About a hundred miles from the Silver Mist City, two carriages were heading towards the city.
These carriages were indeed the ones belonging to the entourage from the Gracious Sword Sect.
Fu Kai and Qing Shen were driving the Ferghana horses to move the carriage. However, they had slowed down a lot compared to the previous day, mainly because they were now very close to their destination.
But none of them seemed to be pleased or excited about this.
Instead, there was a weird mood all over the caravan.
Especially around the people inside it.
Xiao Ming and Yuan Shuchun, who were sitting in the second carriage, were unusually quiet.
It was especially for Xiao Ming.
He hadn't spoken a word ever since they resumed the journey after encountering the man in the forest, and all this made Yuan Shuchun quite worried.
She even asked Xiao Ming what was going on, but he just shook his head.
It was clear that he didn't wish to talk to her about the incident.
Therefore, Yuan Shuchun decided to change the topic. However, this surprisingly annoyed Xiao Ming, and he went out and sat beside Qing Shen.
His actions made Yuan Shuchun feel two emotions - anger and sadness - she was angry because he dared do that, and she was sad because he did it.
After a long time, when it seemed as if this was the longest night she had ever passed, Xiao Ming removed the curtains and entered the carriage again.
However, the silence still prevailed in the carriage.
It was clear that something was going on in his head, but he wasn't ready to talk about it.
However, Yuan Shuchun wanted to give it one last try.
"Xiao Ming, what is going on? Ever since we resumed our journey, you have been acting differently. I don't understand what's going on?"
Xiao Ming didn't reply.
This confused and angered Yuan Shuchun, "Will you at least tell me what's going on? Last night, after the man called you, you didn't follow him. But now you're acting as if you got the shock of your life."
Xiao Ming slightly frowned, but he still didn't say anything.
"What is going on, Xiao Ming?" Yuan Shuchun's voice lowered as she said, "Did I do anything? Are you angry at me?"
She felt as if she was talking to a wall.
Xiao Ming slowly looked at her, and after a long silence, he asked, "Yuan Shuchun, tell me, in the future, if you have to kill me to get your goals, will you do it? Or will you give up your goal for me?"
Yuan Shuchun was suddenly stunned by his question.
She fell in thought.
After some moments, she looked at him in the eye and said, "Xiao Ming, I have already told you my goal is way different than you actually think. And I have never so easily opened up to anyone. I would first try to at least look for some other way."
Xiao Ming pursed his lips, "If there's no other way?"
Yuan Shuchun let out a sigh, "Then it's better for me to kill myself. I am tired of my life anyway."
Xiao Ming frowned at her words and shook his head, "Wrong choice, Yuan Shuchun. Both of us have a goal in our mind, and that's what keeps us ahead of the world because the goal gives us never-ending purpose and motivation."
"If you chose to give up your goals for me, then that's a grave mistake. Why should you give up everything for just one person?"
Yuan Shuchun lowered her gaze, "Brother Ming, how is it a mistake? You say I will give up my goal… but the reality is, my goal just changed."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Ming asked.
Yuan Shuchun gave a small smile, "Brother Ming, my goal is you. I know you will soon surpass me, and after that, I will be chasing you."
Hearing her words, Xiao Ming looked the other way and remained silent.
A complicated emotion appeared in his eyes.
For the second time, he wavered from his goal.
The first time was last night when he met the man.
Even though others didn't know anything, he still remembered the meeting. He had followed the man to know what he wanted from him.
'To think I will meet my own future self?'
'His words… were filled with regret.'
'He wants to see a different result.'
'He wants me to love Yuan Shuchun.'
'But how can that be possible? How could I love this girl? I had already lost the chance to connect to someone after getting the Token.'
'Greed is a dangerous emotion. If she ever knows that I have the Token Of Fate… she will betray me.'
'It has happened to the previous Token Possessors… and it will repeat itself if I were to fall in love with anyone.'
'I've got the memories of previous Token Possessors… and have learned a lot.'
'And most important of all… the me from the future wants me to give up this Token Of Fate? That's impossible.'
'I will play by my own rules, and I will rule my own fate.'
...
Jun Xie, who was sitting in the first carriage, currently had a blank look in his eyes.
He was feeling a bit depressed.
Last night's incident had made him lose all his sleep, even making him slightly paranoid.
He didn't understand what actually had happened, but he was sure that he had missed something big.
But he couldn't pinpoint what he had missed. It was just a feeling. However, this feeling was pretty strong.
Last night, when the man had called Xiao Ming in the forest, Xiao Ming chose not to follow him.
Well, this was what they had seen.
But Jun Xie knew something was off.
Even though he didn't feel any suspicion at first, he got confused as soon as he turned around to enter the carriage.
It was all because of the moon in the sky.
The moon had changed places.
To be more exact, the moon had moved.
This meant some time had passed. At least about half an hour!
But how could that be possible? They had just stopped here for a minute or two!