244. Discovering One of the Shadow Guards
Translator: Flying Lines
Ouyang Shaochen stared at Murong Xue’s eyes full of aspiration. An almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face but fleetingly vanished without a trace. “No matter how slow the wagon goes, it will still jolt, for that’s what wagons do.” he deliberately said in an awkward tone.
“We can put some blankets in the middle, as well as on both sides of the carriage, so you won’t feel the jolts anymore.” Murong Xue suggested earnestly.
“Really?” Ouyang Shaochen frowned doubtfully.
“Of course. Why would I lie? Let’s set off now!” Murong Xue dragged Ouyang Shaochen by the arm all the way to the wagon.
Out of the military camp, Wu Hen drove the wagon at the highest speed on the broad road.
Sitting beside the window, Murong Xue lifted the curtain and enjoyed the scenery bathed in the moonlight which was moving backwards swiftly. Suddenly, Ouyang Shaochen sat next to her and rested his head on her shoulder.
“Your Highness, what are you doing?” Murong Xue asked with bewilderment.
“Taking a rest.” Ouyang Shaochen answered calmly, his voice as soft as the breeze.
“It’s better to lie down if you want to sleep. Why did you rest your head on my shoulder instead?” Murong Xue stared at him doubtfully.
“The wagon is jolting terribly. I won’t be able to sleep if I lie down.” Ouyang Shaochen said gently. His warm breath brushed Murong Xue’s cheeks and made her wink unnaturally, her face sullen.
With many layers of blankets in the carriage, it was almost made into a soft bed, comfortable enough for sleeping even when the wagon was jolting. Ouyang Shaochen was obviously lying...
“Your Highness, since my shoulder has been hurt before, I am afraid it can’t bear the weight of your head for too long...”
“Really?” Ouyang Shaochen said with calmness as he opened his eyes slowly. “Wu Hen, drive the wagon back to the military camp. We will leave for Ming Zhou after I have taken enough rest...” He ordered as he stared at the curtain.
“No way...” Murong Xue interrupted him harshly with a piercing glare.
Totally ignoring her, Ouyang Shaochen said slowly, “Having stayed up for several days, I am exhausted and need a good rest...”
“I have applied the ointment and feel much better now.” Murong Xue said emphatically, gritting her teeth.
Staring at her face filled with fury, Ouyang Shaochen nodded with the barest hint of a smile. “Great!” He leaned on Murong Xue’s shoulder and closed his eyes slowly.
Hearing his regular breath, Murong Xue’s face slightly darkened. She pinched Ouyang Shaochen’s cheeks hard with her soft hands until several red marks were produced...
How bold he was to call her a stupid girl and despise her...
Since he was sleeping, Murong Xue decided to give him a little punishment...
With the morning clouds dispersing, the thin mist had been driven away. The suns.h.i.+ne through the clouds scattered the golden rays to the ground.
The city gates of Ming Zhou were opened, through which citizens and peddlers kept coming and going.
Wu Hen drove the wagon to a relatively busy street. Ouyang Shaochen, clad in a pure white robe dangling to the ground, lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage, his obsidian-like eyes as deep as a fathomless lake without the faintest trace of bewilderment of an exhausted man...
He stretched his delicate hand into the carriage and helped Murong Xue get off.
She looked around at the endless streets with a frown. “What are we doing here?”
“Searching for the shadow guards, of course,” Ouyang Shaochen said softly with a meaningful stare.
“Are they on this street?” Murong Xue’s look turned stern.
“Do you see the blacksmith right ahead there? He is probably a Shadow Guard!” Ouyang Shaochen responded with composure.
Upon hearing his words, Murong Xue turned to look at a man in his late 30s, who was clad in an unb.u.t.toned s.h.i.+rt with his chest bared. Standing before a sword grinder, he was. .h.i.tting a fiery red soldering iron with a hammer.
Forged skillfully, the thick soldering iron turned long and sharp. It sizzled and was finally shaped into a sword in the cold water...
“Have you noticed anything?” Ouyang Shaochen couldn’t help asking her, who was staring at the blacksmith in silence.
With a gleam s.h.i.+mmering in her eyes, Murong Xue whispered, “Considering the thick callous on his palm, as well as his aura, he must have been a blacksmith for a long time. However, from his skilled techniques as well as the decisiveness lingering in his eyes, the man definitely used to be a soldier...”
“Sharing the same opinion with you, Xun Feng tried to make an inquiry about him. According to his neighbors, the man came to Ming Zhou ten years ago, which was two years after your father’s death...” Ouyang Shaochen explained.
Murong Xue nodded. “How good is his martial skill?”
“Xun Feng still hasn’t got a chance to test him, but according to him, their martial skills seem to be at the same level...” Ouyang Shaochen said calmly, his dark eyes as if a deep lake.
Murong Xue narrowed her cold eyes. Since Xun Feng’s martial skills ranked the top three among the Invisible Guards of the Lord Freedom’s Mansion, this man was surprisingly a match to him. “He is highly likely one of the Shadow Guards...”
Swis.h.!.+ Someone seemed to be staring at her with his sharp eyes. Murong Xue looked up at the blacksmith. With his eyelids lowered, he fixed his gaze on the newly forged sword...
Was it merely her illusion?
Murong Xue frowned with confusion. The middle-aged blacksmith hung the sword on the room wall, moved all the necessities, including the sword grinder, the stove and the coal into the shop, locked the door before brus.h.i.+ng the dust off his s.h.i.+rt and hurrying forward.
“Where is he going?” Murong Xue squinted. Since it was about time for breakfast, there were already restaurants and several stalls selling breakfast in that man’s direction.
But the stalls were no more than ten meters away from his shop. If he only wanted to take some food, there would be no need to put all the things away...
“He might be up to something. We should follow him!” Ouyang Shaochen suggested.
“Okay!” Murong Xue nodded and stepped forward with Ouyang Shaochen.
Walking slowly along the road paved by pebbles, they always kept a suitable distance from the man, which not only prevented them from being discovered, but also kept the target within their sight...