Chapter 163
While deftly tightening the girth of the horse, Sheng Xuan turned to Su Zhelan, who was adjusting her cloak, and nagged, "We can't rush like yesterday today! Do you hear me? We're not in a hurry, let's take it slow, okay?" His handsome brows showed undisguised concern, and his voice was loud, attracting the attention of the postman feeding the horses nearby.
Su Zhelan, who was bending down to tie the belt of her cloak, paused upon hearing this.
In the morning light, the blush of embarrassment from last night had faded from his cheeks, replaced by a slightly tired pallor, but his eyes were much calmer than yesterday. He raised his eyes, met Sheng Xuan's worried gaze, and nodded gently, his voice low but clear: "Yes, I understand."
This compliant attitude surprised Sheng Xuan, and the more instructions he had prepared stuck in his throat. He scratched his head and looked at Xiao Qiyun beside him with some surprise. Xiao Qiyun was hanging the water bag on the saddle, his expression calm and unwavering, as if he was not surprised at all by Su Zhelan's cooperation. He only glanced at Sheng Xuan indifferently, his eyes seeming to say, "It should have been done long ago."
Xiao Qiyun mounted his horse, reined in, and glanced at Su Zhelan: "Let's slow down today's itinerary and rest for an hour at noon."
Su Zhelan nodded, said nothing more, and silently mounted her horse. Although her inner thighs were still a little sore after the medicine was applied and she rested last night, they were no longer as burning and stinging as yesterday, and her movements were a little more agile.
The next two days proceeded exactly as Xiao Qiyun had planned, with the journey no longer as rushed as on the first day.
They set off at dawn each day, avoiding the scorching midday sun, choosing to rest for extended periods in the shade of trees or by streams, feeding the horses, having a bite to eat, and giving Suzelan a chance to stretch his stiff limbs. Before sunset, they would arrive at the next post station or a reliable village to stay overnight, ensuring they got plenty of rest.
Su Zhelan also became unusually "obedient". He no longer insisted on continuing the journey. At each rest stop, he would obediently dismount and move around, silently drink water from the water bag handed to him by Xiao Qiyun, and quietly sit down to rest when Sheng Xuan loudly spread out the mat.
After traveling for several more days, the scenery along the way gradually became more populated. One afternoon, the three arrived at a slightly more prosperous border town. The town was built along the official road, with shops lining the streets, and there were noticeably more pedestrians and carriages, exuding a rugged yet lively vitality unique to this frontier region.
They found a reasonably clean and spacious post station to rest and have a meal. The post station's main hall was bustling with noise. Merchants from all directions, porters, and even a few swordsmen were gathered together drinking, eating, and talking loudly. The air was filled with the aroma of food, the smell of horses' sweat, and a unique kind of urban clamor.
The three of them chose a relatively quiet table by the window and ordered some simple food.
Sheng Xuan continued to scan her surroundings warily, her hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of the knife at her waist. Xiao Qiyun, on the other hand, calmly washed the dishes for Su Zhelan, his movements unhurried, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.
Su Zhelan sat quietly, her gaze occasionally sweeping across the bustling street outside the window, as if observing something, or perhaps just spacing out.
Their appearance quickly attracted attention. Although the three were dressed as ordinary江湖客 (jianghu ke, wandering swordsmen), their temperament and appearance were ultimately somewhat out of place with the rough and rugged atmosphere around them. Xiao Qiyun's calm and noble demeanor, Su Zhelan's aloof and delicate appearance, and Sheng Xuan's handsome and sharp features made them stand out in the crowd.
Before long, a plump merchant, his face flushed from drinking and dressed in a silk robe, staggered over, holding a wine cup. His squinty eyes swept over the three of them, finally settling on Su Zhelan's face, with a hint of drunken mockery:
"Hey! You guys look unfamiliar! Where are you from? Where are you going? Look at your fair skin and delicate features, you don't seem to be used to this kind of travel, do you? Haha!"
Sheng Xuan's brows furrowed immediately, his eyes flashed with anger, and he was about to lash out when Xiao Qiyun stopped him with a very indifferent look.
Su Zhelan raised her eyes and looked at the fat merchant. Her face was expressionless, but her voice was clear and steady, with a slightly distant politeness unique to scions of noble families: "My elder brother brought me out to travel and broaden my horizons."
He slightly turned his head to gesture to Xiao Qiyun beside him, "Since we're passing through your esteemed place, let's take a break."
Upon hearing this, the merchant scrutinized Xiao Qiyun again. Xiao Qiyun merely nodded slightly, his expression indifferent, and said nothing more, but his overall demeanor made the merchant subconsciously restrain his frivolousness.
"Traveling is good! Young people should travel more!" The merchant chuckled twice, then turned his gaze back to Su Zhelan, his tone still teasing, "Young man, you're quite handsome, you'd better be careful on your journey. Although our area is peaceful, there are always a few blind fools around..."
Before he could finish speaking, Sheng Xuan snorted coldly, tightened his grip on the hilt of his knife, and said in a low but clear warning voice: "Don't bother."
The merchant was startled by the coldness in Sheng Xuan's eyes, sobering up considerably. He chuckled dryly, "Oh dear, there's a guard here too! My apologies!" Feeling awkward, he reluctantly picked up his wine glass and slipped back to his table.
The probing gazes around them then withdrew. The noise in the lobby continued, but it seemed no one dared to approach and strike up a conversation anymore.
Xiao Qiyun pushed the warmed teacup in front of Su Zhelan, his voice flat and indifferent: "Let's eat."
Su Zhelan picked up his teacup, his fingertips tightening slightly, and lowered his eyes to conceal the fleeting thoughts that crossed them. His earlier response was a prepared statement, rehearsed before his departure, and its use now seemed natural.
However, the scrutiny and probing of the common people reminded him that the closer he got to his destination, the more cautious he needed to be.
Sheng Xuan kept a straight face, quickly shoveling food into his mouth, but his eyes were like those of a hawk, constantly watching his surroundings, as if he were ready to pounce on anyone who might offend Su Zhelan.
After the meal, no one came to disturb them. The three of them finished their meal quietly, rested briefly, then got up to pay the bill and continued their journey. As they left the post station, Su Zhelan could feel several eyes still following him, but he did not turn around. He simply pulled down the hood of his cloak, covering most of his face.
The sound of horses' hooves rang out again, carrying the three away from the bustling border town and heading towards the more desolate north.
After traveling for two more days, the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate. The official road was gradually replaced by a bumpy dirt road, with few people and scattered villages. The continuous mountains presented a gloomy, iron-gray tone.
The air seemed to be filled with a faint smell, a mixture of dust and some kind of decay, making people subconsciously hold their breath.
Horse hooves pounded across the dry riverbed, raising clouds of yellow dust. Sheng Xuan's expression had long since lost its usual playfulness, becoming wary and serious, his gaze sweeping like a hawk over the bare cliffs and rocky valley on either side.
Xiao Qiyun remained silent as he controlled the horse, but his back was straightened even more, and he exuded an invisible, chilling aura.
Su Zhelan's breathing became rapid without him realizing it. His fingers, gripping the reins, turned slightly white, and his gaze was fixed on the outline of a huge, seemingly cleaved mountain valley that was getting closer and closer.
The entrance to the mountain pass was filled with jagged rocks, and even from a distance, one could feel a chilling, deathly atmosphere emanating from it, completely out of place with the surrounding desolate environment.
Just as they could clearly see the eerie dark red rock walls at the entrance to the mountain pass, Xiao Qiyun was the first to rein in his horse.
“It’s just ahead.” Xiao Qiyun’s deep voice broke the suffocating silence. He raised his hand to signal them to stop, his gaze sweeping over the desolate valley before looking up at the sky. The sun was already setting, and the massive mountain shadows were slowly swallowing the last rays of light, adding to the eeriness of that ominous place.
“It’s getting late,” Xiao Qiyun said with an unwavering determination, his gaze falling on Su Zhelan’s anxious and pale face. “That area is completely deserted, uninhabited, and the situation is unknown. It would be too dangerous to venture in at night.”
Su Zhelan abruptly turned to look at Xiao Qiyun, his lips moved, and a hint of urgency and unwillingness flashed in his eyes, as if he wanted to refute. He could almost feel something calling to him from the depths of the mountain valley, making him impatient for even a moment longer.
Xiao Qiyun didn't give him a chance to speak, and continued calmly, "Let's find a place to rest nearby first. There should be an abandoned post station about five miles ahead, which can still provide shelter from the wind. We'll go in tomorrow morning when it's light."
Sheng Xuan immediately nodded in agreement. He had long felt that the mountain valley was eerie: "That's right! That place is pitch black. Who knows what's hiding inside? Zhe Lan, let's not rush it this night. Let's rest up and explore again tomorrow!"
Looking into Xiao Qiyun's calm gaze, and then at the Black Wind Pass, which was gradually being shrouded in twilight and resembled a lurking beast, Su Zhelan finally took a deep breath, suppressed the anxiety in her heart, and nodded with difficulty.
“…Okay.” He knew that Xiao Qiyun’s decision was correct, but the answer that was so close at hand made him uneasy.
Xiao Qiyun turned his horse around and led them to another fork in the road. Sure enough, before dusk completely swallowed the earth, they found a half-ruined old post station site. Most of the courtyard wall had collapsed, but the main building was still relatively intact, at least it had a roof to keep out the wind and sun.
Sheng Xuan nimbly dismounted and rushed into the post station to investigate. After confirming that there were no wild animals or obvious dangers, he came out to greet the two: "It's alright! It's habitable! It's just a bit dusty!"
The three tied their horses to the still-intact stable, cleared a clean area, and laid out felt blankets. Sheng Xuan then took out some dry rations and dried meat from his baggage and distributed them to everyone.
Night quickly descended, and all around was deathly silent, save for the howling of the wind through the broken window frames and the low howls of unknown wild animals in the distance, which made the desolate wilderness seem even more eerie.
Su Zhelan sat on the felt rug with her knees drawn up to her chest, barely having any appetite. Her gaze frequently drifted towards the direction of Black Wind Pass, her eyes shining brightly in the darkness, filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.
Xiao Qiyun sat opposite him, slowly eating his dry rations. His gaze occasionally swept over Su Zhelan, taking in his restless appearance, but he didn't say anything.
Sheng Xuan busied himself checking the doors and windows, and then sprinkled insect and snake repellent powder on the ground, muttering to himself, "This awful place, it's so windy... Su Zhelan, make sure you're covered up well tonight, don't catch a cold... We'll set off at dawn tomorrow."
After a quick dinner, the three lay down to rest fully clothed. The inn was pitch black, with only a few pale patches of cold moonlight filtering through the broken windows.
Su Zhelan lay awake, wide awake, the sounds of Sheng Xuan's gradually even breathing and the ceaseless wind outside the window filling his ears. He could clearly feel Xiao Qiyun's calm and clear gaze from not far away, a silent protection, or perhaps a patient wait.
This night was exceptionally long. For Su Zhelan, it was an agonizing wait; for Xiao Qiyun, it was a period of dormancy under his control; and for Sheng Xuan, it was a time to conserve his energy in preparation for whatever might happen the next day.
When the first rays of dawn finally pierced through the darkness and illuminated the dust-filled inn, Xiao Qiyun was the first to sit up.
“It’s dawn,” his voice was particularly clear in the crisp air, “Get ready to go.”
Su Zhelan sat up almost immediately, her eyes bloodshot, yet unusually clear-headed and resolute.
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