He never would have admitted that Yan Jiaojiao was favored by Dongfang Cangwu. He simply dismissed Sheng Mobai’s words as nonsense.
Yan Jiaojiao, though unsure of the reasons, knew it was not a place to linger. She said to Sheng Mobai, “You are returning to the Sheng family in Jiangnan, and your direction is different from ours towards Gunan Academy. We are here to bid you farewell.”
Sheng Mobai nodded. He did not try to detain her this time, because if he were to openly escort Yan Jiaojiao to Gunan Academy, it would be tantamount to announcing their whereabouts to the Yan family.
“Once you enter the vicinity of Gunan Academy, the Yan family will not dare to cause trouble there,” Sheng Mobai said, beckoning to two guards in the caravan. “These are skilled fighters from my Sheng family. I’ll have them escort you to Gunan Academy to prevent the Yan family from pursuing and killing you along the way.”
Yan Jiaojiao did not refuse this time. She knew the Yan family would not let her off, and her own abilities were limited. Even if Xiao Hei (Little Black) would not leave her side, relying on a single summoned beast to ensure the safety of three people for the entire journey would be a struggle.
Having the protection of the Sheng family’s experts was, after all, a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.
Seeing Yan Jiaojiao’s tacit consent, Sheng Mobai ordered the two guards to hitch another carriage and gave it to Yan Jiaojiao and her companions without hesitation.
The two were in tacit agreement on this matter, without any delay or unnecessary words. The handover was completed in a short while.
As they were about to part, Yan Jiaojiao lifted the carriage curtain and poked her head out, saying earnestly to Sheng Mobai, “I, Yan Jiaojiao, will remember your kindness today and will surely repay it in the future.”
Sheng Mobai, however, smiled casually, “What are you saying? It is only natural for me to worry about my future wife.”
Yan Jiaojiao was instantly speechless. She lowered the curtain, and her displeased voice came through, “I advise you to stop talking nonsense.”
With that, Yan Jiaojiao ordered the guards to drive the carriage away at full speed.
Sheng Mobai’s attendant, who had been watching the scene, could not help but chuckle. Sheng Mobai awkwardly touched his nose and shook his head, sighing, “Tsk, women’s moods change faster than flipping a book.”
It took three days to travel from Kunyang City to Gunan Academy, and there were still five days left before the official enrollment. This gave Yan Jiaojiao ample time to travel.
After half a day of travel by carriage, they had already left the vicinity of Kunyang City far behind. Yan Jiaojiao looked at the sun and decided to find a nearby restaurant to rest and eat.
After all, she might not need to eat, but Rong’er and Dongfang Xu still had to.
The guards followed Yan Jiaojiao’s wishes and stopped at a restaurant that looked decent.
The restaurant was located by the roadside, a bit secluded, but it was spacious, clean, and bright. The proprietress and the waiters were orderly and presentable.
As soon as the carriage stopped, a stable hand came forward to take the horses for feeding. Yan Jiaojiao then led everyone into the restaurant hall.
The proprietress was a beautiful woman in her late thirties, plump and charming. Seeing them enter, she greeted them warmly, “Please come in, esteemed guests. Are you here to stay?”
Yan Jiaojiao glanced at the sun, which was directly overhead. It was midday, and it was unlikely they would stay in a remote place at this hour. She replied, “We’ll have something to eat and then we’ll be on our way.”
The proprietress paused for a moment, then continued with a smile, “Very well, esteemed guests, please take a look at what you’d like to eat. Our signature roasted goose is melt-in-your-mouth tender, and our stir-fried beef…”
Under the proprietress’s enthusiastic recommendations, Yan Jiaojiao ordered a table full of dishes. When the Sheng family guards stepped forward to pay the bill, Yan Jiaojiao realized that Sheng Mobai had even arranged for their travel expenses.
Feeling indebted, Yan Jiaojiao dared not accept further favors. Since she was not short of money, she took out a piece of broken silver from her spiritual jade and paid the bill herself.
The proprietress had not exaggerated; the dishes at the restaurant were indeed delicious. Faced with such good food, all the fear and anxiety of the past few days were forgotten.
Yan Jiaojiao and her group ate heartily until they were full. Even Xiao Hei, the little black dog who was usually not interested in food, ate a few pieces of roasted goose.
After the meal, Yan Jiaojiao was about to leave when she saw the proprietress idly fiddling with an abacus behind the counter, a look of hesitation on her face.
Yan Jiaojiao signaled, and a guard stepped forward to ask, “Madam, is something amiss?”
The proprietress frowned and said, “Are you sure you’re not staying overnight? Looking at your clothes and accents, you seem to be from Kunyang City. Do you really not know the situation here?”
Yan Jiaojiao was bewildered. The original owner’s memories contained no such information, and Rong’er was just a maid who knew nothing of the outside world. Dongfang Xu and the two guards from Jiangnan were even more clueless.
Only Dongfang Cangwu, looking at the nearby mountain, twitched his furry little dog ears, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
However, no one noticed Xiao Hei’s abnormality.
Seeing them looking at each other blankly, the proprietress came around from behind the counter and earnestly advised them, “I urge you esteemed guests to wait until tomorrow to travel. It’s been unsafe around here lately. The mountain ahead will have drizzling rain after noon, and anyone who enters does not come out. Several people have already gone missing, and now no one dares to enter after noon.”
Such a thing exists?
Upon hearing this, everyone realized there was something strange. Yan Jiaojiao asked her, “This must be the work of demons. Has no one come to deal with it?”
Yan Zhengfeng was known as the foremost expert in eradicating demons and upholding righteousness. This place was only a few dozen miles from Kunyang City, yet he had not come to sweep away the evil spirits, but he had the time to chase after her, a weak woman.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn’t help but despise the hypocrite Yan Zhengfeng again.
The proprietress also replied, “Of course, some people have gone. Even your Yan family from Kunyang City has been here before, but they found nothing. There’s truly nothing that can be done. However, as long as you don’t enter the mountain after noon, it doesn’t really affect you.”
So, the Yan family had indeed come, but unfortunately, they lacked the ability. The foremost expert in eradicating demons and upholding righteousness was just an empty title!
Yan Jiaojiao frowned, looking at the nearby mountain. It wasn’t very high, but it was densely wooded and lush, giving it a somewhat eerie feeling.
“Young Lady, should we stay at the inn?” Rong’er, still injured, spoke weakly.
Yan Jiaojiao pondered for a moment, then looked at the two guards. They returned a determined gaze, and Yan Jiaojiao said, “We are in a hurry. If we go fast enough, it will only take an hour to cross the mountain. Let’s give it a try.”
They were too close to Kunyang City. If the Yan family could not find their trace in Kunyang City, they would surely guess that Yan Jiaojiao was going to attend the entrance ceremony of Gunan Academy. Once they sent people to pursue them, it would only be a matter of time before they arrived here.
With enemies in front and wolves behind, Yan Jiaojiao was indeed afraid to linger. Since the two guards expressed confidence in crossing the mountain, and Xiao Hei was still with them, it was worth a try.
The proprietress looked regretful, her gaze towards them as if she were already seeing dead people. She sighed, “Alright, I’ve said all I can. Esteemed guests, please be careful. If you feel it’s not right when you get closer, you can retreat back to my humble shop.”