The voices of the women reached the woman in the brown skirt, but she had long grown accustomed to their suspicions and discussions. What made her happiest now was the prospect of leaving this place. Following behind Ouyang Ye, she felt a sense of contentment.
Ouyang Ye, too, heard the women's voices. Their chatter about the woman in the brown skirt sparked his curiosity about her identity. He slowed his pace, turned his head slightly to look at her, and asked, "Why did you come here?"
Upon hearing this, the woman in the brown skirt also slowed her steps, just like Ouyang Ye. She replied, "It's a long story."
"A long story? Does that mean you're not planning to tell me?" Ouyang Ye inquired, stopping and turning to face her.
The woman in the brown skirt halted as well, tilting her head up to look at the slightly displeased Ouyang Ye. "No, it's just that the matter is rather complicated. I fear," she hesitated for a few seconds, then continued, "I fear you might find it bothersome to hear."
"Is that so?" Ouyang Ye mused, using her previous attire as a basis for his guess. "If I'm not mistaken, you're a lady from a respectable family."
"How did you know?" the woman in the brown skirt asked, surprised.
Ouyang Ye pressed on. "Let's not discuss that for now. Perhaps you had someone you fancied, and you planned to elope with him. Unexpectedly," he became serious, "that person betrayed you. As you traveled, you ended up in this place, but you got lost. And those women are all wary of you, while the men are after your beauty. Because of all this, you've had no choice but to waste your time in the wilderness. Is that it?"
Listening to Ouyang Ye's words, the woman in the brown skirt couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Seeing this, Ouyang Ye looked perplexed. "What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"
"What has happened to me is far more complicated than you imagine. Also, I don't have anyone I fancy, nor was there any talk of elopement. However," the woman in the brown skirt's gaze flickered slightly, and she continued, "I did indeed get lost."
"Is that so?" Ouyang Ye remarked, considering the harsh environment of the jungle and then looking at the woman in the brown skirt, who seemed completely unaffected by it. "No, you're lying to me."
"I am not, I..."
"If you were a lady from a respectable family, you wouldn't have encountered such things in your childhood," Ouyang Ye interrupted, his suspicion growing. "Based on this alone, you wouldn't be able to survive here. Yet, here you are, thriving. Tell me, what is your true identity?"
"My father is a general in another city. I've followed my father on hunts since I was young, so I do have some knowledge of wilderness survival."
"You're the daughter of a general from another city, so why did you go to Jin Cheng?"
"I..." the woman in the brown skirt thought for a moment, then continued, "My father asked me to go to Jin Cheng to find someone, but the condition was that I had to travel there on foot. I never expected to get lost. And that's how I ended up staying here for a whole month." She choked up as she finished speaking.
After hearing her words, Ouyang Ye believed her. "Who are you looking for?"
"A general surnamed Shen," the woman in the brown skirt replied vaguely.
"Shen..." Ouyang Ye uttered the syllable, then thought for a moment and realized, "Could it be that the person you're looking for is named Shen Moyun? The general in Jin Cheng?"
"Yes," the woman in the brown skirt responded excitedly.
This piqued Ouyang Ye's curiosity. "What do you need him for?"
"There's a marriage arrangement that requires his mediation," the woman in the brown skirt said plainly.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye saw a glimmer of hope and readily agreed, "I understand. Once I find the person I'm looking for, I'll have someone escort you to Shen Moyun."
"Why won't you take me yourself?" the woman in the brown skirt questioned.
Ouyang Ye sighed lightly. "To be frank, I have my own matters to attend to. Once they are concluded and we enter the city, I will have someone help you. Rest assured." Fearing that she might investigate his identity too closely, he turned and walked ahead.
However, the woman in the brown skirt's sole purpose was to enter the city, so she didn't mind who escorted her. Consequently, she didn't take offense at Ouyang Ye's evasive reply. Instead, she glanced down at her new cloth shoes and clothes, sighed, and then quickened her pace to follow him.
Before long, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Ouyang Ye looked at the path leading up the mountain not far away, then surveyed the surroundings. He paused, turned to the woman in the brown skirt, and said, "Wait for me here. I'll go alone." He intended to use his sorcery to search for them, and if the woman in the brown skirt accompanied him, he wouldn't be able to do so. Therefore, he had to send her away first.
Unexpectedly, the woman in the brown skirt put on a determined expression. "I can go with you." Fearing that Ouyang Ye might deceive her, she became resolute.
Ouyang Ye, seeing her unwavering expression, was taken aback. "No, it will be very tiring for you to follow me. You..."
"I'm more familiar with the mountain paths than you are. Moreover, I can help you find those people quickly because," the woman in the brown skirt smiled, pointing to her ear, "my hearing is very good."
Ouyang Ye calmly observed her confident demeanor. Then, he thought of his own proud sorcery, reasoning that no matter how good her hearing was, it couldn't surpass his magic.
With that thought, he fixed his gaze on her face and said resolutely, "It's not safe there. If you follow me, I won't be able to protect you. So," his gaze was firm, "it's best if you stay here."
"My father taught me many hunting methods, and I know how to deal with prey. You can rest assured," the woman in the brown skirt insisted, unwilling to stay behind alone. "I definitely won't hold you back." Her eyes sparkled.
Ouyang Ye was speechless.
Seeing his speechless expression, the woman in the brown skirt's eyes dimmed, and she became dejected. "Do you dislike me? Or perhaps," she began to speculate about his thoughts, "you intend to abandon me now? Am I bothering you?" After saying this, her mouth turned down.
However, Ouyang Ye detested seeing women cry. Seeing her current expression, he hesitated, then conceded, "Alright, you can come with me." He then turned and walked ahead.
The woman in the brown skirt's eyes lit up. "Okay, thank you." With that, she followed him.
At the same time, Ouyang Ye casually asked, "What's your name?"
"Why do you ask my name?" The woman in the brown skirt was hesitant to introduce herself, her expression becoming cautious.
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye tilted his head slightly and said, "If you want those men to recognize you, then don't tell me your name." He disliked being questioned and his tone became curt.
The woman in the brown skirt detected Ouyang Ye's impatience. Moreover, she genuinely did not want those men to recognize her. Thus, she introduced herself, "My name is Ah Zong, surname Lin."
"Lin Zong," Ouyang Ye repeated, saying nothing more.
Seeing that Ouyang Ye said nothing, Lin Zong breathed a sigh of relief and continued forward.