The ger, his hair still tied in that characteristically high ponytail, carried himself with the same spirited air as always. Yet this time, a faint trace of concern and disapproval creased his brow.
After paying his respects to the City Lord, he drew Wang Jin aside to a more secluded spot. "A-Yao," he urged, his voice low and earnest, "going to sea is no trivial matter. You can still change your mind now. Let Cheng Li handle the search. He's the Martial Hall Master, this is originally his duty anyway."
"No, I want to go." Wang Jin shook his head: "Brother Heng is still at sea."
"A-Yao!" Shi Yu frowned and complained: "It's always for a beastman... Every time you act boldly, it's for a beastman... Can't you think properly for yourself? You only have one life."
Wang Jin was taken aback, knowing that Shi Yu was referring to the previous incident where the original owner, for Cheng Bai's sake, boldly left the city and ended up missing... That time the original owner disappeared, but Cheng Bai remained in Ning'an City, not the least bit worried, until later when he was forced by Cheng Li and Xi Ning to go search for the original owner.
Wang Jin knew that after Shi Yu learned of this matter, he had always looked down on Cheng Bai, feeling that Cheng Bai had failed the original owner, and had always been averse to the original owner's mindset of treating Cheng Bai as their entire world.
He felt the original owner was degrading themself. Wang Jin actually somewhat agreed with this view, but...
He smiled softly and said: "Shi Yu, Brother Heng is different from Cheng Bai."
"What dif..." Shi Yu's words weren't finished when he saw the person before him staring firmly into the distance, his gaze as gentle as water.
Shi Yu followed the other's gaze, but only saw the vast, calm sea surface...
Shi Yu blinked, confirming the view before him was merely the ordinary stretch of sea. But when his gaze returned to the ger, he saw that the other's usually bright eyes now shimmered with unshed tears. The depth of affection in his gaze was so palpable it seemed to spill over, as if he weren't looking at the ocean at all, but at a lover waiting for him somewhere beyond the horizon.
He wasn't journeying into a realm of unknown dangers; he was simply going to the sea to return to his lover's embrace.
"......" Shi Yu's countless words stuck in his throat all at once. Seeing the person before him like this, he knew that no amount of talking could sway him in the slightest.
Even when he had feelings for Cheng Bai before, he was never this resolute about anything.
It seems that ancient beastman truly holds a special place in his heart.
And that ancient beastman...
Shi Yu remembered the last time he went to find this person, that ancient beastman came out to see him off and they chatted once...
That ancient beastman, though polite towards people, always seemed separated by a barrier, hard to get close to. Only when talking about this person would that barrier blocking outsiders loosen slightly...
If one said this person was very special towards the ancient beastman, wasn't the ancient beastman the same towards him?
They already couldn't fit any other person or matter between them.
Shi Yu slightly curled his lips: "I'm afraid Cheng Bai really has no chance now."
"?" Wang Jin snapped back to reality, looking at Shi Yu in confusion, not understanding why he suddenly said such a thing.
Shi Yu said: "I, for one, am happy to see it. Fine, that beastman of yours is, after all, an ancient beastman. Moreover, the City Lord has agreed to let you go to sea, and you have the Martial Hall Master protecting you closely. If you want to go, then go."
After saying this, Shi Yu paused for a moment and said: "Just, if you come back and are preparing for marriage, you must wait for me to return. I have to drink your wedding wine!"
Wang Jin was startled: "Are you leaving?"
Shi Yu gave his ponytail a light toss. "My father and I are traveling merchants—we're never in one place for long. A trip back to the city usually means just two or three days of rest, but I've already stretched it to over ten. Our contacts have been sending one message after another, urging us to move on. Father insists we set out tomorrow without delay. This time, we're headed for a distant tribe. The journey there and back will take a month or two, so I'm afraid I won't be here when you return."
"......" Wang Jin felt a sense of reluctance. This person, though rough and straightforward, was one of the rare few in Ning'an City who had been good to the original owner.
Wang Jin pressed his lips together and said: "Don't worry, the wedding wine for me and Brother Heng will definitely wait for you to return."
"Mm." Shi Yu nodded. He glanced towards the City Lord and said: "Let's go, they are all waiting for you."
As Wang Jin approached Xi Ning, he discovered that Pan Shulin and Pan Yue were both there.
Behind them followed a team of beastman troops.
"Brother... what is this?" Wang Jin asked Xi Ning in surprise.
Before Xi Ning could speak, Pan Shulin stepped forward first, grabbing Wang Jin's hand and saying: "A-Yao, my brother and I are going with you. My brother is leading a team of elite beastman troops; they will definitely be able to help."
"......" Wang Jin withdrew his hand: "That won't be necessary. With Cheng..."
Not wanting to call someone by their full name directly, Wang Jin paused and said: "With Brother Cheng helping."
Cheng Li was startled. Pan Shulin glanced at Cheng Li, then once again affectionately took Wang Jin's hand and said: "But... A-Yao, the City Lord has already agreed."
"......" Wang Jin's gaze went over Pan Shulin's shoulder, looking at Xi Ning.
Xi Ning nodded towards Wang Jin. Wang Jin frowned.
Pan Shulin gave people a very gloomy and uncomfortable feeling. His inexplicable desire to follow along surely had an ulterior motive, even he could see that. If he could see it, he didn't believe his brother couldn't.
Since he could see it, why did Xi Ning still allow this person to come along?
Perhaps sensing Wang Jin's confusion, Xi Ning spoke up: "Having more people is safer overall."
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