Chapter 61: Echo of Destiny
“Boss, boss~”
“Coming, coming, really now, couldn’t you young lady come another day, must you come when it’s raining like this…”
Inside Xianfeng City, a clothing shop owner carried two small paper bags while rubbing his arms as he walked to the counter.
Luohe stood at a distance, holding his umbrella, watching quietly.
“This weather is truly dreadful, it wasn’t nearly so cold just now, but now it’s freezing…”
Luohe gave him an apologetic look.
The shopkeeper opened the paper bags, revealing two simple long robes and pants, practical traveling clothes.
“But these clothes you ordered… what, are you going on a long journey?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Liu Miao nodded.
The flower shop owner was leaving, and although the flower shop would remain, Liu Miao actually planned to leave too.
She felt that if she wanted to progress in cultivation, she couldn’t stay in Xianfeng City forever.
It was too small.
After checking that both garments were fine, Liu Miao put them away, then took out those few pieces of silver from her small pouch and placed them on the counter.
“And that one, that one.”
“Aiya… don’t rush, I’ll bring it right over.”
The clothing shop owner walked back again and brought out a dark red robe.
Liu Miao liked bright colors, so this garment had striking color contrasts.
But its decorative style appeared plain and unadorned, giving an impression that wasn’t eye-catching but rather more comfortable at first glance.
Moreover, the fabric quality looked much better than her previous two traveling outfits.
The shopkeeper brought it over while appreciatively remarking:
“This garment is truly excellent, but it’s particular about who wears it. Only someone with fine bearing could carry it off.”
“The man you’ve set your eyes on must be quite a refined jade of a person, otherwise this garment would be wasted.”
“Boss, don’t talk nonsense, it’s not for some man I’ve set my eyes on.”
Liu Miao glanced in Luohe’s direction and quickly took the garment.
“Hmm? I remember you don’t have anyone else at home… so who are you making such a beautiful garment for?”
“For my… um… for my…”
Seeing her struggling to explain, the experienced clothing shop owner guessed most of the truth.
He sighed deeply, shaking his head:
“Liu Shuishui, you’ve grown up before the eyes of us neighbors, and you’re practically family.”
“I know girls your age won’t listen to anything, so I won’t try to persuade you and risk making you dislike me.”
“All I can say is, be careful, and don’t get tricked by some untrustworthy fellow.”
“…”
Untrustworthy fellow.
Luohe blinked.
Seems like he’s talking about me.
Too bad he wasn’t an untrustworthy person; he was a proper ghost.
Liu Miao didn’t bother explaining further and immediately took the clothes and ran under Luohe’s umbrella.
The shopkeeper leaned on the counter, sighing at Liu Miao’s retreating figure.
Hmm… strange, why did it seem like no rain was falling on that girl’s head?
The clothing shop owner rubbed his eyes, turned and walked back into the shop, closing the door, figuring his eyes were just getting old.
…
“Mr. Luo, look.”
Liu Miao held up the garment in front of Luohe.
“Even someone like me knows to change clothes often and wear nice clothes.”
“Mm… although you look good in your current clothes too, I think it’s still best to change more often.”
Since their first meeting, Liu Miao had always seen Luohe wearing the same cyan-white long robes.
It wasn’t until she went to order her traveling clothes that this idea occurred to her.
So after preparing everything else she needed, Liu Miao spent the rest on ordering this dark red garment.
Luohe’s appearance and temperament were very refined, and the clothes he wore were also refined.
Such a refined person, if he wore something with a touch of aggression…
Hmm…
Liu Miao’s mind began to wander.
“…I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
“But, Liu Shuishui.”
“Have you considered how I would wear it?”
“…Ah.”
Liu Miao snapped back to reality, thought for a moment, then suddenly realized.
She seemed to have done the same thing as when she offered sacrificial items.
She looked at the clothes in her hands, then at Luohe, torn.
Finally, she tentatively asked in a small voice:
“Can I… can I burn it for you…”
“…”
Stay calm, stay calm.
Luohe looked at Liu Miao asking cautiously and felt that heaven was indeed fair.
When it gives you something, it definitely takes something away.
So Luohe just smiled and patted her head.
Good child, run along now.
In that moment, Liu Miao suddenly felt Luohe’s gaze was very loving.
“This garment is very nice. You can keep it for yourself.”
“Hmm…”
Seeing that Liu Miao’s spirits still weren’t very high, Luohe thought for a moment and said to her:
“Watch this.”
Luohe’s form suddenly became hazy, and when it solidified again, his clothes had changed to that dark red garment.
On this misty rainy day, he stood holding an umbrella in the mist.
The red silk mixed with black was like dancing fire butterflies, fluttering through the rain.
“…”
Liu Miao stared blankly, hugging the clothes in her arms.
Soon after, they walked back to the flower shop entrance.
The rain grew heavier, pattering loudly.
Luohe looked at the sky—it was time to go.
He turned his head to find Liu Miao also standing still, looking at him.
Clearly, she too sensed the atmosphere of parting.
“Your talent is excellent. If you cultivate well, you will certainly achieve something remarkable.”
“But your nature is too simple. You must be more careful in the future and not be deceived. Finding a reliable sect and a reliable master would benefit you greatly.”
“To be honest, even now, I’m still not sure whether stepping onto the immortal path is a good choice for you… but perhaps for us, good or bad isn’t important.”
“What matters is whether we have regrets.”
“May you, after experiencing a thousand journeys, look back on today and feel that everything was without regret.”
“Later, if fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
“Oh, and if you do go to the Tianzhen Sword Sect… whatever you do, don’t mention my name.”
…
Fate.
Liu Miao repeated these two words in her heart.
She watched Luohe nod to her.
“Goodbye, Liu Shuishui.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Luo.”
Her voice was very faint, instantly drowned in the pouring rain.
But she knew Luohe had heard her.
Luohe’s figure gradually disappeared into the rain.
“…”
Luohe concealed his form, suppressed his aura, and walked slowly.
Reaching the end of the street, he saw a figure approaching from the distant city gate.
The rain was heavy; he couldn’t see clearly.
He could only make out that it seemed to be a woman, holding what looked like… a sword?
And a broken one at that.
If he were to use his soul power to see clearly, he would have to break his current concealment.
So he decided to set aside his curiosity.
The A-Jiao umbrella, as a soul artifact given by that mysterious woman, had powerful aura-concealing effects. Luohe channeled a stream of spiritual energy into the umbrella and continued on his way.
The woman in the rain turned into another alley, with just a wall separating them. Luohe could faintly hear her footsteps.
But finally, they grew distant in the heavy rain.
On the other side of the wall, she suddenly sensed something.
She hesitated for a moment, then immediately climbed over the wall, but in the increasingly violent downpour, she could feel nothing.
This trip to the back mountain had yielded nothing.
She hadn’t found Su Huanhuan, nor had she found… him.
Gu Jing stood blankly in the rain for a long time, until the surging curtain of rain completely swallowed her figure.
But illusions wouldn’t always remain illusions, just as when a gun appears in a book, it is destined to be fired.
Destinies meant to collide will eventually echo with each other.
…