Chapter 203: Chapter 183: Within Sight But Out of Reach Chapter 203: Chapter 183: Within Sight But Out of Reach She had never thought that one day she could go back.
The matters of the 21st century seed to her like a distant, unattainable dream; she had believed that this was how her life was going to be.
But unexpectedly, she saw a glimr of hope again.
Having realized what it was, Chu Yu had nearly used up all her strength to refrain from impulsively snatching Tian Rujing’s bracelet.
Never before had she felt such ecstatic joy, never had she felt such urgency.
It seed as if various colors and sounds ca rushing in from all directions, crowding into her mind all at once, making it impossible for her to see or hear.
The problems with her identity after returning to her forr body, how to explain her experiences to her family, the positioning of ti and space, and the risks that might occur during the process, all these minor details beca so trivial under the overwhelming temptation of being able to return.
As long as she could go back, no matter what identity, by whatever ans, and no matter the risks involved, she still thought it was absolutely worth trying.
In the past, she had envied Tian Rujing for having the bracelet, but it was rely envy; she desired it but did not insist on having it. But now, her feelings had undergone a huge change.
She must get it.
That thought, bordering on frenzy, clouded her entire being.
Even in her efforts to survive, she had never felt such intense desire. For a mont, she was incredibly jealous of Tian Rujing, jealous that he possessed such a treasure without knowing its worth.
Once she had cald down, Chu Yu faced a realistic problem, which brought her from the clouds down to the mire: How would she acquire it?
The bracelet itself had a protective function for its holder, using violence was obviously not feasible, especially since she was currently under house arrest by Liu Ziyue, devoid of any ans to use violence.
Chu Yu lay quietly on the bed, suppressing this impractical thought for the mont. She had thought about using sedatives, but when Rong Zhi faced off against Tian Ruyue in the past, with his expertise, he most certainly used this tactic extensively, and the outco demonstrated that this thod was ineffective.
However—
Rong Zhi had once said that Tian Rujing’s capabilities were nowhere near those of his master Tian Ruyue. If it were him, could he possibly have a way?
That thought was also as illusory as a flower in a mirror or the moon’s reflection on water; she didn’t even know where Rong Zhi was currently.
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Rong Zhi sat tranquil in the swaying carriage, and despite the constant rocking, his movents were as serene as if he were sitting on firm ground. In front of him, there was a low, square table where he slowly wrote on a piece of paper, writing a bit slowly due to the instability of the carriage, but his handwriting was neat and elegant.
He Jue sat across from Rong Zhi, cradling a longsword, looking at him with a peculiar expression. Since they had started their journey that morning, Rong Zhi had been writing sothing, pausing occasionally to ponder, then continuing to write. He would write just a few words on each piece of paper, then fold it up carefully. Curious, He Jue had once peeked at what Rong Zhi was writing. Rong Zhi had generously allowed him to look, but the words, although recognizable individually, didn’t make sense when strung together.
It seed like so aningless jumble put together, unable to form coherent sentences.
He Jue, who was sowhat knowledgeable, knew this was likely a specific cipher of Rong Zhi’s, incomprehensible to anyone who hadn’t been pre-inford, which was probably why Rong Zhi wasn’t worried about him seeing it.
He Jue was sowhat curious. Since this morning, Rong Zhi had already written no less than sixty or seventy sheets of paper. The paper they had bought when they passed through the town the afternoon before was already half gone. What kind of secret ssage needed so much writing, and it seed he was not stopping any ti soon?
He had a premonition that every word, every sentence Rong Zhi wrote, seed to possess the power to trigger sothing, like tiny streams of water. However, when all these streams ca together, they would form torrential, raging waves.
He did not doubt that the things Rong Zhi had written down were, in his mind, already a well-ford, huge, intricate, and complex net.
Rong Zhi wrote another sheet, looked outside the carriage briefly, touching the glaring sunlight. Suddenly, his vision darkened, and his body went limp and collapsed.
He Jue stepped forward, caught him, and let him lean back in his arms. Rong Zhi’s eyes were tightly closed, his complexion pale as snow, and the corners of his mouth were sared with bright, fresh blood — he had vomited blood.
He Jue skillfully took out a handkerchief and wiped away the fluid trickling from his mouth.
They had been traveling together for only two days, yet this was not the first ti such an incident had occurred. Initially, He Jue thought Rong Zhi had so scheming plan, but after several tis, he realized how frail Rong Zhi’s body was. Yet, each ti he saw it, he was as surprised as the first ti.
Rong Zhi gave him an overwhelming sensation.
From their first confrontation, he had always been at a disadvantage. Despite his imnse martial prowess, Rong Zhi often manipulated him effortlessly, to the extent that even knowing Rong Zhi’s physical frailty, he often forgot this fact. If not for the agreent already in place between them, he would have harbored thoughts of killing Rong Zhi multiple tis and would have acted upon them.
This was the first ti in his life he had felt such wariness toward soone, the first ti the overwhelming strength of the other did not even provoke a thought of competing. Not even his instructor, who had taught him swordsmanship, or his father, who entrusted the assassin organization to him, had instilled such respect. Yet the person who made him feel this way was a fragile youth who seed like he might fall over with a simple gust of wind, whose life seed on the edge of ending at any mont.
After a while, Rong Zhi slowly opened his eyes, spread a faint smile that suppressed all his pallid weariness. He thanked He Jue, then sat upright in front of the low table and continued the work he hadn’t finished earlier.
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While Rong Zhi was writing, simultaneously, in a different location, Xiao Bie was also writing in a similar manner.
He was writing a letter.
Sitting in the smoothly driving enlarged carriage, a corner of the carriage held a burning incense burner. Below, thick fur mats were laid, absorbing any slight bumps from the carriage.
Xiao Bie’s letter was simple, rely stating that he was soon returning ho and expressing his willingness to accept the arrangent to take over as head of the family.
The carriage was now heading to the east outside of Jiangling City, crossing Huashan Mountain, aiming for the Canghai Guest’s secluded residence.
He planned to stay in Jiangling City for another half-month, using this last half-month to persuade Canghai Guest to leave his seclusion to help him. Having been previously engrossed in music, he hadn’t paid much attention to the power struggle within his family; now returning to take over, he was bound to face so opposition. Canghai Guest’s talent and martial arts were the best he had seen in years, and if he could secure his help, it would greatly aid him in the future.
More importantly, Canghai Guest was blind. This inherent defect limited him; historically, no leader had severe disabilities. Canghai Guest could serve as an advisor, but he could never usurp the principal role.
As an advisor, Canghai Guest was an excellent choice because it was hard for him to be completely independent.
His eyes touched the zither placed beside him. A pang of pain flashed through Xiao Bie’s eyes, Chu Yu’s decisive words still ringing in his ears, utterly igniting his pride.
Without the support of the Xiao Family, he was just soone who played the zither well, insignificant in her eyes, but after getting involved in the secular power struggles, did he still qualify to touch the transcendent tunes of detachnt?
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