Chapter 5.2

As soon as the carriage went inside the village, the middle-aged man called out towards a house standing to the side that belonged to Liu Er’s family.

A young person immediately ran out from inside the house. Xiao Youning, at this time, was getting out of the carriage, and the middle-aged man by the side told the bodyguard they could spend the night with Liu Er’s family. “His brother-in-law’s whole family moved to the county town and left behind a courtyard. Today, there are also other people staying for the night too, and there are many empty rooms for people to live in.”

Liu Er’s skin was tanned, he wasn’t very tall, but his physique seemed very powerful and robust at first glance. The corners of his mouth were pulled up in a smile. When he looked at Xiao Youning, his line of sight didn’t move for a long time.

Xiao Youning stopped behind Yuan Guo and lowered her head, feeling uncomfortable by that kind of blatantly inquisitive gaze.

From the moment they entered the village, she noticed that every single man she caught sight of was young, almost at the same age as these two villagers. As for other people … Xiao Youning used the corner of her eyes to sweep her gaze around and discovered that she couldn’t see any other people.

Hearing movements, those curiously coming out to take a look were all men. She could only vaguely hear a child’s crying voice and a woman’s trying to soothe them. Married women must all be inside their homes.

While Xiao Youning was secretly taking stock of her surroundings, the bodyguard talked to Liu Er and followed him to the neighbouring courtyard. Yuan Guo hurriedly pulled on her lady to keep up with them.

Liu Er said while walking by their side, “Today is also a coincidence. Recently there are many refugees and since there’s no peace and security, there are few people passing by our village. Come, come, this is it—”

The group was guided into a fenced courtyard and into three houses built toward the east. Liu Er once again began to chatter. “The Daoist Priest who arrived first demanded to stay in the main house, so you’ll have to put up with this house. There’s some bedding inside.”

Daoist Priest?!

Xiao Youning and Yuan Guo’s footsteps halted all of a sudden, then they looked over toward the main house.

Perhaps the people over there heard some movement, as someone inside opened a window just at that moment, exposing a face that Yuan Guo couldn’t be more familiar with.

“That’s the one I saw at the relay station—” That servant with no manners!

Yuan Guo opened her eyes wide and whispered to Xiao Youning, who also felt it was a little too miraculous that they didn’t encounter them throughout the whole journey, but unexpectedly met them again here.

When Jian Yin clearly saw who those few people were, he very quickly grabbed the window and closed it again, his expression couldn’t turn any colder.

Yuan Guo saw his cold face and silently rolled her eyes. This was really some bullshit destiny.

Mistress and servant both entered the house. Meanwhile, Jian Yin over there was already gloomily talking to Ye Shen. “Fifth Master, what sort of coincidence is that? That Miss Xiao is unexpectedly also staying the night here. Are the eyes of the Xiao Family’s bodyguards used to vent their anger¹?”

¹[Basically meant to point out that you’re not supposed to be using your eyes to glare at people but use them to look at stuff.]

Ye Shen pinched the string of blood-red pearls in his hand without raising an eyelid. “Go brew another pot of tea.”

Jian Yin choked, then picked up the kettle and went out to draw water. His master had disliked the tea he had brewed just now because the flavor wasn’t good.

In the other house, Xiao Youning had barely sat down when she heard Liu Er, who was about to leave, talking to someone loudly. “Where are you going? This village road isn’t good to walk on after it gets dark.”

“I’m going to fetch another pot of water.” Someone answered.

Yuan Guo heard the voice that was going out and recognized it as being Jian Yin’s. She stealthily watched him leave from a crack in the window.

Liu Er stared at the kettle in Jian Yin’s hands. “Take a wooden bucket, ah, how much water can you fetch with this?”

Jian Yin didn’t say anything, just walked away.

“What a strange person.” Yuan Guo mumbled to herself. Walking back to Xiao Youning’s side, she said, “Miss, this place is somewhat strange, but Liu Er and the others seem like farmers.”

Although they looked robust, their gait did not resemble that of someone trained in martial arts. Just now while inside the carriage, Xiao Youning had told her a few words. Since then, she had been vigilant.

Xiao Youning shook her head. “I also don’t know the truth, but in any case, it feels a little abnormal.”

Just as she spoke, there was a movement outside. Yuan Guo at once walked to the side of the window and saw that it was that Xie bodyguard walking out. She immediately opened the window. “Bodyguard Xie, could I inconvenience you to go get us some water?

Bodyguard Xie stopped all of a sudden, turned around, and pointed at the main house. “You tell them, I’m taking the horses outside to graze.”

The seated Xiao Youning immediately raised her head, emotions swirling in the depths of her pupils. Yuan Guo didn’t notice anything strange with her miss and told her, “Miss, I will go next door to speak to them, and after I will ask how we will eat supper.”

A little over half an hour, Liu Er brought a woman over to deliver food, and there were also scrambled eggs on Xiao Youning’s table. “Please put up with this food, young gentleman. There’s nothing good to eat in these poor people’s homes.” Liu Er pushed the eggs toward Xiao Youning, who lifted her eyes to glance at him and then nodded.

She looked at Liu Er smiling until his eyes closed and, feeling uncomfortable, lowered her gaze. She didn’t know why, but the hands of the woman that was arranging the bowls and chopsticks for them had been shaking all along, and the chopsticks were almost unsteady.