Repeatedly broken branches

When they met at the dock, Yu Yanjing walked over in plain clothes. His long, dark hair cascaded down his black clothes, and his peach blossom eyes held a shadow that he was born with. On his back was a silver snake dance sword wrapped in black cloth. The silver snake dance sword was rare in the world, and some people could probably recognize a person by his sword, so it was not convenient to show it to others.

Xiao Mu wore a moon-white thin velvet riding outfit with narrow sleeves, which made her waist look even more slender and delicate. On her fair wrist was a white jade bracelet given to her by Yu Yanjing. She only wore her hair in a high ponytail, and her snow-white neck was hidden under her long hair.

Yu Yanjing glanced at her. The girl's lips were red and glistening with moisture. Her eyes were glazed by the sunlight. She shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand and carried a bundle with the other. Her features were exquisite, and she walked towards him with a delicate and graceful figure.

Yu Yanjing felt her heart skip a beat and her breathing become rapid.

"What are you thinking about? Why aren't you going up?" Xiao Mu pointed to a passenger ship docked at the pier and asked, "Is this our ship?"

Yu Yanjing was stunned, staring at her intently, forgetting to answer.

"Hey, what are you thinking about? Isn't this our boat?" Xiao Mu stretched out her hand and waved it in front of him, which brought him back to his senses. He had just been thinking about whether it would sound better to name a girl Yu Luoning or Yu Anning.

“Yes, it’s ours.” Yu Yanjing helped her onto the boat, then jumped on himself and said to the boatman at the bow, “We can go now.”

The boatman immediately prepared everything, took his oars, and started rowing.

Xiao Mu and Yu Yanjing sat at the bow of the boat, the cold wind blowing, it was extremely cold. This time they would not be able to find an inn to rest until they reached Songcheng. Actually, if they had enough food, they could sleep in the cabin instead of resting, but they did not prepare that much food. Besides, Yu Yanjing was used to being pampered, and he probably couldn't stand sleeping in the cabin for seven or eight days.

"I didn't expect you to find a boat in just one night... You're quite efficient!" Xiao Mu ate the dried fruit that Yu Yanjing had prepared for her. In addition to dried fruit, there was also dried meat, candied fruit, some seasonal fruits, plum wine, and some fruit juices that don't keep for long. It was really hard for him to prepare so many things in one night.

Yu Yanjing's brow furrowed slightly, and he asked in return, "What kind of person am I in your eyes? Hmm? If I don't have these abilities, how have I managed to survive in the outside world for so long?"

"Anyway, I didn't mean you're useless. It's just that people like you shouldn't be expected to be waited on hand and foot. What? You can do everything? That surprises me."

Yu Yanjing couldn't help but mock, "Aren't you also someone who expects to be waited on hand and foot? Oh right, you can't do anything..." After saying that, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, his eyebrows and eyes curved into an arc, and he even chuckled.

Xiao Mu mumbled, "That's...that's because I haven't had a chance to show off yet. Okay, wait...when we get to Mu Chui Town, you'll see my martial arts skills. They're no joke. Let me tell you...my...my master is a very powerful person!" Well, she originally wanted to say that her master was Jackie Chan, but Yu Yanjing didn't know Jackie Chan either, so she just said that he was powerful.

Yu Yanjing smiled faintly and said leisurely, "Oh? Alright, anyway, I don't know any martial arts at all. When I go out in Chaoyang Kingdom, I'm always accompanied by plainclothes guards, so I'll have to rely on you!" He turned to the side and smiled slyly.

Xiao Mu panicked. "You don't know martial arts? What are you doing out here with me? Huh? We're two weaklings, going to find someone's large army? Are we just here to be bystanders?"

Yu Yanjing, you're so good at archery, yet you don't know any martial arts at all. Who's protecting whom here?

Xiao Mu glanced at him secretly. Oh well, being handsome is an advantage, after all. No one is perfect. Being good at archery is already quite good. People say, "Beauty is food for the eyes," and beauty is indeed food for the eyes!

After a day and a half of sailing, the ship finally arrived in Songcheng. The food on board had been almost finished, and it was now late afternoon, with each household preparing dinner.

Songcheng is surrounded by mountains, which are covered with pine trees. Pine nuts are a local specialty, so the climate here is quite warm. In just over twenty days, it will be the Lunar New Year. The further south you go, the warmer it gets.

Yu Yanjing told the boatman to go and get something to eat first, and to wait at the dock the next morning.

Yu Yanjing strolled around Songcheng with Xiao Mu in his hand. When he was young, he had passed through Songcheng and stayed here for a while when he went to the Southern Border. However, he was very young at that time and had run away from the palace, so his memories of this place were very vague. But he vaguely remembered that there was an inn here that was clean and comfortable, and the food was delicious, which was very suitable for people like them who were used to living in luxury.

Pedestrians hurried along the street, all rushing home for dinner.

Yu Yanjing, relying on his childhood memories, groped his way to the front of an inn called Liufengxuan. The inn was surrounded by vines. Xiao Mu looked at it and exclaimed, "Wow, this looks like the demon cave from the TV shows I watched when I was a kid!"

As you walk further in, you'll be greeted by the scent of pine branches. The innkeeper explained that they burn incense made from pine branches, needles, and pine leaves, which has a fresh and delicate aroma and a calming effect. Most of the guests who stay here are weary travelers from afar, and this calming effect is the best thing for them.

Following the innkeeper's recommendation, we ordered several famous dishes from Songcheng, which we heard were the most popular with repeat customers.

There's Longjing Shrimp, a local specialty, made with Longjing tea, and it's located along the coast. There's also Squirrel Mandarin Fish, which I've had before; it's a dish that's almost always found in restaurants in the future world. There's also Braised Pork Ribs, which are delicious—the ribs are tender and the sauce is rich and flavorful. And there's also a yam soup.

After a satisfying meal, the innkeeper recommended some fun places in Songcheng, including a snack street and a night market. I never imagined that such places existed in ancient times. The most worthwhile place to visit is Lanyue to listen to the top musician there play the pipa.

Yu Yanjing said to Xiao Mu nonchalantly, "It's just a pipa. There are countless musicians in my palace who can play the pipa. I'll have them play it just for you."

But there were so many people watching the musician play the pipa. It was getting dark, and the pedestrians on the road were densely packed in one direction, saying things like, "Miss Tingyuan has finally returned from the North! We can finally hear Miss Tingyuan's music! I didn't even have dinner and had to close up shop early so my tigress wouldn't find out."

"Yes, yes, my wife said she'd break my legs if I dared to go to Lanyue Tower again, but I still came."

Hearing this, Xiao Mu wanted to go even more. What kind of woman was she that made so many people risk getting beaten by their wives just to see her?

Yu Yanjing couldn't refuse her, so he went with her to Lanyue Tower.

Most of the people who come here are ordinary folks. They don't pay much, so they can only watch from the crowded lobby downstairs. But if they pay, they can watch from the corridors on the second and third floors, where there are screens, private seats, and waitresses serving drinks.

Yu Yanjing tossed a sum of gold to the shopkeeper, who immediately scurried them to the best viewing spot on the second floor, right in the center of the Lanyue Pavilion.

This has made many people envious.

Xiao Mu took a sip of wine, propped her head up, and watched the boring performances—singing, dancing, piano playing—that almost put her to sleep.

"Did we come at the wrong time? Is Miss Tingyuan not coming?"

Yu Yanjing turned his head to look at her and said indifferently, "I don't know either. I have no interest in her at all. We still have to travel tomorrow, so we might as well go back to sleep. Why don't we go back?"

Xiao Mu glared at him. So the gold must have been given away for nothing? No way, she'd sleep here tonight, even if she had to. She tossed a pine nut into her mouth and crunched it.

Her eyelids started to droop, and she was about to fall asleep, propping her head up with her hand.

Someone was shouting, "Miss Tingyuan, Miss Tingyuan is so beautiful..."

Xiao Mu slowly opened her eyes. Was she dreaming? Was this a fairy?

Hmm… Tingyuan, dressed in a light pink dance dress, slowly descended from the red curtain hanging from the beam, immediately shrouding everything in a thin mist, making everything appear hazy. Tingyuan's limbs were slender, and her waist was as supple as a willow. She held a pipa in her arms, her fingers nimbly plucking the strings, producing beautiful and melodious tunes. When the piece ended, several women playing the guqin came out and sat on the stage. Tingyuan danced gracefully to the music, her movements captivating and enchanting.

As the dance ended, thunderous applause erupted.

Xiao Mu was dumbfounded. She looked at Yu Yanjing, who was already asleep beside her. She had wanted to discuss it with him, but who knew that he had fallen asleep.

Ting Yuan is so beautiful; she has never seen such a beautiful woman before. Yu Yanjing actually fell asleep. He really missed out on a fortune!

After a while, everyone dispersed. Xiao Mu pushed Yu Yanjing hard and shouted, "Get up, Yu Yanjing, get up! I'm really impressed with you. How can you fall asleep while looking at such a beautiful woman?"

Yu Yanjing stretched and said leisurely, "I'm not interested in any of this. I just glanced at her, and she's not that pretty, not even as beautiful as you. What's the point? I guess there aren't any pretty girls in Songcheng!"

Xiao Mu whispered in his ear, "Keep your voice down. Look at the way those people downstairs are looking at you. They look like they want to devour you alive!"

Yu Yanjing lowered his eyes. Downstairs, a group of men who had come to see Tingyuan were staring at him with bloodshot eyes, as if they wanted to devour him. A shadow flashed in Yu Yanjing's eyes, and a violent smile appeared on his lips. Those who were looking at him immediately dared not look at him anymore and fled in fear.

Xiao Mu stared in disbelief and said, "You're amazing! With just one look, all those people ran away."

Yu Yanjing nodded and stared at her, his eyes gradually turning violent, like a demon who would devour people without spitting out the bones, making people feel a chill down their spines.

Xiao Mu retreated repeatedly, clinging to the pillar and begging for mercy, "I...I was wrong...please...please don't kill me...I'll never do it again."

Yu Yanjing laughed out loud, walked up to her, bent down and looked at her funny appearance, and said softly, "I was just trying to scare you. You're such a coward. You're as timid as a rat. I don't dare to scare you anymore. I'm really afraid you'll be scared out of your wits!"

Xiao Mu put her hands on her hips and said angrily, "Fine, you dare scare me? You're dead!"

Yu Yanjing pinched the chubby cheeks of her face and said without hesitation, "What are you going to do to me? Hmm? Are you going to use all the moves you know on me? Or are you going to chop me into eight pieces?"

Xiao Mu was furious. She walked ahead by herself, leaving Yu Yanjing to chase after her.

She knew that Yu Yanjing was deliberately running slowly so as not to catch up with her. Otherwise, with his long legs, he could have caught up in no time. He was doing it on purpose!

Let her walk alone at night!

However, she was also a little scared. She was unfamiliar with the place and didn't dare to walk too fast alone, lest she run into bad people. She didn't know anything about this place.

Why can't I hear Yu Yanjing's footsteps anymore?

Xiao Mu turned around abruptly, only to find a dark, silent, empty street behind her, with not a soul in sight, and she couldn't see anything in the moonlight.

Yu Yanjing couldn't have been...

what……

The only sound here is the howling wind, which is terrifying and desolate.

"Yu Yanjing!"

"Yu Yanjing, where are you?"

While searching for Yu Yanjing, Xiao Mu called out, "Don't scare me! Come out quickly, or I'll really get angry!"

"What's wrong? Are you worried because you can't find me?" The voice came from the roof. Xiao Mu looked up and saw Yu Yanjing holding Silver Snake Dance in his arms, standing on the eaves of the roof. In the moonlight, there was only a black figure, which made people unable to look away. How could he be so handsome!

"Why did you suddenly run up there? I thought you'd been kidnapped! You're really making me angry!"