The knocking on the door had been going on for who knows how long. When Chi Nanwei finally woke up, rubbing her slightly aching temples, she realized it was already noon.
The knocking continued unabated as Chi Nanwei hastily dressed and headed for the door.
Chi Nanwei hastily smoothed her hair and opened the door, finding Ye Fan leaning lazily against the door frame.
"Uh... Young Master Ye?" Chi Nanwei was a bit surprised by Ye Fan's arrival. This was only the second time she had seen him.
Ye Fan smiled and cupped his hands toward Chi Nanwei, "Miss Chi... I hope you've been well."
Chi Nanwei awkwardly adjusted her hair, unsure if she should invite Ye Fan inside, so she simply said, "Young Master Ye must be here for Beizhi, right? He seems to have gone out..."
"I know he's not here, and I know where he went," Ye Fan said softly, fidgeting with the fan in his hand.
Chi Nanwei never understood why Ye Fan insisted on carrying a folding fan even in the middle of winter, but she wisely chose not to ask. Seeing his hesitant tone, she was about to speak when Ye Fan suddenly raised his head and fixed his gaze on her and said, "I'm here today to deliver a message to you, Miss Chi."
"Huh?" Chi Nanwei smiled politely, "What matter could be so important that you would make a personal visit?"
Ye Fan did not answer her question but instead said, "Every year on this day, the current External Prime Minister, Qi Zongbi goes to the Heavenly Diviniation Shrine in the northwest of the city to pay respects to his late master..."
After finishing his sentence, Ye Fan looked at Chi Nanwei with a somewhat complicated expression.
Chi Nanwei listened quietly to the words, and moments later, her face suddenly turned pale, completely drained of color.
"Dummy..." Chi Nanwei staggered back two steps, then dashed frantically toward the inner room, not even noticing that one of her shoes had fallen off.
Ye Fan lowered his gaze, lost in thought. He bent down to pick up the embroidered shoe, walked inside, sat by the table, and gently placed the shoe on the table.
A heavy thud came from the inner room. Ye Fan walked to the door and looked inside, only to see Chi Nanwei leaning against the bed, slumped on the floor. When she saw Ye Fan come in, she raised her head, her tear-streaked face looked like a pear blossom in the rain.
"His blade... his blade is gone," she cried despairingly.
Ye Fan nodded, paused for a moment, and then said, "Originally... Ye Beizhi didn't want me to tell you."
Tears pooled in the corner of Chi Nanwei's mouth as she forced a bitter smile. "I know, he's always ... but you... why did you tell me?"
"Because you're different," Ye Fan said softly as he looked at Chi Nanwei.
Upon hearing this, Chi Nanwei lifted her head, waiting for Ye Fan to continue.
"Stormqueller Ye Beizhi has shown me great kindness, which is why I'm telling you this much," Ye Fan said as he looked down at the folding fan in his hand.
"He is used to wandering alone, without a family, without close friends... but he is still a person of flesh and blood, not a block of wood after all. He is very clear about those who treat him well and those who don't."
Ye Fan suddenly turned and asked Chi Nanwei, "Do you know why he wants to kill Qi Zongbi?"
Chi Nanwei bit her lip, looking downcast. "He wants... to take revenge for me."
"You're not wrong, but you are not entirely correct either." Ye Fan sighed. "He's not just taking revenge for you. He's avenging the entire Changfeng Escort Agency."
Chi Nanwei opened her mouth, a little confused. "Aren't those... the same?"
Ye Fan shook his head gently. "They are not the same. You're not the only person who was part of the Changfeng Escort Agency. Stormqueller Ye Beizhi stayed at the agency for so long, and to him, the agency was made up of people who treated him well... Do you understand what I'm saying? The people he is seeking revenge for are more than your big brothers and grandfather. He is also avenging his friends."
"Avenging this matter is not just for you, Chi Nanwei. It's something he feels he must do."
Ye Fan's words hit Chi Nanwei in the chest like a heavy hammer, leaving her speechless for a long while.
"Unfortunately," Ye Fan continued, "his revenge is destined to be a one-way trip... He knows that very well, which is why he specifically asked me to make sure you were taken care of before he left."
Upon hearing these words, Chi Nanwei felt as if all the strength had drained from her body. Her hand slipped weakly to the floor, and her eyes lost all their luster. "Dummy..."
Ye Fan's tone shifted suddenly as he asked, "You don't want him to die, do you?"
Chi Nanwei sharply lifted her head to look at Ye Fan, struggling to stand up. "Do you have a plan?!"
Ye Fan nodded. "I do, but I can't be entirely sure it will work."
Chi Nanwei took a deep breath and looked solemnly at Ye Fan. "Tell me what I should do."
Ye Fan pondered for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, before finally saying, "Stormqueller Ye Beizhi is a man who treasures his emotions deeply. This time, for the sake of the escort agency, he has already set out with the resolve to die.
"He never intended to come back alive, the agency members are already dead, after all. If he can die for the sake of the dead, why can't he live for the sake of someone who is still alive, like you?"
Chi Nanwei trembled slightly. "Are you saying..."
Ye Fan nodded and said, "Maybe you could try persuading him one more time... He may be the only one left by your side, but aren't you also the only one left by his side as well?"