Flexible
He added, "I'm sure the head of the Gongye family is more familiar with this area than I am?"
Gongye Fusu said, "I only visited Shu six or seven years ago. I also met one or two disciples of the Hidden Sect in the government offices. They were all detached and unconventional, hiding their talents. They were not like the woman just now, with such pomp and circumstance. She stood alone with her hand on her sword, yet she exuded an aura that no one could shake. She also understood the times and knew how to advance and retreat. In Jianzhang, only Miss Shangguan and Miss Pei have such an aura."
Upon hearing this, Lie Changkong understood and frowned, saying, "Could it be that the Hidden World Sect has changed its ways in recent years and become more actively involved in worldly affairs?"
Gu Yi, who was in the carriage, closed his eyes slightly, then opened them after a moment and said with certainty, "The Hidden World Sect is bound to undergo a major upheaval."
Upon hearing this, Lie Changkong knew that the journey would not be smooth sailing. He frowned and said, "How is Master's health? If the Hidden World Sect is not peaceful to begin with, Master will be in danger if he goes there in his current state."
Gu Yi said calmly, "It's nothing serious." He then glanced at A Qiu.
Perhaps because she was by his side, his mood and temperament remained calm, unlike his previous strange and unpredictable behavior and fragmented memories.
However... because she was by my side, I would occasionally feel restless in a certain way.
In this situation, it is certainly not enough to explain Lie Changkongdao's actions.
Lie Changkong knew Gu Yi's temperament well; even if something serious happened, he would only say it was nothing. After thinking for a moment, he could only tentatively ask, "Master, are your skills still intact?"
Gu Yi's answer was concise: "Yes."
Only the two of them understood the true meaning behind it.
Gu Yi's cultivation method forbids emotional involvement, but his martial arts skills remain intact, which means he has not been moved by emotions.
But Gu Yi knows his own situation and is unmoved, which does not mean he is without desire.
Gongye Fusu broke the silence and laughed, "Even if there are unexpected events, since Sect Master Li did not seek help from the Junior Master, it should not be too dangerous. We are only going to find out the method of refining the Divine Transformation Pill, not to wipe out other sects, so it should not be too difficult."
He added, “Don’t be fooled by the current rugged terrain, deep mountains and marshes, and miasma. Once we reach the capital city of Huanhua, the area will be fertile plains and beautiful mountains and rivers. Huanhua is a major silk-producing area, and the brocades it produces are as radiant as clouds. There are also many gardens and nurseries. Right now, it’s the Flower Festival, and the young ladies are vying with the flowers for beauty, which is quite a sight. At that time, you can take Miss Aqiu for a stroll.”
A Qiu, being a girl at heart, had her eyes light up as she listened to Gongye Fusu's detailed account, and said, "Young Master Fusu is indeed worthy of his extensive travels throughout the world; he knows the customs and traditions of every place like the back of his hand."
Anyone who has a knowledgeable, understanding, and considerate travel companion like Gongye Fusu will never feel lonely on their journey.
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Gu Yi say lightly, "You won't be going anywhere then. Just sit in the inn and wait."
A Qiu's initial enthusiasm was instantly dampened, and she muttered, "Why can't I go out?"
Gu Yi countered, "Do you have the ability to protect yourself?"
Ah Qiu was speechless.
Although Gu Yi said this, on the first day after arriving at the Huanhua City Inn, Gongye Fusu smiled and said, "I still need to go to our trading company in the city to check on the situation. I'll trouble Young Master Lie to accompany me."
Lie Changkong naturally wanted to accompany Gu Yi, but Gongye Fusu explained that as the head of the family and the one who controlled the Gongye family's businesses, his solo journey from afar without any companions might be looked down upon by the local merchants. If things went too far, they might even plot to murder him for his money.
But if there is a fierce and skilled fighter like Lie Changkong, his strength can be demonstrated simply by standing to the side without saying a word.
Gu Yi hesitated for a moment before agreeing, completely ignoring Lie Changkong beside him, whose mouth was so wide open it could almost fit half a watermelon.
Is Gu Yi lending him out as a "Heavenly Authority Ruler" to be used as a thug to fill a position?
Gongye Fusu was a shrewd man, and he could tell what Lie Changkong was thinking at a glance. Lie Changkong didn't care at all and laughed, "It's common for people to help each other out in times of emergency. Young Master Lie, you'll get used to it after a few more trips." He then turned around and pulled the bewildered Lie Changkong away.
At this moment, only Gu Yi and A Qiu remained in the scenic room of the inn.
As soon as the two left, the atmosphere became slightly awkward. A Qiu suddenly remembered that Gongye Fusu had only booked three superior rooms instead of four, which meant that she and Gu Yi would share a room.
In reality, Gongye Fusu and Lie Changkong could have shared a room, but since King Gongye Fusu of Wanxiang Kingdom was away on a long trip, saving money was not his primary concern. He was naturally very clean and always had beautiful maids and ladies serving him. To ask him to share a room with another man was something that would be impossible under any circumstances.
This shows that Gongye Fusu was willing to sit at the same table with Lie Changkong along the way, braving the wind and sun, which shows that he was very flexible, hardworking and resilient, and not just a pretentious young master.
However, Gongye Fusu, given the opportunity, refused to compromise himself by wanting to live alone. Yet, he was quite capable of inconveniencing others, even making her share a room with Gu Yi.
Even Lie Changkong, the coachman, can have a room all to himself, but she, a dignified junior master's disciple and a woman, has to squeeze into a room with Gu Yi.
Gu Yi's gray eyes flashed, and he subtly glanced at her expression before saying irritably, "In your current state, if you were living alone, you'd probably be too busy knocking on the wall and calling for help if a petty thief broke in through your window in the middle of the night."
She added, "This place is different from Jianzhang; there are fewer outsiders here to begin with. Our arrival in the city like this has probably already attracted the attention of the locals." Indeed, their group consisted of handsome men and beautiful women. Although their carriage was extremely simple, the two horses pulling it were no ordinary beasts; they were clearly magnificent. If anyone were eyeing them, they would likely target her, the only woman among them.
When A Qiu realized that Gongye Fusu's arrangement was intended to take care of her, she felt embarrassed.
Gu Yi said slowly, "There are three rooms in total. If you don't want to share a room with me, you can choose one of the other two. You can share a room with Chang Kong or with the head of the Gongye family, it's up to you."
A Qiu thought of bathing, changing clothes, and going to bed in front of Lie Changkong, who had a head full of black lines, and felt that it was unimaginable. If she were to share a room with Gongye Fusu, given his habit of ordering people around, he would probably make her serve him while he changed clothes, bathed, and groomed, and even massage his legs and back.
She said awkwardly, "I think I'll stay here."
Actually, this is because Gu Yi is not as gentle and steady as before, which is why A Qiu has concerns. In the past, at Jinlingtai, she often shared a room with Gu Yi. He would review official documents or play the zither under the lamp, while she would mostly read or practice martial arts on the side, and she never felt any inconvenience.
Gu Yi took in her embarrassed and confused expression, which clearly said, "I just feel something is wrong, but I don't know what it is."
He remained calm, only letting out a soft hum, and said, "But now, you can't be here."
A-Qiu was completely baffled and almost jumped up to ask, "Why?"
Could it be that Gu Yi felt she disliked him, so he decided to dislike her first and kick her out?
Gu Yi's cold eyes remained devoid of emotion as he said, "Because you have to accompany me on a trip. I need to go to the city to find the place where the Hidden World Sect had previously agreed to exchange messages."
As soon as A Qiu stepped out of the inn, she gasped.
The shops lined up one after another, and the tourists thronged the streets, rivaling even the bustling Jianzhang West Market. The numerous ethnic women, dressed in colorful skirts and fluttering like butterflies, with headscarves draped over their heads, walking beneath the lanterns created a unique and beautiful scene.
Gu Yi's appearance was unusual at this moment. To avoid attracting attention, he covered his face and long hair with a bamboo hat and veil. As soon as he stepped out the door, he seemed to pause slightly.
The innkeeper knew the two men were from out of town, and seeing their condition, he knew they must be newcomers and unfamiliar with the place. So he smiled and said, "Where are you going, sirs? If you can tell me the name of the place, I can show you the way."
A Qiu waited for Gu Yi to reveal the location of the Hidden World Sect in Huanhua City, but Gu Yi asked instead, "Twenty years ago, I remember there was a workshop here that produced very vivid brocades. I wonder if it is still there now, and if so, where it is?"
The innkeeper chuckled, “Tiangong Workshop still exists, but it’s run by the Meng family, the prefects. Even a thousand pieces of gold wouldn’t buy a single bolt of brocade there. The workshop is now located on the banks of Huanhua Creek in the east of the city, not far away. If you wish to visit, it’s only a half-hour walk.”
Gu Yi hummed in agreement and then asked, "I've heard that there are many varieties of flowers here. May I ask where the largest flower garden is?"
The shopkeeper said, "That is also the Meng family's property, 'Tianxiangpu'. It is most famous for its peonies, tree peonies, and hibiscus. They are all different colors and have a thousand different shapes. Its flower garden is not far from the brocade workshop, separated only by a stream. You can see them all when you get there, young master."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yi frowned and said, "It has always been said that officials should not compete with the people for profit. Since the Meng family is the prefect, why do they monopolize the two largest industries in the area?"
The waiter, who had been all smiles, now looked somewhat embarrassed. Looking at Gu Yi and A Qiu's clothes and appearance, he knew that the two had come to an awkward place, probably from the capital. He could only force a smile and say vaguely, "Well, different places have different people. You'll understand when you visit other places in the future."
A Qiu, however, was used to wandering the streets. A glance at the waiter's expression told her something was wrong; the Meng family was probably a local tyrant, and the waiter didn't want to cause trouble. Even their brief exchange had attracted the attention of many in the shop. She quickly grabbed Gu Yi's arm, saying, "Young Master, let's go see the lanterns!" Fearing he would take it seriously, she hurried away.
Given her current physical weakness, it would have been easy for Gu Yi to break free from her grasp, but he allowed her to hold one of his hands without resisting.
After walking for most of the way, A Qiu was drenched in sweat when she realized she had been holding onto Gu Yi's hand the whole time. Embarrassed, she immediately let go of his hand.
After she let go of him, Gu Yi didn't pull his hand back. Instead, he took her hand in return, his voice softening considerably, and asked, "Are you tired?"
A-Qiu smiled at him, but genuinely felt quite strained. This was an experience she had never had before.
She used to be able to move swiftly through beams and tiles, and had never experienced being out of breath after walking just a few steps.
Even when he lost his martial arts skills, his energy and vitality were far superior to that of ordinary people, and his hearing and eyesight were much better than those of ordinary people. He was definitely not as sickly as he is now.
She was about to say that she was fine when she suddenly felt light as Gu Yi lifted her up in his arms.
Even though Huanhua City is a place where people mingle and the local customs are open, and men and women do not care about their behavior, it is still extremely bold for Gu Yi to openly carry a woman through the streets and alleys.
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