Chapter 294: It’s Time to Open the City Gates!
“No, no problem at all. I was actually heading to Feng City today. Who would’ve thought we’d run into each other again? It seems our fate is quite deep.”
Yu Luo: …
She fell silent for a moment before finally looking at Ye Lu again. “Since you’re heading to Feng City, then go ahead. We’re traveling by carriage, so we’ll be much slower than you.”
Since Ye Lu had helped her this time, Yu Luo softened her tone.
“No rush. Your carriages are empty anyway. Taking us along shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll travel together and look out for each other. After all, there are many wild beasts in these lands.”
As he finished speaking, Ye Lu flipped onto one of the cargo carriages, as if he had already made up his mind to escort them.
Ah Zan’s lips twitched uncontrollably.
He couldn’t believe that their noble and proud master would casually hop into a freight carriage like it was nothing.
And seeing his master’s luxurious silk robe in such a rough and dusty carriage, Ah Zan thought the whole scene looked both ridiculous and pathetic.
Pathetic because his arrogant master, for the sake of a single woman, had stooped to such levels!
“Alright then, you go with them. I’m heading off first.”
Seeing that Ye Lu had no qualms about riding in a cargo cart, Yu Luo was momentarily surprised, but quickly returned to her usual composure.
With a light step onto her horse’s back, she vanished into the night using light footwork.
Ye Lu, grinning with satisfaction, suddenly froze.
His smile stiffened as he realized—
She was gone!
“Sh-She just left?! Aren’t you worried about her traveling alone? What if she encounters danger? How can you all be so relaxed?”
Wu Er smirked smugly.
“Sir, that’s none of your concern. Using light footwork is much safer than riding a carriage in these lands. Besides, our lady’s skills aren’t weak.”
Just moments ago, Wu Er had despised Ye Lu.
But now, he suddenly found him more tolerable.
Why?
Because the checkpoint officer had confirmed Ye Lu already had a fiancée—a noblewoman, no less.
With that in mind, it was impossible for this man to pursue their lady!
Hearing Wu Er’s remark, Ye Lu’s brows furrowed even deeper.
“So… your watermelons and tomatoes were grown in this land?”
“In other words, your lady has always lived here?”
His tone was casual, but the moment Wu Er, Zhang Hu, and Hu Liu heard it, their gazes sharpened.
They all stared at him coldly, their eyes full of warning.
“What’s your point? Trying to dig up information about our lady?”
“N-No, I was just curious!”
Hu Liu sneered, shooting him a mocking look.
“Heh… and you say you’re not prying? You’re such a hypocrite.”
“You people are so ungrateful!” Ye Lu huffed.
“Did you already forget who just helped you get past the checkpoint?!”
Ah Zan, seeing his master constantly get humiliated, couldn’t hold back any longer.
“That’s right! My lord has a fiancée—why would he possibly be interested in your lady?”
This time, it was Zhang Hu who responded, his tone icy.
“I’m warning you now. Do not go near our lady.”
Ye Lu’s mood instantly darkened.
“I-I can explain…”
He mustered his courage, ready to clarify his situation, but Zhang Hu didn’t even look at him.
Wu Er laughed out loud.
“Didn’t see this coming, did you? The mighty prince of Dongfeng Kingdom, getting completely shut down!”
“If you have a fiancée, then stay away from our lady. Otherwise, we’ll make sure you regret it!”
*
Meanwhile, Yu Luo…
After traveling through the night, she finally reached Luo City at dawn.
But the scene before her left her stunned.
A large crowd had gathered outside the city gates!
“System, what’s going on?”
“Are they from Feng City?
“If they came to cause trouble, why is there only a hundred of them?
“But they seem to be sitting quietly, not acting aggressive… What’s their deal?”
[Host, these appear to be people waiting to enter the city.]
[Since Luo City has never officially opened to outsiders, this is likely their only choice.]
[This is the only reasonable explanation. After all, with such a small number, they couldn’t possibly be trying to attack a fortified city.]
Yu Luo relaxed.
She adjusted her veil and approached the crowd, observing them closely.
As they got closer, these people also noticed her and looked at her curiously. At the same time, Yu Luo also saw clearly that among them, some were bringing their families, some were dressed like people in the world, and some were even wearing prison uniforms from an unknown country.
It was a mix of everything.
About a hundred people in total.
“Excuse me,” Yu Luo spoke up.
“Why are you all gathered here?”
“Why have you been camping outside the gates?”
She noted the burnt-out campfires and the hanging cooking pots, suggesting they had been waiting all night—maybe longer.
Luo City’s outer walls were tall, and entry was controlled.
If her people had allowed them to remain, then these people hadn’t caused trouble.
But why were they here?
A grizzled old man in prison garb was the first to answer.
“We’re waiting for the city gates to open.”
“We need a place to survive.”
“This place—Luo City—we’ve never heard of it before.”
“But it looks new…”
“Maybe… this city is our chance to start over.”
Yu Luo remained silent, studying the man.
He poked at the campfire, pulling out a charred piece of meat, and ate it without hesitation, not caring about the ashes or filth.
She then turned to a swordsman, seated nearby with a flask of wine and a blade by his side.
“And you? You look like a wandering martial artist.”
The man looked up and took a sip.
“I’ve roamed these lands before.”
“This new city caught my attention.”
“I’m curious—I want to see what’s inside.”
Yu Luo’s lips slowly curled into a smile.
Maybe…It’s finally time to open the city gates.
