In her view, having Zhao Ya by her side made the journey feel just like a vacation.
She even hoped that the road could be a bit longer, so this sweet world of just the two of them could last a little longer.
After arriving at the creek, Zui’Er began to wash up.
The only inconvenience was this; thus, whenever they encountered a water source, the cleanliness-loving Zui’Er would always have a good wash.
Zhao Ya skillfully cleared an area and then lit a campfire.
In the wild, fire is extremely important.
Especially as night was approaching, the campfire could keep away the beasts in the dark.
However, Zhao Ya was not worried about that; if any beasts dared to come, it would actually be better, saving him the trouble of having to go out to hunt for prey.
By this time, Zui’Er had finished washing and then started to wash clothes.
This time, both of them had brought a change of clothes, so every two days, Zui’Er would thoroughly wash the clothes they had changed out of.
Even though Zhao Ya said there was no need to be so particular in the mountains and forests, Zui’Er just wouldn’t listen.
Having no choice, Zhao Ya could only let her be.
Zhao Ya leapt onto a big tree, observed the surroundings, and then dove into the jungle.
Soon, he returned with two wild chickens.
By now, Zui’Er had finished washing clothes and was drying them by the fire. Seeing Zhao Ya return, she hurriedly took the wild chickens and quickly prepared them.
Plucking the feathers, removing the innards, applying fine salt, then skewering them on sharpened branches, and finally roasting them over the fire.
A moment later, the aroma of the meat began to waft around.
Watching Zhao Ya sitting by the campfire, Zui’Er’s face was full of smiles, as she turned the branch in her hand and chatted casually.
"Ya, how far have we traveled?"
"About a hundred miles, I guess."
"How far is it to the Commandery?"
"Well, in a straight line, it should be about eight hundred miles, but in reality, it’s much farther."
Zhao Ya took out a map and examined it carefully before speaking.
This map was given to him by Song Linqing. Although it’s crudely marked and has many errors, having such a map in this era is considered quite good.
"Is the Commandery big?"
"Big, very big."
"Bigger than Wuxiang City?"
"Even bigger!"
While dealing with Zui’Er’s silly questions, Zhao Ya was also calculating the next day’s journey.
At this rate, they estimated they could leave the range of Wuxiang City in three to five days, and then they could try taking the main road; if not, they would continue into the mountains.
"Is the Commandery lively?" Zui’Er persistently asked.
"Lively... Who’s there, come out!"
Zhao Ya was about to answer lively when he suddenly looked up towards the distant woods.
Zui’Er was also startled and hurried closer to Zhao Ya.
The forest was as quiet as usual.
Zhao Ya, however, did not relax at all; instead, his sharp gaze was fixed on a dark area, "Since you’ve come, why not show yourself?"
After a moment, four or five people emerged from the woods, led by a woman.
This woman looked to be around thirty, not particularly beautiful, but with seductive eyes and a bewitching demeanor.
Following behind her were several people dressed as hunters, holding steel forks, their faces expressionless.
The woman spoke with a smile before words, "This young hero indeed has sharp eyes. We are here to hunt Exotic Beasts in the mountains and happened to pass by. Seeing the firelight, we stopped to check and didn’t expect to be noticed by you."
"But young hero, don’t misunderstand. We mean no harm, just passing by."
The woman’s voice was soft and seductive, with a hint of playfulness.
Especially since she kept staring at Zhao Ya with bewitching eyes that seemed like hooks, any man with slightly less willpower might have fallen at first sight.
But Zhao Ya was completely unmoved, his hand had quietly placed itself on the Meteorite Iron Saber’s scabbard.
"I don’t care what you’re doing here, since you said you mean no harm and are just passing by, please leave!"
"Why does such a handsome young hero speak so coldly, as if keeping people at a distance?"
"This long night, we’re quite tired from chasing Exotic Beasts, could we trouble you to let us warm by your fire?"
"No!" Zhao Ya refused without hesitation, and at the same time, the Meteorite Iron Saber was already silently drawn out by an inch.
"Young hero, you are truly heartless. If you let us warm here, I’d willingly offer myself to warm your bed and let you enjoy the pleasures of Paradise, what do you think?"
The woman licked her lips, smiled charmingly, and her eyes faintly glowed with a touch of red.
Sui Meimei was indeed somewhat tempted.
She hadn’t expected to encounter such a handsome young man while leading her subordinates through the mountains and forests.
Although he seemed to be a martial artist, Sui Meimei was very confident in her own methods.
Her Charm Art was hard for even a Third Realm Martial Artist to resist, let alone this inexperienced youth.
Once seduced, she would enjoy him first and then kill him with a single strike.
As for the little girl beside him...
She would be a reward for her subordinates, who had been working hard lately and needed to let off some steam.
Sui Meimei harbored deep hostility toward any woman younger and more beautiful than herself, so she planned to have her subordinates thoroughly torment this girl later.
But just as she finished speaking, Zhao Ya suddenly kicked the campfire in front of him, sending sparks flying towards Sui Meimei opposite him.
Sui Meimei was utterly stunned.
What was going on?
Why was he unaffected? Could it be that her Charm Art had failed?
Though shocked at heart, Sui Meimei’s movements were not slow, and with a swift move, she dodged the embers.
"Attack!" Sui Meimei shouted coquettishly.
In fact, there was no need for her to give the order; her subordinates were already brandishing steel forks, rushing to pierce Zhao Ya.
Don’t underestimate these steel forks; their practicality in the woods surpassed other weapons.
Especially since these men were obviously trained and coordinated, the four or five steel forks blocked all of Zhao Ya’s escape routes.
Sui Meimei was about to say to try to capture him alive because she needed him later.
Just then, a dazzling blade light suddenly flashed in the forest.
The blade light swept through, slicing all the steel forks in two.
The men showed expressions of terror. Some, seeing the situation quickly, dropped their forks and tried to flee.
But the blade light exploded again, and before they could utter a sound, their heads had been removed.
Sui Meimei was utterly horrified.
She had only seen such skilled blade techniques in well-known Third Realm or even Fourth Realm Martial Artists.
No need to ask, this young man’s strength was far from simple as she had thought.
Especially since he could ignore her Charm Art.
All of this made Sui Meimei full of regret, and she turned to flee, not caring about her slaughtered men.
But she had only run a few steps when her vision blurred, and Zhao Ya appeared in front of her, his saber resting on her neck.
Sui Meimei trembled all over, a deep fear appearing on her face, and she uttered two words.
"Spare me!"
"Who are you people?" Zhao Ya asked coldly.
"I... I’m with the Paradise Sect," Sui Meimei stammered.
"Paradise Sect?"
This was the first time Zhao Ya heard this name.
"Yes... yes, I meant no harm just now, so I ask the Young Hero to spare my life!" Sui Meimei pleaded, carefully observing Zhao Ya and noticing that he seemed unfamiliar with her sect’s name.
But Zhao Ya was unmoved. "Why is your Paradise Sect here in the forests near Wuxiang City?"
"I... I was ordered by the Hall Master to investigate something at the Iron Forging Manor."
Iron Forging Manor!
Hearing this familiar name, Zhao Ya suddenly thought of someone.
No wonder he found Sui Meimei’s methods familiar just now.
"Are you looking for Cheng Jingxue’s whereabouts?" Zhao Ya suddenly asked.
Hearing Zhao Ya mention the name, Sui Meimei’s eyes widened immediately.
"You... you know Junior Sister Cheng?"
Upon hearing Sui Meimei call Cheng Jingxue Junior Sister, Zhao Ya finally confirmed his suspicions.
Cheng Jingxue was indeed not simple.
She turned out to be from the Paradise Sect.
Meanwhile, seeing Zhao Ya’s calm demeanor, Sui Meimei suddenly realized.
This young man could resist the Charm Art and knew Cheng Jingxue.
And since her multiple searches around Wuxiang City under the Hall Master’s order yielded nothing, there was only one possibility.
Cheng Jingxue must be dead, and it was likely this young man who killed her.