Chapter 43: Re-encountering V at Chaohu Lake

  At noon, outside the majestic city wall, a green light descended from the sky and landed behind a row of green willows several zhang east of the city gate.

  The light and shadow dispersed, revealing two people inside. The young man with a jade crown and wide sleeves was warm as jade, and he handed a crystal long sword into the black scabbard on his back. Beside him, a little girl in a pale purple dress opened her eyes wide, a pair of big watery eyes curiously peeking through the willow branches at the city gate.

  "Xuan Zhen brother, that gate is really high, and there's a big wooden sign on top... what does it say?"

  Xuan Zhen followed her gaze and saw that it was the plaque hanging above the city gate. He smiled slightly and said: "Those are the characters 'Shou Yang'. This is probably the place we're looking for."

  Zi Xuan's face, with a hint of wind and dust, immediately lit up with joy, clapping her hands: "Really? Finally don't have to blow cold air anymore!"

  After leaving Nanjiang, the two had traveled for ten days. Zixuan saw from high above that the towns below were gradually becoming more populated and couldn't help but praise the accuracy of Death's words about the prosperity of Zhongyuan. She was especially fascinated by its flourishing scene, but unfortunately, Xuanzhen was determined to go to Nest Lake, and except for overnight stays and buying dry rations, he had never taken her out to have fun.

  Zi Xuan, although young and fond of playing, didn't want to disturb Xuan Zhen either. Now that they had arrived at their destination, the subtle longing that had been suppressed in her heart suddenly grew strong again. She swept away the fatigue on her face and asked with a hint of pleading: "Xuan Zhen brother, can I go into town for a stroll? Is it okay?"

  Xuan Zhen originally wanted to take Zi Xuan directly to the edge of Chaohu Lake for a visit. When he heard her say this, he glanced at her again and saw that her big eyes were full of eager anticipation. He thought that this little girl had accompanied him on so many journeys without making any trouble, and he had already agreed in his heart. Moreover, this time he was going to investigate his past, and bringing the little girl along would be inconvenient. Thinking of this, he nodded decisively and instructed: "The market is in the west of the city, where there are many people. Be careful not to let your purse be stolen by thieves."

  Zi Xuan nodded repeatedly with a smile, and the two made an appointment to meet again at this place after a while, then they went their separate ways.

  Looking at the distant figure of Zi Xuan, who was eager to leave like a swallow returning to its nest, Xuan Zhen smiled wryly and turned around, with his heart filled with thoughts once again. The closer he got to Shouyang, the more intense his apprehensive feelings became, as if a traveler nearing his hometown felt both eager to regain memories and worried that this hope would ultimately prove to be an illusion.

  Nest Lake is not far from the official road outside Shouyang City, and it only takes a moment to see the sparkling lake surface reflecting the waves. However, more than half of it is hidden behind a forest. The forest sits on a gentle slope on the lake embankment, with sparse vegetation, and in early summer, there is also a touch of greenery.

  The lush green grass, the dense branches and leaves, occasionally with the sound of insects chirping and birds singing, and faintly hearing the ripples on the lake's surface caused by the fishermen's nets. Xuan Zhen walked on the ground covered with green grass and moss, unknowingly arriving at the trees near the lake shore. The wild flowers were fragrant and scattered all over the lake embankment, the willows on the lake shore hung down like golden threads, and the wind blew up strands of green silk. Looking far away, small boats and fishing boats came and went, leaving behind a trail of blue ripples. Even farther away, the center of the lake was shrouded in a layer of hazy mist, as if a screen of thin gauze had been pulled open.

  A small nest-like lake, who would have thought it had such a beautiful view. The frown between his eyebrows had long since disappeared, leaving only a sense of carefree joy in his heart, and he unknowingly sat down on a large snow-white stone beside the tree, with willow branches hanging down from behind his shoulder, he casually plucked one and put it to his lips.

  A gentle melody suddenly rises from the forest, attracting a burst of chirping on the branches.

  The willow leaf was soft and delicate, and after being blown by the wind for a while, it had already been damaged. Xuan Zhen lowered his eyes and stared at the remaining leaf in his palm, lost in thought. Suddenly, he heard a very light footsteps sound coming from behind him.

  "Hey, who are you? How dare you sit there? Get up quickly!"

  Footsteps approached, followed by a gasp, and a woman behind him shouted loudly with an unpleasant tone. Xuān Zhèn furrowed his brow and said without turning around, "Miss, is this rock part of your family's property or something?"

  The young woman seemed to be choked for a moment, and then angrily said: "Not allowed to sit is not allowed to sit, get up quickly, this is our madam's position!"

  Xuan Zhen couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, and turned his head to say: "Miss, is your family lacking chairs that you have to use a stone as a substitute?" Before he finished speaking, he was taken aback, his gaze passing over the shoulders of the girl in the dark green dress, looking behind her.

  The warm sunlight filtering through the trees, casting a dappled glow on the ground, with patches of gold light the size of copper coins scattered about. It fell upon the tree roots, the moss, and the face of the woman walking towards him. Her gentle steps seemed to bring forth lotus flowers, her clothes fragrant from afar, her jade-like face and crimson lips shone with a soft radiance, adding an extra touch of tenderness to her already beautiful features. Xuan Zhen's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her, thinking to himself: Why... why did he feel a sense of familiarity? As he looked closer, he saw that the woman had her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with ornaments, and was dressed like a married woman, which filled him with a growing sense of regret.

  The girl in the red dress turned around and hastily called out, "Madam!" She took three steps at a time, almost running over to stand with another yellow-shirted girl who was following behind the young woman. Pointing at Xuan Zhen's direction with an unhappy face, she said, "Madam, Ji'e sister, look at this man! He occupied our spot and won't leave even when we ask him to!"

  Xuan Zhen suddenly came to his senses and heard the girl's soft complaints. The young woman's beautiful eyes had already looked over at him, and their gazes met directly, causing both of them to pause for a moment. Xuan Zhen stared intently at her autumnal eyes, feeling as though they were shrouded in mist, with infinite sorrow hidden within. As he gazed, his heart suddenly ached for no reason. He foolishly stared for a while, and vaguely felt that staring at a woman like this was extremely impolite. Yet, when it came to turning his head away, he secretly didn't want to leave.

  That young woman looked at Xuan Zhen and was also a little dazed, her face flashing with surprise, confusion, and finally turning into a knot of indescribable resentment. Her lips moved, about to say something, but the maid, Qian Yi, scolded first: "Hey, what are you looking at? Let me tell you, our master is the County Magistrate of Shouyang City. If you dare to offend him again, I'll have you locked up in a cell for a few days!" As she spoke, she glared and stood in front of her mistress.

  Xuan Zhen snapped back to reality, suddenly feeling extremely embarrassed. He hastily turned his face away, his cheeks already burning with heat. He quickly stood up from the stone and bowed his hands, saying: "Just now... there were some improper words, please forgive me, madam."

  She snorted, wanting to scold a few more sentences, but was stopped by the lady, and had to reluctantly retreat behind the young woman. The glance she threw back was full of disdain and contempt. It was the yellow-shirted maid next to her who quietly pulled at her sleeve and whispered: "What a pity about that good-looking face..."

  The young woman raised an eyebrow and glanced back at them, and the two girls immediately fell silent. It wasn't until then that the woman slowly opened her mouth, speaking softly: "You... sir, are you surnamed...?" Her tone was extremely gentle, yet also somewhat timid, as if she had hopes but was afraid of being disappointed, hesitating for a moment before continuing: "Surnamed Shen?"

  A skylark in the woods let out a clear cry, spread its wings and flew from behind the tree towards the sky, causing the treetops to tremble slightly, as if his inner heart was trembling with a subtle shock. But he still sighed and shook his head, saying, "No." Since losing all his memories many years ago, his past had been a vast expanse of blankness, and even his name was unknown, let alone his surname; the current name was also given to him by Taicheng when he took him as an apprentice.

  Xuan Zhen silently gazed at the woman in front of him, quietly watching as her hopeful eyes turned into deeper sorrow due to his brief words. Such deep emotions moved people's hearts, but even so, it was all related to that man with the surname Shen, and had nothing to do with himself.

  "It can't be you... it's impossible." The woman said softly, unsure if she was talking to Xuan Zhen or convincing herself. "If that person is still alive, he would be almost thirty years old now... You look like you're only in your early twenties, although there's some resemblance, but it's absolutely not possible..."

  Her voice was mournful, seemingly deeply attached to that person from the past, but listening to her words, it seemed she didn't know whether the man was dead or alive. The person from the past had long gone, and she was already someone else's wife; although Xuan Zhen clearly didn't recognize her, he also felt a faint bitterness.

  Since the young woman already knew he wasn't the person she had expected, her gaze no longer fell on him but instead turned to that white stone. Xuán Zhèn followed her line of sight and also glanced over, the large stone lay there snow-white in the moss-covered ground, standing out particularly, at this moment a closer look revealed that the surface of the stone was extremely smooth and clean, it seemed as if someone had often caressed and wiped it clean, that lady attached great importance to it, presumably because of her relationship with the deceased.

  The woman gazed at the stone, her expression gradually becoming dazed, as if the three people beside her were not in her eyes. Xuān Zhèn watched her staring there, her vermilion lips moving slightly as if speaking, and he couldn't help but concentrate his spirit to listen carefully. With his cultivation, he naturally heard clearly, and only heard the young woman whispering softly: "You said that as long as I wait here, I can see you... But I've waited day after day, from childhood to marriage, and you haven't appeared again... Is it that in this life, even seeing you once has become a luxury?"

  Xuan Zhen heard it in his ears, and his heart felt a sense of loss. He thought to himself: That person with the surname Shen is indeed fortunate for three lifetimes, and someone has been waiting for him like this... I wonder if there will be anyone who can treat me with such deep emotions and thick intentions in this life?

  Look at the woman standing in the grass, immersed in her own thoughts. Xuan Zhen didn't go to disturb her, but instead bid farewell to the two maids with a bow and left quietly. In the emerald grass, the white stone stood upright, that slender figure gradually fell behind, hidden in the sparse forest.

  P.S. Then Ajie makes another appearance to make a cameo... Next chapter boss appears, want or not?

  PPS. I was careless in making friends and was lured away by YY, now I've been successfully seduced by a group of men who are full of Han... This afternoon, after listening to them, my typing speed has decreased sharply QAQ!!!