The interior of the sedan chair was spacious, and the seats were covered with premium silk cushions. When one sat down, they would sink slightly into a patch of softness. Even if there were occasional bumps on the road, one's bottom wouldn't feel the slightest hardness.
Having been accustomed to the exhaustion of riding horses along the journey, sitting in such a comfortable vehicle for the first time, Chai Xiaomi couldn't muster even a hint of a smile.
The atmosphere inside the sedan was oppressive and slightly eerie.
Brother Yu, Sister Yao, and Old Ji were sitting in another sedan chair.
Here, there were three people in total. She sat at the innermost seat of honor, with Wu Li and Ouyang Rui sitting on her left and right sides respectively.
She didn't know what the two of them had just whispered about, as she hadn't heard clearly. All she knew was that after their chat, Wu Li actually took the initiative to accept Ouyang Rui's invitation. He had always preferred to be alone and never liked joining in on the fun, yet he was surprisingly eager to go to the Ouyang Manor.
When the distance between the two gradually widened, she vaguely heard Wu Li reply with a cold sneer, "What I'm afraid of is that Young Master Ouyang doesn't have the ability to snatch it away."
Ouyang Rui provoked, "If Young Master Wu isn't afraid, then let's compete fairly. Without trying, how do you know I don't have the ability to take it?"
Wu Li merely scoffed, "Then I will wait and see. I just hope you don't cry too ugly when you lose."
Chai Xiaomi was thoroughly confused and couldn't help but interject, "What are you two trying to snatch?"
Unexpectedly, the two of them turned their heads at the same time and said in perfect unison:
"The Ice Bow and Dark Arrow."
It turned out they were both going to participate in the New Moon Archery Tournament, aiming for the same prize.
But friendship should come first and competition second. The match hadn't even started yet, and the atmosphere was already so tense. It really wasn't necessary.
The wheels slowly rolled over the bluestone street. It was unknown how much longer it would take to reach the Ouyang Manor. The streets outside were bustling with noise, but inside it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
It was so quiet she felt she could hear her own breathing. Chai Xiaomi sneaked a glance to the left. Wu Li had his arms crossed, leaning lazily against the wall of the sedan, his gaze fixed unabashedly on Ouyang Rui's face like nails.
Looking to the right, Ouyang Rui sat upright and properly, his hands resting on his knees, staring straight back at the other man.
Were these two playing a staring contest?
Chai Xiaomi felt as if those two lines of sight were creating invisible electrical currents in mid-air, crackling and intertwining, as if sparks would fly in the next second.
This strange atmosphere was driving an extrovert like her crazy. She really couldn't stand it anymore.
Chai Xiaomi cleared her throat, deciding to randomly find a topic to break the deadlock and liven up the mood.
"Um, Ouyang Rui..."
"Ah! Xiaomi, it's me!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Ouyang Rui had already whipped his head around, his eyes lighting up with eager joy. "You finally remembered my name! Xiaomi, although your memory is poor, you managed to remember me. It seems I must be a unique one among all the passing travelers in your life, right?"
Saying this, he excitedly grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously.
"Listen to me, thank you, really thank you!"
Chai Xiaomi: "..."
No, she just casually called his name. Why was he acting as if she were his savior or second parent?
She squeezed out a stiff and awkward smile and calmly withdrew her hand. "Don't mention it for such a small thing."
She felt as if the air on her left suddenly grew cold, like countless fine ice shards silently piercing towards her. She instinctively wanted to turn her head to look, but Ouyang Rui had already leaned forward slightly and asked softly:
"By the way, what was Mi'er trying to say just now?"
Ugh... what the heck is Mi'er?
Chai Xiaomi's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "You can just call me Xiaomi."
Ouyang Rui explained with a serious face, "Mi'er might not know this, but it's an old rule of our Ouyang family. Once friends become familiar with each other, they don't call each other by their full names, but add an 'er' to it. You can also call me Rui'er. Of course, as long as you are happy, you can call me whatever you like."
As if afraid Chai Xiaomi wouldn't believe him, he immediately turned to Wu Li and gently called out, "Li'er."
"Pfft—" Chai Xiaomi covered her mouth, unable to resist stealing a glance at Wu Li.
Sure enough, the expression on the young man's face at this moment could no longer be described as just ugly. His gaze was as cold as a blade. When he looked at Ouyang Rui, it was as if he were looking at a piece of meat on a chopping block, ready to mince him into paste in the next second.
Unfortunately, Ouyang Rui still hadn't realized the severity of the situation and continued to frantically test the waters on the edge of death. "Young Master Wu is broad-minded, so you shouldn't mind such an intimate form of address, right?"
"Sorry," Wu Li twitched the corner of his mouth, his voice freezing cold. "I don't possess anything like broad-mindedness. You should save names like cats and dogs for addressing poultry and livestock. Even the snake I raise has a better name than yours."
As soon as he finished speaking, a crimson snake poked its head out of his cuff, swaying from side to side and lightly flicking its tongue.
Did it hear right? Its master actually praised it?
The little snake felt extremely delighted.
All the grievances it had suffered recently vanished into thin air.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the living creature, Ouyang Rui shrank back, his spine pressing tightly against the sedan wall.
It was one thing to raise Crimson Blood Silkworms with flesh and blood, but to actually... carry a snake around? The witchcraft and Gu clan truly acted bizarrely. Fortunately, he had come prepared. His father had given him a protective jade stone, said to ward off Gu and prevent poison, which was currently hanging quietly around his neck.
Although the magical artifacts in his father's treasure vault were all rare items, none of them could suppress his nightly nightmares. He didn't know if they would be effective against witchcraft and Gu arts.
Wu Li's gaze calmly swept over Ouyang Rui's neck, his eyes deepening a fraction, and a hint of a teasing smile slowly surfaced on his face.
So he had made fully comprehensive preparations.
No wonder when Ouyang Rui reached out to hold Chai Xiaomi's hand just now, the Gu power he secretly activated sank like a stone in the ocean, and the other party was completely unaware.
This was... quite interesting.
His knuckles, resting among the folds of his clothes, slightly curled and quietly tightened.
The Hongjiao in his sleeve immediately and keenly sensed the murderous aura its master was trying hard to suppress. Like an imprisoned fierce beast, it was restlessly battering against the cage of reason, almost ready to burst out and slaughter everything in sight.
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly rigid, Chai Xiaomi hurriedly brought the topic back. "Ouyang Rui, didn't you say that the New Moon Archery Tournament was single-handedly organized by your father, Ouyang Huai? The prize is also provided by your family. Since you want that Ice Bow and Dark Arrow, why don't you just ask your father for it and use something else as the prize?"
Ouyang Rui dusted off his robe and raised his eyebrows. "Mi'er might not know this. I, Ouyang Rui, have always acted aboveboard. Even if there is a shortcut, I absolutely will not covet convenience. I want to compete fairly with everyone; only then can I live up to the spirit of a dignified man!"
Just as Chai Xiaomi was about to praise him a bit, the young man's cold and thin voice came from opposite her, mercilessly puncturing this impassioned speech.
"In fact, the Ice Bow and Dark Arrow were stolen by the Moon Shadow Demon Spirit. Out of desperation, it was set as the prize to use the name of the New Moon Archery Tournament to deal with that demon." Wu Li sneered coldly. "This matter has already spread throughout the entire Thousand Mists Town. Save it, Young Master Ouyang. How could any idiot believe your high-sounding rhetoric?"
Chai Xiaomi: Damn it, she almost believed it...
