The young girl then walked over. Yun Xiao observed her closely. This lass wasn't old, seemingly even younger than herself.
Her eyes were clear, emitting a glazed, vitreous sheen in the moonlight. She was, in fact, a pretty little thing. At this moment, she looked at Yun Xiao with a serious expression, as if genuinely wanting to know where she had gone wrong.
Yun Xiao found the girl even more endearing and couldn't help but ask, "First, tell me, why do you want to be a bandit and rob people?"
"It's a livelihood, you know? I live in these mountains, and I have to find work. My master often says I eat and live for free. I want to show him a big deal to let him know I can support myself. Hmph."
So that was it. After speaking, the girl let out a cold snort, seemingly disdainful of her master.
Yun Xiao knew that in the deep mountains, there often lived peculiar and extraordinary individuals. Despite this girl's youth, her martial arts were formidable. She lived in these vast mountains and possessed a simple nature. It would be better to ask her to guide their group into the mountains.
With a thought, Yun Xiao gestured for the girl to sit down and spoke softly, "How about I ask you to do us a favor? After the favor is done, we'll give you money, how does that sound?"
As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, Shangguan Lin, who had been observing their movements from not far away, disagreed. Their current undertaking was highly secretive. If this girl harbored ill intentions, it might lead to trouble.
"Yun Xiao, I don't agree."
Upon hearing Yun Xiao's words, the little girl had been nodding eagerly. But hearing Shangguan Lin, she became displeased. She whipped her whip forward, unceremoniously scolding, "Why do I need your permission? Who do you think you are? I'll do it if I say so. Sister, what should we do?"
She looked at Yun Xiao with a smile. Yun Xiao's lips curved into a playful smile. This little girl's eyes were sharp indeed; she could tell she was a woman at a glance. Just as Yun Xiao was about to speak, Shangguan Lin on the side roared, glaring furiously at the young girl.
"How dare you hit me!"
"What about it? You disagree? Fine, let's duel!"
In this world, very few people were not afraid of Shangguan Lin.
Previously, there was Yun Xiao, and now there was this little girl. The two of them stared at each other, refusing to yield. The dozens of people beside them paid no mind; some even fell asleep.
"If you want to fight, I'll teach you a good lesson."
Shangguan Lin was thoroughly angered and leaped up, attacking the young girl head-on.
In the darkness, the two began to fight. The little girl wielded a long black whip. This whip was incredibly potent and held the advantage. As it sliced through the air, it whistled, piercingly sharp, carrying a chilling killing intent. She showed no mercy at all.
However, she lacked any martial world experience. After only a few dozen moves, she was subdued by Shangguan Lin. He held her close and asked fiercely, "Tell me, how should I punish you?"
The little girl, finding herself so disgraced, looked at Yun Xiao with teary eyes. "Sister, save me."
Yun Xiao was both amused and exasperated. Shangguan Lin, really, why bother with such a young girl? She waved her hand, "Alright, I have questions for her."
Shangguan Lin glared at the girl, releasing her. The girl darted away, turning back to wink at him and pout, infuriating him. He raised his fist, wishing he could beat her.
But recalling Yun Xiao's words, he let his hand drop and walked aside to lean and rest angrily.
At this point, the little girl noticed everyone sleeping on the open ground and quickly spoke, "Hey, don't sleep like this, you'll get poisoned. These mountains are vast and continuous. Although the air looks fresh, it hides miasma. If people inhale too much, they'll get poisoned."
"Ah."
Everyone became alert and sat up. Yun Xiao pursed her lips and smiled. She had forgotten about this. She signaled Liu Xing to come over, took out some pills, and gave one to each person. They could detoxify.
Yun Xiao motioned for the girl to sit down. The two of them, bathed in the moonlight, spoke softly.
"What's your name?"
"Nalan Zhi Qiu."
After Nalan Zhi Qiu said her name, something seemed to have stirred within her. She fell into a reverie, her small face clouded with melancholy, but she quickly regained her composure. She looked up at Yun Xiao, "Sister, what do you want me to do?"
Yun Xiao carefully observed Nalan Zhi Qiu. Her eyes were clear, and she seemed very simple, not like someone faking it or a spy. Yun Xiao then spoke slowly, "We want to enter Dong Jing Mountain. Can you take us in?"
"Dong Jing Mountain? What are you going there for, Sister? There are many wild beasts there, and I heard it's haunted?"
Nalan Zhi Qiu wasn't afraid of wild beasts, but she seemed very scared of ghosts.
Yun Xiao knew girls were generally more timid. She smiled at her and said nothing. However, Shangguan Lin, not far away, snorted, "Coward."
Nalan Zhi Qiu seemed to have been poked in the tail. She immediately jumped up and shrieked, "Who are you calling a coward? Who?"
"You."
Shangguan Lin was not afraid of her and replied directly.
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Yun Xiao quickly stopped them and said gently, "If you don't want to go, we won't force you. Forget it, you can go back."
Nalan Zhi Qiu looked at Yun Xiao, then at Shangguan Lin, and finally gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, Sister, I'll help you this once, but you must remember to pay me."
"Good." Yun Xiao liked this little girl more and more. She said what she wanted directly, which was more acceptable than any scheming or trickery.
Unexpectedly, at the last moment, they found a mountain dweller as a guide. Half the task was thus accomplished. So, the group rested where they were, planning to enter Qingyun Mountain Range early the next morning.
Before dawn the next day, Yun Xiao heard people arguing outside the carriage. Listening carefully, it was Shangguan Lin and Zhi Qiu, those two troublemakers, bickering.
She really didn't know if these two were destined enemies from a past life. They had been arguing since last night, and it was restless even before dawn. Yun Xiao opened her eyes and looked outside.
She saw Shangguan Lin dragging Zhi Qiu's hand as he ran over. Zhi Qiu's face was grim, and she glared at him.
"What's wrong?"
Yun Xiao yawned and asked indifferently, as it didn't concern her.
Shangguan Lin immediately gripped Zhi Qiu's hand and said fiercely, "I knew this girl was up to something. Look, she's preparing to send a letter out first thing in the morning."
Yun Xiao didn't believe Nalan Zhi Qiu was that kind of person. Her eyes were too pure to hide her thoughts. How could she be a spy?
Nalan Zhi Qiu seemed to have reached her limit. She raised her leg and kicked. Shangguan Lin, caught off guard, yelped in pain.
Zhi Qiu then looked at Yun Xiao and said with a smile, "Sister, I was sending a letter to my master to tell him I went out to make money and would bring back a sum to honor him. Who knew what he was talking about? Honestly."
Yun Xiao smiled and nodded. Zhi Qiu then tilted her head and left. Shangguan Lin walked over and looked at Yun Xiao, "Why do you trust her so much?"
"Her eyes, and no one in Qingyun Mountain Range can find that place."
After speaking, Yun Xiao lowered the carriage curtain, too lazy to bother with Shangguan Lin.
This fellow deserved to be put in his place. She recalled how he had conspired with Murong Ying Xue to deceive Mu Rong. This fellow was simply asking for it. She hoped Zhi Qiu would help her get some payback.
Yun Xiao's lips curled into a sinister smile. Shangguan Lin outside shivered. It was clearly spring, so why did it feel so cold?