Chapter 692: I’ll wait until he grows older (2/2)

“If His Highness and I aren’t off the mountain by mid-autumn, then I ask that you help General Baili over at the commander-in-chief’s estate. He’s a soldier after all, and not well versed in the art of politics,” Han Yunxi murmured.

Gu Beiyue smiled helplessly. “Esteemed wangfei, this one is only a doctor…”

“A doctor cures the heart, which in turn cures the nation and the world. All of these things can be treated!” Han Yunxi was serious, her eyes shining bright. “Gu Beiyue, just treat it as me–”

Before she could say ‘begging,’ Gu Beiyue cut her off. He never wanted to hear Han Yunxi asking him for favors. He didn’t like the phrasing, nor did he have the right to accept.

Yunxi, do you know? I am wholly at your bidding.

A doctor cures the heart, the nation, and the world? Yunxi, I only hate the fact that I couldn’t cure myself or recover my martial arts in time to protect you completely!

“I am indebted to esteemed wangfei for thinking so highly of me. If needed, this one shall do his utmost to cooperate with General Baili,” Gu Beiyue clasped his hands respectfully.

“I believe you,” Han Yunxi trusted her own judgment, but her intuition even more. Both of them ended up chatting over inane topics before Mu Linger found the pair.

“You should really rest now, I’ve disturbed you,” Han Yunxi said.

Gu Beiyue had his share of trauma listening to Mu Linger and Gu Qi Sha argue the whole way here, so he didn’t ask Han Yunxi to stay. Han Yunxi ended up pushing Mu Linger out the courtyard as soon as she stepped in.

“Where’s Gu Qishao?” Han Yunxi asked first.

Mu Linger rolled her eyes at her. “I should be asking you!”

“He’s gone. Probably won’t be back for a while, so you don’t need to wait,” Han Yunxi admitted. “When you have time, take a trip back to Medicine City to tidy up the Mu Clan. Don’t have Lady Lianxin gallavinating here instead.”

Mu Linger’s limpid eyes dimmed at the words. She accompanied Han Yunxi into the flower gardens in silence until she inexplicably grasped her by the wrist. Han Yunxi glanced at her fingers, but kept quiet. After walking for awhile, Mu Linger finally spoke.

“Han Yunxi.”

“What?”

“Why is it so hard to like someone?”

“Tired?” Han Yunxi asked lightly.

“Exhausted,” Mu Linger admitted. “It’s been years, but all he does is run while I chase him. I’ve almost ran the length of Cloud Realm Continent by now, but I just can’t catch him.”

“You won’t be tired if you stopped liking him, right?” Han Yunxi herself didn’t understand it.

“I’ll die! I’d die if I stopped liking him!” Mu Linger blinked resolutely. Han Yunxi had nothing to add to that.

“It’s not worth it.”

“Then will you stop liking Long Feiye one day?” Mu Linger asked.

“I’ve never thought about that,” Han Yunxi would never entertain the thought.

“Aiya, you guys are different from us!” Mu Linger hung her head, depressed. But in the end she looked up again, face filled with pride. “Hmph, I’ll wait! I’ll wait until he grows older. There’ll come a day when he won’t have the strength to run!”

Mu Linger raised her head to stare at the skies. The clean and gentle warmth of sunlight from the fourth month spread over her small, stubborn face. Her heart was as solid as gold as her eyes shimmered with determination over her upturned lips. At the prime of youth, she looked lovely!

Gu Qishao, Linger will wait for you. Until the earth grows old and the skies desolate, until the seas turn into endless fields, until everything flourishing dwindles and fades, until years give way to calm.

But Gu Qishao, just when will you…grow older?

Han Yunx didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she looked at Mu Linger. “Mm, that’s a good idea!”

“I’m serious!” Mu Linger exclaimed.

“I know, I know,” Han Yunxi nodded her head.

—

When night fell, Han Yunxi called over Su Xiaoyu before leaving Pill Fiend Pharmacy to give the blood mushroom to Mu Linger.

“Master, this is a precious item! You should leave it for yourself!” Su Xiaoyu might worship Mu Linger, but she always saved the best things for Han Yunxi first.

“His Excellency Pill Fiend gave it to her. Give it over,” Han Yunxi ordered crisply. Su Xiaoyu rubbed her nose before doing as she was told. Although these methods were too much like meddling in other people’s business, Han Yunxi really did feel distress for Mu Linger’s sake. Which woman wouldn’t grow foolish in the name of love?

Perhaps the ones who didn’t were only the ones who feared getting heart, or the women who had stopped believing in love altogether.

When she saw Long Feiye coming her way, Han Yunxi stopped thinking such thoughts. She knew that she was plenty foolish in front of him. On their trip back home, she held his hand tightly. Two days later, they would follow the ransom note directions to arrive at Lost Void Lake…

Translator’s Note: No teaser GIFs for a few chapters, I’m trying to have PGC hit 700 by Valentine’s Day my time! <3 <3 In the meantime, it looks like the reunion of familiar faces is bringing us more strange and mysterious twists…