Journey to the End of the Night
Chapter 103 - 103 103 The Girl in the Jade Carriage

103: Chapter 103: The Girl in the Jade Carriage 103: Chapter 103: The Girl in the Jade Carriage Within the Jade Chariot, a young girl who was yawning sat, her hands as delicate as curdled cream brushing aside the beaded curtain.

Her eyes, bright and enigmatic, looked towards the mountains, brimming with mischief.

As the carriage glided smoothly, her lovely large eyes blinked gently, hiding her emotions like the wind captures and loses shadows.

With a smile on her lips, she carelessly opened a hidden compartment in the carriage.

Inside was not a treasure or a lethal weapon but a few pieces of exquisitely wrapped sugar candy and a sheet of red rouge paper.

She had prepared the red paper rouge in advance, and as she lightly pursed her lips, the cold jade-like paleness was tinted with an alluring rosy hue.

Having done all this, she smiled faintly, took a banana from the fruit tray, peeled it, and bit into the tender white flesh.

She lazily propped up her slightly chubby baby face with one hand and hummed a mountain song, seemingly in high spirits.

The girl’s unique voice was extremely pleasant to the ear, like rain droplets falling onto a greenstone, creating a clear sound.

But the melody of her mountain song was so twisted and turned that it seemed completely mismatched with her naturally beautiful voice.

When her singing was at its peak, it suddenly paused; the girl rubbed her eyes and gazed at the white-clad woman outside the dilapidated City God Temple, who was earnestly reading a book while riding a deer.

The girl exclaimed softly, drawing the beaded curtain aside even further, her bright sparkling eyes intently fixed on the elegantly standing white-clad woman.

She laughed softly and said, “Isn’t this Sister Yun Rong?

In such good spirits today, replacing swords with raising deer?

Fancy some roast venison?”

The little deer’s gaze immediately turned mournful.

No matter where it went, someone always seemed to covet its plumpness.

It ate to satiety every day, not to satisfy these people’s desires, but to feed its master, alright?

The breeze stirred the curtains outside the carriage as the white-clad woman put down her book and gently stroked the little deer’s head.

What seemed like a soothing touch was accompanied by her saying, “I’m a bit picky; I prefer lean meat.

This deer is too fat; I’m afraid it might be a bit greasy.”

You can bear this?

Certainly, the little deer couldn’t; it turned back, bared its large white teeth, and fiercely bit the woman’s pristine hand.

With the deer’s current level of cultivation, breaking through a hundred refined steel with one bite wouldn’t be a hard task at all.

But the woman simply smiled and teasingly said, “Little deer, stop it, it tickles.”

The little deer instantly felt defeated and hung its head low.

The girl casually tossed the banana peel, crossed her fingers, and propped up her chin, her eyes curved as she watched the scene unfold: “Hmm~?

It seems Sister Yun Rong is quite fond of this deer.”

Though she called her affectionately, her eyes brimmed with laughter; yet in their depths was a proud and disdainful aloofness.

It was as if she were merely going through the motions of greeting the woman known as the fourth of the Thirteen Swords.

The morning light was crisp and bright, casting a particularly clear reflection on Yun Rong’s unadorned face.

A pair of eyes as deep as water glanced at the girl, the noble crane robe adorning her and catching the morning light entering her sight.

The feathers were woven from those of the immortal cranes from Buzhou Mountain; the robe was spun from the thread of Spiritual Cranes kept within the Clock Flower Immortal Mansion, spotlessly clean.

It was a garment so luxurious that even a princess at the pinnacle of power might not be able to afford it.

Yet Yun Rong remembered that this girl always had an intense passion for brightly colored clothes, only during that incident years ago…

Mid-recollection, Yu Rong intently stared at the old Sword Box hidden behind her and cracked a faint smile, “Miss Fang, with such an extravagant dress, are you on your way to a funeral?”

Beneath her gentle smile was a surgical sharpness in her words.

The girl’s slender brows like crescent moons slightly furrowed, and her bright, large eyes also narrowed gently.

A look that retained the girl’s innocence dissipated in the blink of an eye, replaced by a dangerous gaze akin to a lone wolf in the night.

People revered the Thirteen Swords, but she did not see herself a part of the masses.

Naturally, the white-clad woman wouldn’t be intimidated by the gaze of a junior; she still wore a smile, but her sight moved past the golden Jade Chariot to the distance.

The sound of shoes crunching fine stones approached from afar and paused beside the Jade Chariot.

The girl’s narrowly squinted eyes quickly softened, and turning her head, she spotted a golden-robed youth standing quietly with an umbrella.

The youth was not looking at her, nor did he even let his gaze fall upon the nine unicorns radiating a divine glow.

His brows and eyes were calm as he quietly watched the white-clad girl—more precisely, the little deer beneath her.

The little deer, wildly excited, let out a sharp cry, ready to sprint towards Baili An.

But who would have thought that a slender hand would press down on its little head and in an instant, it couldn’t move a muscle.

Yun Rong chuckled and bent down, patting the little deer’s full belly with her other hand:

“Truly an ungrateful little deer.

I have been treating you well, feeding you good food for over ten days.

Look at this little belly; it’s almost touching the ground.

To turn your back on me now, it truly breaks my heart.”

The little deer’s eyes widened, looking back at her in disbelief.

Her exaggeration knew no bounds; its belly was not about to hit the ground.

Wasn’t it ashamed?

Could you please have some decency before its owner, Madam, and leave it some dignity?

Even as a mere animal, given time, it could still become a graceful young lady, couldn’t it?

It was bad enough that you described it as greasy and rolly-polly, but to say such things in front of its master was just too unbearable.

Baili An couldn’t hold back a muffled laugh: “It seems that the young lady has been getting along with the little deer quite well.”

“Moderately,” Yun Rong replied with modesty and a smile in her eyes.

When her gaze landed on Baili An, as if capturing something, her expression showed surprise, followed by her briskly saying, “I heard from the Miss of the Yin Family a while back that my unworthy junior brother has been under your care.”

Baili An was slightly taken aback: “Junior brother…”

His eyes shifted to the longsword sheathed and sealed behind her, suddenly realizing, “So you are also one of the Thirteen Swords of Tianxi?!”

He did not show surprise though the realization came; he had personally witnessed how formidable this woman’s skills were.

The power in her every movement was far beyond Jin Sheng’s match.

In the presence of this woman, Jin Sheng was likely just a little brother indeed.

“Thirteen Swords of Tianxi, fourth sword, Yun Rong,” she said with an undisguised smile.

Baili An immediately showed his respect: “From Kongcang Mountain, Si Chen.”

“Both of you seem to be enjoying your conversation so much; don’t you think it’s a bit rude to neglect me?” complained the girl inside the chariot, her voice filled with discontent.

From the moment Baili An appeared, her gaze had never left him.

The girl pulled down another banana, seemingly casual but not hiding the defiant look in her eyes.

She waved the banana in front of Baili An, asking, “Want a banana?”

Baili An, gazing at the young lady dressed in a crane robe and waving a banana, appeared to be in a trance and forgot to reply.