In the afternoon, Zi Yuan changed into her cleanest and most beautiful attire, appearing like a beauty stepped from an ancient painting.
At this moment, the scorching sun poured down through the dense forest. From afar, a group of people, beating gongs and drums and dancing celebratory ethnic dances, slowly approached the dilapidated family mansion of Zi Yuan.
Zi Yuan subconsciously turned her head, as if her family, her brothers, her parents, were still standing behind her, waving gently to her.
"Little sister, this grasshopper is what I made, it's for you."
"Little sister, where did you go wandering off to again? Look how much beggar-ticks you've gotten on you. If Mom sees, she'll scold you!"
"Yuan'er, if you're not willing to learn needlework, then your old dad will teach you how to wield a saber!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Why would a girl wield a saber? He has two brothers, and besides, you'll protect us~"
"Miss, look, the clouds in the sky look like cotton candy~"
"Miss, your old servant has forged two daggers for you, consider them your coming-of-age gift~"
...
The memories that belonged to her constantly flowed through Zi Yuan's ears. But when she came back to her senses, there was only the ruined mansion and that man with a weak aura, on the verge of death at any moment.
She smiled, her expression filled with bitterness.
Just then, the sound of gongs and drums grew closer. The shaman led the way, followed by a large group of men and women dressed in red, holding various gold and silver ornaments and fine silks. Their faces wore mechanical smiles.
Zi Yuan suddenly felt a pang of fear. But when she saw what the shaman held in his hands, all her fear vanished.
"Miss Zi Yuan, you have waited," the shaman said with a wave of his hand. "Carry these betrothal gifts inside. Do not lose propriety. Although Miss Zi Yuan's family has fallen into ruin, she will soon become your seventh madam."
The group, with stiff smiles, bowed to Zi Yuan one by one and were about to enter the mansion when Zi Yuan suddenly held up her hand.
"Leave them here. As you said, Shaman, my family has fallen into ruin. It's best not to bring these things inside, lest they bring bad luck to my home."
After the group, as if granted amnesty, placed the betrothal gifts, they quickly scurried away.
"You scoundrels, Miss Zi Yuan, oh no, forgive me, I should call you Seventh Madam." The shaman respectfully handed the map to her. "With Seventh Madam's skills, finding this thing should be quick. The Family Head said that Seventh Madam should preferably wait here in red attire in two days, at the same time, for the Family Head to escort her."
Zi Yuan frowned slightly. The sunlight fell among her silver hair, adding a touch of bewitching charm. "Two days? Then who will take care of him?"
"Rest assured, the Family Head will make arrangements." The shaman cupped his hands and said, "Since Seventh Madam has obtained the map she desired, my task is complete. In two days, I will accompany the Family Head to escort the bride. I will not delay Seventh Madam any further."
After speaking, the shaman turned and strode away.
Zi Yuan held the map in her hands, treasuring it as if it were the most precious thing. The so-called fine silks and gold and silver ornaments, however, were left where they were. She looked up at the gradually disappearing crowd and murmured, "Seventh Madam?"
She paused for a few seconds, then turned back into the house. She changed into a tight-fitting outfit, honed her twin blades, tied her silver hair into a high ponytail, and returned to Ren Yuanhao's side.
"Ren Yuanhao, you wait for me here. Remember, I won't allow you to die. Don't even have such thoughts. If, if I come back and see you've breathed your last, I won't live on alone either."
After speaking, Zi Yuan shyly closed her eyes and pressed her smooth lips against Ren Yuanhao's chapped lips, her face instantly flushing red.
"Here, I've given you my first kiss. You have to be responsible for me, no backing out, okay? Let's pinky swear~"
Zi Yuan extended her little finger. The moment it touched Ren Yuanhao's hot little finger, she suddenly remembered that she had agreed to the Wu Mu family's proposal, and tears like pearls slid from the corners of her eyes.
After completing a series of farewells, Zi Yuan was fully armed. The distance from where Ren Yuanhao lay to the door was no more than ten paces. Yet, for these short ten meters, Zi Yuan looked back at every step, as if her departure would cause this man to vanish completely like a bubble~
At this very moment, to the southeast of the oasis, in a prosperous family, a middle-aged man in his forties was reclining on a lounge chair in his courtyard, enjoying the gentle breeze blowing from the oasis. Beside him were three beautiful and enchanting women.
"I heard the black sandstorms were quite fierce a while ago," the man said, changing the subject after successfully taking liberties.
"Oh dear, Master, are you afraid of black sandstorms?" The woman speaking was the man's newly acquired sixth wife. To call her "acquired" was an understatement; she was actually a beauty from the inland captured by his subordinates while plundering merchants.
The man took the opportunity to take more liberties. After a satisfied, lewd chuckle, he said, "Yes, I am. If black sandstorms keep occurring, there will be fewer merchants traveling on that road. Then, how will I support you all? By relying on this thing?"
"You're so naughty. I heard you're planning to marry Zi Yuan from that fallen merchant family again?" the fifth wife pinched his broad shoulders fiercely.
The man said with a wicked smile, "Shang Zi Yuan is the most beautiful woman in the entire Western Wasteland. Every man wants to possess her."
"Then what are we?" The three women immediately became displeased.
"You are all my women, don't be jealous. At most, I'll compensate you now!"
The man, with a lecherous grin, embraced the three women and entered the inner room. For a moment, the sounds of singing and dancing filled the entire courtyard.
...
Zi Yuan followed the markings on the map and, without much difficulty, found the area containing the miraculous herb that could heal Ren Yuanhao's shattered dantian.
However, as far as the eye could see, the area was a poisonous miasma. The swamps of the oasis were the most deadly. Countless people, having found an oasis in the desert, let their guard down, only to end up buried in the hidden traps of the oasis.
"I hope my tribesmen can protect me and allow me to smoothly obtain what I want from within. I believe, in your heavenly spirits, you would not want to see Ren Yuanhao die, would you?"
Zi Yuan closed her eyes slightly, then, without a hint of hesitation, stepped into the area filled with poisonous mist and swamps.
Unknowingly, time flowed by. In the poisonous mist forest after nightfall, it became even more eerie. Some nocturnal predators also began to appear more frequently.
Zi Yuan's twin blades had already slain countless venomous snakes. She had even almost fallen into the swamp twice. If she were not an esper, she would likely have met her end here.
She sat down to catch her breath. Under the pale moonlight, the poisonous mist forest, shrouded in white fog year-round, resembled a tranquil and peaceful dense forest, easily inducing a sense of weariness. But she knew that this weariness was slowly consuming her life.