The three of them resumed their journey, and as they got closer to ChongMing City, the roads gradually became wider, and the number of other young travelers also increased. All of them were evidently headed towards ShaoYang Sect to register, and among those seen, there were plenty of noble children wearing gorgeous and expensive clothing.
Quite a few simple tea houses were scattered on the side of the road, but the tea and refreshments they sold were at least three or four times more expensive than usual. As soon as Ling Xia saw the price, he was no longer willing to buy anything. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find a creek or river nearby, so he still had to harden his heart and purchase a pot of tea for water, and in this way, the rest of his money was thoroughly spent by the end of the day.
When they reached the outskirts of ChongMing City, Ling Xia was completely struck dumb. The few kilometers surrounding the city perimeter was actually a lake with rippling waves, and countless medium and small boats were anchored near the shore. After asking for the price of a ride, it turned out to cost a startling 10 level-1 energy coins per person. If they hadn’t bought any clothes, then there would have been just enough…
Song XiaoHu also looked to be at his wits’ end, involuntarily raising his head and looking towards Ling Xia.
Ling Xia warily peeked in Yu ZhiJue’s direction, fearing for the worst, but fortunately, the other boy only gazed at the water, and not a trace of anger emerged on his face.
Pretending to be calm, Ling Xia suggested, “Well, we can try asking some boatmen if we can help with the rowing.”
Except, those boatmen were all strong and sturdy fellows who hoped to use this opportunity to make a quick buck, so why would they need the help of children?
Ling Xia didn’t even finish talking before one from a medium sized ship impatiently waved his hand and snarled, “You’re broke and still want a ride? Stop interfering with my business, shoo!” A few people appeared nearby, looking to rent a boat, and he hastily rushed over to welcome them with a smile.
After asking seven or eight more boats in a row and receiving the same response, Ling Xia inevitably became crestfallen; even if he could find another place to work and earn the necessary money, they were short on time right now!
Suddenly, a clear and melodious sound came from behind, and despite being filled with anxiety, Ling Xia reflexively turned around to take a look, immediately paralyzed by the sight. An enormous animal he’d never seen before was currently trotting at a steady pace and headed in this general direction, carrying a little girl about seven or eight years old on its back. What he heard earlier was precisely the sound of the bell around its neck.
This animal’s head had four horns growing out on top, was as tall as a camel, and had the lips and nose of a hippopotamus. Its dusty brown coat looked smooth and shiny, but its overall appearance was terribly ugly.
On the other hand, the girl was as pretty as a picture, and with a small stature clad from head to toe in pink, the contrast between the mount and its rider was all the more prominent.
“It’s a sinistral-steed,” a few people murmured.
As a die-hard fan, Ling Xia naturally knew about this magical beast, a level-5, considerably rare species that’s very friendly towards humans, swift as a gale in water, and capable of defending against water-based attacks. To ride this kind of magical beast, it’s clear that this petite girl’s status wasn’t common.
Ling Xia couldn’t help but start recalling the line-up to the protagonist’s massive harem, positive that the first harem member was someone Song XiaoHu met only after he entered ShaoYang Sect… …As thoughts swirled in his mind, the sinistral-steed was already strutting their way.
Ling Xia was certainly confused. They were standing at the end of a dock, but if that sinistral-steed was planning to carry the girl on his back across the lake, wouldn’t it be better to go down from the shore? Surely it wasn’t planning to jump into the water from over here?
As he was baffled, that young girl jerked the reins, and surprisingly, stopped right next to where they stood.
She pointed the horsewhip in her hand at Song XiaoHu, and asked in a somewhat haughty tone, “Oi, what’s your name?”
… …Eh? What’s this?
Ling Xia had no words. Sure enough, even if the protagonist was only ten years old, the formidable pheromone-filled aura he emitted was definitely a deadly weapon that attracted the opposite sex! Even if this girl was truly a bit much too young… …
Haah, the kids of the world really matured at such a tender age! As someone who’s lived for twenty-four years and still hadn’t even held a girl’s hand yet, a certain man with the surname of Ling cried bitter tears in his heart.
Song XiaoHu stared intently at the horsewhip that was barely a few feet away from his face, and although not very knowledgeable in the ways of the world, he still knew that the other’s attitude was one that radiated extreme contempt towards himself. On top of that, at his current age, he honestly didn’t have any concepts pertaining to the differences or etiquette in associating with the fairer sex. Instantly taking a step back, he retorted in annoyance, “Why should I tell you? Who are you suppose to be?”
Hearing this, a trace of fury flashed across the girl’s face, but she vehemently suppressed it and said, “My name is Cui Yu. Are you all headed to ShaoYang sect for registration?”
She was facing Song XiaoHu, yet her eyes kept surreptitiously glancing at Yu ZhiJue.
As soon as Ling Xia heard this name, his head swelled in turmoil! Why was this high and mighty missy showing up right now?
That’s right, Cui Yu was a member of the protagonist’s harem, and putting aside just how prominent her background was, what made her unique among the harem members was that this crafty and unruly, bossy woman’s first love was the villain!
Moreover, she was the type where the more you discouraged her, the more motivated she became, and even though she ended up following the protagonist, Ling Xia felt that the one she loved most in her heart remained the villain. At the time, he was very dissatisfied and extremely annoyed at this turn of events, unable to find that headstrong, violent, and devious rich girl from the novel likable at all. And the way she fell for the protagonist wasn’t the least bit natural all right?
But it’s not like he could do anything about that wretched author being a shit and simply pawning her off onto the protagonist, fuck!
However, looking at the love triangle that’s right about to unfold before his eyes, Ling Xia harbored an undefinable urge to laugh out loud. This was clearly just three elementary students playing some childish ‘I like you, so play with me’ type of game, you know?
Yu ZhiJue impatiently snapped at Song XiaoHu, “Hurry up and get over here, we still need to think of a way to get across.”
He only felt loathing and disgust towards this arrogant and overbearing young girl, and after sensing her gaze, detested her even more. Therefore, he had immediately interrupted Song XiaoHu’s conversation, then walked towards Ling Xia and stated, “Let’s ask around some more.”
Cui Yu saw the way he completely ignored her, and her fair cheeks promptly turned red. In the past, no matter where she went, everyone always welcomed her with a smile while rushing to fawn over her needs. When and where had she ever received this kind of cold shoulder?
She resentfully glared at Ling Xia and snapped the whip in her hands at him with a crack. “Out of the way, you’re blocking my path!”
Ling Xia was stunned, and even though he quickly stepped back in response, nevertheless, the tail end of the whip still slapped across his face, inflicting a stinging, burning pain. That whip was made from the skin of a level-3 magical snake, so in spite of being swung with a young girl’s strength, it left a distinct, crimson lash mark in its wake.
Fuck, who was the one that said all girls were cute? This spoiled rotten, little lass in front of him was obviously very horrid, don’t you see? This was what you call randomly attacking innocent bystanders, you know?
Song XiaoHu immediately leapt over and angrily roared, “What are you doing? Why are you hitting people for no reason?”
Yu ZhiJue’s eyes turned cold, and a fierce, cruel tint flashed by.
Cui Yu arrogantly looked down at them from high above, and sniffed, “Who told you people to block my path?”
Ling Xia certainly wasn’t going to squabble with a kiddo on the same level as a second grader, and pulled Yu ZhiJue back with him as he started to move further away. Without giving the protagonist a chance to respond, he urged, “Forget it, let’s think of a way to get across the lake first.”
Yep, he definitely had to properly instruct Song XiaoHu, after all, what the other lacked in the least was harem candidates! In order to keep relations peaceful in the future, it’d be better not to recruit this one… …
Song XiaoHu indignantly threw a glare at Cui Yu, and then walked towards Ling Xia all while biting his lips.
Ling Xia rubbed the hedgehog-like head as if to soothe his ire, tugged on the corners of his and Yu ZhiJue’s clothes, and prepared to leave.
“Hold it!” Cui Yu yelled while staring at Yu ZhiJue’s back. “I already told you my name, but you haven’t answered my questions yet.”
She was constantly doted upon by the elders she met, and her seniors and juniors also fell over each other to gain her favor, but none of them came even close to this young boy’s beauty. Possessing such an enchanting face that bore a demeanor of pride and conceit, and despite the clothes on his body being very normal, he made her heart throb with an emotion she couldn’t put into words. (Author’s note: Usually, we call people like this, an M.)[1]
Ling Xia’s lips twitched; you really can’t mess with kids who mature early! Looks like this little Miss-High-and-Mighty wasn’t planning to let things go until they handed over their names.
Song XiaoHu still thought Cui Yu was talking to himself, so he turned around at once, stood his ground, and shouted back, “If you apologize to Elder brother Ling, I’ll tell you my name.”
“… …” Ling Xia was rendered speechless; ahh, my oh so innocent and adorable protagonist, thou hast clearly mistaken the lady’s intentions… …
“Apologize?” Cui Yu snorted, her whip flying out faster than the wind. Song XiaoHu reflexively dodged to the side, however, the whip changed directions midair and nimbly wrapped around his waist.
Before either Yu ZhiJue or Ling Xia could react, Cui Yu suddenly dug her heels into the sinistral-steed’s sides. Dragging Song XiaoHu along, it jumped off the dock and into the water, the force of its huge splash instantly overturning a small boat.
By the time Ling Xia and Yu ZhiJue ran to the edge of the dock, Cui Yu and the sinistral-steed had shot off like an arrow before stopping a few dozen meters away. Song XiaoHu was choking on water, spitting and coughing nonstop as he struggled to keep afloat.
Ling Xia was seriously enraged, and cried out, “XiaoHu, are you okay? Miss Cui Yu, hurry up and bring him back!”
Song XiaoHu’s eyes and throat were both drowning in pain, and thus unable to respond at present. Only after what seemed like an eternity did he finally spit out a few mouthfuls of water, jerk his head above the waves, and hollered, “Elder brother Ling, Ah‘Jue, I’m okay!”
Looking pleased with herself, Cui Yu tugged on the whip and dragged him closer. She had been cultivating under her father’s guidance since a very young age and was a lot stronger than the current Song XiaoHu. The intelligent sinistral-steed, quickly understanding her intentions, firmly wrapped its long tail around the boy’s body.
Smiling and waving towards the shore, Cui Yu smirked, “I’ll be waiting at ChongMing City’s largest restaurant for you.”
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[1]: aka a masochist, and yes, this author’s note was in the raws
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