Chapter 108: Racing to Night Manor

The coachman caught four or five fish in the creek. Snow Sang quickly prepared them. At that moment, she suddenly remembered her spice pouch. It’s truly helpful to be prepared.

Snow Sang took charge of grilling the fish, while Ye Xuan wandered around. He picked some wild pears and brought them over. Life in ancient times was good; the forest was full of edible treasures. Suddenly, Ye Xuan swung a branch ahead, and it impaled a rabbit. The coachman hurried over to catch the rabbit, washed it by the creek, then brought it back. Snow Sang used her military knife to cut the rabbit into pieces and skewered them on branches to roast.

“Miss Si, what seasoning is this? It smells incredible,” the two coachmen said as they sat by the fire, watching Snow Sang grill with such tempting aroma that their mouths watered.

“This is my secret blend—pepper, chili powder, and various spices. It’s absolutely delicious. Just wait!” Snow Sang’s grilling was utterly enticing, drawing all eyes.

“Snow Sang, I found some herbs here. Take a look.”

“Oh, not bad! Adding these will make it even more fragrant.”

Snow Sang chopped the herbs finely, wielding her knife like a chef’s cleaver. A few swift cuts, and she sprinkled them over the fish. Within moments, four or five fish were perfectly grilled. They brought out the eating utensils from the carriage, placed the fish in bowls, and everyone eagerly began to eat.

“Wow, I’ve never had such delicious grilled fish before. It used to have no flavor—just filling. Miss Si, could you spare me some of your spice?”

“Sure, I don’t have much, but I’ll give each of you a bottle.” They carefully accepted the precious gift.

This was Snow Sang’s exclusive skill. She planned to return to the capital to visit Sang Ju and hear about the rumors—apparently, things were going well there now.

“Thank you, Miss Si, thank you,” the two men said, tucking the spices safely into their clothes and continuing to eat.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m going to grill the rabbit first. It’s a big, fat one—we’ll have a good feast today.”

“I’ll help you.”

“No need, you go ahead and eat.” Snow Sang was capable enough. She made a small wooden rack to slowly roast the rabbit nearby, allowing the heat to infuse the spices without burning it. With one hand, she held several pieces already seasoned, roasting them manually. The aroma of the rabbit soon filled the air. When it was done, she placed the meat on a plate. They sat around the fire, eating dinner and then cut a few branches to build two makeshift shelters.

With limited materials, only two people could share one tent.

That naturally meant she and Ye Xuan shared a tent, which was fine.

They took turns keeping watch, each standing guard for a few hours before resting. Someone had to stay alert.

Snow Sang kept watch the first half of the night, and Ye Xuan took over the second half.

Finally, morning arrived. They went to the creek to wash their faces. Snow Sang closed her eyes as she walked forward, exhausted and yearning for sleep. But the mountain rest was poor, and she struggled to rise.

She slipped and was about to fall when Ye Xuan caught her.

“Do you walk with your eyes closed?” he scolded, astonished that she would walk blindly.

“I’m not closing them entirely—I’m just barely opening them,” she replied.

Fully awake now, she dared not close her eyes, stepping carefully on the rugged mountain path, which was more like a narrow trail than a proper road.

Ye Xuan stayed close behind, unwilling to leave her alone—she might have been seriously hurt otherwise.

“Ah, this feels so good,” she sighed, washing her face in the clear, refreshing water. The natural sensation was pure comfort.

Ye Xuan watched as Snow Sang tilted her head back at a 45-degree angle, eyes closed, her entire being seeming to glow with a radiant light—so different, so extraordinary.

Her skin, once showing veins, was becoming increasingly fair, unlike when he first met her.

Unconsciously, Snow Sang had believed Ye Xuan favored fair skin, so she had worked hard to whiten herself.

But despite this transformation, they never reunited.

All her efforts had been in vain.

Had she known this, she might never have tried so hard. In the end, it was all for nothing. Yet this morning, she felt truly comfortable, basking in gentle sunlight and soothing creek water. Everything was so peaceful.

For her, nothing could be more pleasant. In that moment, it was as if everything else faded away, leaving only her in the world.

As the carriage pressed onward, growing more distant from Liang City, a sudden wave of memories washed over her.

A heaviness settled within her once again. Suddenly, the stone she carried began to glow.

“Snow Sang, what’s wrong? Why is the stone on you shining?” Ye Xuan asked, startled. Snow Sang quickly examined it. It was the same stone, glowing mysteriously.

Could it be the one they were searching for?

She gently pressed it, and the stone opened, revealing a wondrous mechanism inside—countless tiny gears spinning rapidly.

Ye Xuan was speechless. At that moment, a beam of sunlight struck the interior of the carriage.

Could this device be self-charging?

She turned it toward the light, and the mechanism ran faster and longer. After about ten minutes, the light extinguished, and the stone closed by itself.

“What is this?”

“It’s a device, a very dangerous device. But it’s not the treasure you think it is. It belongs to me and has always been with me,” Snow Sang hurriedly explained, afraid of misunderstanding.

“I believe you, but others won’t. They’ll likely think the same as I do. Oh no, did Qin Shuang see this? I finally understand why she came to us that day. It must have been because of this device. She definitely saw it. This is bad,” Ye Xuan looked anxious, and Snow Sang watched him closely.

“Given what you say, it’s very possible. But we’ll be fine.”

“If we were in Liang City, Xuanyuan Juesi would protect you. But now that you’ve left with me, you’ve given her a chance to confront us alone. We don’t have the strength to fight her.”

Facing Ming Lou was unrealistic for the two of them. They had to find another solution.

“What do we do now?”

“We return to Ye Village. We must reach it before she makes a move.”

Ye Xuan had no other choice—this was the only way. With his abilities, only returning to Ye Village could barely keep her safe. He would endure injuries himself rather than see her harmed.