Ah Dai silently stepped out of the tent, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air; however, he couldn’t sort out the chaos in his mind. He was finding it harder and harder to understand Xuan Yue. She was hot and cold, flying into a temper with him one mont and seeming to care about him the next.
"Ah Dai, my brother, co and sleep. We have to hit the road early tomorrow," said Moon Scar, smiling at Ah Dai.
The tent was small, indeed a bit cramped for the stature of Moon Scar and Ah Dai. Moon Scar, sitting across, asked, "Ah Dai, how old are you this year?"
Ah Dai swept back his cloak and replied, "I’m seventeen years old. How about you, Brother Moon Scar?"
Moon Scar said, "I’m two years older than you, so I’m nineteen this year, and my sister is eighteen. You could say that all of us are about the sa age. What do you think about our forthcoming journey to the Death Mountain Range?"
Ah Dai was taken aback, shook his head and replied, "I just want to get a Magic Crystal and take it back to my teacher."
"It seems like you and Miss Xuan Yue have an unusual relationship. How did you two et?" Moon Scar inquired.
With a sigh, Ah Dai replied, "Brother Moon Scar, don’t ask. It’s a long story! You ditate, and I will begin to concentrate, too." He then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Seeing that Ah Dai didn’t want to talk, Moon Scar shrugged and began cultivating his own fighting spirit.
Ah Dai ditated for a while, and when he saw Moon Scar was fully imrsed, he started cultivating his True Qi. Since Xuan Yue didn’t want Moon Scar and the others to know about his martial prowess, he had no choice but to keep it secret.
The night passed without a word. The next morning, they set off again, heading for the territory of the Pu Yan Clan. After trekking all morning, they finally arrived at another city of the Red Charming Clan at noon. This city was much larger, and most of its residents were mbers of the Red Charming Clan. At Xuan Yue’s insistence, they bought a spacious carriage with two strong horses. When Xuan Yue paid, she only forked out fifty Gold Coins. Just the carriage alone cost a hundred Gold Coins. Moon Scar, seeming to have plenty of money, made up the difference without argunt. The worst off was Ah Dai, as Xuan Yue confiscated all of his possessions, claiming he didn’t need the money. After they finished lunch, Wan Li took the reins and they continued their journey.
The carriage boosted their speed considerably, and two days later, they finally entered the territory of the Pu Yan Clan.
Although the carriage was a bit bumpy, it was far more comfortable than walking. However, due to the jolting, Moon Scar and the others dared not ditate. With nothing else to do, they started chatting. Over the last few days, they had beco better acquainted. Ah Dai and Xuan Yue found out that Moon Scar and Yue Ji, a brother and sister pair, were originally the children of a noble family from the Red Charming Clan. They were as tightly controlled at ho as Xuan Yue and had also snuck out, only returning ho once or twice a year. Despite their youth, they had three years of rcenary experience, and they had established the Moon Scar rcenary Corps the previous year. As being a rcenary was a popular choice in the Red Charming Clan, their parents, noticing the reputation they had built, no longer restricted their movents. Moon Scar was skilled in the Moon Shadow Swordsmanship, inherited from their family, and Yue Ji was skilled in archery, taught by her mother. They were both quite powerful.
To Ah Dai’s surprise, Xuan Yue didn’t boast to Moon Scar and the others about her own background, only suggesting that she had studied Light Magic under an unknown mage for several years. Over these past few days, she generally kept a low profile, only asking Moon Scar about interesting events in the continent, without ntioning her own history.
"Xuan Yue, so this is what it’s like to travel by carriage—it’s so comfortable! You’ve done well this ti!" Yue Ji taunted. Over the last few days, the tension between Yue Ji and Xuan Yue hadn’t eased, and they remained in constant opposition, as if they had been enemies from the start.
Xuan Yue snorted, then said, "You’re just figuring that out now! Ah Dai, why are you sitting so far away from ? I’m sleepy, lend your shoulder to lean on."
Ah Dai, startled, quickly scooted over, saying, "Miss, it’s inappropriate for n and won to be so close. Isn’t this improper?"
Miao Fei chuckled and said, "Miss Xuan Yue, if he doesn’t want to let you lean on him, I’ll offer my shoulder. How about that?"
Xuan Yue glared at him and said, "You’re too skinny for my liking. Ah Dai, hurry up and co over here!" as she scooted towards Ah Dai.
With limited space in the carriage, Ah Dai had no choice and let her lean against him. As Miao Fei and Moon Scar looked at them enviously, Xuan Yue nestled into Ah Dai’s shoulder and closed her eyes. For so reason, once she leaned against Ah Dai’s firm shoulder, her sleepiness deepened and she fell asleep in no ti.
While Xuan Yue was peacefully asleep, Ah Dai was suffering. He sat stiffly, not daring to move a muscle, enduring not only the strange look from Yue Ji but also having to maintain his balance. As Xuan Yue gradually fell into deep slumber, her arms wrapped around Ah Dai’s arm, her face radiating contentnt. Looking at Xuan Yue’s peaceful sleeping face, and feeling the gentle warmth from her petite fra against him, Ah Dai’s eyes revealed a touch of subtle tenderness.
As it was noon, the sweltering weather made everyone feel drowsy, their minds in a blurry state.
Suddenly, the moving carriage jolted to a halt. It seed as if Wan Li had forcibly reined in the horses. The violent shaking woke everyone up, and Xuan Yue slid into Ah Dai’s arms. Rousing from her daze, she asked in confusion, "What’s going on?"
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