192.1 – Luo Hong and the Merak Temple

It has been a week since Gong Tianqing’s disappearance.

The next day after she disappeared, Qi Qiqi went crazy and searched the entire Merak Temple. Even the town of Luotian wasn’t spared. However, as if she never existed, Gong Tianqing disappeared without a trace like water that evaporated after rainfall.

Even Xue Qilin and Shui Yun’er are worried, let alone Qi Qiqi, who has deep feelings for Gong Tianqing. After all, Gong Tianqing is Qi Qiqi’s true disciple. Qi Qiqi treats her like she’s her little sister.

Qi Qiqi is restless and anxious. She wants to know if Gong Tianqing is well more than anyone else.

The reason why she put on a carefree expression was probably not only because she didn’t want others to worry, but also because she wanted to deceive herself.

If you smile heartily, it seems like sad things have never happened.

If you don’t cry, it seems like misfortune has never come.

Cause and effect not only are closely linked, but can also be reversed.

Because of this, Qi Qiqi didn’t express her feelings of worry, anxiety, and impatience, but pressed them to the bottom of her heart. Only in this way could she persuade herself with the reason that “since I am laughing”, then Gong Tianqing must be safe, and even deceive herself that Gong Tianqing isn’t missing.

I should apologize… Xue Qilin, who finally understood this, thought that she must apologize to Qi Qiqi for her rashness.

She accelerated her pace, passed Qi Qiqi, and stopped in front of the other party.

Everything happened so abruptly that Qi Qiqi nearly knocked into the lass that suddenly appeared in front of her.

“What are you doing suddenly stopping in front of me!”

Qi Qiqi, who almost fell do to the abrupt action, rebuked angrily. Shui Yun’er, who noticed the situation, asked Xue Qilin “what’s wrong”, puzzled.

However, Xue Qilin didn’t answer the other party.

“I’m sorry…” Xue Qilin looked away, “Ah — what should I say?”

“What’s the matter?”

Qi Qiqi tilted her head like a bird to express of her confusion.

“If you have something to say, then jut spit it out!”

Under Qi Qiqi’s urging gaze, Xue Qilin finally broke free from the shackles called “embarrassment”, raised her head, and looked at Qi Qiqi with a bright gaze.

“Really, what’s with that stern expression…” Qi Qiqi’s gaze staggered slightly, “It’s weird.”

“Sorry, I misunderstood you and made you sad.”

After finally saying thusly, Xue Qilin breathed a sigh of relief. She is bad at apologizing.

Qi Qiqi widened her eyes and remained silent for a while.

As if she saw something inconceivable, she revealed a dull expression and scrutinized Xue Qilin, who is standing in front of her dejectedly

“I really don’t know what to do with you… Fine, I forgive you.”

When these words sounded, light shone and summer flowers bloomed.

Qi Qiqi covered her mouth and smiled. It is a smile full of radiance that can dispel all darkness.

Her smile may very well be the most beautiful treasure in the world.

Looking at Qi Qiqi, who, just because of the apology, showed an innocent smile as if she came across something that made her happy, Xue Qilin felt a little like —

There is probably nothing in this world more worthy of her protection.

At this time, Xue Qilin suddenly realized one thing. Unwittingly, Qi Qiqi’s weight in her heart has become this heavy.

“What are you doing there? Let’s go.”

Qi Qiqi, who at some point has walked a certain distance, turned back and urged with a helpless look in her eyes.

“We still have to find an inn.”

“Let’s go, Young Teacher.”

As if something good happened, Shui Yun’er is all smiles. She rubbed Xue Qilin’s nose mischievously and said lively, “Only you can cheer Big Sister Qi this much, Young Teacher.”

Is that so? Xue Qilin glanced at Qi Qiqi standing in front of her with her hands on her hips. Then, she and Shui Yun’er went to catch up with Qi Qiqi.

“Little Seven.”

Qi Qiqi issued a “hmm” of uncertainty.

“After we find a place to stay, will we pay Little Qing’s clan a visit?”

Qi Qiqi frowned when she heard Xue Qilin’s question.

“We are, but we have to take a bath at the inn first.”

“Oh, we still have to take a bath first?”

Xue Qilin was quite surprised. She thought that they would go to the Gong Clan right after putting down their luggage. Unexpectedly, they have to take a bath first.

“That’s only natural! How could we pay a visit to one of our dynasty’s four great generals while looking the way we look, travel worn and all? That’s a second-tier official! We have to dress up. Why else do you think I brought that fancy clothing?”

“Ah, so that’s why… I thought you brought that luxurious red dress just because you wanted to wear it!”

“You’re really disagreeable. What do you take me for?” Qi Qiqi crooked her mouth, “If it is not necessary, who would want to wear such heavy clothing. It weighs a ton!”

Shui Yun’er got herself involved in the conversation with a smile dancing on her lips, saying, “Young Teacher, you also have one in your luggage. When I packed your luggage, I put it in according to Big Sister Qi’s instructions.”

“Huh? I also have to wear such heavy, thick, and cumbersome clothing?”

Xue Qilin looked at Shui Yun’er in surprise. In response, Shui Yun’er just covered her mouth and smiled.

“It can’t be helped. The other party has a high status. This serves as a show of due respect, so how can you be an exception?”

Her eyes dyed with gloom, Xue Qilin muttered dejectedly, “Excessive formalities and the like are really annoying!”

Next, she remembered something.

“By the way, is Little Qing really in her clan?”

“You’re unbearable… why are you still making a fuss over this now that we have come this far?”

Qi Qiqi sighed, and then said assuredly, “Commander Luo has no reason to deceive us.”

“He’d better not…”

After speaking in a queer, dejected voice, Xue Qilin ground her pearl-white teeth abruptly, looking like a kitten that is going to bite someone at any time.

“In the end, that guy surnamed Luo is to blame!”

For some unknown reason, when they were at the end of their tether, Luo Hong suddenly sent a letter talking about Gong Tianqing’s whereabouts, where he admitted to sneaking into the Merak Temple and taking her away.

Upon receiving the letter, Xue Qilin’s first thought was that Luo Hong was playing tricks on them. Not convinced that Luo Hong was telling the truth, she immediately expressed her doubts about the letter’s contents.

However —

“Commander Luo’s words can be trusted.”

Qi Qiqi expressed opposition regarding Xue Qilin’s misgivings. She made a choice almost without thinking, choosing to believe in Luo Hong.

While she felt dejected about this, Xue Qilin wondered if there is some connection between Luo Hong and the Merak Temple she isn’t aware of. If not, then why would Qi Qiqi believe Luo Hong’s words so easily?

She heard that Luo Qing had ties with Luo Hong, but now it seems that even Qi Qiqi must also have old ties with him.

Perhaps there was a time in the past when Luo Hong and the people from the Merak Temple have interacted with one another and experienced things together, which led to mutual trust.

In that case, Xue Qilin will also believe… at least, she’s willing to believe in the trust that Qi Qiqi has in Luo Hong.

Regardless of whether Xue Qilin believes Luo Hong or not, in the end she, Qi Qiqi, and Shui Yun’er still left the Merak Temple and embarked for Chang’an because of his one-sided statement.

Apropos, not long after they set foot on the road, Qi Qiqi received information from the “Red Chamber” and learned that the condition of Gong Tianqing’s brother, Gong Tianyang, has gotten worse.

Qi Qiqi made a conjecture based on this. She believes that the reason why the Gong Clan’s army urged Gong Tianqing to return to the manor is related to the worsening of Gong Tianyang’s condition.

Xue Qilin thought that it was a possibility. After all, with the brother being in a bed condition, it is only natural to inform the sister, who is away, and have her come back to pay a visit.

It was only when Shui Yun’er raised the question of why the other party used an army just to bring Gong Tianqing back and specially invited the commander of the State Guard to sneak into the Merak Temple to take Gong Tianqing away that the two people were left speechless.

It seems that things are not so simple — this is the final consensus that the three people reached.

Whatever the case may be —

“Anyway, we have to go to the Gong Clan. There’s no point in speculating.”

Using her hands to make shade, Qi Qiqi squinted her eyes and looked up at the sky.

The setting sun is already half-hidden behind the distant mountains, bathing a corner of the sky in crimson red like the final embers of life.

“Surprisingly, it’s already dusk.”

The color of dusk blurred Qi Qiqi’s outline.

It looks like there isn’t much time left until nightfall.

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