39 Robbing Wealth, Robbing Body (1/2)
Meng Fuyao tidied her hair and applied some ginger juice onto her face before covering it with a black cloth and jumping down to intercept the carriage.
”I paved this mountain...”
On the winding road, Meng Fuyao placed her hands on her hips, looking exceptionally energetic and attention-seeking. The other member in her bandit crew was Yao Xun, who had stealthily held onto the back of the carriage.
”Redstone Mountain has been paved since the expedition of Wuji and Xuanji emperors. Wuji's emperor had ordered 800,000 soldiers to open a path in a month's time, in order to meet his enemy head-on. In that case, you're not the paver of this mountain,” a voice trailed from within the carriage.
It was gentle and warm, and somewhat distant.
Meng Fuyao choked, once again shouting, ”I planted this tree...”
”The mountain is located near Red River, and floods occur yearly, causing severe loss of soil. Eight years ago, the crown prince of Wuji had ordered the common people from the suburbs to plant trees on the plains and mountain range. In that case, you're not the one who planted this tree.”
Another choke could be heard before Meng Fuyao lost her patience. ”I did not pave this mountain. Neither did I care enough to plant this tree. Offer your valuables if you want to pass through.”
After a short while, someone slid the curtain to the side.
Under the sunlight, Meng Fuyao narrowed her eyes.
The chilly wind blew over, instantly producing mist as she exhaled. The Redstone Mountain had already frosted, enhancing the redness of the rocks and the greenness of the plants growing between the cracks.
It was an extremely cold winter, and all scenery had been stripped by it, save for the resilient trees.
The dusky carriage dimmed the appearance of the man inside, but he was visibly wearing a snow-white robe. He seemed to have light cherry-red lips, calm and soft yet able to dwindle the strength of the cutting wind.
Meng Fuyao crooked her head, mumbling, ”How I hate these men in white, only trying to appear pure and innocent.”
The man in the carriage smiled and lifted a hand. He made no major moves, but in the next moment, Yao Xun was thrown off and left howling in pain.
”Trying to plunder my valuables with this, Lady? Doesn't seem to make sense.”
Unmoved, Meng Fuyao snapped, ”I don't know him. Anyways, you don't look that appealing after all. How about we just let this go. Till we meet again, bye.”
She slapped her hands together and turned around with no intention of helping Yao Xun up.
”It's cold out here, and it will be good to have something to warm up against. You may not find my body appealing, but I'm sure you don't have anything against a Vessel of Spring?” he spoke, without any deliberate attempt to entice, but his suggestion did manage to captivate a certain someone.
The Vessel of Spring was a top quality wine, famous throughout the whole of the Five Region Continent. Every drop was as valuable as gold, and even noblemen couldn't obtain it easily. Even if they did manage to obtain it, they would hide it in their wine cellars. Ordinary citizens hadn't heard of such wine, and Meng Fuyao had only been exposed to it through that old Daoist priest, or rather, drunkard. Whenever alcoholism struck, he would travel the world, flipping boxes and cupboards, and breaking into doors and graves to seek this wine out. Meng Fuyao had tasted it out of curiosity once, and it had left a deep impression on her.
The wine was velvety and rich. As she swirled it around the tip of her tongue, its texture and taste exploded, rocketing her straight into the heavens.
'Aye... the wine is perfect for the cold weather... what a good life he has...'
A smile started to form on her lips, and in the next moment, her thighs were attached to the side of the carriage. ”If you insist, dear noble sir, it'd be impolite for me to refuse, wouldn't it? Seems like you're rather wealthy actually, and looks wise... not shabby either.”
”Thank you for your kind words,” the man humbly accepted and subconsciously started shifting to the side upon seeing her climb in, but stopped midway.
Meng Fuyao was greeted by the plain and delicate decor inside of the carriage. There was a small table in the center and three seatable sides. There were also a luxurious ferret overcoat and an object wrapped in cotton-padded jacket lying on each unoccupied side. As she wanted more space, she reached to push it aside.
The cotton-padded jacket flew up and into the man's arm, loosening in the process as a pot of flowers with deep purple leaves revealed itself.
Eyes opened wide, Meng Fuyao stammered, ”You... you're offering a jacket to a pot of flowers? What top quality plant is this?”
”Just an ordinary purple plant,” he stated, keeping it carefully. ”Someone left it outside the village, and it was about to be frozen, so I picked it up. Plants are sentient creatures, and they fear cold too.”
Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Meng Fuyao swept her gaze over his face, her heart immediately skipping a beat. Wasn't he the clean freak in white that had been following Qi Xunyi at the foot of the Xuanyuan Mountain? She still had his belt with her.
Subconsciously feeling her own face, Meng Fuyao remembered that she had on a mask that day and also ginger juice on at the moment. Not worrying about her identity being exposed, she smiled confidently. ”Your name, Noble Sir?”
”You can drop the formalities. My family name is Zong,” answered Zong Yue quietly, his eyes shining as he retrieved the wine and offered her a glass. ”Please.”
”I have a companion,” she added with a smile.