The group rested by the roadside for a long time before people from other sects gradually caught up.
Just as those people prepared to stop and rest, Su Muqing and the others were already getting ready to move on. Another half hour’s drive and they estimated they would reach the seaside.
Seeing them about to leave, Chu Ruo Qiao went to Tian Ji Lao Ren again, this time lowering her stance significantly and speaking with a hint of timidity. "Grandpa Tian Ji, I also want to try the vehicle you rode in, can I?"
"Well..." Tian Ji Lao Ren heard Chu Ruo Qiao's pleading tone and looked at her with some hesitation. But thinking of the unpleasantness from two days ago, he turned to look at Su Muqing.
Huo Qi Xiao also stepped forward, wearing a smile and, uncharacteristically, praising them. "I never imagined that Miss Su's subordinates would be so ingenious. This war chariot looks sturdy and durable, yet convenient and fast. If Miss Su is willing, I would like to cooperate with you to mass-produce such vehicles. This would be a great benefit to the country and its people! The current Emperor would surely be delighted, and rewards such as promotions, official titles, and vast amounts of gold would undoubtedly follow."
After saying this, Huo Qi Xiao looked at Su Muqing and her group with a smug smile, as if certain she would be swayed by his offer and come to curry favor with him.
Hearing his barely concealed smugness and his condescending expression, Su Muqing found him utterly ridiculous.
"Big Brother Leng and a group of men are in the back of the vehicle, and they are also guards. If word gets out, it might not be good for the two of you. Young Master Huo and Miss Chu should ride in someone else's vehicle!" Su Muqing didn't want to waste more words on them. After clearly refusing them, she walked forward without looking back.
Huo Qi Xiao, sensing Su Muqing's tone, clearly still bothered by the events of two days prior, quickly closed his fan and stepped forward to apologize. "I was rude two days ago, speaking recklessly. Elder Tian Ji's admonishment was correct; young people in the martial world should not have so many formalities. I hope Miss Su and all you heroes of the jianghu can forgive me this once."
Seeing the man bowing respectfully before her, Su Muqing raised an eyebrow. This person's mood could change so quickly! He was truly adaptable.
Since they were so eager to ride in the vehicle, they might as well. Su Muqing was not worried that they could replicate the vehicle after just one ride.
She whispered a few instructions into Su Cui Ping's ear and then proceeded to start the vehicle.
Seeing Su Muqing agree to let them ride, Huo Qi Xiao prepared to tidy his clothes, intending to sit in the front passenger seat next to Su Muqing. He had observed that the secret to starting the vehicle seemed to be located where this young lady was sitting.
However, while Huo Qi Xiao was tidying up, Lu Yu Zhi directly got into the front passenger seat. Then, as Huo Qi Xiao was about to get in, he slammed the front door shut with a "bang."
Huo Qi Xiao was left outside the car. He clenched his fan, finally suppressing the anger within him. He then walked to the back of the vehicle.
After Su Cui Ping and the others got in, they left the middle seats facing backward for Chu Ruo Qiao and the other person. Everyone else sat in the seats facing forward.
Once Huo Qi Xiao and the other person were in the vehicle, they took a good look around. Both the interior decoration and the layout were exceptionally exquisite and pleasing to the eye.
This vehicle was indeed extraordinary.
Chu Ruo Qiao couldn't help but feel a sense of yearning. How glorious would it be to own such a vehicle in the capital?
Once the vehicle started, Huo Qi Xiao was still chattering away, talking about how much money he could make once the vehicle was mass-produced and how much profit they could earn per vehicle if they cooperated.
However, after a short while, the two began to feel something was wrong. They felt a sourness rising in their throats. Chu Ruo Qiao covered her mouth with a handkerchief, continuously swallowing the saliva that welled up.
Huo Qi Xiao also stopped his boastful talk. He even felt that if he opened his mouth, something would come out. Gradually, their faces turned paler and paler.
In contrast, Su Cui Ping and her group were completely fine. They had ridden before and had taken motion sickness medication during the rest. Su Muqing had also given them diluted spiritual spring water to drink.
With these double safeguards, they felt perfectly fine after getting into the vehicle, experiencing none of the initial nausea, chest tightness, or dizziness. Seeing them perfectly fine, eating, drinking, and chatting merrily, Chu Ruo Qiao was convinced that woman must have tampered with the vehicle.
She now felt weak and listless all over, with a stuffy chest and an urge to vomit. Had they been poisoned?
Huo Qi Xiao beside her was not faring any better. Having been talking non-stop since getting into the car, he was now at his limit, forced to tightly press his lips together.
For the rest of the journey, the two sat uncomfortably. When they heard Tian Ji Lao Ren say they were going to stop ahead, the urge to vomit intensified.
Suddenly! Su Muqing slammed on the brakes.
This made Huo Qi Xiao and the other person feel even worse. Su Cui Ping, afraid they would dirty the vehicle, quickly reached out and opened the door on Chu Ruo Qiao's side.
Chu Ruo Qiao lunged out of the car with a speed uncharacteristic of a noble lady. Huo Qi Xiao also wanted to get out quickly, but unable to hold back any longer, with a "噗~" sound, he vomited his bile, spraying it all over Chu Ruo Qiao in front of him.
Due to the height difference, the vomit from Huo Qi Xiao flowed down from Chu Ruo Qiao's head. It covered her head, neck, back, and face!
"Ah~!" Chu Ruo Qiao, sprayed with the filth, screamed out. As a result, some of the unidentifiable substance flowed into her mouth.
"Gag~" She quickly used her hands and sleeves to wipe, trying to remove the filth from her face, but it only smeared more, covering her entire face.
"Ugh~" Su Cui Ping and the others, seeing the scene, couldn't help but retch. It was truly disgusting!
Tian Ji Lao Ren, seeing the disheveled Chu Ruo Qiao, led her to a small puddle to clean herself up.
Chu Ruo Qiao hastily tidied herself using the small puddle and then sat hugging her knees, waiting for her maid to arrive with clean clothes.
Huo Qi Xiao, knowing he had done wrong, tried to apologize. However, Chu Ruo Qiao completely ignored him.
Seeing Chu Ruo Qiao with a gloomy expression, Huo Qi Xiao only dared to take off his outer garment and drape it over her. He then stood beside her, shielding her so that the people arriving later would not see her state of disarray.
Finally, after waiting for an hour, people from other sects began to catch up.
The maid, upon seeing her mistress covered in filth, couldn't help but feel afraid. Would her mistress take her anger out on her again? The maid touched the wound on her arm, hesitating to approach.
Chu Ruo Qiao looked up, her eyes fixed fiercely on the maid. The maid shivered all over, quickly stepping forward to help her into the Blood Robe Sect's war chariot. She then busied herself ordering people to fetch water for her mistress to wash and change.