With a few spare coins in hand this time, and out of concern for Ah Li's long journey, I hired a young man to drive the carriage.
Along the way, I couldn't help but lean out and ask the driver, "Young man, when will we reach Wanxue Mountain?"
He cleared his throat and replied, "About one or two days. You don't look like locals; are you from out of town?"
I was surprised everyone could tell we weren't locals. Was it our accent? I truthfully answered, "We are indeed not from here."
"May I ask what brings the two of you to Wanxue Mountain?"
"To find an old friend."
"An old friend? Do I happen to know them?"
"Young man, you probably don't."
Ah Li leaned against the carriage window, lost in thought. He casually asked me, "I wonder how that Liu Shinian is doing. Did you hit him too hard?"
Hearing him say that, I also thought about it carefully. It seemed I hadn't used too much force, so I turned back and teased him with a smile, "Don't worry, I wasn't too rough. He probably won't die."
The driver, upon hearing this, suddenly started, his hands trembling. He joined our conversation, saying, "The Liu Shinian you two are referring to must be that famous devoted lover in Nanhai City."
"Devoted lover? Hahaha, I think he's more like a scoundrel, a playboy through and through. It's a good thing that Miss Xue Ji doesn't like him," I couldn't help but mock.
The driver's face showed a hint of displeasure, and his grip tightened slightly. He patiently asked me, "Why do you see him that way, miss? I've heard people say he's a rare devoted man."
"Men are all like that. Who else would get handsy with someone upon first meeting? He's clearly a big pervert, and a very flirtatious one at that."
Hearing my explanation, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Ah Li felt that the driver's voice sounded familiar, yet it didn't quite match.
Ah Li smiled slightly and said to me nonchalantly, "Mu Ye, don't you think this young man's voice sounds a bit like Liu Shinian's?"
Hearing him say that, I also felt it sounded similar, so I curiously looked at the driver and said, "Hey, you're right, his voice really does sound like Liu Shinian's. Young man, say something else, let me hear if it's really him."
The driver cleared his throat and deliberately spoke in a falsetto, "How could that be? That Great Hero Liu has such a pleasant voice. How could I possibly sound so much like him?"
I frowned, "Don't force your voice. Speak normally."
"Do you really want to hear?" The driver was still hoping to refuse the request.
I nodded affirmatively, "I do."
He thought for a moment before clearing his throat and saying, "Is this okay?"
I was surprised, "It sounds... too similar, it's exactly like Liu Shinian's voice. Not bad."
Ah Li looked at the driver with a hint of suspicion, "Is there a possibility that he is Liu Shinian?"
"No way, he woke up that quickly?"
"Can't we just lift his straw hat?"
"That's true."
As I spoke, I reached out to take off the driver's straw hat. Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed mine.
Confused, I asked him, "What are you doing?"
The driver gave a cold smile and flipped up his straw hat, revealing a face that was both terrifying and astonishing.
I said awkwardly, "Liu, Liu Shinian, I didn't expect it to be you."
Liu Shinian retorted fiercely, "Can't be killed? Look at how much blood is flowing from my red nose. Today, I'll act on behalf of heaven and strangle you!"
As he spoke, he began to choke my neck. I looked at him in terror and questioned, "Are you serious!"
"What else would it be? Keeping you around is a menace, so it's better if I send you off."
"Liu Shinian! You scoundrel, let go of me!"
"I'll strangle you to death!"
Although he claimed to be strangling me, his restless hands were still fumbling around my neck.
Enraged, I roared, "Scoundrel!" and then lifted my leg, kicking him in the groin. He cried out in pain and looked at me incredulously, "Liu Mu Ye, you're serious!"
I snorted coldly and replied, "Weren't you the one who said you were serious?"
"Ouch, ouch, I really misjudged you. I'm going to get serious now."
As he said that, he lunged at me again. I quickly dodged to the side, letting him miss. Knowing I was no match for him, I immediately jumped off the carriage to evade him.
Liu Shinian, clutching his lower body, his face contorted, a smile playing on his lips that made him look even more like a shameless old lecher.
Even in this state, he didn't give up. Limping, he also got off the carriage and chased me around it.
Seeing him approach, I quickly ran away. Liu Shinian, realizing he couldn't catch up, his eyes flickered, and he came up with a wicked idea. He bent over and hid under the carriage.
I looked back and didn't see him. I looked around and he wasn't there either. Just as I was happily thinking that the scoundrel had finally left, he suddenly sprang out, locked me in his arms, and with a wicked grin, lewdly said, "Finally caught you, hehehe. Let's see where you run now."
I was startled by his lewdness and quickly shouted to Ah Li, "Ah Li! Ah Li! Come save me!"
Ah Li had been watching for a while and felt it was time to intervene. He jumped off the carriage and knocked Liu Shinian out with a single blow. Liu Shinian's eyes went blank, and he immediately fell to the ground. Seeing him fall was the perfect opportunity for me to get revenge. So, I raised my foot and kicked him twice in the backside.
Ah Li stopped me and said, "Alright, alright, if you kick him any more, he'll be gone. What should we do now?"
I looked around and thought the scenery here was nice, and Liu Shinian should be fine here, so I said, "Let's just leave him by the roadside."
Ah Li said with concern, "Ah! By the roadside? In this wilderness, what if he's captured by villains?"
Ah Li's concern wasn't unreasonable. I thought for a moment and said, "Then let's tie him up and put him on the carriage first."
Ah Li also thought this method was feasible, so he helped me tie Liu Shinian's hands and feet and throw him onto the carriage. Then, we slowly drove the carriage forward.
Liu Shinian woke up groggily and saw the woman he disliked sitting arrogantly in front of him, while he himself was bound and thrown on the floor.
Even so, he wasn't anxious. Instead, he feigned a relaxed tone and said, "If you want to go to Wanxue Mountain, only I can lead you there. Otherwise, no one will."
Trying to trick me? No way. "You've already told us, we can go ourselves."
"I've only told you the superficial details. To prevent what's happening now, I've omitted a few forks in the road. If you go the wrong way, don't blame me." He looked smug, as if he didn't realize he was tied up.
I was so angry my teeth itched. I cursed him silently, "Good for you, Liu Shinian, you old fox, you pig, you scoundrel, you pervert."
Although I really didn't want to listen, in order to find Zhang Tianshi sooner, I had to appease him for now and said, "Then hurry up and tell us. We'll let you go when we reach Wanxue Mountain."
He looked up and demanded, "Since you want me to lead the way, you have to untie me. How can someone lead the way while tied up?"
I flatly refused, "No! You're not honest, we can't let you go."
Liu Shinian pleaded, "If you tie me up, I can't say anything."
"I've only tied your hands and feet, not your mouth."
He became stubborn and said shamelessly, "Fine, since you want to tie me up, then tie me up. The road to Wanxue Mountain is still long. I have nothing else to do, so I'll keep you company."
"Liu Shinian! You!"
"What about me? Don't you know to call me handsome?"
"Shameless!"
"Shameless or lewd, it's all your fault."
I never expected Liu Shinian to be so terrifying when he acted shamelessly. I truly had no way to deal with him. Angrily, I walked outside and sat next to Ah Li, telling him about the situation inside.
"Liu Shinian lied to us. He didn't tell the truth."
"I heard it all."
"Then what should we do?"
"Since he wants to be untied, let's untie him."
"But he's a scoundrel."
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Hearing Ah Li's encouraging words, I agreed. I got up and went back into the carriage to untie Liu Shinian.
"Now, can you tell us? The way to Wanxue Mountain."
Liu Shinian patted the dust off himself, then sat by the window, crossing his legs. I leaned closer to him and asked, "Hurry up and tell me the way to Wanxue Mountain."
Liu Shinian laughed heartily and beckoned with his finger, "Lean your face closer, and I'll tell you secretly."
Although he was smiling, in my eyes, it was all a malicious, sinister smile. I quickly covered my face and said, "Let me tell you, don't try this trick, I won't fall for it. You'd better tell the truth, or you'll taste my fists again."
Seeing my frightened look, Liu Shinian laughed unreservedly, "Hahaha, you're too timid."
I was very displeased and raised my fist to threaten him, "Are you going to tell me or not? If not, I'll beat you to death."
Unexpectedly, he started acting shamelessly again, "Beat me to death? Won't you feel heartbroken if you beat me to death? If you beat me to death, where will you find such a handsome guy? If you beat me to death, who will dote on you? If you want to cry for me for three days and three nights, then beat me to death."
"I! I! You! You!" I was so cornered by him that I didn't know what to say.
So, I resentfully lowered my fist and went outside to ask Ah Li, "What should we do? He refuses to say."
"It's alright, we can go ourselves."
That's right, then I won't have to beg him.
Liu Shinian also came out and sat behind us. He sighed heavily and said, "It's not that I can't tell you. It's not a big deal anyway. It's just that since I was born, no one has loved or cared for me. My parents died when I was born, and I wandered alone until I met Xue Ji. But Xue Ji lives a secluded life, and I can't express my true feelings to her. My greatest wish in this life is to receive a sweet kiss from a girl. Then, even if I die, I'll have no regrets."
As he spoke, he suddenly became sad, pretending to wipe away tears with his hand.
I knew he was up to his tricks again and said disdainfully, "Your request is a bit too much."
"If you feel it's unfair, then let your friend kiss me too."
Hearing him say that, I couldn't help but laugh out loud and agreed, "This suggestion is acceptable. Ah Li, give him a kiss and fulfill his wish."
Ah Li looked very troubled and quickly shook his head.
Liu Shinian seized the opportunity and said, "Since he's unwilling, you can just kiss me, and I'll take you to Wanxue Mountain."
"I'm a maiden, I won't kiss you." This scoundrel, he's come up with another wicked trick. I crossed my arms and turned away, ignoring him.
Seeing that I disagreed, he deliberately spoke in a sarcastic tone to provoke me, "Oh, this Wanxue Spider doesn't eat people, but that Zhang Tianshi is a restless person. If you go late, you might miss him."
Hearing him say that, I deeply empathized. So, I thought for a moment and pretended to agree, "Alright, seeing how persistent and how much you crave love, I'll reluctantly kiss you. But after I kiss you, you have to take us there."
He nodded repeatedly, his face sincere, "No problem."
"Then close your eyes, and I'll kiss you."
He shook his head and refused, "No, I want to see."
"If you don't close your eyes, how can I kiss you? Isn't it about the sense of mystery?"
"What if you ask this young brother to kiss me? I said, if you feel it's unfair, then both of you can kiss me."
I was speechless. Liu Shinian, this scoundrel, had no bottom line for a kiss.
So, I said to Ah Li, "Ah Li, I'm going to kiss him."
Ah Li, with a blank expression, raised his hand to interrupt us and said, "Wait. Since he wants me to kiss him too, I'll reluctantly kiss him."
Then, he stopped the carriage and turned to pounce on Liu Shinian. I didn't expect him to agree.
Liu Shinian was startled and quickly blocked his face with his hand. Ah Li forcefully pulled his hand away and kissed him on the face.
Reluctantly, I moved closer to him and kissed him from a distance. Liu Shinian was very displeased and said, "No, you didn't kiss me."
I waved my hand, "Ah Li already kissed me for me."
"No, you're cheating."
"Anyway, I've already kissed you. Hurry up and speak."
"Fine, since you're cheating, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Looking at his serious eyes, it seemed like he was about to do something bad. My heart sank, and I wondered, "Is he going to transform? There are no Ultramen here, what should I do?"
As I was thinking, he suddenly sprang up and, before I could react, kissed me fiercely on the cheek. I almost fell off the carriage, but Ah Li managed to pull me back in time.
Instantly, my face turned red, and I was filled with rage as I yelled at him, "Liu Shinian!!! You scoundrel!!!"
Liu Shinian was scared by my formidable aura and immediately leaped onto the roof of the carriage. I pointed at him and cursed, "Liu Shinian! You scoundrel!"
Liu Shinian felt no shame and instead burst into laughter, "I told you to kiss me. Who told you to cheat?"
"Get down here and see if I don't beat you to death!"
"Stop shouting. Are you still going to Wanxue Mountain? Don't you see it's getting dark?"
"Okay, then quickly tell us how to get there."
"Just keep going straight, and you'll see a snow-capped mountain. That's Wanxue Mountain."
"What! It's that simple."
"That simple."
"You lying cheat, you damn liar."
"You'd better be quiet. If you anger me, I'll assault you."
"Shameless!"
"Keep insulting me, and I'll marry you tonight."
"You!!!"
Liu Shinian was truly my nemesis. I was taken advantage of, yet I couldn't get angry. Ah Li also advised me, "Alright, alright, it's fine. I'll wipe your face for you."
As he spoke, he pulled up his sleeve and wiped my face.
Liu Shinian, unrepentant, continued to blow kisses at me from the roof of the carriage.
I felt a chill run down my spine. It was a shame he had such a handsome face.
As the sun gradually set, Ah Li also began to worry, "Let's hurry up and find a place to stay."
I looked at the sky and no longer wanted to pursue Liu Shinian. I just wanted to get rid of him quickly, so I said, "Alright then, let's go."
Ah Li nodded slightly and immediately urged the horse forward. Liu Shinian lay on the roof, legs crossed, looking completely idle.