Going on a trip

Five days later and Xu Hexian still hadn't returned.

There was no doubt that idiot brother of his and their airheaded teacher were out there lost somewhere. It wasn't an unusual occurrence.

But there was some trouble happening in their territory so they had to send out aid. Liu Sumeng was the natural candidate for the job but he was supposed to be accompanying his fiancee to get her used to her new home.

Liu Sumeng was expectant this time when he was approached by Chen Anyue, "I heard there was a job in a village nearby." Her sparkling eyes made her look more youthful, and it was easy to tell she was hiding a girlish grin behind her dainty hand, "Is Second Young Master Liu preparing to take on the job?"

"Yes," he didn't lie to her.

"Then, perhaps…can I also join you?"

He had said no to her his first life but underestimated her tenacity when she simply went ahead to convince his uncle. This time, he responded with a simple, "Alright."

"Wonderful!" she beamed before coughing and restraining her expression with a small bow, "Thank you, Second Young Master Liu. I will do all I can to assist and not get in your way."

With Yuan Xuelan's death still fresh on his mind, he found it difficult to focus on his would-be wife. Though he was promptly reminded that below her elegant princess-like mannerisms, she was also quite a cute person.

He couldn't resist and patted her on the head.

Chen Anyue froze and her eyes went wide, face turning slightly red, "Oh-"

Liu Sumeng retracted his hand, feeling a little embarrassed, "Sorry."

He didn't expect her to send him a beaming smile, "It's ok. I don't mind." She then bowed, surrounded by a cheery glow, before making her leave.

"..." Should he not have done that?

Despite appearances, Liu Sumeng was actually a very physically affectionate person. Sometimes he couldn't help himself.

But it should be ok, after all, they were going to get married soon…

Ah, he didn't want to think about that. While there was no doubt in his heart that he loved Chen Anyue, he didn't want to marry her again. In his memories, their joining was tied with nothing but suffering. He couldn't cherish a single one of their good memories without recalling the hurt that happened after.

In his last life, he failed to be a good husband. In this life, he had a feeling he would fail again. His heart was never in the right place, not for her.

Liu Sumeng shook his head. When he really thought about it, his marriage would pose another issue as well. But now that was something he really, really didn't want to think about. So instead, he went to prepare for his mission.

Back in the belly of his room he fished for a ceramic jar placed at his bedpost. The contents could easily make a fellow cultivator envious. Stuffed inside were dozens upon dozens of high-quality healing pills. Of course, the most diligent of cultivators would at least keep a few for emergency purposes, seeing so many was unusual, even for the most wealthy. While the cost of these pills was in fact steep, it wasn't their price that made them so rare. Rather, they just happened to be really uncommon and when one did pop up on the market, it would be quickly sold off.

Actually, the reason why Liu Sumeng had so many, and why they sat almost carelessly out in the open in a little ceramic jar on his table was not that interesting. For the most part, he had received these pills as gifts, rewards or prizes for various deeds or even contests he had participated in. And the reason why he was able to stash away so many was quite simple, it was because he never used them!

That was right, Liu Sumeng never bothered with these top-tier healing pills unless they were forcefully stuffed down his throat by another person. Many had thought it was due to his haughty attitude that refused remedy but actually the truth was…he simply forgot.

"..." This time, Liu Sumeng plucked one from the jar and stowed it away.

Something was going to happen to him in the upcoming mission and despite being reborn and living through it a second time, he had no idea what it was. That was because the incident had completely wiped away his memory of that entire trip. Whatever it was, it had also made his relationship with Yuan Xuelan extremely tense for a while, and that wasn't something Liu Sumeng felt like he wanted to deal with a second time.

After getting all his things sorted, he made his way to see his uncle before leaving.

"So you're taking your fiancee and that Yuan Xuelan?"

Liu Sumeng nodded, "Yes."

"Hm. Protect them well, they are guests here after all. Although Chen Anyue's spiritual energy is strong and abundant she has little experience out in the real world so take care of her. And that Yuan Xuelan I'm sure you've heard that he's a special prodigy when it comes to tinkering with magical tools. If you're to become Sect Leader one day then it will pay to make good friends and allies with good people."

"..."

That was another thing he never had a chance to be good at. Maybe he could do a better job this time around, or maybe he should just give up and hand over the position to Liu Suye.

Ah, well there was no way to express those thoughts now so he could only bow his head in silence.

He waited for Yuan Xuelan and Chen Anyue at the main gate and watched as they approached.

"Shijie, are you sure you don't want to bring a jacket? It's pretty cold in these parts."

"Shijie, did you pack enough food? I'm worried because the food here isn't the same as in Reling, they don't have many spicy dishes. That crazy Auntie's cooking isn't bad but what if the quality isn't the same in the villages?"

"Shijie, are you sure you don't want to bring a horse? You'll get tired from walking so much, especially since you're not used to it."

The usual fog across the mountain top had lifted revealing a lustrous morning glow, basking the two with a golden halo. Chen Anyue laughed and swatted away Yuan Xuelan's nagging and prodding. There had always been an itching suspicion in Liu Sumeng's mind that Yuan Xuelan's heart beat for the beautiful Chen Anyue. Those suspicions were basically proven when her death inspired a thirst for vengeance so great that Yuan Xuelan tore down the entire world.

Liu Sumeng looked away, feeling an odd flutter in his chest. In his last life, he was never able to confront or console Yuan Xuelan about his marriage to the woman that the other loved because when he found out it had already been too late. Not to mention, his feelings back then towards Yuan Xuelan were only lukewarm at best. Now, he felt…honestly, he didn't really know how he felt, only that it was odd, to say the least.

When they finally caught up to him, Liu Sumeng didn't even look their way and asked, "Ready?"

Yuan Xuelan glared while his Shijie cheerfully responded, "Yes!"

Their destination was a little way off from Wangyun Peak but being cultivators it should only take them one day and one night of traveling to arrive at their destination, whether on foot or by flying sword.

Taking Chen Anyue's condition into consideration, Liu Sumeng decided it was better to go on foot. He even slowed his quickstep technique to make it easier for her. During their travels, no one said a word and the two from the Ascending Dawn Sect only followed him obediently. Liu Sumeng secretly wanted to die from the awkward silence but there was nothing he could do aside from enduring it.

When night fell he stopped in a small clearing in the woods, "We'll rest here."