Although they were traveling together, the Zhao Family Young Lady still retained a measure of wariness. However, throughout the journey, the young Literary Scholar behaved with restraint and courtesy, taking care of her in subtle ways and showing not the slightest intention of bundling her up and selling her off to anyone. As time passed, she gradually let down her guard.
The young Literary Scholar had traveled far and wide and seen much of the world. He could casually produce an amusing tale that left her listening with rapt attention.
"Sir, where have you been all these years?"
The Zhao Family Young Lady grew increasingly curious.
The young Literary Scholar said, "I can't remember."
"Why can't you remember?"
"Because I've been to too many places."
The Zhao Family Young Lady's face filled with envy. "That's wonderful..."
The young Literary Scholar sneered faintly. "Drifting at the ends of the earth, with nowhere to call home, nowhere to rely on, and no branch to roost on... How could that be considered wonderful?"
Hearing the loneliness and melancholy in his words—the Zhao Family Young Lady had once seen that exact same emotion on her father's and Uncle Qin's faces. She had still been very young then, and only vaguely remembered the chaos of war all around them, the cries and screams intertwining as her mother held her tightly in her arms, covering her ears with both hands and desperately shutting out the outside world's clamor from her little realm—she tactfully changed the subject.
Her mother had been right.
Behind every dazzling appearance lay a past one was unwilling to mention, a forbidden zone outsiders could not casually trespass into.
After parting from the caravan, they set out for Longwu Commandery.
Occasionally, some blind robbers would spot the Literary Heart Sigil at the young