Chapter 31: Ancestral Forefathers

Chapter 31: Ancestral Roots

It seemed that this person was not going to be shaken off easily.

Yan Sanhe's thoughts churned, and with a forceful flick of his arm, he hurriedly walked towards the carriage, lifting the curtain and seating himself inside.

Third Master Xie stared at the swaying curtain for a while.

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

Just as Zhu Qing and the others were about to move, a deep voice echoed from afar.

"Xie Fifty, you damn well stop right there."

A man on horseback galloped swiftly towards them.

Third Master Xie caught sight of the approaching figure and muttered to himself, How did this ancestor come along?

Our ancestor's surname is Pei, named Xiao, with the courtesy name Mingting. He is the legitimate eldest son of Doctor Pei and the proprietor of the Hundred Medicines Hall.

He has been best friends with Third Master Xie since childhood, the kind of friendship where they could share the same pair of trousers.

Pei Xiao dismounted his horse, storming up to Xie Zhifei.

"Spill it, which little harlot are you running away with?"

Third Master Xie frowned. "Where did you hear this?"

"What's wrong?"

Pei Xiao looked at him provocatively. "So it's actually true?"

Not wanting to divulge too much, Xie Zhifei cleared his throat.

"It's not what you think. I was sent out of the city on an errand by my elder brother."

Pei Xiao's expression turned serious.

"So it turns out this little vixen isn't yours but your elder brother's? You're taking the blame for him?"

"Pei—Ming—Ting!"

Lost in the thrill of "Eldest Master Xie's scandalous affair," Pei Mingting completely overlooked the barely contained fury in Third Master Xie's eyes.

"Younger Brother Xie's taste can't be too terrible."

Glancing at the Xie family's carriage, he said, "I'll just take a quick peek!"

Xie Zhifei felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly reached out to stop him, only to find the man as slippery as an eel, harder to grasp than a loach.

"Peng! Stop right there!"

The man named Pei clomped forward in his black boots, rushing to the carriage, and abruptly flung open the window.

Before he could even discern whether the occupant was square or round, a foot suddenly swung out and kicked him square in the chest.

"Ahh!"

A mocking laugh echoed from within the carriage, followed by a single, sharp command:

"Scram!"

Pei Xiao landed on his bottom with a thud and was further insulted with the word "scram." He turned to look at Xie Zhifei in disbelief as the latter approached.

Before Pei Xiao's rage could fully ignite, Xie Zhifei covered his mouth, his eyes pleading.

"Ancestor, please, show some mercy. You know who I'm afraid of the most."

Pei Xiao's ancestor glared at him with his fiery, wide-eyed gaze. Is he really your elder brother?

Xie Zhifei pretended not to notice the hidden meaning in those eyes and instead shot a glance at Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing raised her hand, and the carriage picked up speed, racing forward.

Only then did Xie Zhifei reach down to pull Pei Xiao to his feet, brushing off the dust from his clothes.

"I'll try to come back as soon as possible."

Pei Xiao took a long time to catch his breath before he waved his hand at Xie Zhifei forcefully. "Why has your brother suddenly developed such a crude taste?"

Xie Zhifei could only force a blink. "What else can I do?"

Pei Xiao: "Forget it, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt as a damn bastard."

Xie Zhifei: "Can't you just speak properly for once?"

Pei Xiao rolled his eyes and turned to leave.

Suddenly, his collar was tugged from behind.

"What are you doing?"

Xie Zhifei whispered sternly, "Inform the Ji family. Try to open Madam's coffin and see if there's any crack. If there is, find someone skilled in exorcism."

Pei Xiao stared at him, dumbfounded.

"I'm not joking around. Do it now," Xie Zhifei urged.

Xie Zhifei released his grip and, with a graceful leap, mounted the horse. He urged it forward with his legs, chasing after the carriage ahead.

Behind him, Pei Xiao's furious cries echoed:

"What else could it be but a joke?"

"You bloody bastard, you actually wanted to open someone's coffin?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"And you want me to hurry...hurry up and get beaten by the Ji family!"

"Xie Fifty, you're nothing but an immoral scoundrel..."

...

After racing for five hundred miles, both man and horse needed a moment to catch their breath.

As evening approached, they finally reached an official inn. Xie Zhifei presented his identity token and requested a table of wine and dishes to be prepared.

Zhu Qing and Ding Yi went to the back to tend to the horses.

Yan Sanhe, however, didn't enter the inn but walked out instead.

Though the Xie family's carriage was spacious, spending an entire day cramped inside had taken a toll on her legs. She needed to stretch them.

Just as Xie Zhifei was about to remind her not to wander too far, a sudden gust of wind blew, stirring up a cloud of dust and sand.

The young maiden walked through the sandy storm, and under the night's cloak, her figure appeared indescribably delicate and fragile.

Xie Zhifei gazed at her retreating figure for a while before turning to check on the horses.

"Zhu Qing, don't you find that girl rather peculiar?"

"In what way?"

"She dresses strangely. If a big guy like me were to dress like that, I'd freeze to death."

"..."

"Did you notice? She barely speaks at all."

"..."

"And her attire is so plain, yet she has several banknotes on her. One might suspect they were stolen... Ah... I wonder if His Lordship is aware of this."

"..."

"Why aren't you responding?"

"It's because His Lordship is standing right behind us."

Ding Yi was startled. "His Lordship?"

His Lordship flashed him a grin and strolled away with his hands clasped behind his back.

Ding Yi: "..."

I'm done for – I won't even keep my monthly stipend next month!

Xie Zhifei walked with a distracted air, unable to shake off the faint sense of familiarity he felt towards Yan Sanhe.

He couldn't help but think that he had encountered this person somewhere before.

...

Yan Sanhe, worn out from walking, squatted on the ground, holding a stick in his hand as he calculated the time it would take to reach Yunnan Prefecture by tracing marks on the earth.

The Xie family's horses and carriage were of the finest quality, allowing them to travel at an incredibly swift pace. At this rate, they would arrive within a month at most.

"Time for a meal," came the voice of the wayward noble.

Yan Sanhe stood up, brushing the dirt off his feet nonchalantly. "I have provisions."

"Are you afraid I'll poison you?" Xie Zhifei scoffed.

"You're not the sort to be afraid of even closing a coffin lid, are you, Miss?"

Yan Sanhe was too indifferent to listen to his nonsense. She tossed aside the branch she was holding and walked past him with poise.

Upon entering the inn, she found a corner to sit in and took out some dry food from her bundle.

Third Master Xie, who had followed her in, frowned. Picking up the mushroom soup from the table, he placed it in front of Yan Sanhe's.

"Your bread will taste better with hot soup; it'll be gentler on your stomach."

"Take it away!"

Third Master Xie lifted the soup and sipped it. "Are you reassured now?"

Yan Sanhe: "…"

"Your dry food looks quite appetizing. Let me have a taste."

Without waiting for Yan Sanhe's consent, he promptly broke off a piece from her hand and popped it into his mouth.

"Certainly not bad."

Yan Sanhe: "..."

She was tempted to pour the soup on his face.

"Sir, it's time to eat. The dishes will get cold."

"Coming!"

Xie Zhifei returned to his own table and, taking the chopsticks and bowl offered by Zhu Qing, began to eat.

After a day's journey without any sustenance, he was genuinely famished.

In the blink of an eye, he finished three bowls of rice. Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, he got up and moved to another table to have some tea.

Only then did Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, and the others dare to sit down and start their meal.

Rinsing his mouth with tea, Xie Zhifei declared, "A two-hour rest should suffice. Once the time comes, we must set off immediately."

"Yes."

Xie Zhifei inquired, "Miss Yan, what are your thoughts?"

Yan Sanhe nodded indifferently.

Surprised by her compliance, Xie Zhifei placed the teacup on the table and openly scrutinized her.

Noticing his gaze, Yan Sanhe subtly turned her back without revealing any reaction.

Truly, he was the most despised man she had encountered in her seventeen years of life.