123 The Allure of a Faint Dream 4 (1/2)

A light, long sigh drew itself against the frozen backdrop of the night sky, replacing the stars concealed beneath the cold and furious visage of the world.

Tian Mu's gaze softened as he stared at the dense forest before him. The world vented its wrath as the stars concealed within the sky revealed their brilliance, the cosmic rays of light fully prepared to claim the elder's life.

The Grand Elder remained calm in the face of the besotted sky and the grievous earth, his experienced visage reflecting nothing but a serene contentedness.

The grey mist had vanished into a slumbering state of nihility, only to be replaced by the flesh and blood of a young woman.

The young woman's hand was firmly grasped within his, her warmth coursing through his body, and vice versa.

”[You attempt to tie my destiny]?”

The world thawed in the strange manner it had frozen, and the slew of melodious bells struck the world for the third time.

Tian Mu flinched backwards at the sound, before clarity shone within his eyes that had experienced the world for hundreds of years.

The Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect revealed a wry smile, his aged countenance displaying a smile contained with mirth and helplessness.

”The Protector accepts the Sanctum's decree!”

With a bow, an elder and a young woman grasped hands as they walked into the depths of the forest towards the southwest.

The young girl slid down the back to rest at the base of the tree, her countenance listless and devoid of strength.

A grand furor would rise not only at the Heavenly Sword Sect, but also the entire Shattered Star Continent.

–

When An Fei finally returned to her body, she found herself slumped against the bark of a large towering tree. A pile of leaves had covered her body and the leather bag overnight, providing suitable protection against the night breeze.

…the Grand Elder unexpectedly didn't take her away by force, and had left her here in the forest?

The young girl released a massive yawn as she stood into a shaky position, her arms stretching towards the sky.

The delicate hand reached upwards towards her face before retracting back into the folds of the linen coat, a large sheet of silken fabric trailing behind her fingertips.

The stunning countenance that was impossible for a human to possess, was finally exposed to the atmosphere.

”That geezer isn't here…” An Fei murmured to herself, her eyes scanning her surroundings with a hint of anxiety.

”The others may be worried about my disappearance, but definitely not the Empress… I suppose she believes that I followed the elderly man to the Heavenly Sword Sect?”

The fingers of her right hand scratched at the base of her chin in thought, but suddenly stiffened as an uncontrollable heat surged through her body.

The young girl clenched her fists as tight as she could, anger threatening to cloud her conscience.

…she had nearly forgotten that over the span of an incense stick's worth of time, she had been drawn into an arranged marriage.

Obtained without her consent or opinion, and most definitely enforced without her approval.

Perhaps the only purpose of that shameless Grand Elder chasing after her last night was to inform her of the circumstance?

…then dust off his hands and proudly leave?

”…this can't do, I have to return.” An Fei stomped her feet in frustration.

”Return and inform Father about this incident. Only then can I…”

The young girl's voice trailed off into an uncomfortable silence, her countenance frozen with a queer expression. The chirping of birds and the rustle of grasses soon overwhelmed her presence, drowning the forest in their song of life.

A Third-Ranked Imperial Minister treasured by the Emperor pitted against the Empress treasured by the nation for a trivial matter as the arranged marriage of an official's daughter.

Regardless of how An Fei pieced the articles of information, the result did not appear to be relatively satisfactory.

…or safe for the regard, it was unsure whether the Emperor would support Wei Xuan retaliating against his imperial wife…

Pa!

The young girl struck the tree with her right fist in a backward swing through the linen sleeve to calm herself down.

The dull thud shattered the momentary haze trapping her mind, allowing An Fei to properly focus without becoming sidetracked by her thoughts.

”Forget the consequences of a fight between Father and the Empress,” the young girl bitterly remarked, shaking her head in disapproval.

”Right now, I don't even have a method of survival, much less a means of transportation to Jiang'an.”

The meagre arsenal of her possessions amounted to a leather bag drooping against the roots of an oak tree besides her feet.

As for the contents inside, An Fei couldn't confirm that she was certain, for the young girl had never checked since Sheng Miaolan had packed it for her.