Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt. Shen Li frowned and lifted the curtain herself, intending to question the coachman. But as soon as she lifted it, she saw a familiar figure—it was Xuan Yuanjue.
At the sight of Xuan Yuanjue, Shen Li couldn't help but recall the three lifetimes in her previous dream, and a blush crept up her face. She deliberately turned her head away. "Xuan Yuanjue, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you just came to block the carriage. That's so boring."
Xuan Yuanjue suddenly put on a heart - broken look and covered his chest. "Little one, is this how you think of me? How could that be? I just simply came to help you."
Xuan Yuanjue suddenly lowered his head and gave a charming smile. "I know where you're going. It's very dangerous there. Moreover, you've never been there before, but... I know it very well, so you need me."
Shen Li was stunned. There was no repulsion or disgust as she had expected. Even she herself didn't realize that she had already nodded. As soon as Xuan Yuanjue saw her nod, he immediately leaped onto the carriage.
He lifted the curtain and was about to get in when he was driven out by Jiao Yue. "What are you doing, Young Master Xuan Yuan? There are only girls in this carriage. There should be propriety between men and women. Do you still want to get in? Get out quickly!"
Saying so, Jiao Yue made a move, and Xuan Yuanjue looked at Shen Li pitifully with his big, wet deer - like eyes.
Shen Li looked at Xuan Yuanjue and then at Jiao Yue, and finally said, "Although I've agreed to travel with you, I didn't agree that we should share the same carriage. You can find a way to hire one on your own."
Xuan Yuanjue looked at Shen Li helplessly. "But where can I find a carriage now? In this desolate place, it's not easy to find one. And even if I go to look for it, it will delay our journey."
Jiao Yue thought Xuan Yuanjue was just trying to stay there, so she was quite unhappy. She pouted. "You can ride a horse and catch up with us. Young Master Xuan Yuan's riding skills are excellent. So, Young Master Xuan Yuan, why don't you get off now?"
Xuan Yuanjue clearly hesitated. He didn't expect Jiao Yue to be so tough. Riding a horse for such a long distance on this journey would surely exhaust him.
Shen Li naturally understood too. Looking at Xuan Yuanjue, she deliberately wanted to tease him. "How about you go find a horse now? We'll meet in the next town."
Suddenly, the carriage tilted, and everyone fell to the left. Shen Li, who was closest to the carriage door, almost got thrown out. Fortunately, Xuan Yuanjue grabbed her, and the two accidentally rolled together.
Jiao Yue quickly stabilized herself and helped Shen Li up. She shouted at Xuan Yuanjue, "You lecher! Don't you dare take advantage of my young lady!"
Shen Li cleared her throat twice, straightened her clothes, and waited for the blush on her face to fade before looking at Jiao Yue and saying, "It's okay. I'm not hurt. Xuan Yuanjue was just trying to save me. You misunderstood."
Jiao Yue could only glare at Xuan Yuanjue and say nothing. Xuan Yuanjue immediately came over with a big smile. "Little one, you see, I saved you. You should take me in. Making me ride a horse will really kill me."
Shen Li thought for a while and finally nodded. "Then come along." After all, she thought that delaying time would also delay her own plans.
For some reason, Jiao Yue was inexplicably angry. She stuck her head out and shouted at the coachman, "How are you driving? Be more careful!"
The coachman could only apologize repeatedly. "Sorry. I didn't see a big rock just now, so it was an accident. I'll be more careful later. Sorry..."
The atmosphere in the carriage turned cold. No one said a word, except Xuan Yuanjue, who kept stealing glances at Shen Li.
After a week of bumpy travel, the group finally arrived near the border of the Western Yue Kingdom. Xuan Yuanjue lifted the curtain and looked out. "It's quite bustling here. How about we get off and take a stroll?"
Coincidentally, Shen Li had the same idea. She was going to get off and change into the clothes of the Western Yue Kingdom. After wandering around for a while, they quickly found a place that sold Western Yue Kingdom's clothing.
As soon as Xuan Yuanjue entered, he slapped a silver ingot on the table. "Call your boss out. We'll talk in private."
The waiter immediately led Xuan Yuanjue and the others to the backyard. The boss was a man in his thirties, looking gentle and amiable. He bowed. "I wonder what you need from me? Is there something wrong with the clothes in our store?"
Xuan Yuanjue smiled and sat down naturally. "The clothes are fine. I just want to talk to you about something."
The boss smiled and said that all guests were welcome. He asked Shen Li and Jiao Yue to sit down and poured tea for them one by one. The boss played with his teacup. "Just say it. After all, I'm a businessman."
Xuan Yuanjue suddenly stared at the boss with eyes as sharp as a poisonous snake, making people feel scared.
"Have you ever settled in the Western Yue Kingdom?"
The boss didn't expect such a question. He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "I did live there for a while, but it's quite common for people on the border. I wonder, Young Master, what does this have to do with business?"
Xuan Yuanjue couldn't help but think that this was a typical businessman who couldn't talk for three sentences without mentioning business. Shen Li naturally knew what Xuan Yuanjue was up to.
She smiled mysteriously. "Of course it's related. It's very much related. Don't worry. You'll surely get your rewards."
After saying that, Shen Li threw a big bag of heavy silver to the boss, and Xuan Yuanjue also handed over a note with bold and regular characters on it.
"Buy all the things on this list according to the customs of the Western Yue Kingdom. Also, forge some ordinary identities for us in the Western Yue Kingdom. And tell us all the important things you know about the Western Yue Kingdom."
The boss's face changed. He was afraid that these people were from the government and might cause a war. Shen Li immediately explained, "I'm just going there to find my enemy. That enemy has some influence, so I need these things. Otherwise, it's easy to tip them off. It's not as complicated as you think."
After this explanation, the shopkeeper immediately understood. He somehow took out a fan and looked quite dashing, but unfortunately his old face didn't match his actions.
"If you want me to help with this, you've come to the right person. I lived in the Western Yue Kingdom when I was a child. I only came back here recently after finding my parents."
The expressions of the others varied. A person in his thirties still looking for his parents? But they didn't doubt too much. Xuan Yuanjue motioned for him to continue.
The shopkeeper actually talked about his childhood experiences for half an hour. Xuan Yuanjue's face darkened. "I told you to focus on the important things. And prepare the things we need. Give them to us by tomorrow at the latest."
The shopkeeper looked embarrassed. "You need too many things. Asking me to give them to you by tomorrow is just impossible. I'm sorry. I can't do it."