Chapter 91

91. Because they look the same

The streets of Luoyang in late autumn were bustling with people.

Yan Jieha and Xin Tong, who were in a bad mood, kept moving without stopping, bumping into people.

"Where the hell is the Shangzhaofang? Why can't I see it? Is this the right way?"

In response to Yan Jieha's continuous complaints, Xin Tong smiled and said,

"Hehe, it seems we're almost there. Didn't the candy seller say that we would see Dengyun Guesthouse right after we pass it?"

"Tch, I want to eat another piece of candy."

Xin Tong ignored Yan Jieha's off-topic response and looked around.

Suddenly, he cried out like a child,

"Master, I found it! It's right there!"

Yan Jieha's eyes followed the wrinkles on Xin Tong's hand.

Sure enough! About fifty paces away, the sign of Shangzhaofang was visible.

Thinking about meeting Nangong Yan after twelve years made him feel a new sense of emotion.

Although he had forgotten her face, he still felt excited for some reason.

As he approached Shangzhaofang, Yan Jieha's steps slowed down, perhaps due to nervousness.

Xin Tong, who had been walking in sync with his slower pace, suddenly asked,

"By the way, Master. Why did you reject Zheng Guanzhu's proposal just now?"

"Are you crazy? To kill someone for money?"

"Ah..."

Xin Tong glanced at Yan Jieha with a newfound look.

He thought Yan Jieha would naturally accept it due to his dislike of Mingjiao, but it was a bit unexpected. He didn't think someone who was part of the Green Forest would dislike contract killings.

Looking back, it seemed that he had never killed anyone before.

He had killed Dali Gui, but at that time, it was not a human but an immortal monster, so it was an exception.

Perhaps because many people were coming and going, the door of Shangzhaofang was wide open.

Just as he was about to go out, the head of the hall, Sun Xue, stopped when he saw the unfamiliar visitors.

Although greeting guests was the job of the workers, he couldn't just pass by when he saw the swords and daggers hanging from the waists of the old man and the boy.

"What brings you here?"

Sun Xue took a step forward toward the old man.

Xin Tong, receiving his gaze, stepped forward to speak for Yan Jieha.

"I heard that there are people from the Nangong family here. Are they inside?"

"Yes, but... Who are you?"

Sun Xue, the head of the hall, lowered his posture because the visitors were martial artists.

"Go tell Nangong Yan that I'm here to see him."

Xin Tong's one-sided statement made Sun Xue feel uncomfortable, but he didn't show it. He had seen the rudeness of martial artists many times before.

"Actually, I also have some business with them. Let's go together."

Sun Xue walked ahead without waiting for a response, a subtle counterattack.

After a while, they entered a large hall.

The sign on the plaque read "Shuiliujie."

In front of it, Sun Xue turned his head to confirm the visitors and then called out loudly,

"Nangong Xiaoxia, are you inside?"

A moment later, Fengyun Sword Nangong Tian poked his head out from between the doors.

As he looked around the visitors, his eyes widened when he saw Yan Jieha.

"Hey! Yan Jieha?"

He quickly came out, roughly putting on his shoes, and approached Yan Jieha.

"Wow! How long has it been? Just passing by?"

"Yes, coincidentally."

Yan Jieha scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

There wasn't enough friendship between them and the Nangong family to warrant a special visit.

"Come, come inside. Lian will be happy to see you."

Nangong Tian put his arm around Yan Jieha's shoulder and led him into the hall.

"Actually, I talked about you with my sister yesterday. It seems she wanted to meet you today. Everything happens for a reason..."

Nangong Tian's mouth didn't stop, as if he was really happy to see Yan Jieha.

His fussiness pushed Xin Tong and Sun Xue to the back, where they could only watch.

After Nangong Tian led Yan Jieha inside, only Xin Tong and Sun Xue were left in the courtyard.

"You said you had business with the Nangong family, didn't you?"

Xin Tong's blunt question made Sun Xue hit his head, saying, "Ah!"

"Then... Aren't you going in together?"

Sun Xue couldn't understand why Nangong Tian only took the boy.

"The guest of the Nangong family is Master, not me."

"Ah, yes."

Sun Xue replied half-heartedly and fixed his gaze on the closed hall.

It was true that he had come to deliver a message to the Nangong family.

However, since it wasn't urgent, he felt bad about calling Nangong Tian out again.

After a moment of thought, Sun Xue nodded to the old man and walked back the way he came.

***

Nangong Yan, known as Huayong Duxin, opened the door and entered the room.

The moment he saw her face, Yan Jieha's face stiffened.

Ah! How could he forget that appearance!

The fairy he saw at Jiuqian Xianjing.

Although he had forgotten the face of Nangong Yan, whom he met at the age of six, the fairy from Jiuqian Xianjing was as vivid as if he had seen her yesterday.

Somehow, the Nangong Yan in front of him was exactly the same as the fairy who disappeared on a cloud.

"Uh, uh..."

As Yan Jieha stammered, pointing at Nangong Yan, Nangong Tian laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! Yan Jieha, what's with the 'uh'? After thirteen years, you should give a proper greeting."

Nangong Yan, who had gracefully taken her seat, stared intently at Yan Jieha across from her.

Upon closer inspection, the face of the six-year-old was still there.

It was a proud moment to see the child, who couldn't even distinguish between his mother and sister, grow up.

To have survived such harsh treatment and not die.

To have escaped from the narrow, smelly warehouse and become a Green Forest bandit, yet still have clear eyes.

Just like the day when she called him "Mom" as a child.

It was fortunate that her eyes hadn't changed.

If she had been tainted by the world and blamed the heavens, it would have been a different story.

Grateful and proud, Nangong Yan smiled.

Encouraged by her smile, Yan Jieha cautiously began,

"Sis, have you been well these past years?"

Nod, nod.

She was usually quiet, only speaking when necessary, even with her family.

"I, um, lived in a warehouse after my father passed away. Then I escaped... I met an old beggar. Ah! That's right. The beggar gave me a broken gourd. He must have thought I was a beggar. Haha."

Nangong Yan listened to his story with shining eyes.

Although his story was disjointed, it painted a vivid picture of his life.

"...I almost died lost in the mountains, but then my brothers saved me."

Yan Jieha, who had been talking animatedly, took a sip of tea, as if his throat was dry.

At that moment, Nangong Tian, who had been listening quietly, asked curiously,

"You seemed quite surprised to see Lian just now. Why was that? Lian is indeed beautiful, but you're the first to be so surprised."

"Ah, Brother. Actually, it's like this."

Yan Jieha looked back and forth between Nangong Yan and Nangong Tian, looking perplexed.

How could he explain that he saw a fairy riding a cloud in a mirror, and that fairy was Nangong Yan!

"What's the matter?"

Encouraged by Nangong Tian, Yan Jieha sighed and said,

"Ah! Don't laugh at me after hearing my story. The reason I was surprised is..."

Gathering his courage, Yan Jieha revealed that the face of the fairy he saw in the mirror was exactly the same as Nangong Yan's.

"..."

Nangong Tian turned his head from side to side, avoiding Yan Jieha's serious gaze.

It must have been a hallucination due to loneliness and hardship.

It could happen to anyone who was trapped in a small space for a long time.

Especially during the dream-filled childhood years.

It must be a memory from the time when he couldn't distinguish between dreams and reality.

"Hmm, hmm, how did you know the fairy was from Jiuqian Xianjing?"

"It was written in the mirror."

"Ah! The fairy's name?"

"Yes."

Nangong Tian nodded half-heartedly.

For someone who saw things due to loneliness at a young age, he had done a good job of piecing things together.

"There's a saying in the scriptures that 'everything depends on the mind.' Hmm, hmm, if you saw it, you saw it. Still, it's a remarkable coincidence that the fairy and Lian looked the same. Isn't that right, Lian?"

Nangong Yan, surprised by Nangong Tian's sudden question, only smiled.

Nangong Tian, speaking for the usually quiet Nangong Yan, led the conversation.

Even the talkative Yan Jieha didn't lag behind.

Thus, Nangong Yan, Nangong Tian, and Yan Jieha chatted non-stop.

Nangong Yan occasionally participated in their conversation with smiles and simple nods.

The conversation, which started in the afternoon, ended as the sun was setting.

Yan Jieha, with a lingering look, got up from his seat.

Nangong Tian, realizing this, asked,

"By the way! Have you decided where to stay?"

"Not yet. I just arrived."

"We plan to move to Zhengzhou in a few days. Luoyang is too close to the Yuexia Sect. Come to Dalian Shangfang when you can."

"Yes..."

Yan Jieha felt a mix of emotions at the unexpected words.

A moment later, Yan Jieha, Nangong Tian, and Nangong Yan's siblings came out onto the veranda.

Xin Tong, who had been dozing off at the end of the veranda, suddenly stood up.

"Whoa! Old man Xin, you were waiting?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you go to a nearby tavern for a drink?"

"Hehe, it's fine. I had a good nap."

"Pfft! Why did you sit and doze off? If you're tired, just lie down anywhere. Were you raised so delicately? You're quite picky about your sleeping place."

"No, I was just thinking, 'They'll come out soon, they'll come out soon,' and that's how it ended up."

Xin Tong felt a bit wronged.

Among the bandits of the Green Forest, there was no one who was picky about their sleeping place.

He thought the conversation would end appropriately without drinks, but it was a mistake. The conversation kept going on and on, making him shudder.

***

Kaifeng.

Longxi Lou.

Although it was late at night, Longxi Lou was bustling with the raucous laughter of drunkards and courtesans.

However, around the ninth hour of the evening, a drunkard punched the head of a courtesan, Xiaoxiang, who was leading him to a room.

"Ouch!"

Xiaoxiang fell to the floor of the corridor.

A middle-aged man, drunk, pounced like a beast and kicked her mercilessly.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

"You damn bitch! I clearly told you to bring another woman! Why did you ignore me? Do I look easy to mess with just because I come here often? Huh? Just a whore!"

Xiaoxiang, struggling, lost consciousness and didn't move.

Still, the man, like a madman, continued to stomp on her, shouting.

The floor was already soaked with blood, but his kicks grew stronger.

Shocked courtesans ran to call the bodyguards.

The first to arrive was Wang Baoqiang, who happened to be nearby.

"Stop it!"

Wang Baoqiang reached out to grab the drunkard's shoulder.

In an instant, the man twisted his waist to avoid it and raised his voice.

"What? You bastards! Ganging up with the whores to attack a customer? What are you doing? Call the owner!"

"What nonsense?"

Wang Baoqiang, taken aback, tried to