All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me

Chapter 421 - 258 Ji Baoer, I’m So Scared. _1

The red sun slowly emerged, a sliver at first, and then gradually began its descent.

A rooster’s crow broke the dawn.

"HMM."

Li Zijun gently rubbed the corners of her eyes, murmured softly, placed her small hand over her mouth, yawned, and opened her eyes.

The climate on the north bank of the Cang River was different from that in Jiangnan. Even as late spring approached, the nights remained slightly cool.

She meticulously straightened her garment and furrowed her brow for a moment. Her clothes, unwashed for several days, felt somewhat uncomfortable to wear, though they were not dirty or messy.

She parted the tent curtains and, taking small steps, stepped out.

The light rain that had fallen throughout the night washed the surroundings with tranquility and quiet charm. Bursts of fresh bamboo scent rushed to greet her.

Beneath the Azure Crown, her eyes met a stretch of verdant bamboo swaying gently in the wind. If one looked closely, dewdrops could be seen clinging to the tips of the leaves, trembling as if about to fall, yet not quite letting go.

Swifts darted back and forth among the branches, their calls crisp and tender.

"CHIRP CHIRP—"

Li Zijun lifted her head, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth, following the swifts’ nimble flight through the bamboo grove as they shook raindrops from their wings.

Having arrived hastily with the merchant caravan in the dead of night, she had hardly noticed her surroundings.

But now, as the dim light of dawn revealed her surroundings, the scene unfolding before her eyes was vastly different from any man-made splendor; it was as if nature itself had crafted a masterpiece.

Everything exuded a refreshing purity, a true feast for the eyes.

Back in Luo City, she had sent Duo’er ahead to Jinling by way of Tong Er Road; Duo’er was to seek the assistance of Confucian School disciples to ensure Li Zijun’s safety. Now, as Li Zijun herself neared the Cang River, she had opted not to rejoin the main group heading to Jinling. Instead, for her own security, she had disguised herself as a young scholar on her travels and found a merchant caravan bound for the South Wind Ancient Country.

The journey had been quite peaceful so far. However, today they were to cross the Cang River, and Li Zijun’s heart grew a little heavy.

As she was lost in thought, an old man approached her with a smile, holding a bowl of steaming congee. He said, "Girl, come have breakfast. Today, we’ll be crossing the Cang River..."

Gazing at the young woman, who seemed as serene as a figure in a painting, the old man’s eyes filled with warmth. Ever since she had joined the caravan alone two days prior, he had taken good care of her along the way.

Sitting beside her, watching her accept the bowl with a smile, warmed his heart.

"Girl, you’re traveling such a long way by yourself. Aren’t your family worried about you?"

Li Zijun took a small sip of the congee from the bowl; beneath the liquid were thick rice grains. She knew Uncle Wang must have deliberately given her a larger portion. She said, "Thank you, Uncle Wang. Traveling like this is certainly a way to gain experience."

Uncle Wang shook his head, a smile full of emotion on his face as he said, "Young folk from prominent families like you are different from us common folk. We travel the world merely trying to make a living."

"Once we cross this Cang River, we’ll reach Xiegu City. The caravan will rest there for a few days. Girl, just hold on a little longer, and then you can have a proper rest..."

Li Zijun’s eyelashes fluttered, curving prettily.

"Thank you so much for your care along the way, Uncle Wang."

Uncle Wang hastily waved his hands, his face a picture of honest simplicity. "What’s there to thank me for? I have a daughter about your age back home. I haven’t been home for two years; I wonder if she’s married by now..."

"It’s strange. I’ve never seen so many people on this road before. Why does it feel like more people are heading to Xiegu City these days?"

Uncle Wang stroked his beard, smiled at Li Zijun, then stood up and walked towards the ox cart a short distance away. He didn’t forget to remind her, "Girl, drink this congee while it’s hot. Don’t let it get cold."

Li Zijun’s gaze lowered slightly, and she remained silent for a long time.

Caravans in the Mortal World were, after all, different from those in the Cultivation World. The distinction between Immortal and mortal was most evident here.

Even though the Eastern Emperor had ascended the throne hundreds of years ago and governed diligently, allowing Cultivators to gradually enter the awareness of mortals, for those living at the very bottom of society, it was like a single drop of clear water falling into a vast lake—barely causing a ripple.

After finishing her congee, Li Zijun boarded the ox cart. Wearing a large straw hat that covered her head, she clasped her hands and gazed out at the passing scenery.

Near the ox cart, several of the caravan hands were chatting, their faces lit with simple, honest laughter. One of them said, "Hey, Niu Er, have you heard? There seems to be some excitement in Xiegu City."

"What excitement?" Niu Er replied.

"A while ago, it seems they discovered a new ore vein in the mountains behind Xiegu City. Several of the noble family masters can’t sit still; they’re all scrambling to claim it."

"Aren’t those noble family masters always like that?" Niu Er grumbled. "If you ask me, they’re just rich folks with nothing better to do than spend money, always eating their bird’s nests and bear paws. What’s so exciting about that?"

"Hey, but haven’t you noticed how many more people are on the road these days? No one knows who that ore vein belongs to yet. Those noble families are apparently going to fight over it to decide... And I heard that Young Master Yang of the Yang Family died mysteriously. Besides watching the fun, people are probably hoping to get a piece of the mining action."

Li Zijun lifted her head slightly, a subtle change in her eyes.

Then, blinking, she spoke to one of the hands. "Excuse me, young man," she said. "Could you tell me more about that Young Master Yang you mentioned? The one who died..."

The caravan hand, whose name was Shuisheng, looked up and met Li Zijun’s smiling eyes. His heart seemed to stop, and he couldn’t help but swallow hard.

He had never seen such an ethereal beauty before. He quickly lowered his head, afraid he might offend her with his gaze. His face flushed crimson as he stammered: