Chapter 3

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The young man in white smiled slightly and brushed away the leaf that had landed on his shoulder. This simple action appeared as graceful as playing a zither and as elegant as white snow on green bamboo, exuding an air of untouchable refinement.

“This is our young master,” Xiao Shi chattered enthusiastically. “Our young master is very kind. When he saw the carriage fall, he said we should come and see if we could help…”

Gu Yan Fei stood motionless, seemingly in a daze. Having lived in the Yao Ling Realm for two hundred years and starting cultivation at eighteen, she no longer needed to consume regular food and had long forgotten the feeling of hunger. Earlier, she had thought the discomfort in her stomach was due to an internal injury. Who would have thought it was actually hunger?

Is this what “hunger” feels like?

Gurgle…

As if answering her question, her stomach let out another growl. The young man in white curved his lips, a hint of amusement in his dark eyes. His slightly upturned eyes, with a crimson tear mole under his right eye, made his phoenix eyes even more captivating.

“Does the young lady reside in Dan Yang City?” the young man in white asked gracefully, bowing slightly to Gu Yan Fei. “We are heading to Dan Yang City and can give you a lift.”

Gu Yan Fei asked with interest, “How did you know?”

The young man pointed to the sachet at her waist. “This is a sachet from Yipin Incense Shop in Dan Yang City, only available in autumn.”

Yipin Incense Shop was the most famous incense shop in Dan Yang City, selling various incenses, sachets, and incense burners. The sachet embroidered with osmanthus flowers that Gu Yan Fei had was only available in September and October.

“Good eye,” Gu Yan Fei said with a smile, cupping her hands in thanks. “Please take us to the Gu residence on Hua’an Street in Dan Yang City.”

“A trivial task,” the young man in white said with a faint smile, brushing his sleeve. “No need to worry, Miss Gu.”

His smile was dazzling, adding to his charm. Xiao Shi quickly set up a mounting stool. Juan Bi hesitated, bit her lip, and quietly tugged at Gu Yan Fei’s sleeve.

Not worried, Gu Yan Fei smiled reassuringly at Juan Bi and stepped onto the mounting stool. If it were the old her, she would have been cautious and prudent, seeking only the Gu family’s approval. But now, after her journey through the Yao Ling Realm and seeing a broader, more mysterious world, she had undergone a complete transformation.

Gender propriety was no longer a concern for her.

The carriage looked plain from the outside, but the interior was exquisitely decorated. The seats were covered with fox fur mats, a small carved rosewood table was fixed in the middle, the floor was covered with a soft Persian carpet, and there were a tea stove, teapot, teacups, chessboard, and other items. After Gu Yan Fei and Juan Bi were seated, the carriage slowly moved, rocking rhythmically.

“This pastry is still warm. Please try it, miss.” The young master in white gracefully took out a small dish of osmanthus glutinous rice cake from the nearby food box and gently pushed it toward Gu Yan Fei.

His right hand, like himself, was beautiful, with well-defined, slender fingers, white and long, each one like jade, with nails full, translucent, and neat. The young master in flawless white attire was elegant and refined, his appearance transcendent and beautiful. In contrast, Gu Yan Fei looked disheveled with muddy skirts, a far cry from her current state.

Some young ladies might feel ashamed, but Gu Yan Fei showed no sign of self-consciousness under his gaze and calmly picked up a piece of the osmanthus glutinous rice cake. The sweet fragrance of the food wafted into her nose, making her mouth water and her stomach growl with hunger. Gu Yan Fei took a slow bite, finding the cake soft, sweet, and richly fragrant, with perfect sweetness and texture. She savored the taste as if she were enjoying a rare delicacy.

The young master in white poured two cups of floral tea from the teapot beside him.

Gu Yan Fei took another bite of the rice cake and glanced at the sword hanging at his waist, noting it from the elbow he had raised. It was a short sword with an ancient sheath, the hilt carved from Hetian jade. Taking the teacup offered by the young master, Gu Yan Fei took a sip and casually asked, “May I inquire your surname, young master?”

“I am surnamed Chu.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young master in white showed a look of discomfort. He turned his head and covered his mouth with a handkerchief, lightly coughing.

Cough, cough…

Hearing the cough, the young boy outside the carriage quickly lifted the curtain at the front and anxiously asked, “Young master…”

He only managed to utter two words before stopping abruptly, staring in shock at Miss Gu, who was holding the young master’s left hand with the same stunned expression as Juan Bi. The coughing gradually subsided as Gu Yan Fei calmly pressed a couple of points below Chu Gongzi’s left thumb. His skin was as delicate as high-quality jade, with a slight chill. In just a few breaths, Chu Gongzi stopped coughing, and his breathing noticeably steadied.

“It’s nothing now,” Gu Yan Fei said with a smile, withdrawing her hand. Since she had acted, the effect was immediate and would ensure he wouldn’t have another episode for at least a month.

“Didn’t expect you to know medicine as well, Miss,” Chu Gongzi said, clearing his throat with a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze. “Since there’s nothing more on the road, would you care for a game of chess with me?”

Playing chess wouldn’t delay her from eating, so Gu Yan Fei readily agreed. Soon, the sound of chess pieces clicking could be heard in the carriage. Gu Yan Fei played the black pieces while Chu Gongzi played white. Both moved decisively, placing their pieces on the board without much thought. The black and white pieces engaged in a silent battle, each expanding its own territory…

The carriage arrived at Dan Yang City in the early evening.

“Young Master, we’ve arrived at Dan Yang City!” Xiao Shi announced loudly, full of energy.

The sounds of the official road mixed together—conversations, shouts, the clatter of horse hooves, and the wind—all creating a cacophony. Juan Bi eagerly pulled back the curtain and looked out, seeing the familiar city gate ahead. The gate was marked with the characters “Dan Yang City,” slightly weathered from the elements.

At this time, dusk was settling in, and the townsfolk hurried to enter the city before dark. Two long lines of people stretched at the gate, extending for a good distance, moving slowly. Several constables stood at the gate, commanding the people entering the city, checking carriages, searching individuals, and inspecting goods. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive. After waiting for a full incense stick’s worth of time, their carriage finally reached the city gate.

Outside the carriage, a rough and impatient male voice shouted, “Who’s in the carriage? Get out!”

“Sir, the people inside are our young master…”

The coachman replied politely, but before he could finish, a constable roughly opened the carriage door, letting in the cool evening breeze. Inside the carriage, with nothing obstructing the view, the fat constable quickly spotted Gu Yan Fei, Juan Bi, and Chu Gongzi. His gaze drifted over the two young ladies and focused on Chu Gongzi, examining him up and down.

The young man with the coarse voice, Xiao Shi, tried to intervene but was cut off, looking somewhat defeated. “Sir, we are law-abiding citizens, you see…”

“Xiao Shi!” Chu Gongzi interrupted calmly. Xiao Shi had to close his mouth, pressing his lips together in obvious dissatisfaction.

“Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience.” Chu Gongzi then politely cupped his hands and addressed the constable. “I’ve caught a cold these past few days and can’t tolerate the wind… cough, cough.”

As he spoke, he turned his face slightly, pressing his fist to his lips, and began to cough violently, his pale cheeks flushing with a rosiness that suggested a delicate, sickly state. Gu Yan Fei raised an interested eyebrow, her gaze fixed on his face.

He’s quite good at this act…

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