The sky had darkened. The rain had stopped.
In the distance, the green mountains appeared freshly washed by the rain, their colors vibrant like jade.
The evening sun, hidden behind the clouds, dimmed the earth below even further.
Even the faint whinnies and snorts from the post horses in the stable beside the relay station seemed tinged with the melancholy of the rain.
A pair of butterflies fluttered leisurely from the edge of the stable, dancing along the deserted roadside by the relay station. Their delicate wings, in the glow of the sunset, had turned crimson, like blood.
Huo Xiao Di sat by the window, overwhelmed by an indescribable weariness.
– But how could the exhaustion of his body compare to the pain and bitterness in his heart?
The food and wine on the table had long grown cold, as cold as his heart now felt.
Throughout the journey, there had been countless moments when he could hardly suppress the impulse to turn back, to retrace his steps, to track Zhong Xiong’s movements and challenge him with his sword. Yet, each time, the yellow silk ribbon tucked against his chest had stopped him, forcing him to hesitate again and again.
It was a weighty trust.
It represented his faith, his life, his bloodshed, and his final plea.
Every time he recalled that look of urgency in the man’s eyes at the granary, Huo Xiao Di felt as though his heart were being cut by a knife.
By the roadside relay station, there was a small teahouse built for weary travelers and wandering wayfarers to rest. But in the dim twilight, there were few passersby left.
– At this moment, the courtyard held only an elderly relay station attendant, a helping hand, and two others.
Huo Xiao Di chose a seat by the window. In the opposite corner, by another table, sat a young woman in light purple clothing. Her back was to the door, and she wore a gauzy hat that obscured her face.
When Huo Xiao Di had entered the teahouse, all he saw was her back.
But her back was enough.
Her silhouette was beautiful.
She sat quietly, her posture serene, occasionally glancing back at the road beyond the door, as though waiting for someone.
Even though Huo Xiao Di’s mind was a tangled mess, he still noticed her. Even though he couldn’t see her face, he noticed her.
The young woman’s silhouette radiated an indescribable elegance.
– Who was this woman in purple waiting for?
The answer came quickly.
A series of hurried, shuffling footsteps approached from outside, accompanied by the sound of light chatter. As the innkeeper called out a greeting, the door swung open, and a boy, carrying a bundle on his back, rushed inside. Without hesitation, he made his way to the table where the woman in purple sat.
The boy had a large head and looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. His bright, lively eyes sparkled with mischief, making it clear he was clever and quick-witted. His youthful face, slightly flushed from what must have been a long journey, glowed with a faint reddish hue. Yet, his roguish eyes brimmed with uncontainable excitement and slyness, like a child who had just gotten hold of his favorite toy.
As soon as he saw the woman, sitting with her back to Huo Xiao Di, he leaned in cautiously and said in a soft voice, “Sister, I kept you waiting.”
Behind Huo Xiao Di, a gentle and refined voice responded, “Zhu’er, you’ve been up to mischief again.”
Huo Xiao Di’s heart stirred. The voice was so elegant and melodious that it was impossible not to notice. He instinctively turned his head.
The scene before him instantly brightened his gaze.
The young woman at the other table had turned to face the boy who had just entered.
The gauzy veil over her head had been lifted.
In that moment, as the veil was drawn back, it seemed as though the dim relay station was suddenly illuminated.
She was an extraordinarily beautiful girl, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence, her cherry-red lips as delicate as a song. Although her light purple attire was simple, it exuded an indescribable elegance and ethereal quality when worn by her. However, the occasional movement of her enchanting eyes betrayed a lingering youthful innocence.
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