Murim's Weakest Princess

Chapter 317: Thirteen Trinkets

The road to Tong Pass had changed a lot from Anji’s last memory. They had broadened the path for carriages to pass through in both directions and even paved it with cut cobble so it would not damage precious goods.Ever since the establishment of Luoyang as the economic centre of the Central Plains compared to Chang’an, the Tong Pass became a crucial route for merchants and supplies. However, not many cultivators cared about it. Most of them do not travel to the Central Plains because it lacks the dense qi environment only found in harsh mountainous areas like the Mystical Qilin Sect’s territory.

Back then, Anji thought the Silver Water Town was a beautiful place. Eternal Night Valley was equally beautiful, and nothing could compare to the amazing technology in the Mystical Qilin Sect. However, seeing the bustling roads full of ordinary people living their lives, a different sort of amazement hit her.

Even without knowing what they were living for, people strived and worked hard. Unlike cultivators who were well-learned, these people often had the wits to survive and weasel out of situations. The art of negotiation was something very different from the discussion of terms in the alliance. If Anji thought Hong Nian Niang and Liu Guiya had honeyed tongues, these merchants were the incarnation of golden tongues.

It was already the thirteenth trinket Anji had been convinced to purchase from a passing merchant. Not even Lizi, who accompanied her, could refuse it. The Celestial Dragon Sect was not lacking in money. However, buying thirteen of the same trinket on the four-day journey spoke volumes about the callousness of people in the Central Plains.

Even without being able to see the actual gate, the number of people in the road increased as they grew closer to their destination.

"I heard there are many merchants who stay in the villages near the pass before crossing it. They only process a fixed number of paperwork in a day, so merchants without priority are stuck waiting for a while. Isn’t it great that we have the imperial guest token to skip all the waiting?"

Anji smiled and agreed with Lizi. She peered out of her carriage. It was a rather comfortable journey that did not feel like it lasted four days. However, the Tong Pass was only the beginning.

According to Hong Nian Niang, Gu Ying was on a secret rescue mission to find her second brother in Luoyang. If she located where they were holding Mingshen hostage, she would send word back. Anji would try to weasel information out of Song Min at the Crystal Lake Pavilion, but she had no confidence in succeeding if Song Min learned the tricks of golden-tongued merchants by living in Luoyang.

To be more accurate, Anji was going to allow herself to fall for Song Min’s trap. Her priority was to save Mingshen regardless of her safety. Lizi was only going to accompany her until the Tong Pass. Past this, the imperial guards will escort her to the Crystal Lake Pavilion.

"Lizi, do you still remember what I told you before we made this journey?"

The smile on Lizi’s face slowly faded. The excitement of having bought thirteen trinkets waned.

"Yes, young mistress. I’ll let your parents know. Are you sure that’s everything you need? Gu Ying might be there, but I’m still worried."

The plan was simple. Anji already wrote to her shifu asking for backup. She would send Pu Jianming’s location to the Elders who were coming down the mountain for the first time. There was nobody else more suitable for apprehending the traitor than Elder Shen, who once taught him everything he knew. Her teacher must have also seen a similar vision. Anji would meet with the Death Star while Yan Ping purified the corruption.

Strangely enough, Anji thought her shifu would protest more when she requested permission to meet with the calamity. However, Yan Ping merely told Anji to do what she must with a last word of advice.

"If you must fall, remember to fall forward."

Anji pondered over those words the whole carriage ride. Even after composing a great second half of the couplet poem, she was still unable to understand her teacher’s words.

"Lizi," Anji called. "Is it better to fall forward or backwards if a child slips?"

The question came from nowhere, and even the maid was stunned for a while. Then, Lizi pondered seriously and hummed.

"Both are risky," she clarified. "However, I’d say falling forward is safer. Even from a young age, humans instinctively break their fall with their hands. However, falling backwards leaves you extremely vulnerable. If the child slips and hits their head on something hard, they could die immediately. If a child falls forward, they would suffer immensely from injuries, but could still be treated. Ideally, not falling is best. But if a child falls without an adult nearby, falling forward is the better option."

Nodding, Anji listened carefully and thought about it. However, she still had no idea how to fall forward on purpose.

Seeing how the young lady had gone silent again, Lizi could not help but wonder why Anji was asking her such an obvious thing. As a doctor, she would know better than anyone else about safety and risks. For some reason, that look in her golden eyes told Lizi it was not about falling at all. If anything, Anji suddenly seemed very far from her, even if they were sitting so close their knees could touch in the carriage.

Fiddling with the trinkets she bought, Anji wondered how her shifu might feel. Previously, Yan Ping was the only prophet in the murim war. Now, Anji was sharing the same burden with her. They might not be looking at the same future, as they had different roles. However, being able to share that burden had to account for something.

Death was scary for anyone. Even Anji, who had been born under a death star. Yet, after receiving the vision, it was strangely calm inside.

"Fall forward..." Anji repeated mindlessly. What does it mean?