Finally, in a corner farther inside the market, Tong Huanyou spotted Xie Zhili carefully selecting horses while discussing something with a horse merchant from time to time.
“Boss, can’t you lower the price any further?” Xie Zhili stared at the brown horse before him, his eyes full of admiration.
“Sir, just look at this horse’s condition—its muscles too! And it’s a pacing horse at that. Compared to ordinary horses, this one’s a genuine thousand-li steed. I truly can’t lower the price any more,” the merchant said while shaking his head.
Xie Zhili tightly gripped the money pouch hidden in his sleeve, sighing as he gazed at the horse lowering its head to eat feed.
At that moment, Tong Huanyou quickly walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “Brother Xie!”
Hearing her voice, Xie Zhili turned around with a surprised expression. “Miss Tong, why are you here as well?”
Tong Huanyou was momentarily speechless. Her eyes darted around before she improvised, “Because I’m buying a horse too.”
Xie Zhili asked, “Where is Miss Tong traveling to?”
“My relatives in Sujing are holding a celebration and sent us a letter inviting us to the banquet,” Tong Huanyou blurted out the lie without hesitation.
“Sujing? What a coincidence—we’re headed to Sujing as well,” Xie Zhili said with a smile.
“Really?” Tong Huanyou widened her eyes and pretended to be surprised before continuing, “My father was just about to hire skilled guards to escort me on the journey, but I don’t really trust other people. Since it’s such a coincidence, why don’t we travel together? I’ll pay double.”
“Th-this…” Xie Zhili hesitated.
Although the three martial siblings traveled to hunt demons mainly for experience rather than money—
Still, having money was always better than not having any.
Seeing him unable to decide, Tong Huanyou shifted her gaze toward the horse and asked, “Which horse did Brother Xie fancy?”
The horse merchant immediately noticed Tong Huanyou’s wealthy demeanor and quickly plastered on a smile. “This one, this one! A top-quality pacing horse. Even if you searched the entire market today, you’d have trouble finding another like it.”
Tong Huanyou spoke boldly, “Alright, we’ll take this horse. Consider it a deposit for Brother Xie.”
Startled, Xie Zhili hurriedly refused. “You mustn’t! Miss Tong!”
Seeing how agitated he became, Tong Huanyou quickly pressed down the hand he was using to stop the merchant and smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, this horse is meant for Sister Song, right?”
Tong Huanyou vaguely remembered this small subplot from the original novel—though it hadn’t happened here. In the original story, Xie Zhili had saved money for a long time before finally buying Song Yingyue a horse later on.
Hearing this, Xie Zhili scratched his head as his face instantly reddened. Embarrassed, he admitted, “Yes. I thought a pacing horse would make the journey less bumpy, but…”
Tong Huanyou raised her brows slightly and said firmly, “Then all the more reason! Brother Xie can earn money from escorting me while buying this horse early. Wouldn’t Sister Song suffer less from the rough ride that way?”
The horse merchant quickly jumped in, “Exactly, exactly! Good horses depend on fate to encounter, and pacing horses are especially rare nowadays.”
Xie Zhili fell silent for a moment before finally making up his mind. He cupped his fists respectfully and said gratefully, “Then Xie shall thank Miss Tong here.”
Seeing the matter settled, Tong Huanyou immediately took out banknotes from her sleeve and handed them to the merchant. “We’ll take this horse. At the same time, we also want two more fine horses and a sturdy carriage. Deliver them to the Tong residence tomorrow.”
The merchant beamed with joy and nodded repeatedly. “Certainly, certainly!”
Afterward, the two didn’t linger any longer. Carrying a few items, they continued wandering through the market and bought more supplies elsewhere.
Tong Huanyou chatted idly the whole way, trying to get closer to Xie Zhili.
Just then, a familiar aroma drifted into her nose.
“Chestnuts! Sweet and fragrant chestnuts!”
Tong Huanyou’s eyes lit up instantly. Her legs practically stopped moving on their own as she halted before the stall.
“Boss, give me two bags of chestnuts,” she said eagerly.
“Coming right up!” The vendor immediately packed two bags and handed them over.
Xie Zhili was just about to pay when Tong Huanyou beat him to it. With one hand she accepted the chestnuts, and with the other she handed over the money. Then she passed one bag to Xie Zhili.
“If it’s convenient, could Brother Xie help me give the other bag to Young Master Yu?”
Thinking back to how Yu Qingci hadn’t seemed particularly resistant last time, she figured she still needed to keep buttering him up for affection points.
“It seems Junior Brother and Miss Tong get along quite well,” Xie Zhili remarked in surprise.
Tong Huanyou casually peeled a chestnut and tossed it into her mouth, laughing awkwardly. “Is that unusual?”
Xie Zhili nodded in agreement. “Quite unusual indeed. In my memory, although my junior brother is gentle and considerate, aside from Yingyue, he rarely speaks with others. Even I’m no exception.”
Tong Huanyou rubbed her nose as memories surfaced of Yu Qingci mockingly taunting her earlier…
Mm. So very “gentle and considerate.” Truly the gentlest person she’d ever met in her life.
“What an honor for me then, hahaha…” Tong Huanyou laughed dryly.
Meanwhile, the Zhang family courtyard was wrapped in silence.
Yu Qingci stood quietly beside Song Yingyue before the mourning hall.
Song Yingyue clasped her hands together, eyes gently closed, softly chanting a prayer for the dead:
“By the Supreme Edict, I pardon thy lonely soul. All ghosts and spirits alike, may the four forms of life receive grace…”
Yu Qingci stood nearby with his hands folded before him, his gaze fixed upon the ancestral tablet ahead. His expression was dark and unreadable.
Brother Zhang knelt nearby, looking at Yu Qingci and Song Yingyue with eyes full of gratitude.
His lips trembled slightly, and his voice came out hoarse and choked with emotion. “Thank you… thank you both…”
His gaze landed on the memorial tablet inscribed with Beloved Wife of the Zhang Family, Ji Si. Unable to bear the grief in his heart, he lowered his head and let burning tears fall onto the back of his hands.
After finishing the prayer, Song Yingyue stepped forward and gently patted Brother Zhang’s shoulder. Softly, she comforted him, “Brother Zhang, please restrain your grief. Aunt Zhang would not wish to see you suffer so deeply…”
Brother Zhang nodded heavily as tears once again welled from his eyes. “I know. My wife was an exceptionally strong and optimistic person. I too will not waste away the rest of my life in despair…”
The late autumn wind, usually piercingly cold, seemed far gentler today. A white butterfly fluttered past the courtyard gates and quietly landed on Brother Zhang’s shoulder.
“To have spent several years together as husband and wife with her in this life—even if not for a lifetime—was already the greatest fortune of my life. Zhang thanks the two Daoist masters for performing rites for my wife.”
“There’s no need for thanks, Brother Zhang.”
The two stood quietly with him for a while longer, offering a few more words of comfort before silently turning to leave.
After departing the Zhang family courtyard and walking along the street—
Song Yingyue suddenly sighed emotionally. “Life is truly unpredictable. So too are life and death.”
Yu Qingci tilted his head slightly and replied gently, “Don’t worry, Sister. In this lifetime, I will search the world for every divine medicine until your cold illness is cured.”