Chapter 703: My life is up to me, not the Heavens (1/2)

Although Long Feiye’s appearance was sudden, Gu Beiyue didn’t startle. He stood up to pay obeisance, his tone gentle and modest. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, you must have business to visit so late at night.”

“You believe in Buddha? What are you praying for?” Long Feiye asked again.

“I’m praying…” Gu Beiyue paused, before he said teasingly, “For my reincarnation into the next lifetime.”

“You haven’t finished this life yet, so why the rush to wish for the next?” Long Feiye asked.

Gu Beiyue just smiled. “The Buddha says, suffering in this lifetime will be relieved by the next. That’s why we must endure past our pains.”

Long Feiye laughed coldly. “You believe in such ignorant truths?”

“This one believes not in Buddha, but in fate.” Gu Beiyue was ever smiling even at the most caustic remarks. If there was another life, he hoped that the Gu Clan would have nothing to do with the Shadow Clan ever again. Let him be himself.

“Your Highness, do you trust in fate?” he asked lightly.

“Fate?” Long Feiye just scoffed at the word. “My life is up to me, not the Heavens. Your lordship doesn’t believe in anything but myself!”

If he trusted himself to fate and followed its whims, then what of Han Yunxi? East Qin was not his life, but Han Yunxi was!

“Your lordship will leave South Ning tomorrow,” he announced.

“If there’s anything this one can do, may Your Highness instruct me,” Gu Beiyue said seriously. Han Yunxi had left him with many tasks, so he knew that Long Feiye would do the same.

But Long Feiye didn’t give him any instructions besides one thing. “If your lordship hasn’t descended the mountain by mid-autumn, protect Han Yunxi in my place.”

Gu Beiyue’s peaceful heart gave a harsh, painful jolt at the words. He didn’t want to believe in fate, but everything revolved around it! No matter how much his heart ached, he remained coolly calm. No matter how much he lived in pain, he kept his slight smile on his face.

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, what do you mean by ‘protect?’ I am more of a cripple now than anything and need Guard Chu’s protection. I’m afraid I cannot shoulder Your Highness’s instructions,” he replied.

“You can shoulder it as long as she trusts you,” Long Feiye was certain. “All you have to do is protect her. Don’t let her leave South Ning, but wait for your lordship’s return.”

Gu Beiyue understood. During the mid-autumn season, the three nations at war would be hungering for grain. The commander-in-chief’s estate in South Ning would definitely make a big move. If Long Feiye couldn’t get back in time, Han Yunxi would try to take on the responsibilities all by herself. She might not even balk at charging into enemy lines. It sounded simple to keep Han Yunxi in South Ning, but it would take constant coaxing to make her stay, and to assist her in controlling the Cloud Realm Continent chessboard.

South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate suffered no lack of wealth and military strength. They only needed Long Feiye to accept and join them, and to pick an advisor to lead them. Without a doubt, both he and Han Yunxi had chosen Gu Beiyue.

Gu Beiyue didn’t hesitate. “This one–this one won’t shrink from his duty! But I hope that things go smoothly for Your Highness.”

Gu Beiyue had a good idea of the Celestial Mountain chessboard as well. He knew many things, but he kept them all to himself without revealing the details. Long Feiye simply nodded at his words and turned to leave. This was simply a precaution. Once the struggle at Celestial Mountain started, he had to find a way to finish it and leave before mid-autumn.

Meanwhile, Han Yunxi had just left Pill Fiend Pharmacy.

“Master, just take me with you. I promise I’ll be good and listen to your words,” Su Xiaoyu had been begging her from the building to here. Baili Mingxiang had only told Han Yunxi to ‘take care’ without adding anything else. Han Yunxi was too lazy to acknowledge Su Xiaoyu now and simply cut her off with a wave.

“Master, Little Yu’er is begging you. Master…”

“What’s with this racket? The newly arrived ingredients are all the best of the best. Hurry up and store them,” Mu Linger said as she snagged Su Xiaoyu by her collar and dragged her aside.

Poor Su Xiaoyu only gave Han Yunxi a pleading glance, but the woman replied, “Doctor Gu doesn’t have any free time right now, so you and Baili Mingxiang should stay behind to help out at Pill Fiend Pharmacy.”

“Yes,” Baili Mingxiang respectfully bowed her head. With no other choice, Su Xiaoyu simply muttered out a helpless ‘oh.’

After Han Yunxi left, Mu Linger personally dragged Su Xiaoyu into the buildings. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the girl secretly slipped away while the other was distracted and went to chase after Han Yunxi’s carriage. But as the carriage went faster and faster, it was impossible for her to keep up. She didn’t dare chase it all the way to the Duke of Qin’s estate since she feared that man the most. If His Highness Duke of Qin knew she was pestering esteemed wangfei, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Completely dejected, Su Xiaoyu hung her head and began to retrace her steps, only to catch sight of a familiar figure nearby.

“Lady Helian?” she muttered doubtfully. When she looked closer, the figure suddenly vanished into an alleyway.

“Where’s she going this late at night?” Su Xiaoyu immediately gave chase, but she didn’t see any sign of the woman even at the end of the lane.

“Where did she go?” She raised her head to look at the surrounding roofs before finally leaning against her shoulder to rest. “Did she fly up onto the roofs? Can she fly?”

Thus, Su Xiaoyu flew up to check herself. Unfortunately, there was no sign of anyone around. She sat there for awhile in bewilderment. “Did I see the wrong person?”

But she quickly dismissed her doubts. “It was definitely her!”