Chapter 1403 - 704: Disappointed Feelings (2)
She even looked at Zhou Yi with a bit of impatience and said, "Stop talking, I’ve already made up my mind."
"I don’t want to stay here. I want to go out and take a look at the world, fight for my own ideals. Don’t blame me."
When Lin Beichen heard Zhou Yi’s words, he felt something was off. He quietly observed Zhou Yi’s expression and seemed to notice a few issues, which surprised him a little.
Turned out Zhou Yi had been worrying about Hu Yi all along. He wasn’t at ease about her leaving this time, and even more, he was reluctant to part with her.
He didn’t want to be separated from Hu Yi, which was why he was so anxious.
Although Lin Beichen saw through all of this, He didn’t say anything. This was between Zhou Yi and Hu Yi; however they decided, Lin Beichen had no complaints or opinions.
Seeing that Hu Yi wouldn’t listen to him at all and wasn’t willing to stay by his side, Zhou Yi felt very dejected.
His spirit deflated all at once, as if he’d lost something very important. Seeing Zhou Yi like this, Lin Beichen felt both distressed and worried.
But Hu Yi didn’t notice any of this. She was still full of confidence, intent on following Lin Beichen.
Zhou Yi walked up to Lin Beichen in disappointment and asked sadly, "When are you coming back from this trip?"
Lin Beichen looked at Zhou Yi, thought for a moment, and said, "It might be a bit longer... say, a year."
"If nothing special happens, maybe I’ll be back earlier. But right now I really can’t say for sure."
Lin Beichen gave Zhou Yi a one-year timeframe, then hurriedly left with Hu Yi.
Zhou Baoguo walked out and saw Zhou Yi standing there with a face full of dejection, and couldn’t help feeling curious.
"What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind." Zhou Baoguo asked with concern.
Feeling depressed, Zhou Yi hesitated, then looked at Zhou Baoguo and said, "I think I might like Hu Yi. With her leaving this time, I’m really uneasy. But she insists on going, and my heart is in total turmoil."
After confiding in Zhou Baoguo, Zhou Yi felt a bit relieved.
Hearing Zhou Yi’s words, Zhou Baoguo stared at him wide-eyed and said, "Since you like her, and she doesn’t want to stay here, then why don’t you just go with her?"
"How can you be this dumb! They’re going to be away for a long time this trip. If you don’t follow them, who knows what might happen. Don’t you dare regret it later!"
Zhou Baoguo voiced his own thoughts, just wanting to help Zhou Yi so he wouldn’t be so down.
After hearing Zhou Baoguo’s suggestion, Zhou Yi kept hesitating in his heart, not knowing what to do.
If he left with them, who would manage the affairs of the Daoist Temple? But if he didn’t go, he was afraid he’d regret it.
Zhou Yi had never felt so torn. Zhou Baoguo’s words kept echoing in his mind, making it impossible for him to calm down.
Every time he thought about not seeing Hu Yi for a whole year, Zhou Yi would get anxious and uneasy.
What if he didn’t go this time and Hu Yi ran into danger? He would regret it for the rest of his life.
After a long period of thinking and hesitation, Zhou Yi finally decided to take Zhou Baoguo’s advice.
He arranged everything at the Daoist Temple, then hurriedly packed his bag, ready to set off together with Lin Beichen and Hu Yi.
When Lin Beichen saw Zhou Yi show up in front of him with a pack on his back, he was extremely surprised.
"What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re coming with us too? Are you out of your mind?" Lin Beichen asked in disbelief.
Looking at Lin Beichen with guilt, Zhou Yi said, "I know by doing this I’m letting down your arrangements, but this time I want to personally go with you. You’re going to be out for a long time, and the road is full of unknowns and dangers. I really can’t relax."
"If I go along, at least we can look out for each other. If anything happens, we can help one another, instead of scrambling in a panic."
"Don’t turn me down. Let me go with you so I can feel at ease."
Zhou Yi rattled off a pile of reasons. They were all very practical, leaving Lin Beichen unable to refuse.
He looked at Zhou Yi helplessly, shook his head and said, "You really got me. Since you want to come, then come along."
Hearing Lin Beichen agree, Zhou Yi was overjoyed. At least he could stay with Hu Yi and wouldn’t have to be separated for so long.
Under Lin Beichen’s lead, the three of them set out together.
But Lin Beichen still had the Daoist Temple on his mind and couldn’t quite relax.
There was nothing he could do, though. Zhou Yi was determined to go this time; Lin Beichen understood his feelings, he just didn’t say it out loud.
Lin Beichen and Hu Yi got into the car, and Zhou Yi drove. But the two of them in the car kept chattering nonstop, which made Lin Beichen extremely irritable.
He wanted to find a quiet environment, but Hu Yi and Zhou Yi were still talking away, endlessly.
The noise made his head pound, and there was no way he could calm down to Cultivation. Watching them enthusiastically chatting about all sorts of trivial nonsense, Lin Beichen felt thoroughly depressed.
Zhou Yi kept trying to please Hu Yi, making her laugh. Just watching it made Lin Beichen feel unbearably awkward.
He felt he really wasn’t cut out to sit there; he was practically at his breaking point.
"Stop the car!" Lin Beichen said to Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi turned his head and asked curiously, "What’s wrong?"
"Oh... nothing, really. It’s just a bit stuffy in the car. I want to get out and walk for a bit, get some air. Maybe I’ll feel better." Lin Beichen casually found an excuse.
Zhou Yi had no choice but to stop the car, and Lin Beichen quickly jumped out. If he stayed in there any longer, he was afraid he’d explode.
The others saw Lin Beichen get out, so they all followed and got out too, walking together.
Taking in the surrounding scenery, Lin Beichen suddenly felt it was much quieter, and his mood gradually improved, not as irritable as before.
But the peace didn’t last long before Zhou Yi and Hu Yi caught up to him again.
The two of them walked beside Lin Beichen, still talking away without stopping.
Sometimes when they got excited, they even burst out laughing.
They seemed to be very interested in the scenery before them. Watching them chatter nonstop, Lin Beichen felt extremely annoyed.
But seeing the people walking behind him, Lin Beichen couldn’t really say anything.
After all, it was their freedom and their right; Lin Beichen couldn’t interfere.
They had talked nonstop in the car. Lin Beichen had gotten out just to avoid them, but he hadn’t expected things not to improve at all.
The two of them just stuck to Lin Beichen’s side, engrossed in conversation.
They didn’t notice Lin Beichen’s face full of impatience at all. Lin Beichen felt like they didn’t take him into account whatsoever.
They only cared about their own fun and happiness. Lin Beichen had never seen Zhou Yi like this and really couldn’t figure it out.
Could liking someone really change a person, make him become completely different?
Ever since Lin Beichen realized that Zhou Yi felt differently about Hu Yi, He had been quietly observing the two of them, wanting to know how far things had gone between them.
Under Lin Beichen’s lead, they all arrived at a stretch of barren mountains and wild hills. Desolation met the eye; there was no sign of life, inevitably stirring a sense of bleakness and weighing down everyone’s mood.
A gust of cold wind blew across their faces, and everyone instinctively pulled their clothes tighter.
"Grrr... grrr..." Hu Yi’s stomach let out a bad-timed growl. Ever since she’d left the Daoist Temple, she hadn’t had a proper meal, and after walking for most of the day, she was starving.
"I can’t take it, I’m too hungry. I have to find something to eat, or I won’t be able to walk anymore." Hu Yi shouted loudly.
However, in this desolate stretch of mountains and wilderness, where could they possibly find food? Everyone felt a bit troubled.
Hearing Hu Yi say she was hungry, Zhou Yi looked at her and said, "What do you want to eat? Out here there’s no village in front, no shop behind, I’ve got no way to get food ready for you."
"Can’t you just hold on for a bit? Once we get past this area, I’ll go find you something to eat." Zhou Yi tried to persuade her patiently.
But Hu Yi stubbornly shook her head. "No, I’m too hungry. I have to eat now."
All she could think about was food, and she couldn’t hear a word of Zhou Yi’s persuasion. Zhou Yi was at his wits’ end. He felt around in his backpack and unexpectedly found some compressed biscuits he’d prepared earlier.
"Great, I found something to eat!" Zhou Yi said happily, taking out the compressed biscuits. "These are what I put in my bag before, just in case. Didn’t expect they’d actually come in handy now. Eat some to pad your stomach first; there really isn’t anything else to eat around here."
Lin Beichen glanced at the compressed biscuits, but had no appetite at all. He just wanted to rest and have some peace and quiet.
"Give the compressed biscuits to Hu Yi. I can’t eat. I’m going over there to sit and rest for a bit. Call me when you’re done eating." After saying that, Lin Beichen walked off alone to the side.
Watching Lin Beichen’s back, Zhou Yi felt a bit depressed. All along the way, Lin Beichen had been gloomy, barely saying a word to them, like he’d had something weighing on his mind the whole time.