The forest stretched on in one unbroken expanse, lush and verdant, giving off a soothing coolness. Moonlight fell in strands like silver sand, slipping through layer upon layer of branches and leaves, scattering across the grass.
The wildflowers blooming in the meadow released an enticing fragrance from time to time. There were no birds calling, yet that only deepened the forest’s quiet stillness.
The campfire flickered now and then, crackling softly. Beside it, the group rested where they could, leaning against nearby trees.
Tian You and Hua Zhaoxue weren’t sleeping curled up together like they had the night before. Even so, they still leaned beneath the same tree trunk. With just a turn, they could clearly feel each other’s warmth.
“Tian You... your character is a lot like the noble gentlemen described in books...” Hua Zhaoxue turned slightly and looked straight into those purple eyes, enchanting as a bewitching spirit beneath the moonlit night. She spoke in a daze, “A gentleman does not speak lightly; when he speaks, his words carry reason. A gentleman does not act rashly; when he acts, there is a proper way to it. Even though you’ve lost your past memories, during the time I’ve spent with you, I’ve still felt your character clearly. Especially... last night...” By the end, her voice had grown faint, soft as a mosquito’s hum.
Hearing that, Tian You turned and gave Hua Zhaoxue a slight smile. “Zhaoxue-jie, you’re exaggerating. I’m not as outstanding as you say. It’s just... I still can’t sort out my thoughts for the time being.”
At the sight of Tian You’s smile, Hua Zhaoxue quietly clenched her fist. Her gaze began to drift as she asked softly, “T-Tian You... even now, have you really... not remembered anything from your past at all?”
“...”
The smile on Tian You’s face gradually froze. From behind the mist deep in his mind, a few strands of white-gold hair surfaced, brilliant as Silver Bloom.
“The past... is it really that important?” Tian You let out a light breath, as if asking himself, and also answering.
“Uh...?”
“Just like how you also have a past you don’t want to remember, Zhaoxue-jie... maybe my past is the same.” Looking at Hua Zhaoxue’s stunned expression, Tian You reached out and brushed a bit of tree debris from her hair. His voice was gentle. “If the past may only be a sorrowful one, then what’s truly worth thinking about is how to cherish the present. Isn’t that right?”
Hua Zhaoxue closed her beautiful eyes and felt the touch above her head. For some reason, it stirred a trace of old memories, and for a moment, the tide of thoughts in her heart was hard to calm. Amid countless emotions, she reached up and held the hand Tian You had used to brush her hair, then lightly rested her cheek against that warmth.
Tian You didn’t refuse. He only shifted a little closer to Hua Zhaoxue.
Just like last night, the two of them fell asleep leaning against each other...
Dependence... needed no reason...
Morning came, and the rising sun climbed into the sky.
Li Rui, who had been lying spread-eagle on the grass to rest, was struck by the early sunlight and suddenly snapped his eyes open.
Once fully awake, Li Rui first looked at Nie Wangqing and Zheng Biao, who were lying beside him. Then he looked toward Tian You and Hua Zhaoxue, who were leaning against each other beneath a tree not far away. For a moment, his feelings were too complicated to describe.
But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. He patted the still-sleeping Zheng Biao beside him. After the man slowly woke up, Li Rui had him go wake Tian You and the others, while he himself went to call Bai Ziting and Li Yuanqian.
About a quarter of an hour later, everyone had been woken up. Seeing that they were all alert now, Li Rui gave Nie Wangqing a brief explanation. He hoped they could pick up the pace, reach the inner part of the barbarian city as soon as possible, meet up with his older sister, and then form a team to explore the ruins.
Nie Wangqing first glanced at Hua Zhaoxue, who was still leaning by Tian You’s side. After seeing her give a light nod, he agreed to Li Rui’s suggestion.
After that, with Nie Wangqing and Zheng Biao deliberately speeding things up, they reached the edge of the forest within a single day. Just like the night before, they rested for one night, then continued onward. At last, they walked out of the forest and arrived at a barren wasteland. At the far end of that wasteland stood a lone city.
When they saw the desolate plain, Li Rui and the others didn’t react much. But Hua Zhaoxue and Nie Wangqing were both deeply surprised. They had heard before that Wolfmoon Barbarian City was a place lacking in order. Even if it wasn’t as grand as the other cities of Sacred Dance, it should still have had some scenery to speak of. Yet before their eyes there was only sand and dust everywhere, withered vines and dead trees. Layer after layer of dark clouds hung low overhead, like a heavy curtain draped across the sky. It stood in sharp contrast to the green shade and thriving life of the forest they had just left behind.
“This... is Wolfmoon Barbarian City?” Still caught in her surprise, Hua Zhaoxue couldn’t help asking Li Rui’s group for confirmation. To her, this atmosphere no longer seemed as simple as merely “lacking in order”...
Li Rui seemed to sense what Hua Zhaoxue was thinking. He gave a bitter smile and answered, “Miss Zhaoxue, I’m afraid your impression of Wolfmoon Barbarian City is still stuck in years past... Think about it. This place lies between the borders of Sacred Dance and Qi War, and its territory isn’t that large. The two nations may not be on good terms, but neither has any reason to make a huge move over a barbarian city like this. Over time, it became a world of its own, untouched by either country. So... Miss Zhaoxue, Tian You, and Brother Nie, please prepare yourselves mentally... The atmosphere inside may be even worse than you imagine...”
Li Rui was about to explain more, but then he saw Hua Zhaoxue staring blankly at that lone city. It seemed what he had just said had made her hesitate.
“Zhaoxue-jie, don’t worry. Li Rui’s older sister has at least some standing in this barbarian city. Besides, since we already decided to start exploring early, we’re only going there to meet up with her, learn the necessary information, and then leave. So please relax, Zhaoxue-jie. Tian You-gege will definitely be fine!”
Just as Li Rui was at a loss over how to persuade Hua Zhaoxue, Bai Ziting finally spoke up to ease the situation.
But Hua Zhaoxue still stared at the lone city at the end of the wasteland, lost in thought, unable to decide for the moment.
