118 Honeymoon (1/2)
The queue advanced as slow as a snail. It took half a day before Xu Miao and everyone could get their turn.
Like before, the group was stopped by the checkpoint's gate guards. But this time, every soldier's strength here was 4th-stage. If things went south, it would be the end of their journey.
”Identification?” The gate captain looked at the old man, who was sitting on a wooden palanquin.
Jia Shan smiled at the guard, ”Jia Gong.”
”Where are you from?”
”Yeet City.”
”Isn't it from the far north? What are you doing here?”
”I escorted my grandchild to take part in the Mountain Goose Sect's annual examination. Well, he died,” Jia Shan's eyes saddened as he sighed.
The gate guard's expression got softer, ”The path of cultivation is harsh. At least he found peace before he gets to know the cruel world.”
”Thank you, sir.”
”Well, why are you passing through here? Isn't crossing the river through the Rooster Port or the Goose Bridge a faster route?”
Yeet City was directly north of Sky Duck City. Therefore, the direct route should be the path that Yao Lan and others took to the Sky Duck City. However, the group was taking a long detour, which aroused the captain's suspicion.
”I have other businesses in the capital. My son is an elder of Xuan Medical Palace, and he has asked me to buy some ingredients from Red Sun City.”
”Oh?” The captain raised his eyebrows, ”What's your son's name?”
”Jia Wenhe.”
*Cough* *Cough*
Behind Jia Shan, Xu Miao was choking and coughing after he heard the name. His face and lips were pale.
”Your slave doesn't look healthy,” The captain glanced at Xu Miao.
”He has been carrying the palanquin from the start of the journey. He's quite exhausted.”
”Yeah, you should take care of that slave. What about that girl?”
The gate guard pointed at a restrained teenager girl, who was being carried on Jiang Lan's shoulder.
Jia Shan coughed, ”That is a debt slave. We bought her from Mountain Goose City.”
”… I see,” The guard sneered and snickered, ”You have a good taste. Well, you're cleared. Don't cause trouble, okay?”
”…”
The gate captain allowed Jia Shan, Xu Miao, and everyone to pass. Then, he summoned the next queue.
The group didn't know if the security was lax or Jia Shan's excuse was effective. They heaved a sigh of relief after they got through the checkpoint.
When no one was looking, Wei Yuan paid the palanquin carriers, who were the local people in this area. When these people accepted the gold coins, they jumped in joy.
”Thank you, miss!”
”Thank you!”
The hired men celebrated and ran toward their original caravans where they came together.
Xu Miao still had an awkward smile, ”Are you really the father of Jia Wenhe?”
”No. He's my brother.”
”And Jia Gong? Is that an alias or your real name?”
”That's my father's name.”
”…”
”What's your problem? Why are you making that face?”
Xu Miao's face was as pale as a ghost. He mustered his courage and asked for confirmation, ”Is there someone with the names, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, or something similar in this continent?”
”I don't know who you're talking about.”
”… Okay.”
Xu Miao's complexion got better, but his worries were written on his face. As the guy never spoke what was on his mind, nobody could understand him.
.
The group traveled northwest instead of heading toward the Red Sun City. Per Jia Shan's instruction, they avoided crowded places as they had too many young women in the group.
They reached Red Sun Port, which was similar to the Rooster Port City. However, the port guards didn't bother checking their identities or questioning about the tied girl. Xu Miao and everyone could enter without obstruction.
In the port city, it had the same city layout as the Rooster Port. Jia Shan stopped at the outer district, ”Let's book an inn, so we can use it as a gathering point. It's too crowded in here, and we might get separated.”
As the oldest person, Jia Shan guided the group into the port city. They picked a five-story inn, which was not too luxurious or too poor. Everyone went to the register counter.
”I'd like to book five rooms,” Jia Shan wanted to give four rooms to the girls and save one room for him and Xu Miao.
The receptionist bowed and apologized, ”I'm sorry, sir. Currently, the rooms are all booked. We only have VIP suites and some spaces in the public hall.
A public hall was a public open space, where over a hundred people rested in the same area. There was no bed, restrooms, or privacy. Most people who chose to rest here were either penniless or hoodlums.
Thus, crimes often took place there. Any innocent young woman would have been ravished if she stayed in that hall to save money. As for men, they had to be strong enough to fend for themselves, or they would be killed in their sleep.
Jia Shan didn't want to let the girls stay in one of those risky places, ”What's the rate and price for the suite?”
The receptionist beamed with a bright smile, ”A hundred raw spirit stones a night. How many rooms would you like to book?”
Jia Shan frowned. He was about to say [One] to save their cash, but Xu Miao interrupted him.
”Four rooms, please.”
Jia Shan turned to Xu Miao, ”That's too much. A suite is large enough for everyone. Why four?”
”Two for the girls, one for me and Wei Yuan, and one for you.”