Chapter 83 Encountering Bandits on the Way
Clad in crimson, her hair as black as ink, she successfully reminded Jiu Ya of the character design she had seen before—it was as if she had stepped right out of a painting. However, the character design gave off a cold and aloof feeling, and the ghost mask scattered on her skirt added a touch of eerie beauty to Rong Jiang's entire appearance.
In real life, Rong Jiang has a gentle smile, her beautiful phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and her slightly chubby face gives the impression of being innocent, kind, and adorable! Jiu Ya couldn't help but sigh in her heart, Rong Jiang's temperament is truly versatile, sometimes as aloof as the moon, and sometimes as bright as the sun.
"Really? First time wearing this?" Rong Jiang lowered her eyes and smiled lightly, glancing at the red spider lilies on the hem of the skirt. This skirt was given to her by the maid Manhua when she left the Underworld. She chose this one directly when changing clothes this morning. Manhua always liked to prepare these brightly colored dresses for her, saying that she wanted her to have more of a human touch.
The two chatted for a long time about clothing and makeup; it seems that girls never run out of things to talk about when they get together. Jiu Ya talked about the various strange costumes she had seen in the Demon Realm, while Rong Jiang described some of the characteristics of clothing in the human world. The two talked happily, and half an hour had passed before they realized it.
They chatted until they needed to have their tea refilled. Jiu Ya realized she had been talking non-stop for a long time, and then, quite reasonably, her mouth felt dry. "I feel a little thirsty," she said, subconsciously licking her dry lips.
She was about to call Bai Yu to brew some tea when she remembered that Bai Yu had already been sent out on an errand and needed to fend for herself. Jiu Ya couldn't help but feel a little annoyed; she should have asked Bai Yu to brew the tea before leaving.
"Did Ajiu bring any tea leaves?" Rong Jiang raised an eyebrow. What was so difficult about that? She had everything in her mustard seed space; tea leaves were nothing.
Jiu Ya said, "It seems that all these things are kept with Li Yue and Bai Yu." Her tone carried a hint of helplessness. The two head stewards were in charge of everything, from food and clothing to housing and transportation, while she, as the Venerable One, didn't have to worry about anything.
Rong Jiang said, "It's alright." As soon as she finished speaking, an exquisite tea set and a packet of tea appeared out of thin air on the table. The tea set was made of fine white porcelain, its glaze smooth as jade, gleaming warmly in the sunlight. The tea was wrapped in oiled paper, and even before it was opened, a faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from it.
They're all disguised as so-called cultivators, so having a mustard seed space or something isn't too much to ask, is it? Jiu Ya thought to herself, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the tea set. Rong Jiang's taste is indeed excellent; even her tea set is so exquisite.
"Since A-Jiu didn't bring her usual tea, then make do with the one I brought!" She smiled slightly, raised her delicate hand, and began to brew the tea. Her movements were fluid and graceful, as if she had practiced it a thousand times.
With a flick of her slender finger, Rong Jiang filled the teapot, which had been a clear blue after the rain, with water. The water quickly boiled and then disappeared. She then added a certain amount of tea leaves, pouring the hot water from a high position and letting it steep gently. As the hot water poured in, the curled tea leaves unfurled, their shapes resembling orchids, their color a lovely emerald green. The aroma of the tea filled the air, refreshing and delightful.
Finally, she handed Jiu Ya a teacup filled to seven-tenths full with tea, saying, "Please." Her movements were elegant, her fingertips as smooth as jade, complementing the white porcelain teacup perfectly.
Jiu Ya looked directly at Rong Jiang and smiled as she accepted the teacup. The moment their fingertips touched, Jiu Ya felt the slightly cool touch of Rong Jiang's fingertips, and her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her eyes to look at the clear tea soup in the porcelain-white teacup, which made the tea soup appear even more emerald green and clear. Smelling the rich aroma of the tea, she took a sip and praised, "The taste is mellow and rich, with a sweet aftertaste, and it makes my mouth water."
After taking a couple more sips, she knew it was green tea, though she couldn't quite tell what kind. But Jiu Ya could still easily offer praise. Although she didn't drink tea much in her modern life, she had learned some tea ceremony knowledge from her elders and knew the basics of tea tasting.
Jiuya doesn't particularly like tea. Back in the modern world, she preferred flower tea, made purely from fresh flowers. She could distinguish between green and black tea, but if you asked her to name a specific type like Biluochun, Longjing, or Da Hong Pao, she really couldn't. In the Demon Realm, where tea is also available, she drank it more often, though the types and flavors seemed somewhat different between the Demon Realm and the human world.
“It’s Xianhao.” Rong Jiang simply said three words. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her movements were as elegant as if she were performing some kind of ritual.
Upon hearing this unfamiliar name, Jiu Ya sincerely replied, "I've never had this before." She then took another sip, carefully savoring the tea's flavor as it lingered in her mouth. The tea was indeed excellent, fragrant, sweet, and with a long-lasting aftertaste.
She'd only heard of Biluochun, Maojian, and Longjing, and felt that this Xianhao tea was no different from Maojian leaves. Don't ask her why she didn't compare this tea with Biluochun and Longjing; it's because she'd never tasted them, it's that simple. Jiuya silently berated herself for her ignorance, but maintained a polite smile on her face.
"It was a gift from someone else. I only tried it recently, and it was quite good, so I brought it with me when I came out." Rong Jiang smiled. Actually, it had been in her mustard seed space for a while now, but the mustard seed space is just a simple storage space where time is stopped, so anything put in remains the same as when it was first put in. This tea was brought back from the human world by Si Ge a few days ago, who said it was a new product and wanted her to try it.
“Xianhao tea is produced in Qinan. Following Ajiu’s route, we might pass through there in the future.” Rong Jiang said, looking out the window as if she could already see the scenery in the distance.
What route is Jiu Ya taking? Her travel route! She plans to stay for a few months, and judging by her pace, reaching Qinan shouldn't be a problem. Qinan isn't part of the original Qi Kingdom, but Rong Jiang knows the entire continent's city layout very well. As the ruler of the Underworld, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of human geography.
Jiu Ya murmured, "Qi Nan? Isn't the scenery beautiful?" Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, like a child hearing that they were going on a picnic.
“I’ve never been there, but I’ve vaguely heard that the scenery is picturesque,” Rong Jiang said. Her tone was calm, but her eyes held a hint of longing. As the ruler of the underworld, she rarely had the opportunity to travel leisurely through the mortal realm like this.
Jiuya's eyes lit up, and she was immediately filled with anticipation. Traveling and sightseeing definitely meant going to places that were both fun and beautiful. "Wow, we definitely have to go there!" she exclaimed excitedly, already imagining the beauty of Qinan. Green mountains and clear waters, small bridges and houses, and tea trees covering the hillsides—just thinking about it made her feel refreshed and relaxed.
The two chatted for a long time, discussing everything from local customs and traditions to local delicacies, enjoying each other's company immensely. The sun gradually set, casting long shadows indoors. They talked until after dinner before Jiu Ya returned to her room to rest. Before leaving, she made sure to invite Rong Jiang to breakfast together the next day.
The next day, Jiu Ya woke up early, feeling refreshed. She first went to find Rong Jiang, and the two had breakfast together before checking out of their room. The innkeeper warmly saw them off, even giving them a bag of local specialty snacks for their journey.
After breakfast, Jiu Ya saw Li Yue and Bai Yu standing in front of a carriage waiting for them. The carriage was quite luxurious, with a body made of fine mahogany, exquisitely carved, and curtains made of brocade embroidered with beautiful patterns. The two horses pulling the carriage were plump and strong, with glossy coats, clearly fine horses.
Jiuya blinked. "They even got a carriage?" Her tone was filled with surprise. Although she could ride the wind, riding in a carriage was a different kind of fun, and it allowed her to experience the everyday life of ordinary people.
The next city was some distance from Changshao, so Li Yue bought a fairly large carriage in the city for transportation. He specifically chose the most comfortable one to ensure that Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang would not experience any bumps on the road.
“Miss, it will take us some time to travel from Changshao to the next city,” Li Yue replied. His tone was respectful, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to Rong Jiang beside him, as if he were somewhat nervous. This Miss Rong had a very strong aura; even though she had restrained her imposing presence, no one dared to be negligent.
To travel like an ordinary person, a carriage is indispensable. Jiu Ya nodded silently in her heart, very satisfied with Li Yue's thoughtful arrangements.
Jiu Ya hummed in agreement, then stepped onto the carriage using a small stool. The carriage shaft was a bit high, so she lifted her skirt and carefully climbed up, her movements a little clumsy, yet making her look exceptionally cute. As soon as she was on, she turned and called to Rong Jiang, "Ranran, come on up quickly!" She reached out her hand, wanting to help Rong Jiang.
The interior of the carriage was spacious and very comfortable. The cushions and pillows were made of fine silk, soft and comfortable. Several snacks and a pot of tea were laid out on a small square table, obviously prepared in advance by Bai Yu. It was practically an essential RV for traveling. Jiu Ya nodded in satisfaction and found the most comfortable spot to sit down.
Once Rong Jiang and Jiu Ya were on the carriage, Bai Yu and Li Yue sat on either side of it, acting as drivers. Bai Yu had specially laid soft cushions on the carriage shafts to ensure comfort. Li Yue cracked his whip and drove the carriage out of the city gate.
Jiuya lifted the curtain and took one last look at Changshao. The Painted Skin Ghost had been eliminated, and Changshao was gradually regaining its lively atmosphere; the eerie desolation would eventually disappear. Sunlight streamed onto the bluestone pavement, street vendors began to hawk their wares, and pedestrians came and went, creating a vibrant scene.
Because Li Yue was driving, the carriage moved quickly but smoothly. Before noon, their carriage was already quite far from Changshao. The scenery along the way was picturesque, with verdant fields and distant mountains like dark eyebrows; Jiu Ya was overwhelmed by the sights.
As they walked, they passed a mountain. Their route didn't require crossing it, so they only passed its foot. The mountain was lush and green, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. At the foot of the mountain stood a simple teahouse, where an old man in a brown jacket was selling tea. The teahouse was very simple, with only a few tables and benches, but it was kept very clean.
Bai Yu said, "Li Yue, slow down a bit. Let me ask Miss if she wants to rest here for a while. It's almost noon, time for lunch." Her gaze swept over the tea stall, her brows furrowing slightly, as if she sensed something was amiss.
"Okay." Li Yue gently pulled on the reins, and the car slowed down. His gaze also became alert as he subtly observed the surrounding environment.
Bai Yu turned her head and asked the curtain, "Miss, Miss Rong, there's a teahouse up ahead. Would you like to rest for a bit? It's almost noon."
Hearing Bai Yu's question, Jiu Ya lifted the carriage curtain. Perhaps because they were closer, she saw that not far from the teahouse, there seemed to be several farmers hoeing the ground, dressed in a leisurely manner. But upon closer inspection, the farmers' movements were somewhat stiff, not like they were working seriously, but more like they were on lookout duty.
There seemed to be only four or five people at the foot of the mountain, but Jiu Ya sensed the presence of more than a dozen. A lone carriage drove by on the deserted road. What, a necessary skill for time travel? Maybe I'm about to be robbed? Jiu Ya silently complained in her heart, but remained outwardly calm.
"That teahouse isn't very big, let's just go!" Jiu Ya waved her hand to refuse, lest they really run into bandits, which would be difficult to handle. She didn't want to cause trouble on the road and delay her sightseeing.
Bai Yu replied, "Yes." Her tone carried a hint of regret, as if she genuinely wanted to stop and rest. But since Jiu Ya had spoken, she naturally obeyed.
As they spoke, the carriage was only a few dozen meters away from the teahouse. The old man in the teahouse saw a luxurious carriage approaching, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes. He waved the white cloth draped over his shoulder and called out loudly, "Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey, right? Come and have a cup of cool tea!" His voice was loud and clear, but it carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Li Yue cracked his whip, quickening his pace, ready to leave immediately. The horse neighed, its hooves clattering, raising a cloud of dust.
Then, when they were only a dozen meters away from the teahouse, a dozen or so burly men emerged from the woods behind it, each carrying a large knife on their shoulder, and menacingly blocked the carriage's path. Their movements were swift, clearly indicating they had been prepared.
The dozen or so men all had fierce expressions. The one leading the way seemed to be a bandit leader, with a face full of scars, a knife scar running from his brow to the corner of his mouth, adding to his menacing appearance. He shouted menacingly at Li Yue, "Why aren't you stopping this carriage right now?!"
Then he shouted his classic robbery line, "This tree is mine, this road is mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!" He brandished his broadsword, the sunlight reflecting off its blade with a blinding glint. The other bandits joined in the commotion, and the scene quickly descended into chaos.
Jiu Ya sighed inside the carriage; as expected, they had encountered this situation again. She lifted a corner of the curtain and peeked out. She saw that the bandits all had ferocious faces, and the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly; they were clearly not good people. She couldn't help but tighten her grip on Rong Jiang's hand and whispered, "Ranran, it seems we've encountered bandits."
Rong Jiang remained expressionless, instead gently patting Jiu Ya's hand to reassure her. Her gaze swept over the bandits outside the carriage, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
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