CHAPTER 116: 116-LIN HAO [2]

Lin Hao’s warm smile held steady, though a flicker of sharp curiosity lit his eyes at Ruì’s mention of Fang Yuan’s detailed insistence.

He masked it expertly with another respectful nod.

"The Fang Clan Head’s foresight is as renowned as his strength. We are doubly fortunate. The caravan is ready. If you and your cultivators would take positions—"

"I will join Elder Fang Ruì."

The voice, cool and flat, cut through the merchant’s practiced diplomacy.

Fang Lian stepped forward from the edge of the Fang group, her movement silent but instantly drawing every eye.

She ignored the subtle flinch from the other juniors, her gaze fixed impassively on Lin Hao, then shifting fractionally to Ruì.

"My task aligns with this route. So I wish to travel with the escort. While staying with the Elder."

A beat of silence followed.

Lin Hao’s gaze darted between Lian’s unreadable face and Ruì’s composed one, assessing the undercurrent.

Lin Hao’s sharp eyes had taken in the scene instantly as they had arrived: the fresh mud staining one cultivator’s robes, the palpable tension still humming amongst the young Fangs, the almost physical bubble of space surrounding the silent girl.

Internal clan strife, his merchant’s mind categorized, none of my business, as long as the guard holds.

Payment was contingent on safe delivery; their squabbles were their own.

Yet, the sheer intensity radiating from that silent figure piqued a curiosity he could not quite suppress.

His warm smile remained fixed as Fang Ruì finished speaking, but his gaze lingered just a moment too long on the enigmatic girl.

The practiced diplomat warred briefly with the intrigued observer, and the observer won.

He inclined his head slightly, his voice retaining its polite warmth but now edged with genuine inquiry.

"Might I inquire, young lady," he asked, his tone carefully neutral, "who you might be? Your bearing is... distinct."

Fang Lian met his gaze directly, her own expression unreadable.

Her voice, when it came, was cool and flat, devoid of inflection but carrying an undeniable weight.

"Fang Lian. Disciple of the current family head." A fractional pause, then the barest tilt of her head.

"Will it be fine if I tag along?"

Direct disciple of Clan Head Fang Yuan? Traveling with an escort mission?

The implications flickered behind Lin Hao’s eyes, but his merchant’s instincts snapped back into place.

Get the cargo through. He bowed slightly, the motion seamless.

"Of course, Disciple Fang Lian," he replied, his smile widening just enough to convey welcome without probing further.

"Your presence is unexpected but undeniably strengthens the guard. A welcome addition, i should say." He smoothly shifted his focus back to Ruì, the picture of professional courtesy.

"Elder Fang, shall we proceed then? The hour grows late and we need to arrive before the weekend ends."

Ruì gave a single, firm nod, grateful for Hao’s tact. "We shall. Assign our positions, Merchant Lin."

She turned to her team, her voice regaining its earlier command, though her eyes briefly met Lian’s.

There was no surprise there, only a quiet acknowledgment. So she stays close. Why? Is it protection or observation? Or is her task truly intertwined with mine?

The questions buzzed, but she shoved them aside. Mission first.

Lin Hao gestured to a sturdy, enclosed carriage near the front, its wood polished dark, the Lin crest prominent.

"Elder Fang, Disciple Fang, if you would ride here for the initial leg? It offers comfort and a vantage point. The rest of your cultivators," he indicated the juniors, "can rotate flank positions with my guards. We move in standard diamond formation."

Fang Bong glowered but said nothing, falling into line behind Ruì and Lian as they approached the carriage.

As Ruì placed a hand on the carriage step, Lian moved fluidly, not ahead, but precisely beside her, like a silent, watchful shadow.

Ruì felt the weight of that proximity, a constant reminder of the lethal enigma she now shared her space with.

"Move out!" Lin Hao’s voice boomed across the plaza.

Whips cracked. Oxen lowed, straining against their harnesses.

The great wheels of the merchant wagons groaned, then began to turn, carving ruts into the damp earth.

Coldwind City’s Northgate receded behind them, its imposing walls shrinking against the vast, mist-shrouded expanse of the Blackridge Pass.

The rhythmic creak of wood and leather, the steady clop of hooves, and the low murmur of guards settled into the journey’s cadence.

Inside the carriage, the air was still.

Ruì settled onto the padded bench, the mission scroll unrolled again on her lap, a pretense of focus.

Opposite her, Fang Lian sat ramrod straight, her eyes fixed not on Ruì, nor the passing scenery, but on some distant, internal point.

Her sword lay across her knees, one hand resting lightly on its plain scabbard.

She didn’t speak a word and she barely even seemed to breathe.

The only sound was the rumble of the wheels and the distant cry of a hunting hawk, echoing the predatory stillness within the carriage.

At the same time, somewhere in the northern region...

Two figures glided through the Night Forest, their robes fluttering like banners in a storm.

"Matriarch Fang! Wait!" Du Juan’s voice rang out, laced with urgency and no small amount of dread. "That’s where the Viper Seduction Flowers lie in wait!"

The woman ahead halted mid-step, one foot perched dramatically on a mossy rock.

Her dark hair shimmered under the sun like polished silk, and the corners of her lips curled into something far too pleased.

"Matriarch Fang..." She breathed the title like a lover’s name, fingertips brushing the jade token at her throat. "Say it again, little sister."

Du Juan recoiled. "The flowers—!"

"Hush." Zhaoyue’s finger pressed against Du Juan’s lips, her eyes wide and fever-bright.

She leaned close, her whisper a velvet threat, "You’ve pleased me today. Truly."

Du Juan caught up, flushed and frowning. "I’m serious. That flower lures spirit beasts from miles away. It’s not—"

"Hush now." Zhaoyue raised a finger to Du Juan’s lips, mock solemn.

"You’re doing so well, little sister. I’m proud of you. Truly."

Then, with a mischievous wink, she added, "But trust me, the flowers over there are beautiful and even divine. I’ll fetch one for you, too."

And with that, she sauntered forward.