Chapter 280 - 173: Hidden Sword Manor, Martial World Assembly, Plum Blossoms in the Snow

Chapter 280: Chapter 173: Hidden Sword Manor, Martial World Assembly, Plum Blossoms in the Snow

A lot had happened since Zheng Xiu was swept into the Cannibal Painting, and a lot of time had passed as well.

For the two-odd months he "vacationed" in Yunhe Village, Zheng Xiu would wake each day to a personal maid waiting on him, a reminder of his former life as a wealthy man. But the noisy bandits outside would instantly shatter that dream, pulling him back to the reality of his situation.

Zheng Xiu had always told himself that everything in the World in the Painting was fake. The only real people were him, Feng Bei, and the Monk.

Recently, however, he had begun to doubt that belief, perhaps without even realizing it himself.

Or perhaps, on a subconscious level, he was pondering a more profound philosophical question: What defines a Human?

But a strange sound from behind him instantly took the fledgling philosopher offline.

"Young Master, ah... Slow down, slow down... Mmm..."

Zheng Xiu was riding, the horse was galloping, and the people on its back were bouncing up and down.

As they bounced along, Xiaotao finally couldn’t hold on any longer. With trembling hands, she wrapped her arms around Zheng Xiu’s waist. Her soft gasps pulled him from his thoughts.

Zheng Xiu pulled on the reins to slow down and glanced back at Xiaotao, puzzled.

His look seemed to say, ’Why are you panting? There’s nothing wrong.’

’And all that mmph-ing and ah-ing.’

’If anyone should be panting, it’s the horse.’

"I... I... Xiaotao... Young Master... You..."

Xiaotao’s hands flew from his waist as if she’d been shocked. His gaze made her think she had been too forward and made him uncomfortable.

Seeing her panicked reaction, Zheng Xiu immediately understood. He took her by the sleeve, placed her hands back around his waist, and said, "Hold on tight. Don’t fall off."

Xiaotao was flattered. The tears welling in her eyes vanished, replaced by a smile. She lowered her head and replied sweetly, "M-hm~"

Zheng Xiu urged the horse onward, catching up to Xie Luohe.

They were already far from Yunhe Village. Dusk was approaching. For lunch, they had made do with a few cold, hard buns.

The jolting ride, the hurried pace, the empty stomach. The whole ordeal reminded Zheng Xiu of the phrase "displaced and destitute." He also couldn’t help but sigh. ’Perhaps this is the true Jianghu.’

’No matter how wretched a seemingly glamorous Jianghu Knight might be on the road, they always have to wash up and change into a fresh set of clothes before making a grand appearance in front of people.’

’If only I could fly.’

At that moment, Zheng Xiu dearly missed his Caged Sparrow. He hadn’t truly appreciated the little bird when he had it, and now that it was gone, he was filled with regret.

Xie Luohe remained silent for the entire journey, her horse galloping ahead at a steady, unhurried pace.

Zheng Xiu followed close behind, his gaze fixed on "Feng Bei’s" rear, which jutted out as he leaned forward over the horse. The sight sent him deep into thought.

He suddenly recalled that when he had traveled with the real Feng Bei under the identity of "Zheng Shan," it was always Feng Bei giving him a ride.

Watching "Feng Bei" ride a horse on his own was a very novel experience.

「After nightfall.」

Zheng Xiu’s party of three finally came across a deserted tea stall on the side of the road.

From a distance, the stall looked dilapidated and full of holes, completely exposed to the elements.

The tea stall was run by a family of three.

A bright-eyed, handsome young boy with a sweat towel draped over his shoulder waved to them from a distance.

Xie Luohe dismounted first. The boy took her horse’s reins and tied them to a nearby tree trunk.

There were several trees next to the stall, their bark covered in countless rope marks of varying depths.

It had snowed that morning, so the ground was damp. The soft earth was covered in a messy collection of hoofprints and footprints.

When Zheng Xiu helped Xiaotao dismount, she was blushing and limping.

Although the "Ma Zhen" with her Young Master had been both thrilling and embarrassing, where it was supposed to hurt, it still hurt.

Her Young Master had coined the term "Ma Zhen" as a joke on the road, but Xiaotao hadn’t found it funny at all. To her, given all the bouncing up and down on the horse, "Ma Zhen" seemed a perfectly fitting description. As expected of a well-read Young Master.

’So cultured.’

This was Xiaotao’s first time leaving Yunhe Village with Xie Luohe since she had gone up the mountain. The Jianghu was a completely new and strange world to her; even something as simple as riding a horse was a major challenge.

Even though Zheng Xiu had been the Richest Person in his "past life" and a Scholar in "this life"—professions that had nothing to do with the Jianghu—his two outings with Ye Weiyang to investigate cases had given him a fair bit of experience.

Zheng Xiu glanced down at the footprints, and his brow furrowed. He looked over at Xie Luohe, about to step forward and whisper something to her, but she just shook her head. "Shut up. Don’t make a fuss."

Zheng Xiu obediently shut his mouth.

Inside the tea stall, the boy diligently wiped a table and stools clean. A middle-aged couple emerged from the back kitchen. The woman, Madam Xu, was getting on in years but still possessed a shadow of her former beauty. The man was portly, with a large belly, but had a kind face.

"Miss Knight, miss, young master, are you hungry? How about some of our finest braised meat?"

Xie Luohe briskly ordered a pot of hot tea, three bowls of ginger soup, and a serving of braised meat.

It was clearly a family-run business.

Just then, Zheng Xiu slapped his forehead in frustration. "Damn it!"

Xie Luohe and Xiaotao both turned to look at him.

Zheng Xiu lowered his voice. "I forgot to bring chopsticks!"

Xiaotao asked curiously, "Young Master, why would we need to bring our own chopsticks?"

Xie Luohe set her travel pack down by her feet. "Xiaotao, don’t mind him," she said calmly. "He’s just being paranoid."

Zheng Xiu retorted, "You’re not worried?"

A ghost of a smile played on Xie Luohe’s lips. "Me? What would I have to worry about?"

Under the table, Xiaotao gently tugged on Zheng Xiu’s sleeve, blinking her large, innocent eyes.

"Let me tell you..."

Zheng Xiu shot a smug look at Xie Luohe, then beckoned Xiaotao closer. He cupped a hand to his mouth and began whispering in her ear.

He knew perfectly well that with Xie Luohe’s sharp hearing, it was a whisper in name only.

But Xiaotao didn’t know that, of course.

’I’ve got to find a way to get a rise out of ’Feng Bei’.’

’Just to piss you off.’