Chapter 804: See You When Fate Allows

"Sister Yun, look at it! Look at this stupid cat! It wants to eat me! It's trying to eat me..."

Yu Hongjin clung to Yunxiang's leg and refused to let go, wailing her grievances.

Lihua simply watched her in silence, unconsciously smacking its lips.

Chen Changsheng rapped his knuckles against Lihua's head. "You can't eat Yu Hongjin."

Lihua snapped out of its daze. It looked up and said, "Lihua isn't an idiot anymore."

Chen Changsheng let out a light cough at those words.

Faced with this fish and this cat, Yunxiang and Chen Changsheng felt rather helpless, though mostly they just found the situation amusing.

Still, the issue was perfectly resolved.

Yunxiang found a small cloth pouch in the house. After emptying out the spices inside, Chen Changsheng inscribed a few Formation runes on it, giving the little Fragrant Pouch a storage function.

Yu Hongjin blinked. "There's no dirt or rain inside. Hiding it like this ruins the effect."

Yunxiang pinched the girl's cheek. "You're lucky to have this at all. Besides, you were the one who insisted on digging it up to take with us. You couldn't bear to leave it behind, and yet you still demand so much. That isn't how a good child behaves."

Yu Hongjin thought about it, realized that made sense, and let the matter drop.

"My poor precious treasure."

Yu Hongjin patted the Fragrant Pouch and carefully tucked it into her own Pouch, terrified of losing it.

Lihua watched her and scoffed. "So childish."

"?"

Yu Hongjin glared at the cat. "Stupid cat! You're the childish one."

"Lihua is a cat who has already seen the world," the feline declared.

Yu Hongjin crossed her arms. "Who hasn't seen the world? I've been to Shangjing City. I've been to tons of places! I've been to the Dragon Palace, and I've been to the Desolate Sea—and I went all by myself! Hmph. You had Ruyi keeping you company, so I don't know who the real sheltered one is."

Lihua froze at that. It blinked. "So you're a fish of the world..."

"Pfft. Sheltered cat."

"That must mean you taste even better."

"..."

Yunxiang burst into laughter. "What in the world are you two talking about?"

She couldn't understand them at all.

Perhaps this was just the usual disconnect between adults and the playful banter of children.

Early the next morning.

The Merchant Association's horse carriage was already waiting at the entrance to Chuanfeng Alley.

Watching the scene unfold, Ouyang Feng approached Chen Changsheng. "Are you leaving? All of you?"

"We're taking a trip to Shangjing City," Yunxiang replied. "We might return after some time."

Chen Changsheng turned to Ouyang Feng. "You should take the chance to wander around yourself. There's not much left to do here in Chuanfeng Alley."

Ouyang Feng immediately waved him off. "I'm not leaving. No way."

He knew full well that stepping out of the city might draw no small amount of trouble. He cherished his current peaceful days far too much and had no intention of ruining them.

Yunxiang smiled. "Then we'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on the alley for us, sir."

Ouyang Feng nodded with a grin. "Naturally. Enjoy your trip."

Yunxiang nodded. Bidding the old swordsman farewell, she gathered Yu Hongjin and Lihua and climbed aboard the horse carriage.

Chen Changsheng moved to the front of the carriage. He would be the one driving the horses for this journey.

"Hyah!"

The horses broke into a trot, heading toward the city gates.

Ouyang Feng watched them go. After a moment's pause, he let out a sigh. "It's going to be awfully quiet again..."

Come to think of it, it really was a shame.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a figure strolled into view.

Prince Wei looked at Ouyang Feng standing at the alley entrance and called out, "Oh? You're up early, old man."

Ouyang Feng gave him a sideways glance. "You must have a lot of free time yourself to be wandering over here."

"I'm looking for that guy surnamed Chen," Prince Wei said.

Ouyang Feng paused. "That's unfortunate timing. Mister Chen just left on that horse carriage."

Prince Wei hesitated. "He's taking a long trip?"

Ouyang Feng shook his head and briefly explained the situation.

Prince Wei stood stunned. "He left?"

It took him a moment to process the news.

Prince Wei smacked his lips. "That bastard really just packed up and left?"

For some inexplicable reason, he felt a twinge of disappointment.

It was like parting with an old acquaintance—a sudden wave of melancholy washed over him.

"Mister Chen has no set date to return," Ouyang Feng noted. "If you want to see him off, Prince Wei, you can still catch up if you hurry."

Prince Wei scoffed. "It's not like I'll never see him again."

Ouyang Feng shook his head. "Mister Chen rarely returns to Qingshan City. Before this, he hadn't been back in three years."

Prince Wei faltered.

A moment later, he broke into a sprint, chasing after the carriage.

Ouyang Feng watched Prince Wei run off. He stroked his chin with an amused smile. "This Prince Wei really is an odd one..."

He talks a big game, cowers at the slightest trouble, yet acts as bold as brass when it counts...

Prince Wei was surprisingly fast on his feet.

He managed to catch up to the horse carriage just as it neared the street by the city gates.

"You! Surnamed Chen!"

Chen Changsheng glanced back at the familiar shout.

Seeing Prince Wei rushing over, he brought the carriage to a halt.

"Prince Wei?"

Prince Wei paused to catch his breath. He smoothed out his robes, let out a light cough, and said, "You're just going to leave without saying goodbye?"

Chen Changsheng blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Are you here to see This Chen off?"

"This prince came to personally watch you get the hell out of here."

"Is that right?"

Chen Changsheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Prince Wei, you really would defend your pride to the death."

Prince Wei coughed dryly. "Nonsense. Ahem. Never mind that. When will you be coming back to Qingshan City?"

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment. "It's hard to say. At the earliest, three years. At the latest..."

He shook his head, unable to give a definite answer.

Prince Wei glared at him. "How is that acceptable? This prince hasn't even won back his lost pride yet, and you're just going to leave? If you vanish for three years and I meet some untimely end, I'll never be able to get my revenge! How could this prince bear to die with such a grievance?!"

"It sounds like Prince Wei hates This Chen to the very marrow of his bones," Chen Changsheng said.

"Naturally."

Prince Wei swept his sleeves grandly. "Look across the entire world—there aren't many who have made this prince lose face quite like you have. Naturally, I intend to hold this grudge for a very long time."

Chen Changsheng paused. "Do you say this to people often, Prince Wei?"

"What nonsense!"

"Then This Chen thanks Prince Wei for keeping me in your thoughts."

Prince Wei calmed down, dropping his theatrical nonsense. His tone grew more serious. "In short, we will definitely meet again. And when we do, we'll settle the score."

Chen Changsheng nodded. "We can settle it then."

Prince Wei hesitated. "Though nothing is certain. What if this prince falls while pursuing his great cause? Then we really won't see each other again. I truly wouldn't want to die with a grievance like that."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Rest assured. If that day really comes, This Chen will definitely return and let you have your revenge."

"A gentleman's word."

"Is a whip to a Swift Horse!"

Prince Wei chuckled, then waved his hand dismissively. "Good. Alright, get the hell out of here. This prince is sick of looking at you."

Chen Changsheng shook his head in amusement. "May Prince Wei have smooth sailing on his path to a great cause."

Those words left a bitter taste in Prince Wei's mouth.

He rubbed his nose. "I'm the one who should be wishing you smooth sailing."

For some reason, Prince Wei felt slightly nauseous at his own sentimentality.

Yet, he couldn't deny the heavy ache in his chest.

That dog surnamed Chen had at least managed to leave him some face.

But...

Who the hell cared about face at a time like this?

"We'll meet again if fate allows."