The Reticent Blade-Chapter 193 - Meeting at the Rouge Shop Again

"We're going?" Chi Nanwei's eyes widened slightly. She lowered her voice and asked, "Why go back? There's nothing left!"

Ye Beizhi lowered his head to gaze at Chi Nanwei and said softly, "He won't be willing to let it go."

Chi Nanwei bit her lip and remained silent.

Ye Beizhi turned his head slightly to look upstairs and said, "Stay a few days... See how things are."

Chi Nanwei nodded lightly, her expression somber.

As they spoke, Baili Gucheng came downstairs. He approached the two and said, "She's settled. Let's eat first."

The three of them casually picked a table, called the waiter, and ordered a few dishes. Before long, the food was served.

As they ate, a conversation from the neighboring table reached their ears. It seemed to be a group of locals.

"With Yanchi Pass lost, I fear it will be impossible to reclaim it..."

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"I heard the Northern Qiang army marched south in full force this time. Yanchi Pass was the first major stronghold. As long as the city held tens of thousands, not even a heavenly army could breach it!"

Chi Nanwei noticed Baili Gucheng's hand pausing, and he appeared about to turn his head. She quickly grabbed his arm.

"Young Master Baili..."

"Hmm?" Baili Gucheng stopped and turned back. "What is it?"

"Well..." Chi Nanwei hesitated. "The supplies in the carriage are running low. Dummy and I plan to stay in Liangzhou for a few days to restock. You stay and take care of Yang—"

Ye Beizhi suddenly raised his hand, interrupting Chi Nanwei. He looked up at Baili Gucheng and announced, "The North Watching Pass was completely destroyed."

Clatter—

Chi Nanwei's hand trembled, and her chopsticks fell from the table.

"I-I'm sorry..." Chi Nanwei apologized and bent down to pick them up.

Baili Gucheng fell silent for a moment. He placed his chopsticks down gently and said in a low voice, "Hmm... I see." With that, he stood up and went upstairs.

Chi Nanwei watched Baili Gucheng's figure disappear into the hallway before turning sharply to Ye Beizhi, frowning.

"What are you doing?!"

Ye Beizhi calmly picked up a peanut and placed it in his mouth.

"There's no need to hide it... it couldn't be concealed anyway."

"You just shattered his last hope!" Chi Nanwei suddenly became very angry and stood up abruptly. "What kind of friend are you?!"

Ye Beizhi remained as composed as ever, his gaze lowered.

"It makes no difference... whether or not he has any hope, he will still go back."

Chi Nanwei bit her lip, unable to find words for a long moment. Finally, she sat down angrily, turning her head away from Ye Beizhi.

The two finished their meal in silence. When they went upstairs, they found that Baili Gucheng had locked himself inside Yang Lu's room and refused to come out.

Ye Beizhi stopped Chi Nanwei, who was about to knock on the door again, and said to her,

"Let's go."

"Go where?" Chi Nanwei asked, then noticed Ye Beizhi already heading downstairs.

"We're running low on supplies," Ye Beizhi called out lightly from below.

Chi Nanwei nodded and followed Ye Beizhi out into the city.

Although Liangzhou Prefecture was located in a relatively remote area near the border, it was an unusually bustling city, thanks largely to the canal that connected it to the imperial capital directly.

Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei strolled along the street, their chatting sporadic. Most of the conversation consisted of Chi Nanwei complaining about Ye Beizhi's blunt manner of speaking.

As they walked, Chi Nanwei suddenly seemed to remember something. "Hey, Dummy."

Ye Beizhi glanced sideways at her.

Chi Nanwei suddenly became excited. "Have you noticed? You don’t seem as silent as you used to be lately."

Ye Beizhi opened his mouth but said nothing, remaining silent.

"Aren't I right?"

Chi Nanwei jumped in front of Ye Beizhi, blocking his path. "I just realized it... it’s like you’ve suddenly changed. Or maybe it’s because we’ve been together so long that I didn’t notice?"

Ye Beizhi turned his head to the side, doing his best to avoid the topic.

"Say something!"

Chi Nanwei playfully punched Ye Beizhi in the chest with her delicate arm.

"Don’t clam up just because I brought it up!"

Ye Beizhi rubbed his nose.

"It... seems so?"

"And do you know why?" Chi Nanwei pressed, clearly not planning to let the matter go.

Ye Beizhi cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment and pointed to a nearby shop. "Yanlong Cosmetics Shop..."

Ye Beizhil remembered that Yanlong Cosmetics Shop was Chi Nanwei's favorite rouge shop and hurriedly used it as a lifeline.

Chi Nanwei turned and saw that her favorite rouge shop had a branch here.

"I can’t believe Yanlong Cosmetics Shop has a branch here," she remarked with some surprise. Then she turned back and playfully gave Ye Beizhi a flirtatious look.

"You actually remembered... so I’ll let you off the hook this time!"

With that, she dragged Ye Beizhi into the shop.

Dragged into the rouge shop once again by Chi Nanwei, Ye Beizhi couldn't help but feel helpless. He truly couldn’t stand the overwhelming scent of cosmetics inside.

The shop was as crowded as ever. Although it wasn’t as packed as the shop he had previously been in, there was still a steady stream of customers.

Chi Nanwei browsed the wares, occasionally asking Ye Beizhi for his opinion. Not knowing anything about cosmetics, Ye Beizhi responded vaguely with nods and grunts.

"Dummy, look!" Chi Nanwei excitedly held up a case of rouge she picked up from the counter and called out to Ye Beizhi. "Isn’t this the same as the one I bought last time?"

Ye Beizhi glanced at it. Indeed, it was identical to the one she had bought in Tianjing City.

"Mm... mm..." Chi Nanwei looked conflicted. "I love the scent, but I haven’t finished the one from last time... What should I do?"

"Mm..." Ye Beizhi nodded absentmindedly.

Chi Nanwei frowned and glared at Ye Beizhi. "I was asking you! What should I do?"

Ye Beizhi opened his mouth uncertainly. "Then don’t buy it?"

Chi Nanwei widened her eyes. "But I like it!"

"Then... buy it?" Ye Beizhi’s mouth twitched as he offered a different answer.

Chi Nanwei’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she happily held onto the rouge case. "Since you said so... I’ll buy it then!"

After paying, Chi Nanwei returned and dragged Ye Beizhi by the arm to continue shopping, looking very pleased.

"Hey, Dummy..." Chi Nanwei suddenly looked up at Ye Beizhi.

"Hm?" Ye Beizhi looked down at her.

Chi Nanwei tilted her head. "After all this, do you have any future plans?"

Ye Beizhi thought for a moment but shook his head.

"Then..." Chi Nanwei bit her lip. "After we send Baili back and find a cure for Miss Yang, where should we go?"

Ye Beizhi didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze shifted outside the shop, where he spotted a woman leaving.

She approached a man and said, "The rouge here is indeed excellent."

The man replied impatiently, "Alright, hurry up. We still have to get medicine for that half-dead person... such a hassle. If it weren’t for that beggar’s gourd, why would I go through this?" As he spoke, the two started to blend into the crowd.

Chi Nanwei didn’t notice Ye Beizhi’s unusual behavior and kept talking wistfully. "Dummy, once everything is settled, let’s find a peaceful place and live a good life—"

Whoosh!

Ye Beizhi suddenly leaped forward, his figure darting out of the shop!

The crowd erupted into chaos.

The man and woman, about to step onto the street, turned at the commotion. The man paled when he saw Ye Beizhi charging at them and shouted, "Why is this unlucky bastard here!"

Without hesitation, he grabbed the woman and bolted.

The woman was equally shocked and exclaimed softly, "Why is it him!?" She moved quickly, her graceful footwork allowing both of them to pick up speed.

However, the crowded street full of people limited how fast they could run.

With a few swift movements, Ye Beizhi caught up to them. In an instant, he reached out and grabbed the man’s collar, yanking him back and throwing him into the dirt.

"Why are you running?" Ye Beizhi tilted his head and asked.

"I..." Tang Jinnian, sprawled on the ground, struggled for words for a long moment before coming to a realization. "Yeah... Why am I running?"