Qian Renxue Leaves the City

On the seventh morning, just as day was breaking, Lu Yuan headed out.

People were already starting their morning exercises in the East Training Area. Hu Liena stood at the edge of the field working her wrists, and seeing him head out, she asked offhandedly, "Heading to the North Gate?"

"Mhm."

"If you see the Young Lord, wish her a safe journey for me."

Lu Yuan paused for a step.

"Aren't you going?"

Hu Liena jutted her chin toward Yan Tuo.

"I'd like to."

Yan Tuo was standing not far away watching this side, and clearly heard her.

Lu Yuan didn't ask further and nodded in agreement.

"Fine."

Leaving the training area, he walked all the way toward the North Gate.

There weren't many people yet in Spirit City in the early morning. The shops along the street were just opening up, and the small breakfast stalls were already venting steam. When Lu Yuan reached the North Gate, there was still some time before the Chen hour.

The city gates were already open.

He leaned against the roadside and hadn't waited long before several carriages slowly drove out from the city.

There were no Spirit Hall flags, nor any conspicuous marks.

The guards at the very front all wore ordinary fitted outfits and rode ordinary horses, but their auras were kept completely clean. The carriage bodies behind were even more ordinary, and if Lu Yuan hadn't known in advance, he probably would have just taken them for a caravan preparing for a long journey.

The caravan stopped not far from the city gate.

The curtain of the second carriage lifted a corner, then dropped back down shortly after.

Not long after, the carriage door opened.

Qian Renxue stepped down from inside.

Her attire today was completely different from when she was training. Her long golden hair was combed very neatly, and she wore a set of light-colored long robes with the cuffs and waistline neatly gathered, making it both convenient for travel and hiding the usual appearance of the Spirit Hall's Young Lord.

Lu Yuan looked her up and down.

Qian Renxue walked over.

"What are you looking at?"

"I almost didn't recognize you."

"Is it that exaggerated?"

"A little."

Qian Renxue looked down at her own clothes.

"It'll probably be even more different in the future."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan's gaze paused.

She said it very casually herself, clearly not planning to explain further.

Lu Yuan didn't ask either.

"Hu Liena asked me to bring a message."

"What?"

"A safe journey."

Qian Renxue smiled slightly.

"Why didn't she come?"

"Instructor Yan wouldn't let her."

"That's normal, then."

Lu Yuan looked at her.

"Did you see the Grand Pontiff last night?"

"Mhm."

"He didn't come to send you off?"

"Everything that needed to be said was said last night."

Qian Renxue glanced at the caravan behind her.

"And if he really stood here, it would only make people pay attention."

Lu Yuan nodded.

A guard walked over to the front carriage to check the reins, while two others were negotiating with the gate guards.

Lu Yuan stood not far away and could see one of the guards dropping a very ordinary firm name onto the City Exit Permit. The gate guards only glanced at it out of routine before passing it back without asking more. Two inconspicuous riders at the rear of the caravan still hadn't dismounted, their gazes occasionally sweeping over the surroundings, their movements unhurried yet more alert than the men in front.

Qian Renxue didn't need to get into the carriage just yet, so the two stood by the roadside to talk.

"After you reach Tiangou, will you still be able to send messages back to Spirit City?" Lu Yuan asked.

"It depends on the situation."

"That means not necessarily."

"Sometimes we can, sometimes we can't."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"Why are you asking this?"

"There can't be zero news at all after someone leaves."

"What do you want to know?"

Lu Yuan thought about it.

"As long as you're alive."

Qian Renxue was slightly startled, then frowned.

"You make it sound like I'm going somewhere very dangerous."

"When we set out from Qingshi Valley, we didn't know we'd run into a Man-Faced Demon Spider either."

"..."

Qian Renxue had no way to refute that.

Lu Yuan continued, "If you really run into trouble, don't feel like you have to shoulder everything yourself."

"I should be the one saying that to you."

"I'm not going to Tiangou."

"You haven't been all that well-behaved staying in Spirit City either."

Lu Yuan let out a chuckle.

"Then we'll call it even."

Qian Renxue looked at him for two breaths, then smiled as well.

"Fine."

Carriages and horses were already passing through outside the city gate one after another, and the morning light slanted in through the gate tunnel, pulling very long shadows across the flagstones.

When the time to leave truly arrived, Lu Yuan suddenly didn't know what to say.

Qian Renxue didn't seem to deliberately look for topics either, just standing aside and looking outside the city.

After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Will you leave Spirit City in the future?"

"I will."

"Where to?"

"Don't know yet."

"Then why did you just ask me if messages could be sent?"

"I haven't left yet right now."

Qian Renxue turned to look at him.

"What if you leave before me?"

Lu Yuan thought about it.

"We'll talk about it when the time comes."

"Your answer is just like saying nothing."

"Your 'depends on the situation' just now was pretty much the same."

Blocked by that retort, Qian Renxue simply ignored him.

After a quiet moment, she suddenly spoke again, "If there really are messages sent back from Tiangou in the future, don't ask me about everything."

Lu Yuan looked at her.

"Why?"

"Some things can be written, some cannot."

"Even names can't be mentioned?"

Qian Renxue paused.

"Sometimes they can't."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan only nodded.

"Got it."

Qian Renxue was somewhat surprised instead.

"You aren't asking?"

"You wouldn't tell me even if I asked."

"You're smart this time."

"I've never been stupid."

Qian Renxue gave a soft hum.

The person in charge of leading the team at the front finally walked over.

"Miss, it's time to set off."

The address was very ordinary.

Qian Renxue nodded.

The man didn't look at Lu Yuan much, turned around, and went back to the front carriage.

Qian Renxue looked outside the city.

"I really have to go."

"Mhm."

She took two steps out, then stopped.

"There's one more thing."

Lu Yuan looked at her.

"What?"

"Don't rush cultivation too much, and don't train yourself to the point of injury."

Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised.

"Instructor Yan told you that?"

"I've seen what you were like when you practiced the spear before."

"I won't be like that now."

"Better not be."

After saying this, Qian Renxue added another sentence, "And those second rings in the north, concede defeat if you can't beat them, don't force yourself to hold out for a few extra moves every single time."

Lu Yuan frowned upon hearing this.

"Why do you have so much to say today?"

"I'm leaving right away, can't I say a bit more?"

Lu Yuan had nothing to say to that.

"Fine."

Only then was Qian Renxue satisfied, and she turned toward the carriage.

By the carriage door, she looked back once more.

"That 'safe journey' from Hu Liena, I received it."

"Mhm."

"You don't have one?"

Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment.

"What?"

"She had you bring hers, what about your own?"

Lu Yuan reacted.

"Be careful on the road."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"Just this?"

"Arrive in Tiangou safely."

This time she didn't pick faults anymore.

"Okay."

Qian Renxue boarded the second carriage.

After the carriage door closed, the guards at the front quickly mounted their horses.

No one shouted out loudly, nor did anyone come out to see them off.

The entire caravan simply quietly moved again, driving toward the North Gate one after another.

When the second carriage passed before Lu Yuan, the carriage curtain was lifted once more.

Qian Renxue glanced at him through the carriage window.

Lu Yuan raised his hand.

She raised her hand in response, and soon lowered the curtain again.

The carriage passed through the city gate.

Just at the moment the wheels drove completely out of Spirit City, a familiar grey light suddenly floated before Lu Yuan's eyes.

[Qian Renxue]

[Nine years old: Leaving Spirit City]

The last line swayed gently.

Then, it slowly faded away.