CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 339: MIAO VILLAGE

The food came quickly, and as the two ate, they learned why Jingchu City was so crowded.

It turned out that the Crown Prince had been searching for a young Witch Clan girl with a Beneficial Gu in Jingchu City for days. Despite nearly turning the city upside down, he hadn’t caught the girl. With no choice but to seal the city for several days, which had already caused widespread complaints, he eventually had to lift the city lockdown.

On the day Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen entered the city, it was just the second day of Jingchu City returning to normal passage.

However, though the passage was restored, young women were still allowed to enter but not leave.

Yu Xiaolian stuffed a large piece of braised beef into her mouth as she asked Su Jingchen, "What should we do? We can’t leave tomorrow!"

Even though she could hide in the space inside the carriage and sneak out without alerting the guards, her road permit couldn’t get stamped that way, leading to issues entering the next city.

Su Jingchen calmly ate his food, "Don’t worry, that’s just in certain cases. We have a road permit, and you have an academic officer’s badge. We can leave openly."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaolian felt relieved. Indeed, they had just entered the city today, staying only for a night and leaving the next day. What could happen to them?

But thinking of Miao Yingyao made Yu Xiaolian uneasy. If Miao Yingyao had fallen out with Qi Yunfan, would she reveal the matter of the Longevity Gu on her?

Would Yu Changhe and others be in danger?

With these thoughts, Yu Xiaolian found the meat tasteless and started worrying anxiously.

She even thought that Qi Yunfan clearly had many methods to use, yet he chose the most foolish one.

Hopefully, Miao Yingyao would remember the gratitude she owed her for saving her life and not implicate her family.

Returning to the inn filled with worry, this anxiety grew exponentially. Yu Xiaolian felt that she couldn’t rely on Miao Yingyao’s conscience, as their acquaintance was shallow. Despite saving her life, compared to an enmity as deep as the sea, Miao Yingyao might betray her inner conflict without hesitation.

Yu Xiaolian shared her concerns with Su Jingchen.

Su Jingchen comforted Yu Xiaolian, "Before we left, I secretly met with Uncle Yu. I gave him ways to handle potential situations, so rest assured, nothing will happen."

If someone came to them, the best approach was to pretend they didn’t know Yu Xiaolian’s identity with the Witch Clan and immediately distance themselves from her. Miao Yingyao likely wouldn’t indiscriminately harm the innocent, as Yu Changhe’s family had no grudge against her.

Moreover, it’s been a year since Miao Chengwang’s incident. Miao Yingyao probably reached Miaojiang long ago. She didn’t cause trouble for Yu Xiaolian when passing through Luocheng, and she probably wouldn’t lead others there later either.

Despite Su Jingchen’s reasonable words, Yu Xiaolian remained unable to shake off her inner worry, which lingered with her for over half a month until they entered the Miaojiang territory.

Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen took lodging at a Miao Village at the foot of Mount Leishan. The interconnected Miao Villages built along the mountain were vast yet crowded.

There were no available rooms in the inn, nor in ordinary Miao homes, all filled with lodgers.

Of course, they were called lodgers but actually had to pay, and some places charged even more than the inn.

Upon arrival, Yu Xiaolian realized she couldn’t understand the local dialect, but fortunately, Su Jingchen could communicate without barriers. Otherwise, Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t have known what to do.

After a conversation with the local Miao people, they managed to rent a mudgrass house for a hefty price in the village.

The two decided to temporarily settle in the mudgrass house built along the mountain.

According to Su Jingchen, the local Miao people specifically built these mudgrass houses to accommodate outsiders like them.

Su Jingchen unloaded the carriage, tied the two horses under a tree, and went inside to help Yu Xiaolian settle the room.

The mudgrass house was extremely rudimentary, with only a simple, rough wooden plank bed inside. The kitchen had nothing but a small, rusty iron pot, some chipped bowls, and a few pairs of bamboo chopsticks.

Not far from their mudgrass house were several similar houses. At lunch, smoke rose from every home as people began cooking, and the aroma of bamboo rice filled the air, which Yu Xiaolian sniffed deeply.

The two quickly tidied up the room. Yu Xiaolian piled some kitchenware in a corner without using them, and the bedding was rolled up and placed aside.

After tidying the surface, Su Jingchen returned with firewood from the mountain.

Upon entering, Su Jingchen said, "Going further up, there are many houses like ours, and everyone is skillful. Don’t go out alone, got it?"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "I won’t go out. What would I do outside? Here, I’m like a mute. I can’t understand a word they say!"

Moreover, the natives here seemed oblivious to what official language was.

Yu Xiaolian actually admired Su Jingchen for speaking Miao fluently. In just over a year, he had mastered the Miao language, which Yu Xiaolian knew she couldn’t do.

Furthermore, she hadn’t even considered learning Miao in advance. Without a doubt, Su Jingchen was methodical, always thinking things through thoroughly.

He broke the collected branches into small pieces with his foot and placed them inside the stove, easily igniting them with a lighter and alcohol block given by Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian took a new large wok from the supermarket to replace the rusty iron pot and placed it on the stove.

Once the wok was hot, Yu Xiaolian added butter to melt, then placed the seasoned fillet steaks in to cook.

As soon as the steaks hit the pan, a savory aroma filled the air, making Yu Xiaolian swallow. She and Su Jingchen, who had hurried on their journey in the morning with only bread and milk, were starving.

Su Jingchen opened the wooden door to let the oil smoke out.

Yu Xiaolian cooked ten steaks before she was done.

But before they could eat, their landlord came knocking, asking if they needed water.

Su Jingchen went out to handle it, returning with two bamboo tubes of water.

Yu Xiaolian sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, holding a plate of steak. Taking a big bite, she asked, "Is that water? Bought with money?"

Su Jingchen nodded, placing the two bamboo tubes down, "It is water. Water is scarce here and expensive. These two tubes cost ten coins."

Yu Xiaolian replied, "Then we won’t buy more. I have water in my space!"

"No, if we don’t buy water at all, it’ll raise suspicions," Su Jingchen said, taking a steak plate and eating heartily. "I’ve arranged with the landlord to deliver two bamboo tubes of water daily."