Chapter 365 - 364: The Spear (450 Monthly Tickets+)

Chapter 365: Chapter 364: The Spear (450 Monthly Tickets+)

Early the next morning, the carriage departed from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and headed for the city gate.

Even though they were traveling light and simple, there were still four carriages in total.

Jiuxi didn’t ride a horse; he sat next to the coachman, his eyes scanning everywhere.

This was his first time going to such a distant place, and although they hadn’t left the city yet, he was already brimming with excitement.

Ming Liu, who was riding alongside, joked about him, but Jiuxi paid no mind.

As they approached the city gate, Jiuxi spotted Yun Qi under the city wall.

He quickly turned around and reported to Mu Lianxiao through the curtain.

Mu Lianxiao lifted the curtain, peeked out for a glance, and instructed the carriage to move closer to Yun Qi.

Yun Qi greeted them from outside the carriage, and from the sedan next to him emerged Jin Ling, heavily pregnant.

"She knew the lady was leaving today and insisted on coming to see her off, no matter what," Yun Qi said with a troubled expression.

Du Yunluo donned her veiled hat and jumped off the carriage.

Jin Ling grasped Du Yunluo’s hand, her eyes reddening immediately: "My lady..."

She couldn’t bear to part with Du Yunluo.

Though she had married and was no longer serving by her mistress’s side, the thought of Du Yunluo traveling so far made Jin Ling anxious.

Jin Ling looked down at her own large belly.

With the strict rules in the mansion, Yun Qi served under Mu Lianxiao, so there was no reason for her to enter the inner courtyard again.

However, after leaving the Capital, Du Yunluo would be living independently, with less formality, and Jin Ling could have easily served as a maid.

But being heavily pregnant, traveling such a distance was out of the question.

Du Yunluo cheerfully said: "It’s only two or three months until the baby arrives, right?

Yesterday, Third Sister gave birth to a son, and both mother and child are safe.

As for you, don’t overthink it. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, take care of yourself and focus on delivering the baby smoothly first.

If Yun Qi dares to bully you, just go to Mrs. Gu Fula and have her stand up for you."

Yun Qi shook his head like a rattle drum: "Look, my lady, sons and daughters are both equally good. I don’t have a preference.

Rest assured, I will never bully Jin Ling; otherwise, even before Mrs. Gu gets involved, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law will have already given me a good beating."

These words brought a smile to Jin Ling’s face, tears still in her eyes but corners of her mouth lifting.

Du Yunluo felt much more at ease seeing that and gently said to Jin Ling: "It’s not like I’m not coming back. Even if you didn’t want me to return, my grandfather, grandmother, father, mother-in-law, aunt... so many people are urging me to come back."

Jin Ling laughed out loud: "I’ll be waiting for your return, my lady. Rest assured, I’ve kept all the tasks you entrusted to me in mind."

Du Yunluo nodded with satisfaction; she appreciated Jin Ling’s understanding and perceptiveness.

After saying goodbye to Jin Ling, the carriage slowly left the Capital.

At the end of January, the weather remained chilly.

Though the carriage was warm enough, the roadsides were still lined with unmelted snow, slowing their progress.

Mu Lianxiao didn’t rush the journey, and most nights they stayed at inns or post stations, so Du Yunluo wasn’t as exhausted as she had been traveling to Tong City before.

However, the road to Xuancheng was much longer than that to Tong City.

After half a month of travel, Du Yunluo was getting weary, but fortunately, the scenery along the way was completely different from what she had seen before, keeping the journey interesting for her.

Amid the chill of early spring, snowflakes suddenly began to fall.

Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo were snowed in at an inn, resting for three days, giving Du Yunluo a chance to catch her breath.

At daybreak that morning, Du Yunluo opened her eyes.

Beside her, the space was empty; Mu Lianxiao had already gotten up to practice martial arts.

Du Yunluo called Jin Rui to come assist her with washing and dressing, asking, "Is it still snowing outside?"

"It’s lighter than it was two days ago," Jin Rui replied while deftly arranging her hair.

Du Yunluo wrapped herself in her snow jacket, carrying the hand warmer, and stepped out of the room.

The inn was devoid of other guests; it was just their family, making life convenient these past few days.

Mu Lianxiao was practicing boxing in the courtyard, sweating despite the snowy weather.

Du Yunluo watched him with wide eyes; Mu Lianxiao’s dashing figure while practicing martial arts never bored her.

Mu Lianxiao noticed Du Yunluo watching and paused to wave over Jiuxi, who was stretching under the veranda.

When Jiuxi eagerly ran over, Mu Lianxiao whispered a few words to him, and Jiuxi jogged off.

Du Yunluo watched, curious.

Before long, Jiuxi returned, holding a long spear, much taller than his stature when stood upright.

He tossed the spear to Mu Lianxiao.

Mu Lianxiao caught it effortlessly.

Du Yunluo’s eyes sparkled.

Although the courtyard in Shaohui Garden wasn’t small, it was not spacious enough for practicing with a spear. Mu Lianxiao had promised Du Yunluo that he would take her to the training ground to watch him practice spear techniques, but the opportunity hadn’t arisen all year.

The inn’s courtyard was spacious, lacking flowers, potted plants, or maidservants bustling about, so Mu Lianxiao decided to practice spear techniques here.

Du Yunluo smiled; he truly remembered.

She knew Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t forget, but seeing it happen was an entirely different matter.

Du Yunluo was thrilled.

The slender silver spear was even taller than the tall Mu Lianxiao. He waved it a couple of times, the spear moving smoothly with a flick of his wrist.

Mu Lianxiao’s horse stance was solid, and every movement was imbued with power and swiftness.

Initially, Du Yunluo’s eyes could keep up, but as Mu Lianxiao’s pace quickened, she could no longer follow, only seeing the silver glare of the spear flashing before her eyes.

The flickering spear technique seemed like a white snake sticking out its tongue or a dragon emerging from water.

The spear flicked up and down, like dancing pear blossoms, and with Mu Lianxiao’s movements, the falling snowflakes around him were all swept away, as if he created a barrier between heaven and earth.

Du Yunluo couldn’t discern the skill level but was completely captivated by the spear technique, watching without blinking, afraid to miss a moment.

Mu Lianxiao practiced with great seriousness; fighting in battle rarely involved bare hands—it was mostly with weapons, and he favored the spear.

He had learned spear techniques directly from the Old Marquis when he was alive.

Back then, as a child, he couldn’t handle a real spear, so the Old Marquis had found a wooden stick for him from the woodshed.

As he grew taller, the wooden stick grew longer as well. By the time Mu Lianxiao could wield a real spear, the Old Marquis was no longer around.

This spear had been Mu Yuance’s, still in his hands when he fell in battle, brought back by his loyal soldiers, and now accompanied Mu Lianxiao.

In the future, it would surely be passed along with the Mu Family’s spear techniques to his son.

After completing the routine, Mu Lianxiao caught his breath and saw Du Yunluo staring intently at him. He approached and asked with a smile, "How was it?"

Du Yunluo’s eyes shone like gemstones: "It was wonderful."

Mu Lianxiao’s smile deepened, as he bent down closer, whispering in her ear, "Is it the spear technique that’s impressive, or the person wielding it?"

His breath brushed her earlobe, a soft, intimate murmur, and Du Yunluo’s ears burned, as if scorched by fire.

She scoffed gently, "Both are magnificent, but you are the best."

Finishing her words, Du Yunluo turned and hurried back into the house, leaving Mu Lianxiao alone, holding the silver spear, with a bright smile that seemed to warm even the coldest winter day.