Xu Zimo gave an awkward smile. He didn’t know how to respond to that topic.
“Zimo, I will miss you.”
Han Yanrou looked at Xu Zimo. This time she didn’t avoid his gaze as she usually did.
Even though her face was flushed red, and because of nervousness she bit her lower lip tightly, she still stubbornly stared at Xu Zimo without moving.
As if she wanted to carve his face deeply into her heart.
When Xu Zimo didn’t respond for a long time, Han Yanrou turned around and waved her hand.
“All right, I’m going back to sleep.”
The weather was always unpredictable. The rain that had stopped seemed to gather again with signs of pouring down.
It was unclear whether the silent rain fell, or the sound of the rain covered the soundless tears.
The moment she turned around, her tears fell like the rain, pouring down endlessly.
“When you leave tomorrow, don’t wake me. Just go quietly. I want to sleep in, sleep until the afternoon, then sleep again until the morning after tomorrow. I’ve been too tired these days.”
She said this without turning back, walking toward her room.
Xu Zimo was silent for a long time, but in the end, he returned to his room.
He was not of this world. He always remembered his goal, he had come only for the Ancient Celestial Court.
There was no need to get involved in too many things, not even with the Blood Rune Race.
Back in his room, Xu Zimo lay quietly on his bed.
His perception was sharp. Even without using his eyes, everything in the courtyard appeared clearly in his mind.
The girl hadn’t gone to sleep as she said.
Instead, she came out of her room and sat at the doorway, staring all night at Xu Zimo’s room where he slept.
Only when sounds came from Han Shengxiao’s room at dawn did the girl hurriedly stand up and rush back inside.
“Little Mo, get up and pack, the caravan is about to leave. Don’t delay their time,” Han Shengxiao shouted from the courtyard.
Xu Zimo came out of his room with a smile. “I’m already packed.”
“Then let’s go,” Han Shengxiao nodded.
Xu Zimo turned back and gave a long, deep look at that room, then followed Han Shengxiao away.
……
The caravan was of considerable size, with nearly a hundred people, all dressed in blue long robes.
They looked very uniform, each one clearly skilled travelers.
Han Shengxiao explained a few things to the leader of the caravan, who then gave Xu Zimo a horse, letting him travel in the middle of the group.
At dawn, under the faint light of morning, the caravan set out.
Though the sky still drizzled, they couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
Along the mountain road in front of the village, they marched in great numbers toward the Dark Kingdom.
……
“What’s your name, brother?” Xu Zimo smiled and asked the man in the blue robe beside him.
“Lan Seventy-three,” the man replied.
Seeing Xu Zimo’s doubt, he explained, “We were all orphans taken in by the Lan Clan. We have no names, only numbers.”
Xu Zimo nodded slightly. “Do you often travel to the Dark Kingdom?”
“The caravan trades there,” the man said with a slight nod.
“Then do you know where there might be a Sea of Blood?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Never heard of it,” the man answered plainly.
Xu Zimo felt he wasn’t someone easy to converse with, so he didn’t ask further.
Just then, the caravan suddenly halted ahead.
A commotion rose in front.
“There’s someone ahead.”
“What people? Everyone be careful.”
Xu Zimo guided his horse to the edge of the road and looked up.
There, by the side of the mountain path, stood Han Yanrou under an umbrella, her figure thin, scanning the group.
As if she was searching for someone.
“Don’t panic, she’s my friend,” Xu Zimo quickly called out.
He leapt off his horse and, not caring about anything else, ran toward Han Yanrou.
Coming close, he let out a long sigh.
The weather was cold, and her body trembled slightly. She wasn’t dressed warmly, and her hands and face were slightly bluish.
“Why did you come?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Father told me to see you off,” Han Yanrou said with a smile.
“Are you cold?” Xu Zimo held her hand. Her hand was icy cold.
Han Yanrou shook her head lightly. “It was cold before, but now it’s not.”
He looked at her, silent for a long time, then finally said, “I actually understand everything, but you should know I won’t stay here. I don’t even belong here.”
“I know. Brother Zimo told me before, you were born carrying many burdens, and can only walk forward without hesitation.”
Han Yanrou nodded with a smile. “Father said, a daughter who marries out is like water that’s poured out. If you are willing, let me follow you. If you’re not willing, then I’ll just stand here and watch, watch until your figure disappears from my sight, then I’ll go home. Okay?”
Hearing this, Xu Zimo gave a bitter smile.
“Uncle Han has given me a difficult problem.”
Han Yanrou looked at him, wanting to say, you don’t have to force yourself.
But she couldn’t say it, because she was afraid that if he truly didn’t force himself, then he really would just leave.
She would be heartbroken, unable to bear it.
For Han Yanrou, her life so far had been filled with mockery and ridicule because of her looks.
Other than her father and uncle, almost no one was willing to talk to her.
Xu Zimo was the first stranger willing to be her friend, like he had lit a third flame in her heart.
The third flame besides her father and uncle.
Many times, we don’t need a reason for what we do.
Just like this moth, knowing the flame is out of reach, but still throwing itself at it without hesitation.
Xu Zimo was silent for a long time.
Finally, he asked, “No matter what the result, you won’t regret it?”
“No,” Han Yanrou lowered her head, shaking it lightly.
“Let’s go to the Dark Kingdom first. I haven’t found the place I’m looking for yet,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
He reached out and took her hand, leading her toward the horse.
Her face turned red, but she bit her lip and obediently didn’t resist.
“Young man, let your little lady ride in a carriage. She doesn’t look too healthy,” said a burly man nearby, clearly the caravan leader.
Xu Zimo thanked him, then led Han Yanrou to the carriage.
“Sleep a while. When you wake, we’ll almost be at the Dark Kingdom,” Xu Zimo said.
Han Yanrou nodded.
He let her lie sideways, resting her head on his leg.
Perhaps because she had caught a chill, and also because she hadn’t slept all night, when Xu Zimo used spiritforce to warm her body, she soon fell asleep in that warmth.
……
Halfway down the road, another disturbance arose ahead.
Xu Zimo carefully laid Han Yanrou on the cushion inside the carriage, then stepped outside.
“Don’t push, old man is just looking for someone.”
As Xu Zimo stepped out, he saw an old man standing in front of the caravan.
He wore a red robe, baring yellow teeth as he smiled at Xu Zimo.
“Welcome to the Blood Rune Space!”