The Silves Hinterlands
Before she could finish speaking, the covers were suddenly thrown off, and Xiao Wu sat up abruptly. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes weren't fully open yet, but she hurriedly called out, "I'm up! I'm up! Wait for me!"
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three of them went downstairs one after the other.
The aroma of breakfast was already wafting through the lobby on the first floor.
Dugu Bo sat at the table by the window, with a feast laid out in front of him: a large plate of steaming meat buns, a bowl of mutton offal soup, several glistening flatbreads, and a pot of hot milk tea.
He was eating a steamed bun when he saw the three of them come down. He raised an eyebrow and tapped his fingers twice on the table.
"You're dawdling! I thought I was going to have to wait until noon. Hurry up and sit down to eat!"
Dugu Yan pouted, wanting to retort, "It's just a little bit late," but seeing her grandfather's obvious "try nagging me again" look, she wisely swallowed her words, pulled out a chair, sat down, picked up a steamed bun, and started munching on it.
Xiao Wu was the quickest to react, plopping down and taking a big gulp of her milk tea. It was so hot she smacked her lips, but she couldn't bear to put it down, mumbling as she exclaimed, "Delicious! This is stronger than the milk tea at the academy!"
Dugu Bo glanced at her, then looked at Dugu Yan was chewing slowly, and scolded, "Look at you, that girl at least knows how to eat quickly."
Dugu Yan, biting into a steamed bun, protested indistinctly, "Grandpa, I'm almost full—"
"Like a cat, you're full after just two bites?" Dugu Bo placed another steamed bun on the plate in front of her. "Eat it."
The breakfast was devoured in no time.
Finally, Dugu Bo took out a Silver Soul Coin from his pocket, placed it on the table, and got up to leave.
The shopkeeper chased after him, bowing respectfully as he saw him off. "Sir, you're leaving already? You've been traveling for days, won't you rest for another day?"
"I have other matters to attend to. You can stay here another time you pass by." Dugu Bo waved his hand, his tone carrying the familiarity of a seasoned merchant.
The carriage was still parked in front of the hotel, and the two horses, having been fed enough hay, were trotting energetically.
Dugu Bo checked the carriage shaft and ropes to make sure everything was in order before he turned over and sat on the carriage shaft.
Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, and Dugu Yan filed into the carriage, and the curtains fell, obscuring the receding city skyline behind them.
The carriage left the city and entered the official road, gradually picking up speed. The farmland and villages on both sides receded into the distance, and the morning mist dispersed on the horizon, revealing the bluish-gray outline of the distant mountains.
The weather was exceptionally good today. The sun was high in the sky, and the dew on the grass was evaporated into Sisi steam. The air was filled with the fresh scent of soil and crops.
The carriage was quiet. Dugu Yan leaned against the corner with her eyes closed, resting. Xiao Wu rested her head on Lin Chen's shoulder and was dozing off. Lin Chen leaned against the carriage wall, looking into the distance through the gap in the curtain.
After traveling for more than half an hour, Lin Chen asked, "Master, which road should we take next?"
Dugu Bo didn't turn around; his voice drifted back from the front seat on the wind. "Head southwest, diagonally through the heart of Silves, first to the Balak Kingdom, then from Barak to the border mountains."
"The Balak Kingdom?" Lin Chen straightened up slightly. "Isn't it going directly south into the Star Luo Empire?"
"The road directly south is easy to travel, but it's far too easy," Dugu Bo scoffed. "Do you know who built that official road to the south? It was built jointly by the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire families, with six passes along the way, each with a branch of the Spirit Hall stationed there. If you take that road, you'll have to have your Soul Master credentials checked at every pass, and besides, it'll be troublesome if the Spirit Hall notices you."
As he spoke, he flicked the whip in his hand, making a crisp sound in the air, "It's different over there in Barak. Although Barak is also a vassal state of Heaven Dou, with its eight-hundred-year royal lineage, Heaven Dou's imperial decrees have a discount once they cross the border. The border area there is mountainous and densely forested, and the roads are difficult to travel. Caravans all travel along small mountain paths, and the flow of people is naturally chaotic, making it impossible for the Spirit Hall to keep a close watch on everyone."
Lin Chen nodded, understanding the underlying meaning. "Therefore, taking the route through Barak and traversing the border mountains to enter Star Luo Empire is the least conspicuous route."
"You're not bad looking, kid." Dugu Bo's voice carried a hint of approval. "Unlike Jialing Pass, which is heavily fortified, the border mountains are mostly desolate wilderness on both sides, teeming with Soul Beast. Regular armies and Soul Master avoid those passes; only reckless Soul Hunting and smuggling caravans venture through them. As long as we don't cause a major disturbance, crossing through those areas is more than ten times safer than taking the official road."
A seasoned veteran never takes the most conspicuous path.
The more dangerous a place is, the safer it often is; the more seemingly quick and easy a road is, the easier it is to stumble and fall.
"The Balak Kingdom..." Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Is it the Barak, famous for its underground Soul Fighting Arena? I heard that in those border cities, there are Soul Master fighting in underground boxing matches every day; it's so lively!"
"Don't even think about it." Dugu Bo didn't even turn his head, directly pouring cold water on the idea. "Business is more important. Who knows how long we'll be staying this time? Stop thinking about nonsense."
"Oh..." Dugu Yan slumped back into the carriage, her shoulders shaking. She turned and took Xiao Wu's hand, whispering, "When we come back, let's sneak around and take a look, okay? Just one glimpse."
Xiao Wu nodded with a curious look, "I've never seen an underground Soul Fighting Arena before, but whether I go or not depends on Brother Lin Chen."
"Tch..." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes, then leaned close to Xiao Wu's ear and whispered, "Don't worry, as long as you want to go, Lin Chen will definitely let you." As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Chen with a mischievous grin.
Although the voice was soft, Lin Chen could vaguely hear it. Looking at Xiao Wu, who was looking down and a little shy, Lin Chen smiled and shook his head without interrupting.
If it's on the way back from Sinking Moon Valley, it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
The carriage traveled westward, and the road gradually became bumpy.
The once smooth official road has become a bumpy dirt road, and the scenery on both sides has changed from continuous farmland to rolling hills. Sparse villages are scattered in the valleys, and there are fewer pedestrians on the road. Occasionally, you can encounter a caravan carrying goods, and the jingling of copper bells can be heard far away on the mountain road.
Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu had been chatting all the way, and now they were tired, so they leaned against each other and took a nap.
The carriage was quiet, with only the rumble of wheels over gravel and the soft clatter of horses' hooves in the mud.
Lin Chen leaned against the carriage wall, his eyes closed, but he wasn't resting.
The pale blue Void Divine Eye mark between his brows was slightly warm. He slowly channeled his Soul Power into his brow along his meridians, repeatedly washing over the connection between his eye and Soul Bone.
His divine sense quietly spread out along the car window, and within several miles, the rustling of the wind and the aura of distant Soul Beast were clearly reflected in his perception.
The subtle folds of space and the flow of air are all laid bare before the Void Divine Eye. They scan, retract, and scan again, repeatedly pushing the limits of these divine eyes.