Sending Yin (3)

The Red Lantern outside the wooden hut swayed back and forth, its dim red glow enveloping the woman in white and casting a dark crimson shadow across her pale face.

The horse beneath him let out an uneasy whinny, resisting with all its might. If Yu Xing hadn't held the reins, it might already have turned and bolted.

The escorts behind him shrank back, falling farther and farther behind Yu Xing. He didn't force them to keep up at a time like this. He rode ahead alone, approaching the woman in white.

When she stepped into the open area, the woman in white slowly lifted her face. Her voice was as lovely and gentle as a clear spring. "Good sir... have you stopped here to rest on your journey?"

Her voice was so soothing that the group of burly men felt their legs go weak. Even knowing she probably wasn't human, they couldn't resist it.

Yu Xing dismounted.

"Is this a tea stall?"

In ancient times, simple tea stalls could be found along official roads to offer travelers a place to rest. In remote wilderness, tea stalls were also a frequent sight.

Low cost, high demand.

"This is my home... though I do sell tea on the side." The woman in white smiled sweetly and came closer, taking them all in. "Are you gentlemen officials?"

Seeing that she could talk and wasn't as frightening as the ghosts in storybooks, the escorts managed to respond. They hurriedly denied it. "Of course not. We're just hired guards, traveling with a merchant."

Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn't reveal that they were escorting a shipment when the situation was obviously unsafe.

"In that case, thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. I'll pour you some water." The woman in white giggled when she finished,