Chapter 79: Mutual Warmth
Human potential is limitless. Once you endure the most difficult moments, you discover you can withstand even more.
The snow had accumulated heavily, showing no signs of stopping. Today, the wind picked up, howling as it whipped the snow, chilling one to the bone.
In such freezing weather, the group had no choice but to press forward.
Hua Zhi refused to allow herself to retreat.
Gu Yanxi led his horse to her side. "I must apologize for my impropriety today."
Shaoyao chimed in from nearby, "Hua Hua, the weather is too harsh. My riding skills aren't good enough—I'm afraid I can't manage."
Without any false modesty, Hua Zhi nodded and mounted the horse first.
Gu Yanxi followed, wrapping his thick cloak around Hua Zhi to shield her. Their body heat merged, and even in this icy wilderness, Hua Zhi could feel warmth radiating from behind her.
"Giddy up!"
The horse gradually picked up speed, moving faster and faster.
The saddle was only so large. Even if they weren't pressed tightly together, there wasn't much room to spare, and they occasionally brushed against each other. At first, Hua Zhi tried to sit upright, but as time passed, it became impossible. Thinking that he had no family ties anyway, she simply let go of her reservations. After all, if anyone was at a disadvantage, it was her—as long as she didn't mind, it was fine.
Once she relaxed, the two were almost pressed closely together. The benefit was evident: with support, Hua Zhi felt much more at ease.
Gu Yanxi subtly adjusted his position to let Hua Zhi lean more comfortably, then made no further moves. He treated this as a form of cultivation, fully aware that his every action now would shape Hua Zhi's impression of him. To earn her trust, his conduct throughout this journey was crucial.
Each lost in their own thoughts, their coordination grew increasingly seamless. Hua Zhi would take the reins midway, allowing Gu Yanxi to rest and recover. Taking turns like this made the day considerably easier.
Today's stretch of the journey was the part where they couldn't reach a relay station. Gu Yanxi led the group to a small village.
The sound of hoofbeats startled the villagers. After a chorus of barking dogs and crowing roosters, people gradually emerged from their homes, carrying shoulder poles or chopping knives, their eyes wary.
Hua Zhi recalled what Gu Yanxi had said earlier. Only now, witnessing it firsthand, did she truly believe in the rugged nature of the northern folk.
"Don't dismount. I'll go check it out."
Hua Zhi instinctively pressed her hand over his on the reins and turned to look at him.
Warmed by her concern, Gu Yanxi reassured her gently, "Don't worry. I know someone here."
Hua Zhi glanced toward the village. "I'll have Dongzi take two men with you."
Gu Yanxi didn't refuse her kindness. After dismounting, he looked at Shaoyao.
Shaoyao gave a slight nod, and Gu Yanxi felt at ease. Medicine and poison had always been intertwined, and if anything, Shaoyao was even more skilled with toxins than with healing.
Watching the group enter the village, Shaoyao urged her horse closer to Hua Hua's side. "Yan Ge is incredibly capable. I'd pity anyone who tries to mess with him... Shadowtreader, you're so biased!"
Shaoyao quickly guided her horse away a bit, feeling indignant as she watched Shadowtreader obediently lower its head for Hua Hua's pat. Was it really not allowed for any other horse to get close? So domineering!
Thinking about it, Shaoyao felt a pang of sorrow. Why did even a horse have to compete with her for Hua Hua's attention?"Mischievous." Hua Zhi stroked the horse's mane. Shadowtreader was clearly playing with Shaoyao because he liked her, yet he played so realistically that he always managed to startle her.
Sounds came from ahead, and Hua Zhi quickly looked up, meeting Gu Yanxi's gaze. They stared at each other for a moment before a smile surfaced in Yan Xi's eyes, and he gave a slight nod.
Hua Zhi felt her heart settle.
"This is Chen Tu, an old acquaintance of many years. Chen Tu, you may address her as Miss."
"Miss." Chen Tu responded with unusual alacrity. Given the attitude The Heir showed toward her, he wouldn't hesitate to call her Heir's Consort if required.
Hua Zhi dismounted and curtsied toward him. "My apologies for the intrusion."
Chen Tu hastily stepped aside. "What are you doing, Miss? Everyone faces difficulties when traveling. The wind and snow are heavy—let's get inside quickly."
Chen Tu's house stood at the village entrance, just a few steps away. Hua Zhi glanced around and noticed that the people who had previously peeked out had withdrawn, each household tightly shutting their doors again.
Inside and outside were two different worlds. After a cup of hot water and with the fire stove blazing, the heavy cloak soon became unbearable. Hua Zhi went to the inner room to remove her cloak, washing her hands and face with hot water. When she emerged, freshly baked flatbreads lay on the table, their aroma making the stomachs of those who had only eaten dry rations at noon rumble like drums.
Chen Tu strode in carrying a large earthenware pot, enthusiastically urging, "Come, have something hot to warm up. This weather is truly freezing."
Gu Yanxi somewhat clumsily began ladling soup into bowls. Chen Tu dared not let The Heir do such work and hurriedly reached to take over. Yan Xi handed him the ladle and placed a bowl filled more than halfway with soup before Hua Zhi. "The bread is hard. Eat it with the soup."
"Thank you."
The egg drop soup wasn't particularly flavorful, but drinking a hot bowl of it warmed her entire body, making the taste unimportant.
Hua Zhi ate until she broke into a sweat, moving her stool farther from the fire.
Gu Yanxi swallowed his last bite of bread and reminded her, "Sit closer. Sweating is beneficial."
Hua Zhi had no choice but to move nearer again, her relaxed demeanor appearing somewhat languid.
This was the first time Yan Xi had seen Hua Zhi like this, and he couldn't help watching her a few extra moments. When he sat beside her, he found a particularly justified reason: "Take out the topographic map to study."
Shaoyao, perceptive as ever, went to the inner room to fetch the map and handed it to The Heir.
Gu Yanxi spread it open on his lap, examined it, and said, "We still have two days of travel."
Hua Zhi leaned over to look, and Yanxi naturally shifted his stool closer to hers.
"Will we arrive the day after tomorrow or the following day?"
"The day after tomorrow. The closer we get to the northern borders, the colder it becomes. We can't push the horses too hard." Gu Yanxi folded the map. "We'll arrive by noon the day after tomorrow."
Two and a half days. Hua Zhi watched the dancing flames, feeling perhaps too warm and full, her mind slower than usual.
"How long does Miss plan to stay there?"
"Two or three days. I need a couple of days of proper rest to gather courage for the return journey." Hua Zhi propped her chin on her hand, feeling laziness seeping into her very bones. "The journey back will likely be even harder."
Gu Yanxi refrained from saying anything more discouraging, merely stating, "Perhaps we'll be lucky, and the snow will have stopped by our return."
"Let's hope so." Hua Zhi smiled, pretending not to know that melting snow brought even colder temperatures. "Tonight, I'd like to sleep by this fire."Chen Tu hurriedly said, "I've heated the kang in the room, it's even warmer than here. If you're tired, Miss, you should go inside and rest."
"It wouldn't be right to take the host's bed..."
"Please don't say that. I usually stay in the west room, but it's too messy to invite you in."
Hua Zhi immediately understood and stopped declining. Taking Shaoyao's hand, she stood up and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."
"There's no need for ceremony at all. Please make yourself at home, Miss."
PS: Having slept all day, my mind feels dull and sluggish. There will likely only be one update these days as Kongkong needs to work on script outlines and character profiles. After this busy period, we should resume double updates.
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