CHAPTER 469: CHAPTER 309: THE EXPECTATIONS OF TRAVEL

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Now that they were no longer restricted by the city, the six friends remained vigilant, though in a completely different way. They were now able to observe anyone approaching them, even if it was done at speed. The open plains allowed them to fully perceive their surroundings, giving them an oddly comforting sense of security.

Before the group had to enter the tunnel, they planned to rest for two days in two larger cities. As the group headed toward the first city, Xu Biao took the time to explain these two cities.

"The city we’re heading to is led by an old family. It was the first city built within this Demon Residence Cave. In every aspect, it resembles the Capital, except it’s not under the control of the Dragon Army. Instead, the family that leads it is like the King and Queen of the city. Don’t let anyone mock you, so try to keep your temper in check."

Hearing this, Yan Xiaobao was just about to quip that he had never sought out drama, but drama always found him; however, when he saw the expression on Xu Biao’s face, he quickly decided to bite his tongue instead and offered an awkward smile.

The day dragged on from morning to noon, and from noon to afternoon, with not even a single break for the caravan. The lucky ones who had secured the last four positions as guards for this mission were panting heavily, their faces flushed, with sweat dripping from their foreheads.

While they were thoroughly exhausted, Yan Xiaobao and his friends walked with ease, their robes fluttering lightly in the breeze. Their faces were healthy, and not a single drop of sweat could be seen on their skin.

As dusk descended upon them, the young master Yang Bai’s servant finally opened the carriage door and gave the order to stop for the night and make camp.

Once the command was issued, the guards immediately sat down and took out water from their Memory Stones to quench their thirst.

Yan Xiaobao and his team, already seasoned in camping, had their site fully set up within half an hour. Tents were erected, a campfire roared, slicing through the darkened sky, and a stew simmered warmly over the flames. They sat quietly together, chatting about their expectations for the ongoing journey.

While Yan Xiaobao and his friends sat there watching Wang Julong work on their mouthwatering meal, others weren’t as fortunate.

Although the young lord had brought many guards, none of them knew how to cook proper meals, and none had the skills to pitch a tent. All of them had spent their lives in the Capital. The guards belonging to the Yang Family received food as part of their wages, but the dried meat without vegetables smelled nothing like the delicious aroma of the stew nearby.

"Sir! Sir!" Youthful voices echoed across the campsite as the guards from various families struggled to put up their tents. Their gazes immediately focused on the young master, curious about whom he was addressing.

The young master climbed out of his carriage and dashed toward Yan Xiaobao and his friends’ camp. There, they were enjoying their stew and chatting about how foolish it would be to encounter an ambush in the city.

"Sir! May I sit with you?" the young master asked, his eyes nearly sparkling as he looked at Yan Xiaobao, as though he were gazing upon a deity.

Yan Xiaobao was slightly unsure of what to say, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded, allowing the boy to join them.

"Someday, I’ll be as strong as you," Yang Bai said with conviction in his voice. "I’ll go to Qianli River Academy to study. I must be better than my peers—or even my father." As he spoke, mentioning his father brought a nostalgic smile to Yan Xiaobao’s face as he thought of his two fathers. The first that came to mind was his late father, who would have done anything to make the young man’s dream a reality. He also recalled his second father, who had felt immense pride upon learning that Yan Xiaobao could attend Qianli River Academy.

Seated among the mercenaries, the former arrogance in Yang Bai’s eyes had given way to excitement as he looked from one person to another, wearing a wide smile.

Just as he sat down, Wang Julong began portioning out the stew she had made, sharing it with everyone around the campfire, including the young master.

Yang Bai stared down at the bowl of food, his face showing hesitation, unsure if he dared to taste it. But when he saw Yan Xiaobao and his friends eating it happily, he swallowed his reservations—and his saliva—before taking a small spoonful and putting it into his mouth. He immediately noticed that it tasted far better than he had expected.

It was, without a doubt, much tastier than the dry food he had eaten in the carriage earlier that day. His expression brimmed with delight as he polished off the entire portion with a smile.

After finishing his meal, Yang Bai looked at Wang Julong with dreamy eyes. In a flash, like a cat pouncing, he moved to her side, taking her hand and dropping to one knee.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his eyes still glimmering as he gazed at Wang Julong. His words stunned the entire group.

Sitting next to Yan Xiaobao, Deng Wu leaned in slightly, his mouth near the white-haired boy’s ear, and laughed softly. "Looks like you’ve got yourself a rival!"

Xu Yue felt a bit uneasy at Deng Wu’s comment, but dismissed everything he said with a scoff. Still, Deng had been glancing at Wang Julong more frequently since that morning, though he was confident nobody had noticed. Nevertheless, the group’s self-proclaimed romance expert had picked up on Yan Xiaobao’s subtle changes, leaving him slightly embarrassed.