"Milady," Xiao De asked, worried. "Aren't you going to go out today? You haven't gone out for over three days..."
Shang Xin Ci would usually go outside into the city to distribute alms to the beggars and other such unfortunate people about this time. However, lately, a shadow had been cast over her face; a darkness had permeated her features which had once been illuminated by the sunshine of being reunited with her father. She now had a more tired, haggard look. Her makeup concealed the bags beneath her eyes well enough, but her eyes still had the faint redness that came from lack of sleep.
With that said, despite what her own worries were, she did not want to deprive the people of the city of what she felt that they were owed.
Xiao De wanted to encourage Shang Xin Ci and felt that some fresh air would be good for her. She also knew what it was that bothered her, but could do nothing about it.
What bothered Shang Xin Ci was Fang Yuan's prolonged absence. He had disappeared overnight, which, given his free-spirited nature, was not entirely something that they had not foreseen. Still it was strange for him to go without leaving any word of where he was going or even a message. She could understand that Fang Yuan had multiple matters to take care of, but leaving an Information-Type Gu Worm only took seconds.
Moreover, his unexplained vanishing without a return had made her worried for Fang Yuan's safety.
It was strange that they had heard nothing of him ever since he had left the city.
A Rank 5 Gu Master going anywhere would generate waves wherever they went, and the Shang Clan's information network would have picked it up and relayed it back to her father, and yet this had not happened. Even something like Fang Yuan being dead was noteworthy enough that news of it would quickly spread through the entirety of the Southern Border.
However, there just was nothing.
Nothing at all.
How could that be?
He was a man who always liked helping people. Surely someone whom he would have helped while he was outside the city would have gotten to know about him with his kindness?
Where was Fang Yuan? Was he safe? He was a righteous hero, after all. What if some ruthless demonic cultivator had gotten to him?
That would require a strength that would be almost impossible unless they too were of Rank 5 or higher. And Fang Yuan at that would not let his guard down before them.
But a voice within her piped up, a voice that was nagging at her heart. Fang Yuan was kind - sometimes too kind for his own good. What if a demonic cultivator had convinced him that they needed help and then he was struck off guard?
"All right then, let's go outside for a change," she said, not wanting to dwell on those thoughts any longer. "I've been away from helping others for so long..."
"You really are kind, going outside to help people even when you're in a bad mood," Xiao De added as they walked through the proud Shang Clan City.
"Actually, it is something that my teacher once told me," Shang Xin Ci said, referring to Fang Yuan. "'Let me teach you something people often misunderstood, they say never be kind to the wrong person, you'll regret it. But regret only exist when your actions depend on outcomes. True strength lies in doing something not because it benefits you, but doing it because it aligns with your will. I am kind when I choose to be, not because you deserve it, not because i expect anything in return, but because it is my choice. Betray me, lie to me, take advantage of me, that is your nature, but my kindness, that is mine. I do not change who i am just because the world failed to meet my expectations. In a world of schemers and betrayers, to remain untouched, to remain kind not because of hope, but because of will, that is not weakness, that is control, that is strength.'"
"Ah, wise words indeed," Xiao De said. She felt that such a thought process was a bit too extreme, but didn't want to say anything to upset Shang Xin Ci. As it was, it didn't sound like Shang Xin Ci was interpreting it wrongly.
Those words both warmed and chilled Shang Xin Ci's heart as they reminded her of Fang Yuan once more. Her eyes scanned the crowd, as if hoping that she would suddenly see his face among them.
Could it have been that dastardly Liu Nan's fault? The man seemed to have a grudge against Fang Yuan for some reason, meaning that the most likely culprit would also have been him.
And yet they had heard nothing of that man either.
One of the old men she happened to see often by a street corner approached her instead of the usual way around.
"Ah, yes, for today as well," Shang Xin Ci said, being snapped out of her train of thought by this man as she reached into her bag.
"Actually, Lady Shang Xin Ci is truly too kind," the man answered, giving her a grin which was missing several teeth. Those which remained were a dirty shade of yellow. Shang Xin Ci almost shrank back from him slightly from the bad breath he was giving out. "But I have something for Lady Shang Xin Ci today instead."
A bit taken aback, she said, "I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"
"Indeed, I have a little gift for Lady Shang Xin Ci," the beggar said. "Our Supreme Elder has returned to the city."
Her eyes immediately lit up.
"Our Supreme Elder? Wait, could you mean...?"
"Yes, Lord Fang Yuan. I know that you've been searching for him," the man said.
"I have to go find him!" Shang Xin Ci immediately ran off down the street with little regard for decorum before fully processing what she had heard and realizing that she didn't know where Fang Yuan was.
"Ah, I'm sorry," she said, running back to where she had started, flushed with embarrassment. "But where is Fang Yuan right now?"
"Ah, Lady Shang Xin Ci, there's no need to worry. Supreme Elder said that he would be seeking you out now that he's back within the city to beg your answer. Although I know where he was earlier based on his movements, he's probably moved since then. I'd reckon he's going to the Inner City," came the answer.
"I see, I see," she said. She glanced around the crowd once more, wondering if they might happen to cross paths now.
When she didn't see a sign of Fang Yuan, she rushed off toward the inner city. She abandoned the rations on the street, assuming that the beggars could simply partition it amongst themselves.
"Missy, please wait!" Xiao De called out, struggling to keep pace with her.
Wei Yang had managed to arrive to greet her before Fang Yuan.
"Have you happened to hear the news?" he asked.
"Is this about Fang Yuan?" she asked.
"Yes is it?" Wei Yang answered.
"How did you know?"
"It's written all over your face that there are very few other things that could cause you to have such an expression," Wei Yang said naturally. "I take it that you've heard the news. Yes, Fang Yuan is returning to the city. But before you meet up with him, there is something that I need to tell you. It's a message from your father."
Wei Yang explained in a few sentences that Fang Yuan had become Rank 6, that this was considered confidential information for the time being, and that Fang Yuan would be entering the city as a Rank 5 Peak Stage Gu Master.