The attendant stepped aside, revealing the appearance of the person behind him—exactly as Gu Yu Chen had guessed.
Strange, why would a Great Eunuch of the Eastern Palace appear in a place thousands of miles away from Jing City?
The five men entered the Earth God Temple but likely found it too crowded and walked back out.
The Earth God Temple consisted of three rooms. Besides the main hall, the room on the left had completely collapsed, while the room on the right was only half-collapsed, making it barely suitable for sheltering from the rain.
As the five approached and noticed the carriage by the half-wall, the attendant had the thought of claiming it for himself.
Just as he was about to step forward, the man surnamed Quan pulled him back. “There’s someone inside. Don’t cause trouble.”
He had already detected the steady breathing inside the carriage and knew someone was there.
Gu Yu Chen was greatly surprised. His Inner Force had dissipated to his limbs, unable to coalesce, making him appear as an ordinary person to others.
But outside, the heavy rain was pouring down—with such loud rainfall, how could the man surnamed Quan still sense his presence? How profound must his skills be?
Gu Yu Chen reminded himself to keep his breathing steady.
The five men sat down by the wall. A man with a gloomy expression said, “Master Quan, who do you think stole that thing?”
A slightly plump man beside him immediately replied, “Isn’t it obvious? It must be someone related to the Shen family.”
“Hmph, it’s all that fool’s fault. Even after more than ten years, he still left evidence behind.”
The man surnamed Quan scolded in a low voice, “Shut up! Be careful—walls have ears.”
His eyes subtly glanced toward the carriage. Only after confirming that the breathing inside hadn’t changed did he withdraw his gaze.
When Gu Yu Chen heard the words “Shen family,” his suspicions grew. Were they here because of that matter?
After a moment of silence, the gloomy-faced man spoke again, “So many of them, yet none got a clear look at the thief’s appearance.”
“Didn’t the message say the person was masked?” It was the plump man chiming in again.
Seeing that Master Quan was growing impatient, a long-faced man said, “Fortunately, that person fell off the cliff and was swallowed by the river. Even if they survived, the evidence was probably soaked beyond recognition.”
The plump man laughed, “Exactly. We can report back to our master now.”
The man surnamed Quan shot him a glare, and the group fell silent, leaning against the wall to rest with their eyes closed.
Gu Yu Chen touched the cloth bag at his waist. So these people were after this.
Aside from the man surnamed Quan, were the others also from the Eastern Palace? Could it be that the incident back then was related to the Eastern Palace?
In the main hall, separated from the five by just a wall, Song Shiyue, who had been sleeping against the wall, slowly closed her eyes. Listening to people talk was too exhausting.
The firewood gradually died out, and the heavy rain finally stopped before dawn. The travelers, ignoring the muddy ground, left the Earth God Temple hall with the first rays of morning light.
Master Quan, noticing no movement from the carriage, was about to go investigate when a young woman carrying a bundle boarded the carriage.
Gu Yu Chen nearly cried out in shock upon seeing Song Shiyue. Her long hair was tied up in a married woman’s style, her face covered in pockmarks and two large, pus-oozing pimples—one of which was still leaking pus—making it unbearable to look at.
“You…”
Considering she might have overheard the men’s conversation last night and guessed something, he wondered: Was it really necessary for her to disguise herself like this?
“You heartless man! I told you to sleep outside, but you really left me to fend for myself. With such heavy rain yesterday, you didn’t even think to bring me an extra blanket.”
“You’ve got some nerve saying that. You know perfectly well I have difficulty walking, yet you keep dreaming about good things.”
Song Shiyue nearly laughed aloud. Only then did Gu Yu Chen realize the unintended meaning in his words.
Hoarsely, he cursed, “It’s all your fault, you ugly hag. Hurry up and get on the road.”
Song Shiyue reached over and smeared her hands all over his face. “If you think I’m ugly, why don’t you try being handsome yourself?”
Gu Yu Chen’s face rapidly transformed into something even he wouldn’t recognize. Fortunately, it wasn’t ugly—just gaunt, like a consumptive ghost.
Outside the carriage, people heard a series of slaps—”smack, smack, smack”—as the woman cursed and jumped down from the vehicle.
“Call me ugly? Why don’t you take a piss and look at your own ghastly reflection?”
Song Shiyue turned the horse around onto the main road. Spotting five men staring their way, she straightened her face and snapped, “What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before?”
When they got a clear view of her face, all five felt nauseated. The one who appeared to be a servant even exaggeratedly ran to the side to retch.
Song Shiyue climbed onto the carriage seat and spat, “Bumpkins!”
“Snap!” She cracked the whip and sped off in a cloud of dust—no, more accurately, a spray of mud.
By the time the five men recovered, they were all cursing. “Damn, with a face that hideous, how could any man want her?”
“Ugh, my eyes are poisoned. They need cleansing.”
“What a disgusting way to start the morning. So unlucky.”
“All that woman’s fault, the ugly creature.”
Master Quan barked, “Enough! Mount up!”
The five swiftly departed and soon caught up with the carriage ahead. Without a word, they held their breath, spurred their horses, cracked their whips, and overtook it at lightning speed.
“Goodness, those five are in such a hurry—like they’re rushing to be reborn!”
“They’re just trying to avoid seeing you and ruining their mood.”
“Hmph. No appreciation for true artistry.”
Song Shiyue curled her lip and drove the carriage leisurely, ignoring the strange and disdainful glances from passersby.
Gu Yu Chen endured it all day. Finally, when they reached a small town and checked into an inn, he handed Song Shiyue a handkerchief.
“Maybe you should cover your face, so you don’t scare people.”
“More like avoid disgusting them, right?”
“We still need a place to stay. If the inn turns us away, we’ll be sleeping outdoors again tonight.”
Hearing this, Song Shiyue obediently took the handkerchief. She missed a proper bed far too much.
To be safe, Song Shiyue carried Gu Yu Chen out of the carriage and settled him into his wheelchair.
An inn attendant helped park the carriage in the backyard, while Song Shiyue pushed Gu Yu Chen inside.
Before they could even acknowledge the smiling innkeeper, they spotted the same five men from the morning.
Master Quan and his group thought they had left them behind. Given the carriage’s speed, they shouldn’t have met again.
Who would have expected to run into them again at dusk?
At least the young woman had some self-awareness and covered her face, sparing them from vomiting up their recently eaten meal.
“Unlucky!”
The man with the perpetually gloomy face muttered a low curse.
Both Gu Yu Chen and Song Shiyue had sharp ears and caught his words clearly.
Gu Yu Chen glanced nervously at Song Shiyue, signaling her to endure it.
She shot him a sidelong look. Did he think she couldn’t read the situation?
The innkeeper promptly greeted them, “Honored guests, will you be dining or staying the night?”
Song Shiyue naturally turned her gaze to the innkeeper. “Staying. One room… your best.”
“Right away! Shall I prepare a meal as well?”
Gu Yu Chen quickly replied, “Yes, please bring it to the room.”
“Fine, the air in this hall isn’t good.” Song Shiyue casually glanced toward Master Quan’s table as if by accident.
Gu Yu Chen squeezed her hand in warning, signaling her to restrain herself.
Song Shiyue glared at him. Who asked them to act disgustingly in front of her this morning? The memory alone made her furious.
Gu Yu Chen immediately tried to appease her, “Didn’t you want to take a bath? You can properly soak in the tub tonight.”
Song Shiyue reined in her temper and turned her head away.