Chapter 153: Picking up the Trail

Ru Yi immediately intervened before the two of them could spiral into heights they wouldn’t be able to come down from.

"There’s no need to fight," Ru Yi’s voice slipped cleanly between them. Her tone was like that of an adult scolding naughty children.

The sharp edges of the argument was blunted simply by her presence as she placed herself between Yexue and Lieyin. Like she was trying to physically hold the fracture together.

"We need to figure out what to do instead of wasting time blaming each other," she continued, her gaze moving from one sister to another. "Qingyue wouldn’t want that."

Qingyue’s name felt different now that she was gone.

Lieyin exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair as if trying to get rid of the heat between them.

Yexue didn’t respond but the tension in her shoulders eased a bit, showing that she was listening. "Someone must’ve seen the direction they took, so we’ll be able to confirm if she’s really headed for Ashen Fortress."

By the time they asked everyone they could find, it was certain Qingyue really left for the mountains. The distress they felt were all on their faces.

Ru Yi’s fingers brushed absently against the ring on her hand, though a plan passed briefly through her eyes before it settled again.

"Qingyue has a head start," Ru Yi said, her voice even. "Instead of arguing about why she left, let’s figure out how to catch up with her." She looked at Yexue. "That is if you really want to go to Ashen Fortress."

"Do you?" Yexue asked instead of answering her.

Ru Yi considered her answer carefully. She did want to go to Ashen Fortress, but with the two sisters. The three of them needed to be together. She would hate to be the reason they split.

"Yes—" Ru Yi sighed when Yexue sucked in a deep breath. "I know you might not want to continue the journey—"

"And you’re right," Yexue cut in. "I’m tired of all this, and I’ve never cared about the throne. If this is a stunt to make me worry and then follow her to the fortress then I’m sorry to disappoint everyone."

Ru Yi put a tender hand on Yexue’s shoulder. "You know you don’t mean that." After all, she was the one that saw the guilt-ridden woman that could barely sleep the night before. "We both know you’ll never forgive yourself if Qingyue gets hurt."

"But I don’t want any of this."

Ru Yi put her other hand on Yexue’s cheek. "I know that. But we also know this is more than just a fight for the throne. Qingyue would never want to trick you, she left alone because she thought that would be the best for everyone."

Yexue’s gaze dropped to the floor. She really didn’t want to go to Ashen Fortress.

While she felt bad for speaking to Qingyue the way she did, she also couldn’t deny that a life with Ru Yi might be all she’ll ever really need.

Ru Yi pressed on. "You said it yourself, you didn’t choose this life. But neither did Qingyue."

Yexue had never considered that possibility before.

"All she ever wanted was to keep all of you safe, and she did that the only way she could think of." Ru Yi blinked severally, remembering the carefree Qingyue that had been under her. "She looked out for the two of you even though nobody really looked out for her."

"Now I feel even worse," Yexue muttered under her breath.

"You should," Lieyin replied, reminding them of her presence.

"Even if you don’t have the same goals as sisters, you can still be there for each other." Ru Yi squeezed Yexue’s shoulder. "Let’s go to Ashen Fortress together and help Qingyue mobilize what’s left of the late Empress’s army. It’s the least we can do."

Uncertainty slipped through Yexue’s gaze. "And after that?"

"You can tell Qingyue how you truly feel. I know her, she won’t force you to do what you don’t want to."

Yexue looked at the ring on Ru Yi’s finger, feeling the anger start to boil under her skin. "You spent one night with her and now you know her more than I do?"

Ru Yi’s face hardened. "At this point you’re the only one who is blind to how much Qingyue loves you, and how much she has sacrificed for you."

Lieyin nodded in agreement but said nothing else.

"Fine," Yexue said with a sigh. "I’ll go to Ashen Fortress. But only because I care about Qingyue and I’ll help with her goal the best way I can."

Ru Yi held her eyes. "She deserves the chance to hear this from you, make sure you say it to her face when we get there."

Yexue had never seen this authoritative side of Ru Yi, but it made her feel a bit giddy on the inside. "I’ll do that."

"Good." Ru Yi turned to Lieyin. "There’s still time left to find another horse and get more supplies. I don’t think Qingyue was able to gather any for herself."

Lieyin nodded. "I saw a stable beyond the lower market. But it can’t be just any horse. We need one that can last, the road to the Fortress is very unforgiving."

"Do you think we have enough coins left?" Ru Yi asked, Qingyue was the one who took care of the finances and their overall wellbeing.

Lieyin shook her head. "I’ll have to check. But it should cover an extra horse and food to last us five days. I’m more worried Qingyue won’t have anything to survive on."

Ru Yi hadn’t thought about that. "What do you two think about leaving tonight?"

"It’s fine with me. Except there’s another problem...we don’t have the map."

Ru Yi sighed heavily in frustration. That was the most important part. "I’ll have to find someone else that might know the routes or have a map."

"That’s going to take some time," Yexue mumbled.

Ru Yi nodded. "But there’s nothing else we can’t do. Lieyin go check the horse, Yexue see how much coins we have left. I’ll go look for the map."

The two sisters nodded and left.

Ru Yi waited until they were out of hearing distance before sighing. Where was she supposed to find someone who knew the way to the Fortress?

She was walking down the narrow space between the inn and the neighboring winehouse when strong hands grabbed her from behind.

"Found you."