Chapter 54: Meeting Again

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Meeting Again

On the other side, Eldest Brother Xiao drove the ox cart, and it took two hours to reach the city gate. By then, the ox was tired and hungry, and the people were cold and sleepy.

“Sister-in-law, should we take a break here first?” Eldest Brother Xiao asked when they arrived at the city gate.

“Alright,” Gu Qingli replied.

Seeing how tired and hungry the ox was, Gu Qingli knew it wouldn’t be able to continue much longer if forced.

Eldest Brother Xiao parked the ox cart at the gate. He first added some oil to the lantern, then brought out some grass for the ox to eat.

Gu Qingli sat in the cart, shivering from the cold.

Once I have money, I’ll definitely buy a proper carriage.

That way, if any emergencies occur in the future, I won’t have to suffer like this while traveling.

I have a car in my Space, but it’s a pity; I’m afraid it will just rot in there.

When Gu Qingli saw Eldest Brother Xiao giving the ox water, she shakily climbed off the ox cart. Stamping her feet to warm them, she quietly dripped some spiritual spring water into the animal’s water basin.

“MOO!”

The ox mooed at Gu Qingli as it smelled the spiritual spring water.

Gu Qingli patted its head and said, “Don’t make noise and disturb people, or they might kill and eat you.”

The ox flicked its ears a few times and, indeed, didn’t moo again, lowering its head to drink.

“Hey, our ox is so perceptive! It understands what we say?” Second Brother Xiao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.

“All things have a spirit, as Father often says,” Eldest Brother Xiao chimed in, scratching the ox.

“True. Eldest Brother, it’s a bit cold. I’ll go find some firewood to start a fire,” Second Brother Xiao suggested, jumping off the ox cart, mainly because he saw Gu Qingli shivering.

They both possessed internal strength and weren’t affected by the cold. But if their sister-in-law were to fall ill from the chill, Third Brother would skin them alive when he returned.

“Go on, but be careful. It’s pitch black everywhere.”

“It’s alright.” Since they all practiced martial arts, they were able to see in the dark. Although not as clearly as during daylight, they could still make out objects vaguely.

“Eldest Brother, thank you both for coming out with me in such cold weather,” Gu Qingli said, somewhat embarrassed.

“Heh heh, Sister-in-law, you’re being too formal. We’re family. Of course, we help when something happens; how could we be called family if we just stood by and watched?” Eldest Brother Xiao scratched his head, his earnest expression touching Gu Qingli’s heart.

“Huh? There’s a carriage approaching!” Eldest Brother Xiao’s ears perked up, and he looked toward the road opposite them.

That road led out of Qinghe County.

“Are there really other people traveling at night in this weather, just like us?” Gu Qingli also looked over, but her hearing wasn’t as sharp as Eldest Brother Xiao’s, so she didn’t hear anything.

“Hmm, let’s not worry about them. They must be people from this city. We’ll leave once the ox has finished eating.”

“Alright.”

「On the other side,」 Xiao Yunjing faintly saw a light at the city gate and urged Wuqing to speed up a little.

Wuqing had also seen it and quickened her pace.

As they drew closer, they heard the sound of voices. Although indistinct, it confirmed someone was there.

Xiao Yunjing hoped it was his eldest brother and Li’er.

Eldest Brother Xiao now heard the distinct CLIP-CLOP of horse hooves, a sound even Gu Qingli could make out.

But she didn’t think it could be Xiao Yunjing. How could he possibly return by carriage in the dead of night? He possessed lightness skills and had no need for one.

As they got nearer, it was Wuqing who spotted Gu Qingli first.

“Young Master, it really is the Young Lady! I can see her!” Wuqing exclaimed.

“Good, let’s hurry.”

On such a cold day, Li’er must be freezing.

Xiao Yunjing wished he could abandon the carriage and fly straight to her.

“Young Lady!” Wuqing called out from a distance.

“Hmm? Is that Wuqing?” Gu Qingli recognized the voice.

“Yes, it’s Wuqing. Sister-in-law, don’t go over yet; they’ll be here in a moment,” Eldest Brother Xiao said, having spotted Xiao Yunjing in the carriage behind them. It was quite a coincidence; they had all returned at the same time.

As the two horse-drawn vehicles arrived—one an ox cart, the other a carriage—Eldest Brother Xiao went to take the reins of Yunjing’s carriage. Yunjing thrust the whip into Eldest Brother Xiao’s hand and went straight to Gu Qingli.

Gu Qingli covered her mouth in surprise, not expecting Xiao Yunjing to actually return. She, too, walked towards him.

“Li’er!” Xiao Yunjing embraced her, immediately wrapping her in his large cloak.

“Yunjing, it’s really you.” Gu Qingli hugged his waist tightly, burying her face in his chest as tears streamed down her cheeks.

It turned out she wasn’t as strong as she had imagined.

It turned out Xiao Yunjing had unknowingly become so important in her heart.

He was her pillar of support. With his return, all her unease and helplessness rushed out.

“It’s alright now,” Xiao Yunjing gently patted her back, kissing her forehead.

Being needed by her felt wonderful.

When Dashuang and Xiaoshuang heard their sister’s cries, they quickly got off the carriage, wanting to run to her.

“Hush! Young Masters, wait a moment.” Wuqing quickly pulled the twins back. “The Young Master and Young Lady are having a reunion after a long separation. Wouldn’t you be disturbing them if you went over now?”

“Oh.” The twins nodded and, after glancing at Xiao Yunjing and Gu Qingli, walked over to Eldest Brother Xiao.

“Eldest Brother Xiao, thank you,” the twins said politely.

Eldest Brother Xiao patted their heads. “It’s good that you’re alright.”

“Huh? You’re all back?” Second Brother Xiao, returning with an armful of firewood, saw them and quickly dropped the wood, hurrying over to the twins.

“Second Brother Xiao!” the twins called out.

“Heh heh, it’s good you’re alright. What happened to you two?” Second Brother Xiao asked.

Dashuang recounted the events once more.

Nearby, Gu Qingli, having wiped her tears, listened quietly as Dashuang spoke.

Xiao Yunjing remained silent, letting her listen.

After Dashuang finished, Gu Qingli said angrily, “So it really was that Gu Dahe! He’s courting death!”

“Indeed. Li’er, how do you plan to deal with him?” Xiao Yunjing asked softly.

“He must be made to wish he were dead. However, I’ve already asked Master Xu to help report this to the officials. Since we’ve met here, let’s wait for daybreak and get this matter settled as soon as possible.”

I initially wanted to just give Gu Dahe a packet of poison to deal with him directly. But on second thought, doesn’t their family have three scholars? Then I’ll ruin their futures first.

Don’t they always feel superior just because they know a few characters? I’ll make it so they can never study again, let them taste what it’s like to fall from the clouds into the mud!

“Alright, then I’ll carry you to the carriage; it’s too cold out here.”

Li’er’s hands and feet are ice-cold, her little face too. She’s sure to fall ill tomorrow.

“Then let me down first. I want to go see Dashuang and Xiaoshuang.”

“Why see them? They’re big boys now.” Xiao Yunjing didn’t loosen his hold, carrying her towards the carriage.

“Sister, are you alright?” the twins asked Gu Qingli quickly as they saw them approach.

“I’m fine,” Gu Qingli nodded at the twins. Seeing them safe and sound, she breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Heaven was watching over them, letting the twins meet Xiao Yunjing. Otherwise, if those two men had taken them into some gang, who knows what the consequences would have been.

“Yunjing, put me down,” she said to Xiao Yunjing again.

“Alright.” Xiao Yunjing reluctantly set her down but took off his own cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

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