The mountain paths were treacherous, with constant ups and downs. For an ordinary person, it would have been difficult to navigate alone, let alone with another person.
However, Lin Xiao Tian was not only not tired, but he was enjoying himself.
"Sister Yu Xiang, hold on tight, we're going downhill!"
Qin Yu Xiang let out a soft "Mm" and then nestled a little closer to Lin Xiao Tian.
But Lin Xiao Tian was not content with just that.
As soon as his words fell, he sprang forward like a rabbit unleashed, hurtling down the slope.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Qin Yu Xiang screamed.
Her small hands clutched Lin Xiao Tian even tighter.
Once at the bottom of the slope, Lin Xiao Tian executed a graceful, abrupt stop.
The entire maneuver was fluid, like flowing water. Even after Lin Xiao Tian came to a halt, Qin Yu Xiang was still in a state of shock.
"Lin Xiao Tian!"
"What are you doing?"
Once Qin Yu Xiang regained her composure, she pinched Lin Xiao Tian without hesitation.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"You know it hurts? Are you trying to die?"
"There are no cliffs or precipices here, just flat ground all around. When I used to pull the cart, I came down like this every time. Sister Yu Xiang, you're lighter than the cart. I'm confident nothing will go wrong!"
Lin Xiao Tian declared with full confidence.
He had actually held back quite a bit. If he had wanted to, he could have even leaped down the slope. After all, the Shen Nong Yi Dian contained many movement techniques. While they might not allow him to fly through the skies or burrow through the earth, they were certainly sufficient for scaling walls and traversing rooftops.
"Still so full of confidence! What if something happens? You little rascal!" Qin Yu Xiang playfully smacked Lin Xiao Tian on the back.
"Ouch! Sister Yu Xiang, I was wrong."
Lin Xiao Tian could only beg for mercy.
As they continued walking, an uphill slope appeared before them.
Lin Xiao Tian adjusted his grip on Qin Yu Xiang, lifting her slightly higher on his back.
"Hold on tight, Sister Yu Xiang!"
"You little rascal, if you dare to run that fast uphill again, I won't let you off the hook."
"Don't worry, Sister Yu Xiang, I know what I'm doing."
Despite Lin Xiao Tian's assurances, Qin Yu Xiang remained somewhat worried.
After all, she was still a bit shaken from the downhill descent.
As Lin Xiao Tian ascended the slope, Qin Yu Xiang instinctively tightened her embrace around him.
Her ample bosom pressed firmly against Lin Xiao Tian's back.
Qin Yu Xiang was blessed with a magnificent figure. Even through their clothes, Lin Xiao Tian could feel the exquisite sensation.
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but wonder how much more voluptuous she would become if she were to become pregnant in the future.
With that thought, Lin Xiao Tian unconsciously held Qin Yu Xiang even tighter.
"You little rascal, daring to take advantage of me."
"I didn't, I was just afraid you'd fall."
"Oh dear, Sister Yu Xiang, it's downhill again."
"Ah! Go slower!" Qin Yu Xiang instinctively closed her eyes.
Lin Xiao Tian felt utterly content throughout the journey.
As they neared the end of the mountain path, it was already close to noon.
Even though Lin Xiao Tian had been running and jogging along the way, he had actually moved more steadily than when he was pulling the cart.
Even when pulling the cart, Lin Xiao Tian had only taken a little over an hour.
This time, carrying Qin Yu Xiang on his back, Lin Xiao Tian had taken a full three hours.
"Huh? Isn't that Xiao Tian?"
A villager working on road construction at the intersection recognized Lin Xiao Tian immediately.
"Uncle Gong!" Lin Xiao Tian greeted him respectfully.
"Hey? Yu Xiang? You're here too!" Uncle Gong quickly spotted Qin Yu Xiang on Lin Xiao Tian's back.
"Uncle Gong..." Qin Yu Xiang called out, a little embarrassed.
"What's going on here?"
"Sister Yu Xiang is injured, I'm carrying her." Lin Xiao Tian, wanting to avoid any gossip from the villagers, quickly offered a plausible excuse.
"Oh dear! Is it a serious injury? We have medicine at the construction site, would you like some?" Uncle Gong asked with concern.
"No need, Uncle Gong, you keep it for yourselves!"
"Uncle Gong, I have an urgent matter to attend to, so we'll be going now."
"Oh, oh, go ahead then!" Uncle Gong replied with a chuckle.
Lin Xiao Tian and Qin Yu Xiang bid farewell to Uncle Gong and then headed towards the bus station.
Although Lin Xiao Tian was walking quickly, the pair was too conspicuous to avoid being noticed.
"Hey! Walking so fast, where are you two lovebirds off to?"
"Tsk tsk! Running so fast, in my opinion, they must be going to the city to get a hotel room."
"Auntie Jia, don't talk nonsense. Why would they leave their comfortable home to go to the city for a hotel room? What's the point?"
The villagers chatted amongst themselves, teasing the couple.
Qin Yu Xiang buried her face in Lin Xiao Tian's neck, her ears turning as red as her cheeks.
Lin Xiao Tian, on the other hand, showed no signs of embarrassment.
"Auntie Jia, how do you know they can get hotel rooms in the city? Have you been before?" Lin Xiao Tian retorted with a teasing remark.
"You little brat, you dare to tease your aunt? Should Auntie tell you where to get a good deal on a hotel room?" Auntie Jia retorted playfully.
Lin Xiao Tian realized he was no match for these villagers when it came to witty banter. He quickened his pace.
Watching Lin Xiao Tian run away swiftly, the villagers behind them burst into laughter.
"Look at little Tian, running so fast. He must have a strong body. I wonder if Yu Xiang can handle him." Auntie Jia began analyzing from behind.
"What? Auntie Jia, you're worrying about that? Be honest, did you start thinking about men when you saw Xiao Tian?"
"That's right! What about it? Do you want to try?"
"Oh, forget it! I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to handle it..."
The villagers' voices were loud. Even though Lin Xiao Tian had walked quite a distance, he could still hear their joking remarks.
Qin Yu Xiang, on his back, felt her cheeks burning with heat.
After walking for a while longer, Qin Yu Xiang finally composed herself.
Her attention then turned to the highway.
"This road is built so beautifully. It's so much better than the marble road in the center of our village."
Qin Yu Xiang didn't have anything else to compare it to, so she used the muddy village path as her reference.
In her memory, the best road in the village was the marble path in the center.
"Of course! And this kind of cement road is very sturdy. Even during heavy rain, there won't be mud and water everywhere."
"Xiao Tian, how much did this road cost?" Qin Yu Xiang asked.
"So far, it's cost five to six hundred thousand, and it will likely cost more in the future."
"Five to six hundred thousand! That much?"
"Yes! Our village is located on a mountain road, and the terrain is not good, so the cost is bound to be high."
Qin Yu Xiang let out a soft "Oh," and at the same time, she held Lin Xiao Tian even tighter.
As they exited the mountain path, Liang Xu was already waiting for them at the entrance of the bus station.
Lin Xiao Tian gently set Qin Yu Xiang down and then opened the car door for her.
"Sister Yu Xiang, please get in!"
Qin Yu Xiang looked at the sports car before her. Although she didn't know much about cars, she was still awestruck by its appearance.