Nian Jiaojiao was puzzled outside, while Wushuang inside chatted with Tian Caiguang.
Wushuang knew the other party had activated her abilities, and those outside couldn't hear the commotion inside, but she deliberately stalled for time, asking,
"Are you that notorious cat burglar in the city recently?"
Tian Caiguang was very pleased with Wushuang's choice of words.
Normally, others would describe her as "rampant," but this beautiful young gentleman called her "famous."
Thus, she also felt like chatting.
"That's right, I am," Tian Caiguang replied.
Wushuang said,
"Since you're a cat burglar, why did you wake me? Aren't you afraid I'll scream?"
Tian Caiguang smiled lewdly,
"Scream, go on, scream! The louder you scream, the more excited I get!"
...
As the two were chatting, Nian Jiaojiao outside couldn't wait any longer.
She walked directly to the main door, knocked, and in a feigned high-pitched voice said,
"Brother~ Brother~ Are you asleep? Can I sleep with you tonight?"
The two chatting in the room fell silent.
Although the outside couldn't be heard from inside the room, from inside the room, the sounds outside the door could be heard clearly.
Tian Caiguang gave a wicked smile,
"Hahaha! I originally planned to enjoy you first, and then go find your younger brother, but I didn't expect your brother to deliver himself... Hmm, let me think, having brothers together seems even more thrilling, ahahaha!"
After hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, Wushuang understood her intention.
She feigned urgency and stiffly shouted,
"Brother! Brother! Hurry and leave! There's a bad person in the room!"
Wushuang's words made Tian Caiguang even more confident.
She walked towards the door as she said,
"Hahaha, scream, scream your lungs out, your brother won't hear you. However, when I let him in, you two brothers can have a good catch-up!"
As Tian Caiguang finished speaking, she happened to open the door.
When she saw Nian Jiaojiao standing at the door, she was stunned for a moment, then took two steps back and said warily,
"You, you're not his brother, who are you?"
Nian Jiaojiao grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth,
"What do you think?"
Tian Caiguang's hair stood on end. She quickly tried to break through Nian Jiaojiao's side and run outside.
But Nian Jiaojiao was prepared, picking up a "prop" that Tian Caiguang found somewhat familiar, and said,
"Bronze Wall Iron Barrier."
Tian Caiguang's forehead slammed directly into the wall, causing her eyes to water with pain.
However, with years of "escape" experience, Tian Caiguang knew she couldn't hesitate now.
She immediately changed her strategy and ran back into the room. Glancing regretfully at the handsome man on the bed, she pulled out a slip of paper and said,
"Flying to the heavens, escaping to the earth."
Meanwhile, Wushuang had already taken out her zither from under the covers and placed it on her knees.
Zheng—
Zheng—
Several threads shot out towards Tian Caiguang, binding her.
Tian Caiguang was restrained, struggling desperately to break free, but these threads were sturdier than iron chains and she couldn't break them at all.
Nian Jiaojiao entered and saw Tian Caiguang already "rolling" on the ground.
Then, she gave Wushuang a thumbs up,
"Impressive!"
Then, she thought, if her future husband cultivated the path of the zither, would he have this skill?
Just as she was about to ask, Qiu Hezi and her junior sister, having heard the commotion from the open door, rushed over.
When they saw the captured cat burglar, they also felt a great sense of relief.
Qiu Hezi used her abilities to add several more restraints to Tian Caiguang, preventing her from using her powers, before handing her over to the Shazhou authorities.
The next day, the cat burglar's sentence was handed down: execution at noon that very day.
However, Nian Jiaojiao and the other three couldn't wait to witness the execution.
This incident had delayed them by two days longer than they had anticipated.
The time to travel to the royal city had become somewhat urgent.
Nian Jiaojiao and the other three got into the carriage. Zuoqiu Ming held Qiu Hezi's hand, reluctant to part.
"Hezi, after you finish your business and pass through Shazhou, you must come find me again. I haven't even had a chance to host a banquet to thank you."
Qiu Hezi replied helplessly,
"You're too kind."
As for Nian Jiaojiao and her junior sister.
Nian Jiaojiao looked at Wushuang and said,
"Miss Wushuang, it was a pleasure cooperating with you this time."
Wushuang's icy expression softened slightly. She nodded to Nian Jiaojiao,
"Miss Qiu, take care."
The junior sister looked at Wushuang and asked,
"Miss Wushuang, why don't you come to the royal city with us? I heard the royal city has a lot of fun and delicious things, much better than Shazhou."
Wushuang shook her head,
"I still have matters to attend to in Shazhou."
Hearing this, the junior sister and Nian Jiaojiao were somewhat disappointed.
Although they had only known each other for a few days, both sides recognized each other as friends.
But Wushuang continued,
"When I finish my business, I was planning to go to the royal city anyway. If you haven't left by then..."
The junior sister quickly replied,
"Okay, we'll be at the Qiu family's residence."
Nian Jiaojiao also nodded,
"Let's make plans then."
...
Nian Jiaojiao and the other three set off again.
As soon as the carriage reached a sparsely populated area, it picked up speed.
Outside was still a desert, and the junior sister had already retreated into the carriage.
The junior sister exclaimed excitedly,
"I used to always be on the mountains, I never imagined it would be so exciting down here."
Qiu Hezi frowned, disagreeing,
"Exciting? That's because we possess strength that most people don't. Those over twenty men and their families felt like the world was devouring them."
Qiu Hezi's words caused a sudden silence within the carriage.
Nian Jiaojiao thought of the innocent men who had been harmed and sighed deeply.
At the same time, her resolve to cultivate became even stronger.
The weak were simply preyed upon.
However... Nian Jiaojiao shifted her attention back to the junior sister.
The junior sister looked somewhat dejected. She spoke in a low voice,
"Junior Sister."
The junior sister looked up, looking at her questioningly.
"Do you really like this outfit? The matter has been resolved, you don't need to disguise yourself as a man anymore."
Qiu Shu also asked curiously,
"You said you didn't want to at first, but you seem to be enjoying it now?"
The junior sister's face flushed. She said stubbornly,
"I'm just used to playing the part, haven't forgotten. I'll change it when we get to the royal city."
Once they reached the royal city, it would be a different story...
Nian Jiaojiao saw through it but didn't expose her.
...
A few more days passed.
Along the way, it wasn't entirely smooth sailing.
For instance, in Shazhou, they encountered the legendary "great beasts," and several of them at that.
After leaving Shazhou, they ran into several groups of bandits.
But these individuals were quickly dealt with by Qiu Hezi and Qiu Shu.
These minor disturbances barely caused any delay to their journey.
Another day later, Nian Jiaojiao and the other three finally reached the royal city's territory.