to the north of the city.
As they exited the northern gate, Xi Fuhong looked back at the shrinking city walls, feeling a bit uneasy. Venturing into the Jianghu was daunting for someone who had lived in seclusion for so long. But the scent from Shi Cuiyan reassured her, as she was the only one Xi Fuhong could rely on.
About half a mile out of Que Yi, the commercial atmosphere faded, leaving only lush greenery. Suddenly, Shi Cuiyan slowed the horse, and Xi Fuhong noticed a change in the atmosphere. But as she looked around the quiet forest, she couldn’t see anything different. Just as she was about to ask, the brown horse reared up, and Xi Fuhong bit her tongue in surprise, tears welling up from the pain.
“Well! Turns out it’s just two little girls! I didn’t waste hours ambushing here!” A rough male voice broke the silence.
