Chapter 76: Yunxiao City
As the three men spoke, a subtle atmosphere permeated the surroundings.
The mood was stiff and frosty.
It looked as if none of them would yield.
Su Muyao hadn’t expected this to happen.
She wanted to silently push them away, wait for the three to choose a result, and then just have the winner carry her to Yunxiao City.
Unexpectedly, before she could step back, the three turned their heads to look at her.
Su Muyao gave a sheepish smile. “Um, I forgot I still have some things to grab. I’ll go back and get them.”
Hua Linye went directly to Su Muyao’s side, looking like he wouldn’t let her escape.
He hooked his fox eyes and smiled bewitchingly. “How about Wife-master chooses?”
“Who does Wife-master want to take her to the market the most?”
Wen Nanxi said gently, “That works too. Wife-master, you say it!”
Xiao Jihan also expressed agreement. “We listen to Wife-master!”
She felt that as soon as she opened her mouth, they might start fighting.
She looked at Wen Nanxi, who was gentle as jade and noble as an orchid.
Actually, if she had to choose, internally she might choose Wen Nanxi.
Because after she first transmigrated, only Wen Nanxi had consistently been gentle with her.
He hadn’t said anything harsh.
Perhaps it was a bit of the imprinting effect!
But she also didn’t want a fire in the backyard.
They hadn’t even gone to the market yet, hadn’t even sold anything.
Once they reached the city market, if things got too busy, she would need the help of all three of them.
She needed their protection even more.
Under their gaze, an invisible pressure flowed through the air.
Su Muyao suddenly had a flash of inspiration. “How about we draw lots to decide?”
After saying it, Su Muyao felt this method was truly good.
Let probability decide.
Hearing Su Muyao’s words, the imposing aura around the three men retracted.
The tense atmosphere in the air instantly dissipated.
“That is also fair!”
The three had no objections to this proposal.
Just like that, the three drew lots, and the decision was made quickly.
Hua Linye would carry her on the way there, and Wen Nanxi would carry her on the way back.
No Xiao Jihan.
The aura around Xiao Jihan turned chilly.
Su Muyao felt that ever since she treated Xiao Jihan’s Cold Syndrome that day, he had become a bit different from usual.
She didn’t investigate further.
Hua Linye was very happy. “Wife-master, I’ll carry you!”
Saying that, he transformed directly into his true form, then bent his front knees in front of Su Muyao, essentially kneeling in his beast form.
It was different from before.
Previously, he had just used his tail to wrap around Su Muyao and lift her onto his back.
This time, he lowered his head and knees.
Su Muyao was moved and said, “Okay!”
Hua Linye then carefully used his tail to wrap around Su Muyao and place her on his back.
“Sit well, Wife-master. Tell me if it’s uncomfortable.”
Hua Linye tried hard to make his aura softer, afraid of making the Wife-master uncomfortable.
If the Wife-master didn’t want him to carry her next time because of this, it would be troublesome.
At this moment, he could feel Wen Nanxi and Xiao Jihan’s gazes.
But as long as he could carry the Wife-master, nothing else mattered.
Ever since the Wife-master worried about dangers in the forest a while ago, she hadn’t gone back to the mountains, so they hadn’t had a chance to get close to her or carry her.
Finally, there was a chance.
“Wife-master can hold onto my tails; it will be steadier that way.”
As Hua Linye spoke, he curled his nine tails into a circle, enclosing Su Muyao within them.
This way, even if Su Muyao didn’t hold on to him, she wouldn’t fall off or wobble.
Su Muyao’s expression shifted, and she smiled. “Alright!”
She hadn’t expected Hua Linye to be so meticulous and considerate right now.
This was like sitting in a car with guardrails; she could freely look at the scenery around her.
Moreover, Hua Linye’s fox form was very tall, providing an excellent view.
Hua Linye began to carry Su Muyao, moving forward rapidly.
Hua Linye’s speed was fast and steady.
The wind in July wasn’t cold, giving her a refreshing feeling.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Su Muyao’s face.
Wen Nanxi and Xiao Jihan also transformed into their true forms and followed alongside, one on each side, ready to protect Su Muyao at any time.
They controlled their speed to match Hua Linye’s.
…
More than half an hour later, they arrived at the gate of Yunxiao City.
The sky was just getting light.
But there were already many beastmen with goods lining up at the city gate.
Some carried goods on their shoulders, some used wooden poles to carry loads between two beastmen; there were all kinds of people carrying various things.
It was obvious they were entering the city to sell things at the market.
Hua Linye stopped. “Wife-master, we need to line up and pay the entry fee to enter the city.”
Su Muyao nodded. “Then let me get down first!”
After Hua Linye put Su Muyao down, he transformed back into human form.
Wen Nanxi and Xiao Jihan also reverted to human form.
Su Muyao peeked ahead and asked, “Do we have to pay a fee to enter the city?”
She didn’t know how much it was, and she didn’t want to overpay.
Seeing Su Muyao’s confused expression, Wen Nanxi explained from the side, “This is an order from the Beast Emperor. Every city must collect an entry fee at the gate, used for city construction and defense.”
“However, each city is fully managed by its City Lord. The City Lord can decide the amount of the fee independently.”
“Yunxiao City charges relatively little; it only requires one bronze Crystal Coin.”
Su Muyao nodded. “That is indeed little.”
This was fair to ordinary beastmen. Otherwise, if everyone used the Crystal Coins they earned just to pay the entry fee, the exploitation would be too heavy.
Su Muyao had instinctively decided to come to Yunxiao City simply because she knew it was the closest city to the tribe.
However, she didn’t know about the internal environment or security of Yunxiao City.
“Is Yunxiao City considered a better city in the north?”
Wen Nanxi said gently, “En, for ordinary beastmen, it is recognized as the best city.”
“During the market, the City Lord also set rules prohibiting beastmen from fighting privately. Once a fight is discovered, they will be strictly punished and expelled from the city, never allowed to enter Yunxiao City again.”
“That’s why everyone is willing to come to Yunxiao City to trade; the environment is relatively fair and just.”
With that, Su Muyao understood a bit more.
However, she still frowned in concentration and asked, “Is the Yun City Lord appointed by the Beast Royal City?”
She was worried that if he was connected to the forces of the Beast Royal City, someone might want to kill her.
Wen Nanxi knew what she was worried about. He reached out and gently patted her hair, explaining, “The City Lord of Yunxiao City has always been from the Yun clan.”
“The Yun clan’s ancestors were the mysterious Yun people of the north. They have managed Yunxiao City since ancient times.”
“Only people from the Yun clan can control the environment of the northern region well, master all the forces, and suppress all riots.”
“It’s just that the heir of the Yun family in this generation is sickly, and City Lord Yun is advanced in years, so the situation might change.”
“But for now, no problems have been found.”
Hearing Wen Nanxi say this, Su Muyao gained a better understanding of Yunxiao City.
If Yunxiao City had good security and was good for business, could they come here often to set up a stall?
While they were bored waiting in line, the beastmen in front began to talk.
“Have you heard? Young Master Yun of Yunxiao City is seriously ill. City Lord Yun is looking for a divine doctor to treat him. They say Young Master Yun is dying.”
“Is that true? If something happens to Young Master Yun—he’s City Lord Yun’s only grandson—will Yunxiao City fall into someone else’s hands? Will the entry fee increase then?”
“I heard that in other cities, the entry fees are quite expensive. Only City Lord Yun and Young Master Yun consider the situation of us ordinary beastmen.”
