Chapter 8

"Young Master, there is a... girl with strange clothing blocking the carriage," said someone at this time, while the young man called Young Master lifted the curtain.

Su Mo looked at him. He was wearing a light green Daoist robe, exuding the air of a scholarly refinement. One could tell at a glance that he was a well-read man.

"Sir, my friend is injured and has difficulty walking. Could you please help us into the city?" Su Mo politely asked.

"Young Master, this girl's clothing clearly shows she is no proper lady. You must not let her ruin your reputation," A Yi spoke up to stop him.

Su Mo: "..."

A person's eyes could not hide their emotions. Su Mo glared fiercely at A Yi, frightening him into a shiver.

"Young Sir is clearly a learned man, so why do you judge others by their appearance?" came Sang Li's voice from behind Su Mo, as she walked over with a limp.

"Even if the Young Sir is unwilling to bring us along, it was improper for your coachman to insult my sister. Our clothing may be different from yours, but as a learned man, you should understand that the world is vast, and every place has its own customs and habits. It may be novel to you, but that does not give you the right to insult a young lady - that only shows your own lack of manners."

"You..." A Yi was rendered speechless by Sang Li's retort.

The young man looked at Sang Li, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"A Yi, apologize to this young lady," said the man.

Reluctantly, A Yi said, "I'm sorry, Miss. I spoke out of turn."

"You think a mere apology will suffice?" Su Mo put her hands on her hips. "If apologies solved everything, what use would there be for... courts of law?!"

"You... What more do you want?" A Yi had never met such an unyielding woman.

"Bring us into the city!" demanded Su Mo.

"Dear Sir, my sister and I would be deeply grateful if you could give us a ride into the city," Sang Li said to the man with a slight smile.

The two played perfectly off each other, one aggressive and one gentle.

"A Yi, let them onto the carriage," said the man as he lowered the curtain and retreated into the carriage.

A Yi pursed his lips. His young lord was really too kindhearted and easily persuaded!

With a huff, A Yi took the reins of the horses and prepared to depart. "Wait! I have another friend!" Su Mo immediately ran off. She went over to support Wu Ying, who was still masked and heavily injured but now holding a sword, and brought him over.

Seeing Wu Ying's mask and injuries and the sword he carried, A Yi's mouth fell open in shock and alarm. "You... Who on earth are you people?!"

"Your master already gave permission, can't you stop talking now?" Su Mo silenced A Yi with a warning glare.

A Yi: "..."

Su Mo helped Sang Li and Wu Ying onto the carriage. The young man inside was also taken aback at the sight of the injured swordsman.

"Young Lord... They are..." A Yi was still somewhat concerned.

"No more questions. Let's be on our way," said the young man.

A Yi scowled before grudgingly taking up the reins to drive the carriage off.

With four people now crammed inside, the carriage grew markedly more crowded.

The two parties sized each other up wordlessly at first, the awkward atmosphere prevalent.

"Ehem... Dear Sir, what might we call you?" Sang Li finally broke the tension.

"My surname is Bai, given name Yun Han," he replied.

Upon hearing the name Bai Yunhan, Wu Ying visibly reacted, shooting the man an icy look belying danger.

"I am Sang Li, this is Su Mo, and he is Wu Ying," Sang Li introduced. "We are much obliged for your offer of transport, Sir Bai."

"It is nothing. Where are you three headed?"

"My friend here is injured. We need to first take him to a medicine hall to find a doctor!" said Su Mo.

Wu Ying remained silent the entire time. Bai Yunhan examined him closely - there was something vaguely familiar about him that he couldn't quite place.

"Pardon my bluntness, but why does Sir Wu don a mask?" Bai Yunhan asked.

"Why does anyone wear a mask? Isn't it obv-"

Sang Li swiftly pinched Su Mo's thigh under her robes to cut off her impending words.

Wu Ying turned his head towards Su Mo, danger glinting in his eyes. "What did you say?"

"I... I meant, only people with ugly looks would wear masks. Beauties like me want everyone to see my face!" Su Mo scrambled to cover her blunder.

"Su Mo," said Wu Ying, his voice low. "Have you... seen my face?"

"I haven't!" Su Mo immediately denied. "What do you take me for?" Wu Ying leaned in close to her, his tone carrying warning. "You had better not be lying... or else..."

Sang Li rubbed her forehead. This was a disaster...

"Or else what?" Su Mo stuck out her chest defiantly. "So what if I saw? Will you offer yourself to me?"

Wu Ying: "..."

What was going on in this girl's mind?

"If you have abs, I can consider letting you offer yourself. From what I can see, your build looks pretty decent!" Su Mo continued her tirade, heedless of consequences.

The other three occupants of the carriage: "..."

"Aha... ha..." Bai Yunhan laughed awkwardly. "Miss Su does have such an amusing wit..."

Sang Li felt that Wu Ying would definitely kill them to keep their mouths shut once he recovered!

After all... Su Mo had already made him lose face multiple times today...

...

Soon, the carriage entered Lan City.

The streets were bustling with vibrant activity. While Sang Li and Su Mo had seen such lively scenes before, their curiosity was piqued anew and they lifted the curtains to crane their necks out excitedly.

Lining both sides of the streets were teahouses, taverns, pawn shops, workshops... In the open spaces to the sides, small peddlers had also set up large parasols.

There was a constant stream of pedestrians on the streets - burden-bearing travelers journeying down the roads, ox carts delivering goods, and people paused mid-step to purchase items that caught their eye.

As the two girls watched the scenery, they caught sight of some faintly familiar figures. Holding up sketches, they were stopping passers-by to compare their faces.

Exchanging a knowing glance, Sang Li and Su Mo immediately dropped the curtains!

Those were Li family guards. No doubt they were searching for the pair!

Su Mo kept mum, knowing that with Sang Li present, she didn't have to be the one spinning lies.

"We... have indeed offended the Li family's young lord..." Sang Li spun her web of deceit with a completely straight face. "This Young Lord Li took a liking to me and my sister. Yesterday, he captured us and took us to the Li residence, but we refused to submit. After beating him up... we crawled through a dog hole in the wall to escape."

"How utterly preposterous!" After hearing Sang Li's words, Bai Yunhan's face turned ice-cold. "I knew Li Wenxuan liked coercing common girls before, but to think he would stoop to abducting them by force now!"

"That's right!" Su Mo also chimed in righteously. "If I see him next time I'll castrate him!"

Bai Yunhan and Wu Ying simultaneously glanced at Su Mo. To hear such words from a young lady really sent chills down their bodies...

Suddenly, the carriage halted.

"What happened?" Bai Yunhan inquired.

"Young Master, they are people from the Li family. Saying they are searching for someone!"