"Beauty, slow down..."
Ming Ruyi strolled about casually, waving his folding fan. Song Jinyu frowned. "I don't have the leisure for a stroll."
It was the first time Ming Ruyi had met a woman who wasn't impressed by his good looks. A hint of dissatisfaction welled up in his heart. "I said, no matter how impatient you are, the bridge has already been washed away." He stepped forward and tried to grab Song Jinyu.
Cheng Song exchanged a glance with Niaoniao, then unsheathed his sword. "Don't be rude!"
Seeing the sudden change in the young master's expression, Song Jinyu thought of his terrifying kung fu. Considering the situation, she knew she shouldn't cause any trouble. "Young master, we should find a nearby village now and ask about other routes."
She pulled Cheng Song aside and fell silent.
But Ming Ruyi was extremely curious about her. This girl wasn't scared at all and was so calm. It was the first time he'd seen someone like this. She was far more interesting than the young ladies he'd associated with.
When Cheng Song had blocked him with his sword just now, Ming Ruyi had already activated the mechanism on his folding fan. He always did as he pleased and never allowed others to offend him. But that girl had noticed the change in his mood right away. She must be a smart one.
After walking for a long time, they finally saw what seemed to be cooking smoke at the foot of the mountain. Song Jinyu and the others sat down to rest. Her shoes were a bit worn out, and she rubbed her aching legs. Suddenly, she remembered that time in the bamboo forest when that person had rubbed her feet like this. For a moment, she was in a daze. Why did she think of him out of the blue? Her cheeks grew a bit warm. She hadn't seen him for a while.
"Master Ruyi, have you rested enough?" Song Jinyu stood up and asked him.
Waving his folding fan and with a blade of grass between his lips, Ming Ruyi leaned lazily against a rock. He looked like a picture of an immortal. He squinted his eyes and joked, "What's the rush?"
"The weather has just cleared up. Instead of enjoying the beautiful scenery, you're in such a hurry!" Ming Ruyi wasn't in a hurry to return to the capital.
Hearing his words, Song Jinyu ignored him and continued on her own. She wanted to reach the small mountain village before nightfall.
Seeing her actions, Ming Ruyi laughed. "Beauty, you're so heartless. Truly as cold as iron."
Song Jinyu closed her eyes and suppressed her anger. "I really have something urgent to attend to."
Jumping down cheerfully from the big rock, Ming Ruyi said, "Come on, come on. I'll carry you for a while!" Then he squatted down in front of Song Jinyu.
After a long while, there was no movement. The woman just walked away without even looking back.
Ming Ruyi was a bit hurt by her attitude, but there was nothing he could do. He was always popular among women, and no woman had ever ignored him.
Now, this beautiful and innocent girl had ignored him again and again. There was only one possibility - this girl had someone in her heart.
Someone in her heart? That made it even more interesting!
He followed Song Jinyu step by step in silence. Before long, they reached the small mountain village. It was just sunset, and the village was very quiet. Although there was cooking smoke curling up, there was no human voice. Cheng Song knocked on the door of a house. There were clearly people inside, but no one answered.
At the second house, although someone answered the door, they only opened it a crack and then quickly closed it.
They were turned away from several houses in a row. Song Jinyu immediately decided to find an empty house to rest in.
But the house that seemed empty was actually home to a grandfather and grandson. A little boy jumped out with a long stick. "You're not allowed to come in!"
He looked about six years old but was like a little adult. An old woman's voice came from behind the door. "A Lai, don't disturb the guests."
Seeing that they were a few young people, the old woman thought they were refugees whose homes had been washed away by the mountain flood.
She said, "It's getting late. You can stay here for the night." Song Jinyu and the others thanked her and sat down.
The old woman cooked porridge for them and then fell silent. A Lai beside them slurped the porridge loudly.
Song Jinyu asked curiously, "Why is there so little human voice in this village?"
Seeing that she was kind, the old woman told her all the village's hidden troubles. It turned out that there was a "god" living in the village. This "god" was lustful. Every year, the village had to offer a young girl to him. If they didn't, they would be punished by the "god". After offering girls for more than a decade, none of the girls had ever returned. As time passed, the girls in the village would run away before they grew up.
Every household dared not open their doors for fear of being punished by the "god". The old woman's daughter had been forcibly taken away by the village head. In order to save their daughter, A Lai's parents had gone to the mountain of the "god" and never returned.
"How outrageous!"
Everyone was very angry after hearing this, but Ming Ruyi, hidden in the darkness, said nothing.
Seeing that Song Jinyu was delicate and graceful, the old woman earnestly advised, "Girl, you should leave quickly after dawn..."
"The girl to be offered to the 'god' this year hasn't been chosen yet!"
Suddenly, A Lai picked up a trident. "Humph! When I grow up, I'll definitely kill them!"
Song Jinyu looked around. The old woman's house was almost empty. She guessed that the porridge was probably from someone's charity.
That night, they rested in the old woman's wood shed, planning to leave early the next morning.
But in the middle of the night, Song Jinyu couldn't fall asleep. She seemed to hear the cries of countless girls.
Listening carefully, she realized it was A Lai's crying. "Mother, aunt..." It made her heart ache, and she tossed and turned in bed.
The old woman patted A Lai's small body to lull him to sleep. After A Lai fell asleep, she went to the yard and still worked on the loom. She worked hard at weaving to support herself and her grandson.
The old woman's trembling figure was seen by Song Jinyu.
She decided not to leave...
Early the next morning, Ming Ruyi was ready to leave.
Seeing that Song Jinyu didn't move, he was a bit curious. "Beauty, are you not leaving because you want to be the 'god's' wife?" There was a teasing tone in his words, but Song Jinyu ignored him. She just told Cheng Song to pluck and clean the pheasant they'd hunted last night. Niaoniao set up a pot and boiled water.
She took A Lai's hand and played with him with a smile. Ming Ruyi felt a bit embarrassed. "Hey? You're really not leaving!"
Song Jinyu looked at him and said, "I want to see who this 'god' is." After thinking it over, she didn't believe that an ordinary god could be so lustful. It must be man - made. Since she'd encountered this, she couldn't just stand by.
No way?
Ming Ruyi didn't tease her as usual. He just silently sized up the girl in front of him. She actually wanted to get involved in this matter.
Cheng Song found A Lai and wanted to teach him how to shoot arrows and set traps. This was also Song Jinyu's arrangement. By the time they left, if A Lai could hunt, life would be easier for him and the old woman.
Ming Ruyi stopped in his tracks and walked up to Song Jinyu. "Why?"
Song Jinyu was feeling the old woman's pulse. Her eyes were closed, and her slender hand rested on the old woman's wrist. "The old woman is in fairly good health."
The old woman liked this kind - hearted girl but still advised her to leave. Otherwise, if the village head saw such a beautiful girl, he would definitely take her away.
But Song Jinyu didn't care at all. Take her away? A faint smile played on her lips. "Don't worry, old woman."
Only then did she notice Ming Ruyi's accusing look. Helplessly, she got up and walked out of the door. Ming Ruyi followed her and couldn't help asking again, "Aren't you scared?"
Song Jinyu turned around. "Since they've given us a bowl of porridge, I can't just stand by and do nothing." Her bright eyes were shining like the sun, making Ming Ruyi's heart skip a beat. He quietly placed his hand on his heart.
He shook his head. This girl really wasn't afraid of anything!
"If you're scared, just leave..."
Song Jinyu's casual words angered Ming Ruyi. A joke! Was he scared? Did she think he was even less brave than a woman!
Seeing the change in his expression, Song Jinyu felt very proud.
Ming Ruyi's kung fu was extremely high, and she could make good use of him. Although she had Cheng Song and Niaoniao, she wasn't afraid of this so - called "god".
But an extra edge was always welcome!