The Heaven Dou Empire.
By the time the carriage crossed the border, it was already the morning of the third day.
Qian Renyue, Guang Ling, and the others were heading straight to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, so Jiang Mo and Xin'er got out as soon as they crossed the border. They jumped down one after the other, and Xin'er waved to Qian Renyue. "Young Master, remember to let me know if anything comes up. I'll go look around with Jiang Mo first."
"Mm, all right. Have fun~"
Qian Renyue answered with a smile and waved back. Then she took the coin pouch from her waist and tossed it to Xin'er. "Buy whatever you like. If the money isn't enough, Grandpa Jiang Mo, you might have to dip into your own purse."
"...Mm, understood." Jiang Mo pursed his lips. He had known there was a catch to Xin'er being kind enough to invite him out.
Watching them, Jiu Lan couldn't help chuckling to herself. Beside her, Little Nine blinked and asked softly, "Big Sister Jiu Lan, why are you laughing?"
"Children shouldn't ask so many questions. You'll understand when you're older." Jiu Lan gently rubbed Little Nine's head and smiled warmly. "Anyway, it's something worth being happy about."
"Oh." Little Nine nodded obediently. "All right, then. Big Sister Jiu Lan, you have to tell me when I'm a little older."
"Mm, I will," Jiu Lan replied, and neither of them said anything more.
Little Nine was especially obedient around Jiu Lan. Perhaps it was because of the affinity she radiated; whatever animal she encountered, it seemed to feel particularly close to her.
For example.
Yiyi.
The little kitten had been sleeping in Jiu Lan's arms for quite a while. It gave a tiny hiccup and a "Meow~," then went right