Despite her doubts, Wei Shuxuan still politely thanked the two kind - hearted peasant uncles. "Thank you both for the reminder, but my brother and I really have something very urgent to do over at Mount Aixia."
Hearing this, the two peasant uncles glanced at each other. One of them sighed. "Well then, you two must be careful. We'll be on our way."
After the two men walked away, Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan, who was bowing her head in thought. "Is there something suspicious?"
"… Yes, I do find it strange," Wei Shuxuan spurred her horse forward. Hearing her words, Xin Zizhao turned his head, looking eager to hear her explanation.
"The uncles said there are bandits on Mount Aixia, right? And Xiguang Town is just at the foot of the mountain. They said the bandits don't rob the people in Xiguang Town, but only waylay travelers on this main road. However, on our way here from Liuyun Town, there were hardly any passers - by on this road. Not to mention merchants, we only saw two farmers in several hours."
Wei Shuxuan paused for a moment and continued. "Moreover, since they all know there are bandits on this road, who would still choose to take it? They must take a detour instead!"
Xin Zizhao thought carefully about what Wei Shuxuan said. This road connected Xiguang Town on one end and Liuyun Town on the other, and it was the only way from Liuyun Town to Xiguang Town. The same was true in the opposite direction. It was indeed quite rare that the bandits didn't rob the people in the town.
"Hey, Mr. Iceberg, I think these bandits on Mount Aixia must have other sources of income besides robbing passers - by. Otherwise, why would they let a whole town go untouched?" After saying that, a new idea popped into Wei Shuxuan's head. "Or could it be that these bandits are actually good guys?"
Xin Zizhao gave her a disdainful look. "If that were the case, those two men wouldn't have come to warn you."
"… Ah, you're right. You do make sense."
As time passed, the sun gradually moved towards the west, and the sunlight slowly lost its warmth. The broad road made it easier for the north wind to blow.
Wei Shuxuan felt a bit cold and couldn't help sneezing while sitting on the horse. She hugged herself. "Brr, it's getting cold."
"Then move around."
As soon as Xin Zizhao's voice fell, Wei Shuxuan felt a tap on her horse's rump. The brown - red horse got startled and galloped forward at full speed. Wei Shuxuan didn't even have time to react.
Xin Zizhao looked at the sky. At this rate, they probably wouldn't reach Xiguang Town until it was completely dark. He didn't want to spend the night in the wilderness. Seeing that Wei Shuxuan's horse had run far away, he spurred his own horse and caught up with her.
Thanks to Xin Zizhao's tap, they finally arrived at Xiguang Town before it got dark.
Xiguang Town was smaller than Liuyun Town and not as lively at night. Although it was just nightfall, there were only a few people on the street, and they all had their heads down, walking in a hurry.
Wei Shuxuan rubbed her sore bottom from the bumpy ride and looked at Xin Zizhao walking in front of her. She suddenly had an urge to kick his snow - white long robe; otherwise, she wouldn't feel balanced.
However, for Wei Shuxuan, it was just a passing thought.
By this time, it was completely dark. The two of them randomly chose an inn. As soon as they walked in, the innkeeper warmly greeted them. "Are you two gentlemen here for a meal and a room?"
"Yes, we'd like two guest rooms."
Wei Shuxuan looked around. There were hardly any people dining in the inn. Her black eyes rolled, and she smiled at the innkeeper, pretending to be puzzled. "Sir, I was wondering why your town is so quiet at night. When I came here just now, there was no one on the street."
The innkeeper put down his pen and sighed. "Gentlemen, you don't know. There's a group of bandits on Mount Aixia near our town. Although they don't rob the people in our town, they are still bandits! Who knows what they might do all of a sudden?"
"Really? That's so scary!" After hearing this, Wei Shuxuan exaggeratedly hid behind Xin Zizhao. Xin Zizhao tapped Wei Shuxuan's hand with the hilt of his sword, but she grabbed his hand instead.
"Are they... living on the mountain?"
"Yes. During the day, we sometimes see them bringing two girls here to buy some food and daily necessities."
"Girls?"
"Yes. I never thought there would be girls willing to stay in a bandit's lair."
Hearing the innkeeper's words, Wei Shuxuan frowned. She glanced at Xin Zizhao, and he looked back at her. Then she turned to the innkeeper. "Hey, sir, how do you remember all these details so clearly?"
"Well, a girl once ran in here. Her face was as white as a sheet, looking really panicked. Just as she was about to say something, two tall and burly men walked in and glared at her. I was scared too..."
Wei Shuxuan didn't listen to the rest of the innkeeper's words. She guessed that these so - called bandits were actually human traffickers, and their lair was on Mount Aixia.
"What do you plan to do?" Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan, who was drinking tea in his room.
"Of course, I'm going to take a look. I tell you, my intuition tells me there should still be girls there. The two dead human traffickers only made a deal with Mama Zhang, but they probably haven't sent the girls to Cuiqing Tower yet."
"Are we going there tomorrow?"
"No."
A mischievous smile appeared on Wei Shuxuan's lips.
There wasn't a single cloud in the dark - blue sky. A full moon quietly climbed up the treetops. The cold wind started to blow. Suddenly, two dark shadows flashed by quickly, and the wind they brought made the leafless branches sway.
Wei Shuxuan didn't expect this body to be so light that she could shuttle between the eaves so nimbly. However, looking up at Xin Zizhao flying ahead of her, she thought, this iceberg flies too fast!
At this time, everyone in the town was sound asleep, not to mention the bandits on the mountain. The two of them lightly jumped between the big trees on Mount Aixia. The silver moonlight illuminated the dim mountain path for them.
Xin Zizhao had good night - vision. He jumped onto the top of a relatively tall tree. Wei Shuxuan wasn't as good as him and could only wait for him below.
Xin Zizhao scanned the area below. Suddenly, a glimmer of firelight appeared in his pupils. Chapter 9 Inquiring for Information