Although Song Zhi felt he had no qualifications to accept the invitation, since the invitation had ultimately been delivered, he couldn’t let it get dirty or damaged.

Naturally, he cherished it greatly.

Seeing this, Lang Bo crossed his arms and said, “You literary folk, when you’re not constantly composing poetry and couplets all day, you like to gather together and speak flowery words and recite flowery verses. Now you’re even holding some kind of lantern festival—how peculiar! As if you all have nothing better to do.”

Song Zhi: “…”

“In my opinion, you’d be better off staying in your room reading more books. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. While others go to lantern festivals, you should study well. In the future when you place first in the imperial examination, countless lantern festivals will be waiting for you.”

“Young Master Lang speaks in such an interesting way.”

“Interesting? I’m being serious.”

“I just feel that the way you speak is different from others. Well… it’s rather amusing.” This was the only phrase Song Zhi’s mind could produce.

Pfft—

Lang Bo’s heart was in chaos.

He didn’t want to go the comedic route!

He was clearly a serious fellow, wasn’t he?

He replied to Song Zhi seriously, “I actually think Young Master Song, you’re the interesting one.”

Then he left.

“…”

Song Zhi expressed his speechlessness.

…

These past few days, Ji Yunshu had been waiting for news from the Marquis of Nanguo’s side.

Jingrong had also sent someone to the Marquis of Nanguo’s residence once.

The news they brought back was—the Marquis had closed his doors and would see no one.

Closed his doors and would see no one?

What kind of situation was this?

It seemed that clues regarding Chahe were almost zero.

Perhaps it was truly as they had initially speculated—that person called Chahe had either died or left Huyi long ago.

Therefore, they had also decided that if there was still no news after waiting another two days, they would set out to leave Gaoding and search along the way. If they still couldn’t find anything, they would directly leave Huyi and return to Houliao to find Third Master.

Because with no more clues, every day they stayed in Gaoding added another portion of danger!

Ever since Bai Yin had that dream that night, he had been gloomy and dejected.

Always in a daze.

Frequently spacing out for long periods.

At this moment, he sat on the stone steps, his gaze vacant, yet his hands skillfully playing with his sharp dagger.

Jingrong strolled over to his side, his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly to gaze at the cloudless sky in the distance.

The heavy snow had already stopped.

The weather was also gradually improving.

Neither of them spoke.

One standing.

One sitting.

After a long while—

Bai Yin turned his head and looked up, asking, “Has Yunshu truly made the decision?”

Jingrong made a sound of affirmation.

“Really leaving?”

“Mm.”

Bai Yin fell into silence.

His fingers intermittently and lightly glided across the back of the blade!

Jingrong withdrew his gaze from the distance and said, “We’ve been in Gaoding for a very long time. Now we’re placing all our hopes on that Marquis of Nanguo, but if there’s still no news, we must leave here. Previously, because of Du Mubai’s case, we’ve already attracted much attention. That Second Prince even wanted to recruit Yunshu and me as his retainers. Although I’ve refused, I’ve also offended him. At that time, if we expose our identities again, there might be very big trouble. So we can’t stay here any longer. After leaving Gaoding, we’ll search along the way. If we really can’t find anything, after we leave Huyi, we’ll go find Third Master.”

“Is finding him useful? If he were willing to speak, he would have told us directly rather than having us go in circles here for so long.”

“This is the last path. We can only do this!”

Helpless!

Just what medicine was Third Master selling in his gourd?

Bai Yin let out a sigh.

It could only be thus.

After a while, Jingrong suddenly asked him, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Me?” Bai Yin asked, “Why do you ask?”

“Yesterday Song Zhi said you drank too much. What was the reason?”

“Nothing much…”

“Don’t tell me it’s really like Lang Bo said—that you had a nightmare and so you drowned your fright in alcohol! You know I don’t believe in these things. I want to hear the truth.”

Bai Yin gave a bitter smile, “I truly can’t hide anything from you.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I did indeed have a dream. That dream… was very strange.”

“How strange?”

Bai Yin paused before telling him, “I actually dreamed of Lian Que.”

Jingrong was surprised, “Him?”

“But… it was a child called Lian Que, and there was also a person called A’Jin. I don’t remember the specifics very clearly anymore. It’s all hazy—I only remember some fragments. I also dreamed of a great fire. At that time, there was a woman pulling my hand and running continuously. When I turned back, behind me was a vast fire. I even heard the sound of horns…” He suddenly shook his head. “I don’t remember the specifics. Later I woke up, and as a result of that fellow Lang Bo making a fuss, I couldn’t sleep anymore. That’s why I went out to drink.”

Regarding Lian Que having come to the old residence afterward, he didn’t mention a single word.

Because he couldn’t be certain whether that was a hallucination after drinking?

Or was it real?

After hearing his words, Jingrong fell silent, carefully pondering that dream in his heart.

Lian Que?

A woman?

A great fire?

These keywords seemingly couldn’t be pieced together at all.

He only said, “Perhaps this is a segment of lost memory from your past.”

Bai Yin had lost his memory in childhood. Recently during this period, many images would frequently flash through his mind.

This also indicated that he was slowly remembering things from before.

But he was also very shocked.

“If this is truly the case, then what exactly is my relationship with Lian Que?”

…

Two days later.

There was still no news whatsoever from the Marquis of Nanguo’s side.

Not even the slightest movement.

The person Jingrong sent to inquire brought back news that was still “the Marquis of Nanguo has closed his doors and will see no one.”

Could it be that when people spoke repeatedly of repaying kindness, it was merely talk?

But continuing like this, they could wait no longer.

That day, Jingrong ordered people to pack up their things, deciding to set out and leave early the next morning.

Song Zhi stood to the side, watching as they packed everything up one by one, then loaded it onto the carriage.

His eyes couldn’t help but moisten.

His heart was reluctant!

Standing in place for a long time—

Only then did he step forward and earnestly inquire of Jingrong, “Young Master Jing, are you truly leaving?”

Jingrong nodded, “Yes, we’ve decided to leave Gaoding.”

Song Zhi tried to dissuade him, “Although the weather has improved these past days, the road surface is still iced over. Why not… wait one more day before leaving?”

To put it plainly, he was reluctant to part.

Jingrong was about to speak—

When Ji Yunshu walked over and took over the conversation, saying, “Young Master Song, due to certain reasons, we cannot stay here any longer.”

Not even one more day!

“Ai! Since that’s the case, I can’t say much more.” Song Zhi was mostly helpless, yet also said gratefully, “Throughout this journey, it’s thanks to all of you that I could smoothly reach Gaoding from Yiwu. Moreover, during this time you’ve taken such good care of me. This kindness, I will never forget for as long as I live.”