6 Going on a trip (1/2)

Five days later and Xu Hexian still hadn't returned.

There was no doubt that idiot brother of his and their airheaded teacher were out there lost somewhere. It wasn't an unusual occurrence.

But there was some trouble happening in their territory so they had to send out aid. Liu Sumeng was the natural candidate for the job but he was supposed to be accompanying his fiance to get her used to her new home.

Liu Sumeng was expectant this time when he was approached by Chen Anyue, ”I heard there was a job in a village nearby.” Her sparkling eyes made her look more youthful, and it was easy to tell she was hiding a girlish grin behind her dainty hand, ”Is Second Young Master Liu preparing to take on the job?”

”Yes,” he didn't lie to her.

”Then, perhaps…can I also join you?”

He had said no to her his first life but underestimated her tenacity when she simply went ahead to convince his uncle. This time, he responded a simple, ”Alright.”

”Wonderful!” she beamed before coughing and restraining her expression with a small bow, ”Thank you, Second Young Master Liu. I will do all I can to assist and not get in your way.”

With Yuan Xuelan's death still fresh on his mind, he found it difficult to focus on his would-be wife. Though he was promptly reminded that below her elegant princess-like mannerisms, she was also quite a cute person.

He couldn't resist and patted her on the head.

Chen Anyue froze and her eyes went wide, face turning slightly red, ”Oh-”

Liu Sumeng retracted his hand, feeling a little embarrassed, ”Sorry.”

He didn't expect her to send him a beaming smile, ”It's ok. I don't mind.” She then bowed, surrounded by a cheery glow, before making her leave.

”...” Should he not have done that?

Despite appearances, Liu Sumeng was actually a very physically affectionate person. Sometimes he couldn't help himself.

But it should be ok, after all, they were going to get married soon…

Ah, he didn't want to think about that. While there was no doubt in his heart that he loved Chen Anyue, he didn't want to marry her again. In his memories that joining was tied with nothing but suffering…he couldn't cherish a single one of their good memories without recalling the hurt that happened after.

In his last life, he failed to be a good husband. In this life, he had a feeling he would fail again. His heart was never in the right place, not for her.

Liu Sumeng shook his head. When he really thought about it, his marriage would pose another issue as well…but now that was something he really, really didn't want to think about. So instead he went to prepare for his mission.

Back in the belly of his room he fished for a ceramic jar placed at his bedpost. The contents could easily make a fellow cultivator envious. Stuffed inside were dozens upon dozens of high-quality healing pills. Of course, the most diligent of cultivators would at least keep a few for emergency purposes, seeing so many was unusual, even for the most wealthy. While the cost of these pills were in fact steep, it wasn't their price that made them so rare. Rather, they just happened to be really uncommon and when one did pop up on the market, it would be quickly sold off.

But actually, the reason why Liu Sumeng had so many, and why they sat almost carelessly out in the open in a little ceramic jar on his table was that not interesting. For the most part, he had received these pills as gifts, rewards or prizes for various deeds or even contests he had participated in. And the reason why he was able to stash away so many was quite simple, it was because he never used them!