The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 224
Translated by Pure
Chapter 224 Mu Yang's Ink Confrontation
Wen Yantong observed him for a moment and spoke in a deliberate tone, "I noticed a type of Wishing Doll on them. That’s a custom specific to Yibei. Their attire is very different from ours, which leads me to believe they are from Yibei."
Chi Jingxi remarked, "I didn't anticipate you being so well-informed."
Wen Yantong responded with a mocking smile, "I've heard it all from my father. You're aware that my father is a traveling merchant. He frequently journeys to various places for business, and has a wide range of knowledge."
Chi Jingxi noticed her nervousness and gently touched her eyebrows with his fingertips. "Do you want to ask me about the war in Yibei?"
Wen Yantong hadn't anticipated him addressing it directly, so she continued, "I heard about the conflict in Yibei, are you volunteering to join the effort to suppress the unrest there?"
Chi Jingxi confirmed, "Mm."
Wen Yantong inquired, "Is Fu Zixian going too?"
"Prime Minister Fu has already secured his spot," he replied.
Wen Yantong was on the verge of speaking but halted. She wished for both Chi Jingxi and Fu Zixian to abandon the mission, but she recognized the impracticality of making such a request, moreover, she had no right to make such a plea.
Observing her preoccupation, Chi Jingxi surmised most of her thoughts. He stated, "I've immersed myself in books for many years, always harboring the desire to personally defend the country one day. The rebellion in Yibei represents... a rare opportunity for me."
"But it's very dangerous." Wen Yantong said.
"In life, no matter which direction you choose, the path is fraught with danger, but you can't halt because of it," Chi Jingxi spoke softly. "You have to believe me; I will return safely."
Wen Yantong gazed at him, understanding that he would return in the end. As written in the novel, despite his injuries, Chi Jingxi had preserved his life. However, the situation was different for Fu Zixian; the likelihood of his return seemed slim to none.
Wen Yantong felt a surge of panic and impulsively seized Chi Jingxi's hand. "I..."
Unable to find the right words to dissuade him, an anxious expression etched her face.
Chi Jingxi leaned in, enveloping her in his embrace, resting his head on her shoulder, and gently patting her back. "Don't be anxious, take your time."
"I don't want you to go, and I don't want Fu Zixian to go," Wen Yantong uttered in a hushed tone.
"Fu Zixian and I both aspire to make our mark through military service. There will always come a day when we venture onto the battlefield. Even if it's not this time, there will be another time," Chi Jingxi's voice, close to her ears, possessed a soothing enchantment that calmed her.
"You can go next time, but not this time," Wen Yantong, in her haste, blurted out the words from her heart, and she found herself momentarily stunned after the utterance.
Chi Jingxi fell silent for a moment, appearing to be lost in thought. Wen Yantong broke the silence with a dry cough and added, "I mean..."
"Truthfully," Chi Jingxi interjected, "I'm aware there are many enigmas surrounding you. You seem to possess knowledge about everything, whether it's the 'Danli' you inscribed on the paper or the note you discreetly placed into my arms. You are acquainted with the route the Jiang Residence’s soldiers took during their retreat, and you also have insights into what will transpire during the war in Yibei, correct?"
Wen Yantong found herself at a loss for words.
She was well aware that Chi Jingxi harbored suspicions about her. Her numerous slip-ups had exposed too many flaws, and Chi Jingxi, being astute, could discern any inkling of doubt that arose, yet he never delved to the core of it.
Perhaps he attempted to comprehend, yet when Wen Yantong displayed resistance, Chi Jingxi refrained from pressing further. He did not coerce her into revealing the truth; instead, he patiently waited.
He waited until the day Wen Yantong would divulge it herself.
However, it was inconceivable for Wen Yantong to disclose to Chi Jingxi that she had traversed into a book. The fact that they are just individuals and events were all part of the book's narrative.
Thus, she opted for a different approach, stating slowly, "I dreamt of it."
Chi Jingxi inquired, "What did you dream about?"
"I dreamt that you went into battle, faced danger, and suffered injuries. I dreamt that Fu Zixian and Mu Yang also went, but they were ambushed, fatally stabbed with a sword, and never returned alive." Wen Yantong hid her face in his shoulder, her tone beseeching, "Please don't go, I'm begging you."
Chi Jingxi's palm tenderly patted Wen Yantong's back, offering comfort. "It's just a dream."
"It's more than a dream."
"Tongtong, please listen to me," Chi Jingxi urged. "Fu Zixian's appointment as Deputy Commander-in-Chief was decided a month ago, and it was the Emperor's decree for me to lead the reinforcements to Yibei. These are not trifles that can be undone with a few words. So, even if Yibei is currently facing insurmountable challenges, Fu Zixian and I must fulfill our duties."
Wen Yantong didn't fully grasp his intention in saying this, but she felt a surge of frustration, realizing that she had learned about the news too late. If she had known earlier, she could have persuaded Chi Jingxi to abandon the notion of going to Yibei.
Although she didn't know if this journey to Yibei aligned with the events in the book, Wen Yantong couldn't bear to see Chi Jingxi take such risks, especially with the inclusion of Fu Zixian.
Understanding that this was inevitable, Wen Yantong let out a long sigh and uttered, "You must come back safely."
"Of course," Chi Jingxi assured her.
"When are you leaving?" she inquired.
"The 6th day of the sixth lunar month," Chi Jingxi replied. "The reinforcements have already been organized and will depart from the capital city early in the morning on that day."
It felt too swift. Wen Yantong silently calculated that in just seven or eight days, Chi Jingxi and Fu Zixian would be heading to Yibei. Her heart brimmed with reluctance as she hugged Chi Jingxi tightly.
Feeling helpless about her inability to contribute, Wen Yantong shared what she knew with Chi Jingxi, "Did you know that there are continuous mountains on the border of Yibei City?"
Chi Jingxi shook his head.
"Two of the mountains are called Sister Mountains, and they are quite far apart. It's said that the shapes of these two mountains are nearly identical, like twins, but mirrored. One is named the Younger Sister, and the other is the Older Sister. The Older Sister Mountain is covered in ginkgo trees. During autumn, ginkgo leaves will fall and cover the mountain in yellow, as far as the eye can see. The Younger Sister Mountain is full of maple trees, and looks to be covered in red from a distance," Wen Yantong explained. "Promise me, if one day you find yourself forced to seek refuge in the mountains, choose Older Sister Mountain."
Chi Jingxi raised his eyebrows, "You dream of such specific details?"
"Quick, promise me," Wen Yantong urged.
"Alright, alright," Chi Jingxi chuckled, "I promise you. If that day ever comes, I'll certainly choose Older Sister Mountain. I'll even pick a ginkgo leaf from the mountain and bring it back for you."
Wen Yantong nodded.
The Yibei battle was not extensively detailed in the book, as the main focus was on Fu Tanghuan and Cheng Xiao. And as such, Wen Yantong lacked many specifics. All she recalled was that during one of Chi Jingxi's patrols, he and his team were unexpectedly ambushed by the enemy. Forced to seek refuge, he ended up hiding in Older Sister Mountain. However, when reinforcements came to search for them, a misunderstanding occurred. They believed that Younger Sister Mountain was situated close to the river, offering a waterway for escape, and thus, they headed to Younger Sister Mountain.
Unexpectedly, they stumbled upon the enemy troops who were also conducting a search. The collision resulted in a fierce battle, and casualties were high on both sides. Unfortunately, Mu Yang and Fu Zixian were among those who sacrificed their lives while trying to rescue their comrades.
In this twist of fate, Chi Jingxi managed to survive, but the loss of his close friends haunted him for the rest of his life. Despite bringing an end to the war and returning to Chaoge, the pain of losing Fu Zixian and Mu Yang lingered with Chi Jingxi.
In an effort to avert such a tragic outcome, Wen Yantong shared information about the Sister Mountains with Chi Jingxi as a precaution.
Unfortunately, her knowledge was limited, and even with some contemplation, she couldn't recall the exact timeline of the Yibei War from memory. Thus, this was the extent of what she could provide.
Chi Jingxi assured her with unwavering commitment, agreeing to each of her cautious requests and repeatedly vowing to ensure Fu Zixian's safe return.
Wen Yantong, troubled by these thoughts, spent a restless night filled with worry.
To her surprise, the next day brought an unexpected issue during the Knowledge of Words exam.
Mu Yang was absent.
.
.
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The author has something to say:
[Chi Jingxi’s Little Diary]
Twenty-fourth Year of the Ruixing Decade, twenty-ninth day of the fifth lunar month:
I suspect she is an angel or fairy.