Chapter 49: Three Days

Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was calm, with no emotion visible on his face, his joys and angers hidden within. "You know I didn't come here to talk about this."

Du Ruoyu narrowed his eyes. "Then what brings Fellow Daoist Bai here to see me?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes were grave. "How can I escape from here?"

Du Ruoyu paced back and forth. "As for that, I do not know, nor do I even know why Fellow Daoist Bai lost his memories and why he regained them."

Hearing the answer, Junior Brother Bai Ming looked astonished; this guy knew he had regained his memories, yet was unclear about the details.

He knew he would come, yet he turned a blind eye to his questions.

"Hahaha." Junior Brother Bai Ming let out a laugh.

"Aren't you afraid I'll flip your stall and chop down the spirit tree behind you?"

His tone grew heavier. "After all, it was this broken lock you gave me that caused me to regain my memories."

Du Ruoyu sighed. "I believe Fellow Daoist Bai is not that kind of person. The guidance of the concentric lock only acted as a catalyst; even without the lock, Fellow Daoist Bai would have remembered sooner or later."

"It just might have taken a few decades, or perhaps a few centuries longer."

Junior Brother Bai Ming scoffed. "I would have preferred it to be delayed by a few decades, rather than being like this now, sitting here watching a scholar use sophistry while I rack my brains alone."

Watching Junior Brother Bai Ming show signs of a breakdown, Du Ruoyu said with concern, "Is it very serious?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming calmed down. "Serious enough that this might be the last time you see me. If we are fortunate enough to meet again, what you see will only be the dao companion of Song Wanqing."

Du Ruoyu took out a compass. "How about I cast a divination for you?"

After hesitating for a few breaths, Junior Brother Bai Ming reached out and pressed his hand onto the compass. As a wisp of spiritual power was drawn out, the scholar before him began to cast a spell.

After a dozen breaths, the scholar stopped his movements and slowly opened his eyes.

Junior Brother Bai Ming was a bit curious. "How is it?"

Du Ruoyu's brows relaxed. "Wouldn't it lose its effectiveness if I said it out loud?"

"You Daoists really are quite annoying." Junior Brother Bai Ming shook his head, preparing to leave.

Du Ruoyu suddenly spoke up. "Three days from now, at this time, come here to find me, and your troubles can be resolved."

His foot, mid-step, paused in mid-air. Junior Brother Bai Ming was somewhat surprised; he had not expected Du Ruoyu to say such definitive words.

"Can I break free from the Song family?"

Du Ruoyu did not speak, but gently nodded.

Having received his answer, Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled and turned to leave.

"Aren't you going to have your fortune read?"

A peaceful voice sounded from behind. Junior Brother Bai Ming was somewhat surprised—what kind of fortune-telling was this at such a time? Yet, the scholar's gaze did not seem to be directed at him.

Following his gaze, a young girl in white came into view.

The sky gradually darkened, and a cool breeze rustled.

The dress of the girl in white fluttered gently, and a few petals falling from the tree landed on the tips of her hair.

Seeing the two looking over, Xiaoxue pointed at herself. "Me?"

Du Ruoyu revealed a kind smile. "That's right."

Feeling somewhat confused, Xiaoxue turned her head to look at Junior Brother Bai Ming beside her, only to see him nod gently, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

She walked with small steps to the front of the stall and, feeling somewhat nervous, extended her fair little hand.

"Is it like this?"

Du Ruoyu nodded. "Just inject a wisp of spiritual power into the compass."

The young man beside her looked into the distance. Xiaoxue followed the instructions, and a strange emotion welled up in her heart.

She did not know what the two had just discussed, only that the man running the stall had suddenly transformed into a scholar in white.

Then Junior Brother Bai Ming had suddenly burst into loud laughter, followed by this current fortune-telling.

So, one person could have their fortune read too.

But could there be a result for reading just one person?

She stole a glance at the young man beside her. A strange emotion welled up in her heart involuntarily, as if someone had thrown an unripe wild berry into her heart, bursting open with sour juice.

She waited quietly.

Pine and cypress branches fell, and a small lock appeared in her hand.

Feeling the foreign object in her palm, Xiaoxue looked up in confusion, only to see Du Ruoyu nod gently, signaling her to accept it.

So I have one too?

Xiaoxue clutched the small lock in her hand, feeling as if her whole body were soaking in a warm spring.

The young man beside her gazed into the distance, as if something were weighing on his mind, and did not notice the exchange between the two.

Xiaoxue tugged at Junior Brother Bai Ming's sleeve. "Young Master, we can go now."

Junior Brother Bai Ming turned back. "Alright."

…

The night was quiet, and the evening breeze brushed against their faces.

The bright moon hung high above, and the clear moonlight spilled across the earth.

The lively atmosphere in Canglan City gradually dissipated, and sleepiness struck, causing the crowds to head to their own beds to sleep, drifting into sweet dreams.

Yet, in this time of sparse lights, a handsome young man walked with a girl in white under the starlit night sky.

Looking at the tall, upright back of the young man in front of her, Xiaoxue clutched the concentric lock; though she felt somewhat confused in her heart, her chest was filled with a warm current.

She spoke softly. "Young Master, are we not returning to the manor?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming turned his head, smiling. "The scenery tonight is quite nice; why don't we go take a look outside the city?"

Xiaoxue hesitated a little. "It is very late; is this alright?"

"Must we cultivators be the same as mortals, working at sunrise and resting at sunset?" Junior Brother Bai Ming turned his body sideways and waved his hand, guiding Xiaoxue's gaze toward the sky. "Is such scenery not worth seeing?"

The moonlight was bright and the starlight was brilliant; Xiaoxue lowered her eyes, swallowing the words she had prepared.

Without waiting for the girl in white to answer, Junior Brother Bai Ming grabbed her small hand and ran toward the edge of the city.

One in front and one behind, the two stumbled at first, but after a few steps, they adapted.

A sweet smile appeared on the girl's face, emitting a natural fragrance like nectar.

But she did not notice that in the shadows where she could not see, the young man's expression was calm, devoid of any emotion.

As they got closer and closer to the city wall, Junior Brother Bai Ming slowly let go. "Sorry, Xiaoxue, for making you go along with my nonsense."

Xiaoxue shook her head slightly. "It's fine; I will accompany you to wherever you want to go, Young Master."

"Thank you, Xiaoxue." Looking at the girl with her head bowed, Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes flashed with an inexplicable radiance.

Although he said he could help me break free from the Song family in three days, I still need to look for other methods.

That person's words were truly erratic; he didn't answer my questions, yet he gave a solution.

It really is.

Vaguely unsettling.

Arriving near the city wall, Junior Brother Bai Ming couldn't help but sigh; the last time he came here was over a month ago.

But for him, having just regained his memories, it felt as if it were only yesterday.

The scene of Patriarch Song forcibly erasing his memories was still vivid in his mind.

He was not reconciled.

Everything started because of the Song family, and in the end, he was actually expected to become a puppet of the Song family and a toy for Song Wanqing.

It really is infuriating.

"Dare I ask, is it Young Master Bai?"

A somewhat muffled voice came from the top of the city wall.

Looking in that direction, Junior Brother Bai Ming saw a middle-aged man dressed in purple slowly flying over.

The middle-aged man cupped his hands. "I am Song Jin, responsible for the outer perimeter defense. I do not know what brings you here, Young Master."

Junior Brother Bai Ming was still observing, but the girl beside him spoke up first.

Xiaoxue smiled and said, "So it is Uncle Jin; the Young Master and I are just enjoying the night view nearby."