He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

As if noticing Leng Huan watching her, the little girl smiled at her. The smile was incredibly sweet, and Leng Huan realized that although she was a bit disheveled and her face was dirty, she was actually a lively and beautiful girl, quite lovely!

The cabin on the ship corresponds to the voucher. The mid-range ticket only allows you to stay in a dormitory-style room. Leng Huan glanced around and saw rows of berths on both sides of the middle aisle. The people who came on earlier had already chosen their seats.

Fu Xun chose a convenient corner near the exit, placing Leng Huan on the inside while he remained on the outside, isolating them from the others. The environment wasn't great, and there was only a mat, no blankets.

"Brother, you're here too?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Leng Huan put down his bundle, turned to look at the little girl, and said, "Yes, you..."

"Brother, can I stay with you? I'm all alone..." The little girl blinked, looked around, and her eyes were pleading.

Leng Huan immediately understood. She was afraid of being unsafe. Of course, even in modern times there are perverts on buses, let alone at this time. She secretly looked around and saw that most of the people around were men, and some of them were looking at them intentionally or unintentionally.

Since arriving here, Fu Xun has maintained a cold demeanor, clearly indicating that strangers should not approach him, which has helped avoid a lot of trouble.

“Okay, you can come with us.” Leng Huan said softly, “You can stay at the very back, we’ll protect you, don’t be afraid.” She gave her spot to the girl, and she and Fu Xun moved to the same spot.

-

"Dong—" A drum sounded, and then the boat started to move; it had set sail.

With its wide deck, billowing sails, and favorable winds and currents, the large ship parted the currents and slowly moved away from the shore.

Leng Huan couldn't stand the smell in the cabin, so he simply carried Sang Biao to the deck and looked out over the railing. The dock was getting farther and farther away, and smaller and smaller.

The river flows gently, a breeze blows softly, and the sun has climbed high, its rays scattering across the water's surface, creating shimmering waves, as if someone had tossed down a piece of broken gold.

"Brother, are you going to Nanjun too?" The little girl followed along like a tail.

"Probably." Leng Huan glanced at her and mumbled, wondering what had happened to her when he suddenly heard the girl introduce herself.

"Brother, my name is Zhao Yumin. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Leng Huan. Hello." Since they had just met, Leng Huan introduced himself and then pointed to Fu Xun, "His name is Yin Xun."

Perhaps because Leng Huan had helped her out, Zhao Yumin was very grateful to her. Now that they knew each other, the two chatted while enjoying the breeze.

"You don't look very old, why are you alone?"

"My brother doesn't know, but I was actually kidnapped and trafficked by accident."

Leng Huan was startled.

“I was originally from the Zhao family of Nanjun. I was brought here from afar. They originally wanted to sell me to Dongdu. But I escaped when they weren’t looking. I heard that there was a ferry here, so I wanted to take a boat south. I didn’t expect to meet you all.” Zhao Yumin stuck out her tongue shyly.

"So, how did you get the boarding pass?"

"Oh, well, it's because I just grabbed someone's..."

What a clever way to steal! It seems Fu Xun was right to only produce the receipt during the inspection.

Just as he was inwardly complaining, he heard Zhao Yumin plead, "I've been a little scared on this journey and I'm penniless. I... I'd like to ask you, brother, to escort me to Nanjun. Once I get home, I will definitely reward you handsomely."

What? Leng Huan felt that he and Fu Xun were still on the run. What if they ran into trouble if he agreed? Just as he was about to politely decline, Fu Xun spoke up directly: "Are you from the Zhao family, a prominent family in Nanjun?"

Zhao Yumin nodded: "Of course."

Fu Xun then glanced at her a few times, and nodded under Leng Huan's inexplicable gaze: "Alright! We'll escort you south, but there's a condition."

Leng Huan and Zhao Yumin both looked at him.

Fu Xun suddenly grabbed Leng Huan's hand, revealing the spirit-sealing ring on her wrist. "We don't need a large sum of money, we just hope that we can ask a Golden Core elder in your family to help remove the spirit-sealing ring. What do you think, Miss Zhao?"

"Oh! I see. Of course, no problem. I'll explain to my mother later." Zhao Yumin agreed verbally, but her eyes were fixed on Leng Huan's snow-white wrist, and she thought to herself, "So white!"

Looking at Leng Huan's appearance again, she felt that she had never seen anyone more handsome than him. Her face flushed slightly: "I didn't expect that Brother Leng Huan was also a cultivator."

"Brother Leng Huan?" Fu Xun frowned and suddenly called out, "Brother Huan! The wind is too strong, let's go down and rest for a bit."

Hearing the little girl call him "Brother Leng Huan" in her clear voice, Leng Huan felt his bones melt. The next moment, he heard Fu Xun calling her, and he quickly came back to his senses, his face full of smiles: "Then I'll trouble you then. I'll escort you all the way. Don't worry about encountering any more bad people."

Zhao Yumin was immediately delighted and happily followed them down the deck.

—

Leng Huan felt it was totally worth it to be able to remove the Spirit-Binding Ring on this trip!

They took such meticulous care of Zhao Yumin throughout the journey, sparing no expense on food and water, giving her the best of everything, and even having Leng Huan guard the toilet for her. Sure enough, at night they let her sleep on the innermost floor, with Leng Huan next to her, while Fu Xun slept on the outermost floor, always with a cold expression.

Even Sang Biao had become familiar with Zhao Yumin, and was teased by her until he barked. Fu Xun snorted coldly when he saw this, his eyes like knives, making the little dog tuck its tail between its legs and not dare to move.

"Wow! Sang Biao, who came up with your name? It's so cool!"

"..."

"Brother Huan, look, there are fish in the river..."

"Brother Huan, look, there are egrets flying by over there..."

"Brother Huan..."

"..."

Fu Xun was so tired of hearing things like this that he was practically sick of them.

All I could think about was getting to my destination quickly, removing the spirit-sealing ring, and getting rid of this nuisance!

Leng Huan, however, became very close to her. Who wouldn't like an innocent and carefree young girl?

Fu Xun could only remain silent.

Three days later, we arrived at Binjiang Dadukou, finally ending this ordeal.

"Xiaoyumian! Look at all the people at the dock over there, you're home!"

Leng Huan shaded his eyes with his hand, gazing at the bustling dock in the distance. This was the largest ferry crossing in Nanjun. "Dong..." With a long, resonant drumbeat, the passenger ship entered the harbor and moored.

With a "bang," a pier was erected on the ship, and the steward raised a small flag. "Begin disembarking!"

Leng Huan pulled Zhao Yumin back, and Fu Xun followed behind, looking rather unhappy. The group then stepped onto the pier with the crowd and filed down.

After being cooped up on the ship for several days, Leng Huan knew she would get seasick if she continued. With her feet firmly on the ground, she took a deep breath and felt more refreshed. Looking at Zhao Yumin's rosy complexion, which she had taken good care of, she felt even more energetic. Soon, she would be able to remove the Spirit-Binding Ring!

-

The Zhao family of Nanjun is one of the most prominent local families. Ten days ago, the third young lady of the family's direct line went missing. The Zhao family searched the entire Nanjun but could not find her. They finally got a clue and were about to send someone to Zhenjiang Prefecture when the gatekeeper announced that the third young lady had returned!

"Really?!" The matriarch's face, which had recently looked haggard, suddenly brightened. "You mean, Yu Mian is back?"

The butler nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Madam, Miss has already arrived at the flower hall!"

The head of the Zhao family patted his wife on the back: "That's wonderful, Yu Mian is finally back! Madam can rest assured now..."

Madam Zhao sensed something was amiss: "Why isn't Yu Mian returning to the inner courtyard? What is she doing in the flower hall?"

—

Flower Hall.

"Brother Huan, don't be shy, please sit down and rest!"

Zhao Yumin felt right at home. The servants were well-trained, and while the steward went to the main courtyard to inform the head of the household, the servants had already prepared all the necessary hospitality.

"Hehe..." Leng Huan smiled awkwardly but politely. It was one thing to be out in public, but she couldn't be too rude in someone else's hall, so she had to put on an act.

In the original owner's memory, the Leng family was similar, even more luxurious than the Zhao family—gardens and rockeries, scenic views at every turn, and exquisite furnishings in every hall, completely unlike the simple cultivation dwelling she remembered. Come to think of it, it made sense; after all, they were a family of cultivators, they couldn't really live in a simple cave dwelling.

Seeing her so reserved, Fu Xun raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking to himself that this was quite unusual.