Though Shen Yuan heard bandits would act up during winter, his journey to Lin An with Ji Zhixuan was an uneventful one. Most likely, the work of the 'maids'.
Since they weren't in a hurry, they only traveled during the day and stopped by the nearest town to properly rest at an inn for the night. With how much colder the temperature became after sundown, Shen Yuan wouldn't prefer it any other way.
With their pace, they finally arrived at Lin An on the evening of the ninth day, and the carriage brought them directly to the port. The weather was less cold than in the capital—enough to let Shen Yuan shed his cloak—almost as if time turned back to late autumn. The wind carried the taste of sea and flocks of birds could still be seen gliding across the sky.
A guide welcomed them and led the way to the dock until they stopped in front of a large ship. While Wang Ren paid the guide and the maids carried their luggage in, Ji Zhixuan brought Shen Yuan up the deck to admire the golden shimmer of dusk. Clouds scattered above them like wisterias and aureate lights frisked about on the surface of the water.
It was the first time Shen Yuan had laid his eyes on the horizon. He never knew something as mundane as the passing of time could create such a dream-like view. If he could ever retire, he wanted to spend the rest of his time where he could see this view every day with his lover.
Not that he ever could. He doubted reality still retained this kind of beauty anyway.
He sighed and rested his head on Ji Zhixuan's shoulder. As the sea swallowed half of the sun, he opened his mouth. "That night. At the festival. Did you see what reality is like?"
"No, only 2 of our past lives."
"Well, that fortune teller couldn't even tell where I came from. I guess that makes sense."
"Mn." Ji Zhixuan lowered his eyes at Shen Yuan. "But it's alright. I'm looking forward to exploring it with you."
"There's nothing worth exploring. The sky is perpetually bleak and you'll only see dull steel and schizophrenic neon lights everywhere you go. The food is bad, the air is bad, and the weather is bad." Shen Yuan let out a small laugh. "Really, between here and there, I'd rather stay here."
"It seems I didn't make myself clear. What I'm looking forward to isn't the exploration itself." Ji Zhixuan planted a kiss on Shen Yuan's hair. "It's spending my time with you."
Shen Yuan scoffed in amusement. "You really know how to talk, huh? Do you have those words ready in your head for when you need them?"
"I can't let myself fall flat with such an eloquent wife who whispers the devil's words into my ears every day, now can I?"
Once the sun completely set, the maids had set up dinner at the deck with lanterns hanging along the railings and veiling them in a soft, warm hue. The night breeze was pleasantly cool and the cloudless sky was perfect for them to enjoy their meal while gazing at the moon.
Thinking they would be trying the town's specialty, Shen Yuan had mentally prepared himself to eat seafood only to find the usual array of food on the table.
He took his seat before asking, "Does this town not have any specialty?"
Ji Zhixuan poured the wine for Shen Yuan and himself. "As this is a coastal town, of course, they're specialized in fish and other seafood. You don't like them, do you?"
"Did I ever tell you that?" Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows and realized something. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't eaten a single fish with Ji Zhixuan.
"No, I just have a feeling. It's how I know you like osmanthus tea." Ji Zhixuan placed the wine jar aside. "Maybe you told me in our past lives."
"Well, rather than telling, I found out that I don't like seafood. At least raw ones. There's no way of eating seafood back in reality after all." Shen Yuan would never forget the indescribable taste of raw jellyfish in his mouth. "I'm not sure about cooked ones. Who knows? Maybe I'll like it as long it doesn't taste fishy."
"Let's have fish soup for breakfast then. We can go to a porridge house nearby."
"Let me guess, it's yours?"
"Would I endorse any other business than mine?"
Shen Yuan only shook his head and picked up his chopsticks to start eating. "How long will it take for the flowers to bloom?"
Ji Zhixuan also began his meal. "From what I read in the records, it always took around 12 to 15 days in the past. Rather than their full bloom, the true indicator is when the earth shakes. It is certain that the flowers will bloom the day after, indicating the sanctuary has fully opened its door. We will set sail after the quake to arrive there as soon as possible."
"We need to wait for at least 5 days, huh?" Shen Yuan swallowed his food. "Your father and General Zhou will arrive in around 2 days, right? I won't be surprised if he plans to come here and convince you again."
"With his entourage, we'll know when he comes. We just have to stay out of sight and ignore him."
"Your father would cough blood if he heard that."
"Like he hasn't already," Ji Zhixuan replied without a hint of guilt.
"What is the emperor looking for anyway?"
"Elixirs. Particularly one that can prolong his life or better yet, makes him immortal."
"There are fathers who are unfortunate to have a son like you and then there are children who are unfortunate to have a father like him." Shen Yuan tutted. "Does he plan to rule forever? I'd just kill him if I'm a prince."
"That's why the princes are also going to the sanctuary. Not to mention commoners and people all over the world. The vastness of the sanctuary is impossible to calculate and some even said the landscape changes every century. With this many hunters, fights will be inevitable."
"The sanctuary is just a poison gu, huh?"
"That can't be more accurate." Ji Zhixuan swallowed his food and looked up at Shen Yuan. "If there is still something you need to do about that surname Zhou, I suggest taking action before we enter. We're going to have to focus on navigating our way inside."
"I mean, since he doesn't have any thoughts about me anymore—"
"That stubborn pest is still trying to talk to you."
"He does?" Shen Yuan thought Zhou Yi had given up after he got married to Ji Zhixuan. Maid Lin had always told him every time Zhou Yi was near so he could avoid him. She never did after their marriage.
"The maids have been keeping him in line since you don't have any need for him anymore. Why should you exhaust yourself when that nuisance is the one making trouble?"
Shen Yuan took a couple of bites of his food as he considered for a while. To be honest, he was a little baffled by Zhou Yi's persistence. Unlike the two previous instances, they had only talked twice.
Well, Ji Zhixuan also became attached to him in their first meeting, but that was a different story and their feelings were mutual. He didn't even seduce Zhou Yi that much in their first meeting, much less their second. He didn't have such a godly brainwashing ability that he could make people fall mindlessly in love with him with only one or two words.
Unless…
He carried memory fragments just like Ji Zhixuan.
If he did, it meant those memories wouldn't simply be stored in the back of his subconscious mind. Moreover, an S-grade power user could reach a greater depth of their mind to fetch any memories they needed. He could choose what to remember and what to forget to his will.
He should set up some narrative. Although he could fake his death after the mission was over, he still had to use this body for the upcoming sessions. It would be bad if Zhou Yi gained awareness in the middle of it and suspected something.
Seeing his brows draw tighter, Ji Zhixuan frowned in worry. "Ah Yuan?"
"I might have to talk to him. Just to be safe." Shen Yuan rubbed his temple and sighed. "Is that alright?"
"…Mn. Do what you have to do."
"Thanks. And sorry."
"I know you're doing it for us." Ji Zhixuan put down his chopsticks and took a sip of his wine. "But I do have to be honest that it still feels unpleasant to give him the opportunity to stand close to you, much less spend time with you. Though there is no need for those two words between us, I wish to have compensation for my priceless quality time with you that he will, undeservingly, steal away from me."
Shen Yuan chuckled in amusement and tilted his head in with a beguiling smile. "And what compensation does our dear client wish? This shop guarantees 100% satisfaction."
Ji Zhixuan narrowed his eyes. "Costume. One for every incense time."
"Deal."