Fortune Across the World

Chapter 91: When Paths Diverge (Part One)

Lu Weixi and her companions arrived in Xing City early the next morning. Throughout the journey, Weixi was caught in a battle between emotion and reason. Whenever she thought of her parents' love and the teachings of propriety, attempting to sever her emotional ties, Qiyu's gentle voice and tender gaze would invade her mind, breaking down her defenses. Yet, each time she longed for the warmth of Qiyu's embrace and the softness of her lips, guilt towards her parents would extinguish the flames of her feelings. Weixi felt ensnared in a tangled web of thorns, unable to clear her mind. Her heart was heavy, and she grew visibly thinner. Both Lu Weiming and Qing'er tried to comfort her, but to no avail, as they couldn't grasp the depth of her turmoil.

The carriage stopped at the gate of the General’s Manor. Qing'er helped Weixi down, but despite this routine on the journey, Weixi couldn’t get used to it. She resisted the urge to glance at a nearby courtyard gate and entered the manor with Qing'er's support, acutely aware that Qiyu was just beyond those walls. Yet two walls and two doors separated them, embodying the phrase "so close yet worlds apart."

Ding Qiyu spent the night motionless in contemplation, gradually coming to terms with some things. She emerged from her room, freshened up, and glanced towards the main house, noting the stillness. With a sigh, she set out alone, heading directly to the state-run Transport Bureau in Xing City, which functioned like the transit hubs in her previous world, offering rentals and tickets for travel.

Approaching a middle-aged man at the counter, Qiyu asked, "Excuse me, sir, what's the quickest way to get to Jiangnan?"

The man looked up and inquired, "Jiangnan's a vast area. Which city are you heading to?"

"Uh…" Qiyu hesitated, unsure of her exact destination. "What's the largest city in Jiangnan?"

Amused by her uncertainty, the man remained patient. "Jiangnan has two major cities: Yizhou and Chengzhou. Which one are you going to?"

"Yizhou, I guess. What's the best way to get there?" Lacking a specific destination, Qiyu randomly chose one.

"Hold on, let me check," he replied, flipping through a booklet. "From Xing City to Yizhou, the most convenient and safest route is by water. Take a boat down the Xing River to Ding City, then transfer to a boat bound for Yizhou via the Xingyu Canal to Yujiang. After crossing Yujiang, you can either continue by land or take a tributary to reach Yizhou."

The unfamiliar place names made Qiyu's head spin, regretting not paying more attention in class. "How long would that take?"

After checking again, the man said, "Factoring in stops and any unforeseen delays, it could take twenty days to a month. There's a boat to Ding City departing from Fenglin Dock the afternoon after tomorrow."

"And after that?" Qiyu asked, clenching her fists, unsure of what she was hesitating or hoping for.

The man shook his head, "I haven’t received any schedules beyond that."

Qiyu stood silent for a moment, then sighed and thanked him before leaving. Returning home, she encountered Lian'er emerging from the main house. Clearly, she hadn't slept well, with puffy eyes and dark circles. Avoiding eye contact, Qiyu went straight to her room. Sitting at her desk, she hesitated before writing a short note, placing it in an envelope marked "To Weixi." With the letter in hand, she left the house, briefly meeting Lian'er's gaze in the courtyard before quickly looking away and heading out the door.