Chapter 1431 - 775: Elder Sister (Double-Length) 2

The carriage traveled day and night without stopping. Chen Yi lifted the curtain and looked out, the branches and leaves were still lush, and through the gaps, he could see the sun, a brilliant white golden disk.

Perhaps it was because the sun was high in the sky, the mountain forest was no longer eerie, lacking any ghostly aura.

With nothing to do, Chen Yi once again unfolded the map and searched based on memory for the section of the road he was on. He saw that just a few miles ahead there was a fork; one path went down the mountain which required taking a longer route, while the other followed alongside the mountain, saving several days of travel.

There was no fog on the road, the colors of the forest were clean, and everything along the way was clear. It's better to take the shorter path.

Chen Yi made up his mind in his heart, put away the map, saw Donggong Ruoshu still sleeping, and Yin Weiyin still meditating, so he didn't want to disturb them, then drew out the Sword Box and opened it.

As soon as the box was opened, the Tai Sha Sword inside couldn't help but tremble slightly, as if it were a neglected concubine suddenly seeing the Emperor.

Chen Yi didn't feel much guilt, ever since he defeated the Purity Saintess, the issues in the Southern Border were small matters for Zige Bureau to resolve and naturally wouldn't need the Tai Sha Sword. Since there was no need, there was no use. At most, he used it to tease Qin Yue casually.

When thinking of Qin Yue, Chen Yi's chest began to ache. This might be what's called phantom pain...

The Tai Sha Sword, with its own spirit, wanting to finally fly out upon opening the Sword Box for a spin, was immediately shut back in with a snap as soon as its blade tip lifted.

When opening the box, Chen Yi was merely idle and curious to see, once done, naturally it was closed.

Moreover, at this moment Yin Weiyin slowly opened her eyes and released her meditative hand seals.

"Any benefits?" Chen Yi asked.

"Naturally, there are."

"Better than Dual Cultivation?"

Yin Weiyin's ears warmed slightly but still replied clearly, "Not as good as Dual Cultivation."

She knew Chen Yi was deliberately teasing, if she were to blush, it would fulfill his wish; she was the First Lady, not Yin Tingxue, the lower-ranking Second Lady, hence couldn't indulge him in everything.

The carriage moved along the official road, crushing fallen leaves along the way, creating crackling sounds. Chen Yi listened for a while, enjoying the monotony, but before long, after listening, the carriage also came to a stop.

The paper man driving the horse halted on the road, and the carriage jolted slightly.

A little farther ahead, a blue-clothed scholar carrying a bookcase was resting on the ground, catching his breath. Seeing a carriage coming, he quickly rose and brushed the dust off his knees.

Once he cleared the way, the paper man would continue driving.

The scholar was about to walk to the side but paused, thought for a moment, and then shyly knocked on the carriage shaft, asking, "My surname is Li, parched from the journey, might I beg the gentleman inside for some water?"

Chen Yi wasn't stingy; he could lend a hand without much effort, so he picked up a water bag nearby and handed it out, saying, "Help yourself."

The scholar took it, poured a third into his own shriveled water bag, returned it, and then turned around to drink, clearly very thirsty.

Meeting travelers called for casual chat, and Chen Yi asked, "Lantern Festival just passed, where are you heading?"

"To be honest, sir, I came from Central Pass before the year began, returning from the academy, and now that the new year started, I must hurry back, or I won't make it for the school term."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi calculated: this is Chuannan indeed, a long journey that must mean returning home only once in several years.

After drinking, the scholar was about to say farewell. He pointed ahead to the fork in the road, indicating right, saying, "Take that side, easier travel."

"That side is distant."

The scholar shook his head, offered some auspicious words, "With the new year just on, travel slower so prosperity can catch up with you. Thanks for the tea water, sir. May you have abundance and blessings year after year."

With this, the scholar stepped aside.

The paper man gently shook the reins, and the carriage slowly moved forward.

Yin Weiyin lifted her gaze, drew open the curtain, and looked outside to see the fork in the road from afar. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's go right."

"The left side is shorter, we can save travel time, good to go early and return soon." Chen Yi responded, somewhat puzzled.

However, the paper man obeyed Yin Weiyin's orders, steering the reins, and the carriage eventually turned onto the right path.

Circling the forest brought only a flicker of a candle's time, suddenly hearing a distant "boom," like a Mountain God sneezed.

Chen Yi turned to look back, only to see white dust rise abruptly from the cliff along the left path, rubble fell like rain, even most of the stone steps collapsed, the smoke engulfed the mist, quickly turning the "short path" into a blank void.

The road had collapsed.

Moreover, judging by the situation, the path ahead had long since broken; it was a secondary landslide.

Chen Yi fell silent for a moment, turned his face aside, seeing Yin Weiyin leisurely brushing her horsetail whisk.

He suddenly laughed, as if finding a step to descend, "I thought that was a deceitful servant ghost."

Rumor had it that Sichuan was full of ghosts and gods, with many solitary souls and wild spirits feigning goodwill to get close, Chen Yi had seen quite a few.

Yin Weiyin shook her head, "Your thoughts are too dark, hasn't it occurred to you he died there not long ago, with a benevolent heart, simply leading the way?"

At this time, Miss Donggong was awakened by the earth-shattering sound. She rubbed her eyes, seeing nothing seemed to have happened, she turned over and continued sleeping.

This time she slept in a sprawled position.

The echoes of the landslide gradually faded, the startled flock of birds returned to the forest, and the carriage steered down the mountain, the road gradually widening and leveling.

Yin Weiyin instructed the paper man to halt, got off, and offered three incense sticks.

Previously traveling into the Southern Border through Guiyang, nothing encountered like ghosts and spirits, so Chen Yi hadn't considered it. His household was deeply knowledgeable of such matters, unlike a fledgling Little Fox needing guidance.

But upon reflection, the Taichua Goddess, who often secluded herself in Taihua Mountain, might not know the Jianghu, but she surely understood ghosts and deities.

Thinking further, though their carriage was outwardly modest, it was exceptionally large; perceptive individuals would deduce they were of wealth or high standing. Chen Yi was not afraid of trouble but preferred avoiding complications whenever possible.

He naturally had this self-centered attitude, avoiding tasks whenever possible, doing nothing whenever he could.

His behavior, though not typical of a bumpkin, fell short of understanding the nuances of wealthy households. If he posed as a wealthy gentleman, he risked being easily seen through, possibly inviting trouble, such as being mistaken for bandits or thieves.

Chen Yi took another glance at the female crown slowly boarding the carriage, compared to him, Yin Weiyin exuded an air of elegance and nobility, perceptive individuals in her presence would notice her extraordinary demeanor in her every move. She had an aspect of sophistication and an undeniable presence, like a city on a mountaintop, impossible to hide.

Upon reflection, it occurred to him, it'd be better if Yin Weiyin posed as an affluent layman from a renowned family traveling the world, while he played the role of her aide.

Having considered this, Chen Yi discussed it with Yin Weiyin, who promptly agreed.

"Alright, so as such a renowned family, would you prefer I call you layman or miss along the way?"

Yin Weiyin smiled, "Just call me sister, why be so formal?"

"..."

Chen Yi then thought,

to make the identity more authentic, another layer was needed; daily, they should refer to each other as siblings.