Chapter 42

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Chapter 42: The World Outside

Ji Yunhe looked at the man in white. The Grand Master loved the color white. It was said that his entire house was decorated in white, and everyone there wore nothing but white.

A nobleman had once tried to please the Grand Master at a palace banquet.

The nobleman said, "Only those who are above and beyond this world dress in white."

But the Grand Master coldly replied, "I am dressed in white because I am mourning for the world."

The nobleman's face immediately changed color, and the whole room fell silent.

No one else would dare to make such a statement at a palace banquet. (In Chinese culture, talking about death and mourning is very inappropriate and disrespectful at celebrations, and may also be considered bad luck.)

The story passed down to the public, and the Grand Master's status and reputation became somewhat of a god among mortals.

Ji Yunhe had never been to the Grand Master's house before, but seeing this disciple's white robe and the white ribbon around his forehead, it really did look like mourning attire... mourning for the world. However, his face was much friendlier than the teenage general in black iron armor.

He stopped the little general and turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe and Changyi. "Princess Shunde wishes for the jiaoren to serve faithfully, but it appears his heart is not yet completely tamed. Presenting him to the princess now… If she gets hurt, I'm afraid your Demon Valley will have to take on full responsibility."

"I will not hurt the human princess." Changyi spoke before Ji Yunhe had a chance to respond. "But no one can hurt Yunhe either."

Changyi's words were unexpected.

Even Ji Yunhe did not expect Changyi to still be so protective of her at this point… After all, she was the one sending him to the capital and handing him over to Princess Shunde.

"The young general acted without due consideration. I, Ji Chengyu, would like to apologize on his behalf." The Grand Master's disciple clasped his hands and bowed down to Ji Yunhe and Changyi.

This was also unexpected.

The Grand Master served through several generations of emperors, his prestige was very high. Plus his disciples were the strongest demon masters in the world. Ji Yunhe thought for sure they would be brought up arrogant and domineering, like the young general. But surprisingly, he was very polite.

"You are apologizing to a demon slaver and a demon!" The young general anxiously pulled at him. "The general does not allow you to speak for me! I am not apologizing!"

Ji Yunhe flashed him a big smile.

This young general really was just a boy, immature and childish.

Ji Chengyu wrinkled his brows and called out his name, "Zhu Ling." His voice turned a bit solemn and that was enough to intimidate the young general into silence. Ji Chengyu then pulled that young general off to the side and reprimanded him in private. When they returned, Zhu Ling placed his black iron mask back on his face, turned around with a "hmph", and did not speak again.

"Please," Ji Chengyu smiled and said, "we have prepared two carriages for you and the jiaoren, please come with me."

Ji Yunhe said, "I'll sit with him."

Ji Chengyu nodded with a "sure".

But Changyi opposed it. "It's better to sit separately."

Ji Yunhe smirked. She knew exactly what he was thinking again: not proper, not appropriate, so on...

Ji Chengyu nodded again. "Sure."

"So troublesome." Zhu Ling turned to leave. "This general's horse has no head and cannot run, I will take a carriage to sit in. You two can share the other one."

The little general turned and left, leaving Ji Chengyu smiling a bit awkwardly. "Then..."

"So be it." Ji Yunhe finished the sentence for him.

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 dappling 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, care about her, and irresistibly observe 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.

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