The mountains were high and the roads were long, the clumsy horse slow. Xie Bi'an would only pat it a few times when it needed to speed up, thus changing the rhythm.
Did anyone fall in love with riding a horse? I didn't know. I never quite liked riding. It always felt less comfortable than riding in a car. But with Xie Bi'an, I still enjoyed this feeling of holding the clear and vast world in my hands. The main reason was that her weight was incredibly light, only about forty to fifty jin. She was so slender that one could hold her with a single grip, and she could adopt various riding positions: facing forward, backward, front-to-back, even up-and-down.
"A parting at the end of a thousand-mile journey," Xie Bi'an said reluctantly at the head of the Naihe Bridge. "Moreover, you've learned the Gale Art. If you come to the Underworld again, you won't need me to pick you up."
"...If I have time, I still hope you'll pick me up. More than the Gale Art, I prefer riding horses with you," I said sincerely.
"If it were in the mortal world? You'd still like it?" Xie Bi'an tilted her head and asked.
I shook my head.
"Why?" Xie Bi'an sounded a little unhappy.
"Because there are cars in the mortal world. We can try that next time," I chuckled. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"But cars need to be... driven, right? Your hands wouldn't be convenient."
"Do you have any research on ancient poetry?" I asked.
"I studied briefly with my elder brother when I was young. I know a little. Why?"
"There's a poem by Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty. One line is 'Frosty leaves are redder than February flowers.' Do you know the preceding line?" I asked.
"Stop the carriage and sit... you scoundrel! I get it! Go on, go on. I should be going back too." Xie Bi'an pursed her lips, her expression returning to stern. She turned her horse around. As she and her horse were about to disappear into the misty distance, Xie Bi'an looked back and smiled. It was truly a smile that could captivate a thousand charms!
After reminiscing, I crossed the Naihe Bridge and found myself back at the City God Temple near Black Mountain Fort. I sat at Meng Po's tea stall, ordered a cup of milk tea, and chatted with Meng Po for a bit. My legs were a little numb from the bumpy ride, and I needed to recover.
After finishing my milk tea, new souls arrived. Meng Po had to get to work, so I bid farewell to Meng Po and the unfamiliar underworld officials escorting the new souls, and left the Ghost Gate.
It was already night. Since I hadn't communicated with the base beforehand, no one was there to pick me up. In fact, it was safer this way, and I enjoyed the rare peace and quiet.
The workers in the few small workshops nearby had already finished their shifts. I walked along the road, heading towards the city shrouded in a dim yellow haze. This kind of yellow light, caused by urban light pollution, was very similar to the Underworld. The only difference was that people found the yellow light of the Underworld terrifying, while the yellow light of the city only made them feel prosperous.
A psychological issue.
After walking for about a kilometer, I still hadn't encountered a taxi. I suddenly remembered the Gale Art I had just learned and tried it. I found that it really didn't work in the mortal world. Let alone accelerating, it was difficult even to maintain the hand gesture.
After walking for another kilometer or so, I heard the sound of a car behind me. I turned around and finally saw a taxi. However, it was marked as occupied. Still, I forcefully stood in the middle of the road and stopped it.
The only passenger in the car was a young beauty who was quite displeased with the driver stopping and began to curse, threatening to complain.
"My dear, when you're out and about, helping others helps yourself. How about this: I'll pay your fare for you," I said politely.
"Heh, do you know where I'm going? And you want to pay for me? Can you afford it?" the beauty scoffed.
"You're not going all the way to Hainan Island by taxi, are you?" I laughed.
"Not that far! I'm going to Lushan! The fare is 600 yuan. You pay it," the beauty rolled her eyes at me. "If you don't pay for me, don't get in. Thanks."
I directly opened the car door, scanned the QR code on the central console, and sat in. "I thought it was how much? Twelve hundred. Please accept it, brother."
The beauty had nothing to say then. She pouted and hugged a stuffed toy, covering half her face.
The driver was very happy. After all, he made a good profit on this trip. Most taxis in the Northeast run on converted gas, so their operating costs are very low. For this long-distance trip, even after accounting for his food, drink, and lodging, he could still make a stable profit of seven to eight hundred yuan.
On the way, the driver and I chatted extensively. I lied, saying I was an office worker from Lushan who had come to Shengjing City for a cooperation project, but it fell through, and the client had abandoned me on the roadside.