"Ten thousand years of ice?" Chang Yan's eyes lit up. "I know where to find it."
"Master Chang, you know where it is, but you can't leave here," the Guo brothers reminded Chang Yan in low voices. They were outcasts, and leaving this trade route would be tantamount to seeking their own demise.
Chang Yan looked at Xiao Man for help. "Merchant Lord, please permit me to leave temporarily. Once I find the ten thousand years of ice and settle Alan, I will return to Xing Tang Road and await your command."
Xiao Man pondered for a moment and handed Chang Yan a pitch-black token inscribed with the words "Tian Ya." This was the only pass for an outcast to leave the trade route, the Tian Ya Token.
Seeing Xiao Man so readily hand over the Tian Ya Token, Chang Yan was momentarily incredulous. He had even prepared how to persuade her if she refused, but all his elaborate arguments went unused as Xiao Man simply presented the token.
"You're just giving it to me?" Chang Yan looked at the Tian Ya Token in his hand, still finding it hard to believe.
"Your time is running out. You must find the ten thousand years of ice and bring it back within three months, otherwise, you might not even have the chance to see her one last time," Xiao Man said slowly. "Your greatest skill is gathering information. You already have some leads on the whereabouts of the ten thousand years of ice. Whether you can obtain it and bring it back depends on your own capabilities."
"Thank you, Merchant Lord. In the future, your subordinate will surely repay your kindness today, like a bird repaying the farmer for feeding it."
Xiao Man stood up and sat down to the side. "No need. Just don't trick my people next time."
Chang Yan felt a bit awkward, but he understood that finding the ten thousand years of ice and bringing it back safely within three months, while also leaving Xing Tang Road, was no easy feat. However, if he took Alan with him, perhaps they could make it in time.
Chang Yan looked at Xiao Man. "Merchant Lord, I wish to take Alan with me to find the ten thousand years of ice."
Xiao Man merely nodded, indicating she understood, and did not object. Chang Yan was filled with emotion. The outcasts on this trade route were all individuals burdened by sin, yet Xiao Man not only allowed him to leave but also to take Alan with him. Was she not afraid he would never return?
"Aren't you afraid I won't come back?"
"An outcast for a day, an outcast for life. Can you truly escape the fate of an outcast?" Xiao Man asked softly. The outcasts on this trade route were sinners, but also its guardians. If anyone violated the rules and attempted to escape, they would face an eternal hell.
"I will definitely return," Chang Yan said, holding Alan, and quickly departed, his figure vanishing into the darkness, unseen.
Nangong Yu furrowed his brow. "You won't stop him?"
"All the outcasts on the trade route wish to leave, but no one can. Do you know why?"
"Because, once they leave here, they lose their protection. Unless they possess sufficient ability, leaving here is seeking their own death," Nangong Yu said slowly. "And the Tian Ya Token you gave him is his pass out of the trade route, but also a death warrant. Those who wish to leave will do their utmost to snatch the Tian Ya Token from him."
Xiao Man remained silent, gazing out at the dark night, her eyes as black as the night itself. She had given Chang Yan what he wanted. As for whether he could leave Xing Tang Road alive and find the ten thousand years of ice, that was his own ability.
"That depends on his fate," Xiao Man said slowly after a long pause. The trade route was inherently full of variables. Outcasts could only strive to survive by contending with heaven and fate.
"You're not helping him?" Nangong Yu asked with a smile. Xiao Man was not such a heartless person. Although Chang Yan had made mistakes, his crime was not punishable by death. Moreover, he was loyal and righteous. Xiao Man might not be willing to watch him die.
"If he were incompetent, he wouldn't be living so prosperously on Xing Tang Road," Xiao Man said with a smile. "Ah Yu, want to make a bet?"
"A bet on what?"
"I bet that no one will be able to track Chang Yan's whereabouts from now on," Xiao Man said confidently. "Do you dare to bet?"
"I bet he can't leave the trade route," Nangong Yu leaned forward. "If I win, you'll be my wife obediently!"
After that night, Chang Yan seemed to have vanished into thin air, and Alan was nowhere to be found. People on Xing Tang Road searched everywhere for Chang Yan, but they turned Xing Tang Road upside down and found no trace of him.
Nangong Yu's men were also searching for Chang Yan. If they took the Tian Ya Token from Chang Yan, Xiao Man would lose the bet. However, his men couldn't even find Chang Yan's trace, let alone snatch the token.
Shangguan Jin and Qin Xue's affection grew even stronger after their marriage. Shangguan Jin continued to escort this batch of goods to Bianjing, while Qin Xue accompanied Xiao Man.
Before they left, the proprietress hesitated to speak.
As Xiao Man walked out of the inn, she couldn't help but chase after her. "You... who exactly are you?"
Xiao Man looked at Qiu Niang. "Third Sister, do you also want to leave here?"
Qiu Niang shook her head. "If I leave here, where will I go? This is my refuge. You... why have you become this way?"
"Third Sister, you endured nine deaths and a thousand perils, and burned your bridges behind you to become the beautiful, fiery, and renowned proprietress of Xing Tang Road today. I, however, experienced hell on earth and flames of purgatory to become this way."
Xiao Man looked at Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang was an unfortunate soul. She once had a lovely daughter. Although their lives were not prosperous, they were better than starving. Until her daughter died tragically, this normally gentle woman unleashed unprecedented potential, avenged her enemy, and finally fled to Xing Tang Road, becoming the proprietress of the You Jia Inn.
Qiu Niang looked at the unfamiliar face before her, her eyes wide with shock. "Are you seeking revenge?"
Xiao Man looked into the depths of the desert. "Those who owe me will have to pay. I have returned from hell, not to reconcile with my enemies."
Qiu Niang immediately understood. Xiao Man had returned for revenge.
"Is your enemy Yun Qi Shao Di?"
"Him?" Xiao Man smiled and shook her head. "He is merely a pawn, a pitiable pawn used by others."
"Then who is your enemy?"
"Someone I wish I could cut into a thousand pieces!" When Xiao Man said this, her tone remained gentle, and her demeanor serene, as if she were speaking of a friend, not an enemy.
"If you need my help, don't hesitate to ask," Qiu Niang said decisively. "As long as you need me, I will fight for you at any time to repay your kindness in saving me before."
Xiao Man smiled gently. "If I need it, I will ask. Take care."