Chapter 363: Flowers of Ai'ai and Xixi

The Song family manor is some distance from the hunting grounds, but Heng Xian isn't in a hurry; no matter how dire his father's situation, he doesn't care about this moment.

He was considering how his father's business could coexist with the natives—a troublesome matter, since the lawful society of his past life and the jungle society of this life are completely different; some things simply won't work if copied outright.

Using strong-arm tactics feels fine, but what about after I'm gone?

Even if this is settled, expanding to other cities later will still be a hassle!

Just then, a fork appeared ahead; Heng Xian was about to pass when a luxurious carriage suddenly came screaming, its leading guard arrogantly whipping and madly driving passersby: "Get lost, you blind fool..."

The whip was about to land on Heng Xian's shoulder.

Heng Xian frowned involuntarily, readying to flick his finger and send the guard flying.

At that moment, a clear, pleasant voice came from inside the luxurious carriage: "Stop! Do not hurt passersby."

The leading guard obediently lowered his whip, turned back with a look of affection and respect, and saluted: "Yes!"

Heng Xian instinctively looked at the carriage, and just then the carriage lifted its curtain, revealing a face with round, jade‑like features.

She looked about twenty, her face slightly baby‑faced, but her eyes were bright, her features beautiful and charming, with an indescribable kindness and gentleness that made one's heart skip at a glance.

The girl looked at him, her gaze shifting slightly, then she smiled and said, "Excuse me, I need to pass!"

Heng Xian immediately stepped aside, performing a local polite gesture.

Pt pt pt...

The carriage slowly drifted away.

The girl glanced back once more before lowering the curtain.

Inside the spacious, luxurious, comfortable carriage sat another girl with a melon‑seed face, dressed impeccably, who blinked and said, "Dou'er, what is that person doing?"

The girl propped her chin on her snow‑white soft jade and asked, "Don't you think this person seems a bit different?"

The melon‑seed‑face girl pondered: "He's pretty good‑looking, quite handsome, huh? Dou'er, you couldn't be falling for him, could you? No way!"

Though he looks decent, he's clearly a good‑for‑nothing, no different from those idle nobles who spend all day powdering their faces—beautiful outside, useless inside! Did you see the sword at his waist? It's dull and grimy; he probably doesn't even like to keep clean.

You are the eldest miss of South Cliff City, the number‑one beauty of the Twenty‑One City Alliance, a lay disciple of Maitreya Temple; the husband you marry must be a one‑in‑a‑million genius, a famed hero of the region!

Such a person isn't even worthy to hold your sandals!

"Mu Lanqing, you're crazy!" Song Dou'er rolled her eyes, "I don't even know her!"

The melon‑seed‑face girl blinked: "Why is that?"

Song Dou'er thought seriously: "I cultivate the Great Bright King Peacock Heart Sutra; I'm good at observing, and I feel…… this person's eyes are exceptionally clear and wise, unlike ordinary mortals, as if he can see through many things, as if…… he isn't of this world!"

The melon‑seed‑face girl chuckled: "I don't see it; I actually find him utterly vulgar, even less interesting than the guard up front."

Song Dou'er fell silent.

The melon‑seed‑face girl chattered excitedly: "Many people have come for this winter hunt—Brother Bai Zixian of Ziying City, my cousin Mu Ti, plus Xiao Yujian of Melody Wind City, and Wang Ling of Du Jing City! Wow, they're all regional geniuses, especially Brother Xiao Yujian,

It's said he's already a Golden Core cultivator, the top expert of the Twenty‑One City Alliance! He's also a high‑ranking expert in the Earth Rankings at Falling Sunset Valley, and last time at the Tianyuan Sect's Sword‑Testing Tournament he placed very high!

Too bad someone else stole the spotlight at the end; if you count you, all the geniuses of the Twenty‑One Cities would be here……

The more they chatted, the faster the carriage sped, soon disappearing at the end of the long street.

Heng Xian followed the small path straight toward the hunting grounds; the brief incident was quickly tossed behind him.

No woman in the world, no matter how beautiful, can compare to Ji Yaoyue or Senior Sister Lin Shuyu!

Before the narrow path ended, three or four people suddenly walked toward him; one exclaimed "Aiya!" and pointed at Heng Xian: "Hey bro, what a coincidence!"

"Right, it's exactly that baldy we met at the city gate."

Seeing Heng Xian, he seemed quite excited, trotting over and rubbing his hands: "You just vanished in a swoosh—what happened?"

"Oh……" Heng Xian thought, "I know lightness skill!"

"Aiya! Lightness skill is great, lightness skill is wonderful!"

The baldy laughed: "Can you bring someone along?"

Heng Xian said: "No problem!"

The baldy's eyes lit up: "Do you want to go watch the hunt of the Twenty‑One City families' elders and young masters and misses?"

Heng Xian exclaimed: "You actually can get in?"

The baldy laughed: "Strutting in openly… that definitely won't work, but I have a way to see everything inside—want to go?"

Heng Xian felt curious and said: "Sure, let's go!"

"Let's go!"

The baldy tossed aside his companions, took Heng Xian forward, and said, "I'm Hua Ai'ai. And you?"

"Heng Xian!" Heng Xian replied.

"Wise one, sage—what a fine name!" Hua Ai'ai said perfunctorily.

The two ran one after the other for half a li, arriving at a dilapidated little courtyard where Hua Ai'ai shouted inside: "Xixi, are you ready? I've invited a friend—let's go together!"

From inside came a harsh girl's voice: "All day you hang out with those fox‑and‑dog buddies, what day is today? You can see so many nobles and elders—what are you bringing a friend for?"

"Just a moment!" Hua Ai'ai gave an embarrassed smile to Heng Xian and entered the courtyard.

Soon a conversation drifted out: "It's different—this guy isn't just any fox‑and‑dog friend; he knows lightness skill, the poof‑and‑gone type. If we get caught, he can get us out!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

……

Heng Xian heard clearly from outside, couldn't help finding it funny—this baldy sure is clever.

Just then the gate opened, and Hua Ai'ai walked out with a girl wearing a neat blue‑cloth robe, her makeup deliberately light but not heavy.

The girl glanced at Heng Xian, her face instantly flushing; evidently she hadn't expected her brother to bring someone so young—and good‑looking.

As she twisted, the uneven white powder on her face slid right off.

Hua Ai'ai pointed at the younger sister and introduced: "My younger sister is Hua Xixi!"

Heng Xian nodded: "Xixi, the mushroom girl, is good. We had better hurry over!"

Hua Xixi nodded: "Come with me!"

He ran ahead.

Heng Xian and Hua Aiai followed behind.

The three ran four or five li, winding through the town's narrow alleys, getting more and more secluded, finally arriving at the rear courtyard of a large residence.

From here, one could already hear the noisy chatter and bowstring sounds not far away.

Hua Xixi turned back, made a hushing gesture, and whispered: "This is the rear residence of Chief Steward Ma, who guards the Song family hunting ground. Don't make a sound!"

Hua Aiai nodded.

The three continued forward, climbing onto a city wall from the low side of a dark alley.

Then they lay on the battlements and looked out.

Hua Xixi felt somewhat proud: "Only I can find this place; I would never tell anyone else!"

As soon as she finished speaking, heads popped out from the battlements on either side and from the old trees in the nearby mountain hollow—clearly all had come to peek.

"Uh..." Hua Xixi stared wide-eyed, looking completely bewildered.

Meanwhile, Heng Xian looked out along the battlements.

All that could be seen ahead was a vast expanse of forest, islands, and small hills stretching tens of li, where beasts howled and demonic aura permeated.

On the side near the city, banners stood in rows, and crowds of people in fine silks and jade ornaments, in splendid robes and crowned hats, sat cross-legged in luxurious tents, eating fruit pastries and chatting merrily.

Furthermore, a group of young lords and ladies rode wildebeests, drawing bows to test arrows, the bowstrings twanging.

Serving them were countless wealthy slaves and maidservants.

Indeed, it was a noble-like gathering place.

Hua Aiai and Hua Xixi siblings also looked over, inevitably becoming immersed: "How enviable! This is the life of wealthy families and great clans—we didn't have the fortune to be born into such a life!"

(End of chapter)