"Using hair as a catalyst should yield good results, right?"
Without any surprises, the long-awaited answer was finally within reach.
Shenhe's heart pounded uncontrollably.
She gripped the few strands of black hair, closed her eyes, and began to channel the divination art. Immediately, scenes related to Ji an flickered through her mind. But most of the fragments were broken and disjointed, even shrouded in a thick mist that made it impossible for her to see clearly.
Why is this happening? The heavenly secrets concerning him seem to be obscured by some kind of power.
Shenhe felt both astonished and puzzled.
After learning the divination art, she had secretly tried it on others and had mostly succeeded, differing only in the amount of information she could glean. Logically, the more closely related the catalyst was to the target of the divination, the better the results. Once, using a feather she had found from the Cloud Retainer, Shenhe even saw a scene of the adeptus bathing the young secretary from the yuehai Pavilion.
So why, of all people, was she unable to see Ji an's past and present lives clearly.
Could it truly be that fate was toying with her?
Let me try again.
Shenhe gritted her teeth, unwilling to give up, and increased the flow of adeptal energy channeled into the divination. Gradually, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. The intense use of this divination art placed a heavy burden on her body.
I just want an answer!
Shenhe's consciousness persisted, wandering through countless fragmented scenes, searching for memories related to An'er. Finally, as her adeptal energy reached its limit, a blurry image flashed before her eyes and then rapidly shattered into pieces.
Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, Shenhe recognized it.
It was the scene from her dream, where she held the infant An'er in swaddling clothes.
She had finally found her answer.
"At last, I've found you…"
Shenhe opened her eyes, her body trembling as she covered her face and wept softly.
…
It took a long while for Shenhe to somewhat calm her emotions. After tidying up Ji'an's room, she pushed the door open and walked out.
Downstairs in the inn.
"Let me tell you, that young lady with white hair might be exceptionally beautiful, but up here…" The waiter, chatting with a few regular customers, pointed to his head and said with a sigh, "She doesn't seem quite right."
As he spoke, he glanced inadvertently toward the staircase and suddenly stared, dumbfounded.
"Miss, when… when did you go upstairs!?"
Shenhe descended the stairs, lost in thought. Hearing the waiter's question, she only offered a soft apology. The waiter should have rushed over and scolded her loudly. But seeing the sorrow and melancholy between the white-haired lady's brows, he couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh. He simply watched as Shenhe left the inn.
A regular customer asked curiously, "Wang Xiao'er, that white-haired lady barged into someone else's guest room, affecting your inn's business. Not only did you not report it to the Millelith, but with your temper, you actually let her go without saying a word?"
The waiter shook his head and sighed. "Forget it. She's so beautiful; perhaps she had no other choice."
"Tsk!" Everyone chimed in with sounds of disapproval.
…
Shenhe walked out of the inn, her expression somewhat dazed.
Having finally obtained the answer she had long sought, she should have felt relieved. But contrary to expectations, her heart felt even more tormented and uncertain.
As for why, naturally, it was because she simply couldn't imagine what state of mind she should adopt when facing Ji'an.
It wasn't that she didn't want to see him—she desperately did. If possible, she wished she could rush to An'er right now, hold him tightly in her arms, and pour out her longing.
She was afraid to see him!
Back then, it was she who, weighing the pros and cons, chose the people of Liyue over Ji'an and abandoned him. Shenhe still couldn't forget the disappointed and self-mocking smile on An'er's face just before he vanished into the spatial rift. He must have been utterly heartbroken back then… He must have been in such pain.
Now, every time Shenhe recalled that smile of his, it felt as if countless sharp blades were piercing her heart, reminding her of the cruelty she had inflicted upon her beloved child. What made it even more laughable was that her self-righteous weighing of pros and cons had ended in losing both sides.
"Why did I hurt you again and again…"
Shenhe choked back a sob, her fists clenching so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Yet this physical pain paled in comparison to the anguish in her heart.
Amid the bustling streets, she wandered aimlessly as if her soul had left her.
"Grilled Tiger Fish! Delicious and affordable!"
Suddenly, she caught the scent of food, accompanied by a man's hearty call. She instinctively looked up.
It was a shop bearing the signboard 'Wanmin Restaurant.'
Shenhe slowly shifted her gaze and continued walking forward. Although the aroma of the grilled fish was irresistibly tempting in a way she had never experienced before, she was accustomed to immortal herbs and morning dew and had never cared much for mortal desires of the palate. Moreover, given her current desolate state of mind, she had no appetite for anything.
"Hey, Miss, care to try Wanmin Restaurant's specialty? Freshly grilled fish!"
Unexpectedly, the uncle selling grilled fish noticed this particularly lonely white-haired lady among the flowing crowd. Shenhe was taken aback for a moment before realizing the man was calling out to her.
She shook her head gently and said to the uncle, "Thank you, but no need. I don't feel like eating right now."
"Miss, come here for a moment."
The grilled fish uncle, however, didn't give up and beckoned her over warmly. Shenhe hesitated for a bit but still walked over. To her surprise, as soon as she approached the stall, the uncle handed her a skewer of grilled fish.
"Boss, what are you doing? I said I didn't want…"
Shenhe glanced at the grilled fish in her hand, frowning slightly.
"Don't worry, this is on me."
The uncle laughed heartily. "Miss, you a bit lost. You're not from Liyue Harbor, are you?"
"…"
Shenhe fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly. Having lived in the mountains since childhood, she wasn't skilled in social interactions. The other party's inexplicable warmth left her unsure how to respond.
"Haha, I, Chef Mao, know almost everyone in Liyue Harbor." The uncle grinned. "When I saw you, a young lady I didn't recognize, walking alone in the crowd earlier, I thought you must have encountered something terrible. So I decided to meddle a little and offer some advice."
"Advice? Why… To you, aren't I just a stranger?"
Seeing Shenhe's confused expression, Chef Mao sighed. "I have a daughter, about your age. Seeing you reminds me of her…"
As Chef Mao shared stories about his daughter, Shenhe's expression gradually softened. She could sense Chef Mao's affection for his daughter—something she had once deeply envied but never experienced herself… She couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness toward this kind father before her.
"…So, when you face difficulties out in the world, don't lose hope. There's no hurdle in life that can't be overcome."
Chef Mao said with a bright laugh. "Speaking of which, not long ago, there was a young man from elsewhere, just like you. I treated him to grilled fish back then too."
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