42.2

Ji Yunhe and Changyi sat together in a royal carriage. Even though it was not as extravagant as the palanquin that had carried Princess Shunde, it was still quite luxurious.

The curtain was embroidered with gold silk and cushions rested against the four walls. They were covered in fox fur and padded with fine cotton, no road bumps could be felt sitting inside. The Grand Master's paper talismans hung from the roof, not with spells to capture demons, but to scatter bursts of cool, fresh air.

Ji Yunhe looked at the talismans. Inscription papers sprinkled with gold dust and purple vermilion sand from Yunlai Mountain. One tael of that sand was worth about two hundred taels of gold.

This kind of paper would only be used to deal with demons of great power in the valley, yet the imperial court used it for cooling. Ji Yunhe shook her head, sat down across from Changyi, and smiled sarcastically.

"What's wrong?"

Although he was reluctant to share a carriage, he was still very attentive to her.

"It just feels like this world is so ironic and full of absurdity." Good thing such absurdity was almost over for her. The caravan took off.

Ji Yunhe raised her curtain and quietly looked at the passing scenery outside. Changyi did not disturb her even after half a day had passed. At noon, the caravan stopped at a post station by the main road.

Ji Chengyu wanted to lead them to the second floor of the post to have their meal so they would not be disturbed by all the travelers going back and forth.

Ji Yunhe rejected his offer. She picked a corner on the first floor and sat down to watch the people come and go. Everyone looked different and dressed differently. She quietly observed them without blinking even once.

"Changyi."

After a long time, she finally collected her gaze and looked at the tea on the table. Then she commented softly as if murmuring to herself,

"The world is truly ridiculous."

The coming and going of the busy everyday life was so normal and standard for them, but for Ji Yunhe, it was an exciting and extraordinary experience she could never have. They probably were not even aware that a place like the Demon Valley existed.

"Have you ever seen this kind of an ordinary human existence before?" Changyi shook his head.

"Curious?"

Changyi looked at her and saw some light dappleling and flickering under her eyes. He grew curious. He nodded, but it was because he was curious about Ji Yunhe.

Changyi did not understand why she seemed to have this magnetic power over him. She always made him curious about her, cared about her, and irresistibly observed her.

"Come." Ji Yunhe stood up and tugged on his sleeve. He followed.

She said to Ji Chengyu, "It's a bit stuffy after sitting in a carriage all day, I'll take him out to get some air." Ji Chengyu nodded, "Sure."

"You're not worried that we might run away?"

Before Ji Chengyu could answer, Zhu Ling drank a mouthful of tea, put the teacup on the table and said, "This land is full of the eyes of the Grand Master, no one can get away."

Ji Yunhe smiled and said, "It appears that the jade phoenix and Snow March got away."

Zhu Ling's face changed. "There's no arguing! That traitor and the demon will be caught sooner or later!" That meant they were not caught yet. Ji Yunhe did not say anything more. She took a hold of Changyi's sleeve and pulled him out through the back door of the post.

The front of the post was the main road, the back was a small courtyard. A fence covered with moss separated them from a lush green forest on the other side. It was late spring and the trees had no flowers on them, but the new green shoots were still pleasant to look at. Ji Yunhe stepped over the fence and walked toward the forest.

Every step stirred up the scent of fresh green grass beneath her feet. Amidst the sunlight and warm breeze, Ji Yunhe opened her hands and took the warmth of late spring and early summer into her arms.

A soft wind blew by. It pulled on her hair and dress and loosened a newly sprouted leaf from the branch to her side. The leaf flew past her eyes, drifted to Changyi, and landed on the side of his cheek.

He lifted his hand and took it off of his face, then studied the leaf between his fingers, seemingly captivated by its vivid green hue. When he looked up again, Ji Yunhe was already far away, running as fast as she could into the forest.

As if she was racing into the unknown to forever disappear behind the sun-dappled, mist-filled greenery. And just as her figure was about to vanish completely from sight, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and waved at him.

"Changyi!" she called out to him.

"Come! There's a small hill over here!"

Her voice was like the legendary siren from the sea, tempting and luring him into the unknown depths. Changyi stepped over the fence and walked toward her.