Chapter 31: Chapter Thirty-One: Arranging a Luxurious Ride for the Little One

As she spoke, Cheng Qiuruo winked at her older sister.

Cheng Qiuyun quietly gave her a thumbs-up.

Second Sister was clever — she used something they were already going to do to trade for the promise and favor of a person of status.

With Cheng Qiuyun and the guards joining in, the pressure on the blue-robed man and his two servants instantly eased, and the situation visibly turned around.

After dealing with the assassins, the blue-robed man's two guards collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath in great gulps.

Although the blue-robed man didn't look as wretched as they did, sitting right there beside the assassin's corpse, he still found a large tree and sat down leaning against it.

After resting a while, the blue-robed man rose to give his thanks.

"Many thanks to the few of you for your help."

Cheng Qiuruo waved the Jade Pendant in her hand.

"Prince's Son, just don't forget your earlier promise."

The blue-robed man looked at her.

"Naturally I won't forget. What would the two of you like me to do?"

The two sisters exchanged a glance.

"We haven't decided yet. Keep the favor owed for now."

The blue-robed man nodded.

"I am a man of Muyuan Kingdom. If the two of you have decided, you may bring the Jade Pendant to find me."

Suddenly, he frowned slightly and studied Cheng Qiuruo carefully.

From this young lady's breathing rhythm and footsteps, he could be certain she knew no martial arts.

But the distance just now was no small matter — how could a person who knew no martial arts possess such arm strength?

Truly strange.

As he thought, his gaze fell on the bow in Cheng Qiuruo's hand, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"This young lady, might I have a look at your bow?"

Hearing this, Cheng Qiuyun's gaze grew cold. Just as she was about to say something, Cheng Qiuruo spoke up.

"Sure, go ahead and look."

It's a defective product anyway.

"Ruoruo?"

Cheng Qiuyun tugged at her, a look of disapproval in her eyes.

Cheng Qiuruo shook her head at her and gave her a reassuring look.

The blue-robed man examined it for a while, then shot an arrow at a tree branch several dozen meters away, exclaiming in admiration again and again.

"What a fine bow!"

No wonder this young lady, clearly without martial arts, could shoot a hundred meters — who would have thought this bow was so effortless to draw, and had such range.

The man studied the unusually shaped bow in his hands closely, his heart blazing with excitement.

If mass-produced and all archers switched to this bow, its killing power on the battlefield could absolutely crush the Enemy Army!

"Might I meet the person who crafted this bow?"

Such a talented person must be met — if he could be brought back to Muyuan, all the better; if not…

The blue-robed man lowered his eyes, hiding the trace of killing intent in them.

Even if he cannot serve Muyuan loyally, this person absolutely must not become another nation's asset!

Cheng Qiuyun snatched the simplified compound bow back in one swift motion.

"You'll never meet him!"

One of the blue-robed man's guards drew his sword and pointed it at the two sisters.

"How dare you! To speak to our… young Prince's Son like that!"

Cheng Feng and the others also drew their swords in unison, pointing them at the guards.

Cheng Qiuyun let out a cold laugh, looking at the master and his two servants with mockery.

"Is this how you treat your benefactors?"

The blue-robed man shook his head at his guard.

"Mind your manners!"

Then he turned with a smile to look at the two sisters.

"Just now it was indeed presumptuous of me. I hope the two young ladies will not take offense."

The corner of Cheng Qiuruo's mouth curved into a slight arc.

"How many people wish to meet the Master? But the Master comes and goes without a trace. Unless he appears of his own accord, no one can find him."

Every single person in their family wanted to meet the Immortal and thank him in person.

But apart from Yu'an, no one could see him.

"I see. Then that is truly a pity."

The blue-robed man slightly lowered his chin, keeping his expression unreadable.

"May I ask where the few of you are headed? Perhaps we could travel together."

Cheng Qiuruo looked at him with a half-smile.

"Want us to keep serving as your guards? That would cost extra."

Hearing this, the corner of the blue-robed Prince's Son's mouth twitched.

Right — how had he forgotten what had just happened?

This one was the sort who wouldn't let go of the eagle even upon seeing a rabbit.

Meeting Cheng Qiuruo's gaze, he felt an inexplicable chill, as though some great beast had fixed its eyes on him.

A sense that he could be devoured at any moment, not even his bones left behind.

He shivered and shook his head.

What a joke!

He, a strapping seven-foot man, how could he possibly fear a little girl?!

Never mind, it wasn't far anyway. They'd just be careful—no need for their help, was that not allowed?

"In that case, we'll take our leave first. Until we meet again."

Cheng Qiuruo held up the Jade Pendant and waved it at their retreating backs.

"Once a pact is made, no mountain can bar the way. We'll definitely meet again!"

Hearing her words, the young lord, who was stepping onto the stirrup to mount his Horse, missed his footing and nearly fell.

He glanced back at her, ground his teeth, and said in a heavier tone.

"Naturally, I'll be waiting at any time!"

……

Watching the master and two servants ride away, Cheng Qiuyun turned and gave Cheng Feng an instruction.

"Go tell Wu Meng and the others—the assassins' bodies don't need to be dealt with. Bring them all here."

After faking the signs of a struggle, they returned to their resting spot, and the sisters told the Old Madam what had happened.

Cheng Old Madam stroked the Jade Pendant, a glint flickering in her eyes.

"The Muyuan royal family."

Cheng Qiuruo nodded.

"I heard the Muyuan Emperor has five sons. The Eldest Prince died in battle, the Third Prince was wounded on the battlefield and became a cripple, the Fourth Prince is mentally impaired with the mind of a child."

"The Crown Prince can only be chosen between the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince."

"That man just now looked very young—he should be the Fifth Prince, Shang Xiaomin!"

Cheng Qiuruo's tone grew excited.

"Grandmother, Muyuan Kingdom and Beihuang City are separated by only one Snow Mountain. I'm afraid the Emperor has also arranged people in Bei Huang. Once we reach Beihuang City and make our presence known, we can find a chance to leave and head to Muyuan first to make further plans!"

Cheng Old Madam put away the Jade Pendant and cut her off in a low voice.

"Enough. We'll discuss this another day!"

Cheng Qiuruo looked at her in some confusion.

"But Grandmother…"

"Enough! We should hurry on our way—that's what matters most."

Wang Shi grabbed her elder daughter's arm and shook her head at her.

The grudge absolutely must be avenged!

But why on earth would a Muyuan Prince help the Cheng Family?

This one act of kindness alone would surely not be enough!

Moreover, even if that fool of an emperor hadn't sent assassins, the garrison commander of Beihuang City would not let them off either!

Cheng Qiuyun looked toward Cheng Old Madam.

"Grandmother, I saw a village a few li ahead earlier. It would be good to buy a donkey cart."

Hearing this, An Luo quickly spoke up.

"Zaituan, tell your Elder Aunt—we have a Horse Carriage!"

Yu'an, hearing this, quickly put away his wooden sword and raised his little hand.

"I have…"

Noticing Wu Meng and the others, the little fellow's big eyes rolled around. He pressed his small lips together and quickly changed his words.

"I know where there's a Horse Carriage!"

After saying that, Yu'an turned and quietly patted his own little chest.

That was close—almost let it slip.

Cheng Old Madam rubbed his little head.

"Then let your Elder Aunt go with you to find the Horse Carriage, alright?"

Cheng Qiuluo quickly said: "I'll go too, I'll go too!"

The two sisters took Yu'an to a secluded but fairly open spot.

An Luo also quickly equipped Zaituan with the luxurious Horse Carriage.

"Yu'an, where's the Horse Carriage?"

Cheng Qiuluo looked around—not a single Horse Carriage in sight, not even a single strand of Horse hair.

Yu'an suddenly widened his big eyes, his little mouth slightly open, and pointed with his small hand.

"There!"

The Horse Carriage is so pretty!

The two sisters looked over and instantly widened their eyes.

On the ground where there had been nothing at all moments ago, two Horse Carriages had suddenly appeared.

"Heavens! They're using thousand-li-a-day Ferghana Horses to pull the carriage!"

Cheng Qiuluo ran over and excitedly reached out to stroke the two pure-white Ferghana Horses.

"Look at this glossy, sleek mane, and these strong, sturdy legs… these Horses are so handsome!"

Cheng Qiuyun, on the other hand, walked a circle around the Horse Carriage.

The carriage frame was made entirely of golden-striped nanmu wood.

The exterior had little ornamentation, but the interior of the carriage was extraordinarily luxurious.

The carriage compartment was spacious, and the incense burner inside gave off a faint, drifting fragrance.

Four luminous pearls were inlaid in the ceiling, and below lay an exquisite velvet carpet, upon which were three soft couches—one large and two small.

A small square table in the middle held tea and delicate refreshments; on closer whiff, the tea's aroma turned out to be top-grade Mingqian Longjing.

The two sisters drove the Horse Carriage back in a daze.

Once again, it drew a chorus of startled exclamations from the crowd.

After the shock wore off, the group set off again in the Horse Carriage.

The next morning, at dawn.

A nearby farmer went up the Mountain to chop firewood as usual, only to stumble upon the corpses of those two waves of assassins, and was so terrified that he scrambled away on hands and feet.

"Ah—someone come! There's a dead body!"