The discomfort in her body made her shift uncomfortably. “General, could you please move aside and let me out? It’s uncomfortable staying here like this. You don’t want to talk to me like this, do you?”
Hu Yannan seemed not to hear her and repeated: “Do you want to leave this place so badly?”
Shan Xiaoya looked at his dejected eyes and felt her heart tighten, wanting to erase his troubles. She blinked to hide her guilt. “General, how could I? I’m unfamiliar with this place, and you’re the only person I know. You provide me food and drink, and I’m grateful. How could I want to leave? If you hadn’t asked me to learn etiquette, I wouldn’t be so miserable hiding under the carriage. Don’t believe me? Come try, I guarantee you can’t stay down there for a minute. I’ve been hiding down here for so long that my arms and legs are almost broken…”
Hu Yannan heard her words, knowing they were false, but still felt very happy. He pulled her out from under the carriage with a stern face, seeing her white clothes become dirty, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curling. He naturally helped brush the dust off her…
Chapter 055
Shan Xiaoya thought to herself: I’ll only have a ghost if I’m anxious.
I don’t believe it’s possible to find a Hong Kong village here so coincidentally. Shan Xiaoya pretended to be surprised and said, “How could we not find it? Isn’t there a place we might have missed? Such a large village can’t possibly be unfindable!”
Hu Yan Nan consoled her, “Don’t worry, we’ll definitely find it.” He held her hand and looked at her tenderly, saying, “Rest assured, even if we can’t find Hong Kong village, you still have me. The General’s Manor will always be your home.”
Shan Xiaoya listened to his words, feeling a surge of bitterness. Home? Such a distant and unfamiliar word. Since her parents left, ‘home’ seemed like a noun that had nothing to do with her. Shan Xiaoya looked at Hu Yan Nan, moved, and discovered that he wasn’t as unpleasant as before. In fact, he was quite appealing. His two thick, dark eyebrows, affectionate eyes, and high nose combined to create a distinctly masculine and reassuring flavor.
Eight bodyguards looked at each other, and there was no reason not to listen to the lady’s words, especially since the general regarded her as a treasure. They exchanged glances and attacked the man together. That man was no pushover either.
He waved his hand to the people beside him, and those servants also drew their weapons. The two groups started fighting, while the onlookers continuously retreated, giving them enough space. Shan Xiaoya initially cheered on the sidelines, but her voice grew smaller and smaller. When her voice was almost inaudible, her figure also vanished from the circle. Shan Xiaoya arrived at the foot of Tian’en Temple as she wished, looking back for the Nth time, still not seeing the bodyguards following her, and her smile grew deeper.
Chapter 056
Shan Xiaoya walked down the mountain with a furrowed brow, looking at the bracelet on her wrist and muttering in confusion: “It’s related to you? How could my ability to go back be connected to you? What was Master Kong Jing thinking?”
The abbot of Tian’en Temple, Master Kong Jing, was stunned when he saw Shan Xiaoya, staring at her for a long time before withdrawing his gaze. He twirled prayer beads in his left hand and placed his right hand on his chest, saying: “Amitabha!”
Shan Xiaoya asked Master Kong Jing: “Master, do you know where I’m from?”
The abbot pointed to the sky with his right hand: “Donor, you do not belong here. You have come from afar.”
Shan Xiaoya heard this and stepped forward excitedly: “Master, can you send me back?”
Master Kong Jing regretfully shook his head. “Donor, this old monk does not have that ability.”
I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
Shan Xiaoya anxiously shook the abbot’s arm: “How is that possible? You’re an enlightened monk, the people of Jin Ri Kingdom worship you so much. How can you have no way? You said I don’t belong here, so since I don’t belong here, you must find a way to send me back!”
The abbot, being shaken by Shan Xiaoya, reached out to stop her movement: “Donor, please calm down! Let me finish speaking.”
Shan Xiaoya disappointedly let go: “Master, I’m sorry! I was too excited just now. Please don’t take offense!”
The abbot placed his right hand on his chest again and said: “Amitabha! Donor, you do not belong here, of course you have a chance to go back, but this chance must be created by yourself. Others cannot help. Please go back!”
Shan Xiaoya anxiously asked: “Master, don’t rush to chase me away! How do I create it myself? Can you explain more clearly?”
“Donor, heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. Please go back!”
Shan Xiaoya stubbornly grabbed the abbot’s arm: “No, Master, if you don’t explain clearly, I won’t leave, and I won’t let you leave.”
And so it went, with Shan Xiaoya persistently holding onto the abbot’s arm, while the abbot helplessly stood there chanting sutras she couldn’t understand, and they remained in this stalemate for a long time…
Zhao Yeqing arrived at the foot of Tian’en Temple, thinking about her last encounter here, a smile appearing on her face. She began walking up the mountain. The empty path suddenly produced a sound, and Zhao Yeqing looked up.
She saw a young scholar in a white robe walking down the mountain. From a distance, he seemed fragile, almost sickly. However, with her profound internal energy, she discovered that his face was not as bleak as imagined. His face had a healthy complexion, looking strangely familiar.
Zhao Yeqing furrowed her brow, carefully thinking. She had come to Ancheng to chase two runaway lovers and did not know this young scholar. Why did he feel so familiar? Suddenly remembering a boy she encountered on the street, she smiled, realizing who he was. Thinking about how he had embarrassingly fallen last time made her smile deeper.
This was the first time she had teased someone.
Since childhood, under her father’s guidance, she had always been well-behaved, studying, learning characters, and practicing martial arts. That day was an exception, and unexpectedly, she had encountered him again, unconsciously looking at him a few more times.
Shan Xiaoya, walking along, discovered someone watching her from a distance. A bad feeling welled up from her heart, as if something was about to happen, related to that person. With each step forward, her heartbeat quickened, and she felt an urge to flee. Shan Xiaoya didn’t know why she had such a strong feeling and suddenly stopped, looking puzzled at the distant figure.
Chapter 057
Zhao Yeqing didn’t know why he suddenly stopped, withdrew his gaze, and continued walking up the mountain. Shan Xiaoya watched him getting closer. Close enough to see his features, she was startled, involuntarily taking a step back. It was him? Lowering her head guiltily, she stiffly tugged at her right sleeve, stealing glances with the corner of her eye, her head turning with his walking progress. Her heart pounded.
Zhao Yeqing saw her somewhat fearful expression and laughed. They had only met once on the street, and although the scene was a bit awkward, he found her timidness amusing.
Thinking this, Zhao Yeqing had already passed Shan Xiaoya and continued up the mountain.
Shan Xiaoya, seeing that he hadn’t recognized her, let out a sigh of relief. “Ah! That was close! What a narrow escape. Didn’t expect to meet him here. He’s really persistent. Fortunately, I’m lucky and he didn’t recognize me. If I’m not going to run now, when will I?” Taking a step forward, she turned back with a furtive look, discovering Zhao Yeqing wasn’t paying attention to her. Perfect! She quickened her pace, running down the mountain. Unexpectedly, after just a few steps, she heard someone call: “Wait a moment!”
