“What if I want you right here? What would you do?”
As she spoke, Chen Qing’s invasive gaze roamed freely over Su Mu’s slender and well-proportioned body.
“T-Then I’ll go for a walk outside.”
With that, Su Mu tried to get up and leave Chen Qing’s embrace.
Unexpectedly, Chen Qing suddenly drew the Silver Sword that Su Mu was holding in her arms.
A flash of silver light, and the air inside the carriage grew a few degrees colder.
“You! You! Can you be a bit gentler?”
Seeing Chen Qing draw her sword so directly, Su Mu’s legs went a little soft, and her heart felt uneasy.
At this distance, Chen Qing could take her life with just a flick of her wrist.
Thinking of Chen Qing’s unpredictable temper, Su Mu saw red danger signals flashing wildly above her own head.
“Hmph, just teasing you. I just wanted to sharpen my sword.”
Su Mu’s instant surrender was within Chen Qing’s expectations.
After all, this Traitorous Shizun had always been timid and afraid of death in front of her.
Her earlier teasing had indeed just been to toy with her.
Seeing that Chen Qing was seriously sharpening her sword, Su Mu sat down in a spot closer to Chen Qing, by the window.
This time, she had learned her lesson from before. Sitting too far away would give this detestable Villain an excuse to pick on her.
By choosing a spot neither too close nor too far, she figured there would be no reason for nitpicking.
In the quiet carriage, only the scritch-scritch of Chen Qing sharpening her sword and the serene breeze rustling through hair could be heard.
Su Mu gazed at the scenery outside the window, and the tension from being alone with Chen Qing eased considerably.
However, the ordinary green hills and clear waters soon bored her.
Su Mu’s little eyes darted around the carriage before finally settling on Chen Qing’s serious, pretty face.
This detestable Villain was still quite beautiful. Her face was smooth and plump, tempting one to poke it and test the feel.
But just as Su Mu wondered what it would feel like to poke Chen Qing’s cheek,
Chen Qing suddenly stopped sharpening her sword and turned, fixing Su Mu with her crimson eyes.
Chen Qing stared silently, mimicking Su Mu.
Finally, Su Mu couldn’t take it and broke the silence.
“W-What are you looking at me for?”
“Come here.”
Chen Qing offered no explanation, instead issuing a domineering order for Su Mu to come to her side.
“I-I’m already pretty close to you here. No need to switch seats, right?”
But seeing Chen Qing’s gaze and the gleaming Silver Sword, Su Mu knew there was no negotiating.
Reluctantly, she scooted over.
But Chen Qing wasn’t satisfied. She pulled Su Mu straight into her embrace.
Then, with one arm around Su Mu’s body, her other hand slowly slipped off Su Mu’s shoe, revealing her white, tender, jade-like little foot.
“No!”
Su Mu pleaded with her eyes. This was the second time she’d made that expression in the carriage.
Last time, it was just teasing, but this time, Chen Qing seemed serious.
Gazing at Su Mu’s pleading eyes, Chen Qing cupped her little foot in both hands and toyed with it.
“Boring on the road. I’ll warm your feet for you. Won’t do anything else.”
To Su Mu, Chen Qing’s words rang just like “I’ll just rub against it, won’t go in.”
Boring, she said, and offered to warm feet—who warms feet like this?
Though shame and annoyance burned in her heart, with no choice under someone else’s roof, Su Mu could only blush and endure the odd sensation of her little foot being caressed.
Surprisingly, Chen Qing behaved this time. Aside from appraising and playing with the little foot like a work of art, there were no further excesses.
“Sovereign, there’s an inn ahead. Shall we stop there?”
“Alright.”
As the sun dipped below the mountains, the Tomb Raiders who had followed the carriage all day felt their legs weren’t their own anymore.
Spotting the inn ahead, they hurriedly reported to Chen Qing.
Knowing darkness was falling and pushing on would only heighten risks, Chen Qing agreed and dismounted first.
Moments later, Su Mu descended unsteadily, her gait a bit off.
Her pretty face and small earlobes still bore a faint blush.
When Su Mu nearly stumbled, a nearby Tomb Raider reached to steady her, only to be stopped by his companion.
“Too slow.”
Chen Qing, ahead, noticed Su Mu’s odd walk. She grumbled in disdain, but turned back honestly to support her.
Su Mu shot Chen Qing a glare laced with shyness and anger.
Her slow pace was because her feet were still tingling and numb—and the culprit dared complain.
Seeing Su Mu’s furious glare, Chen Qing simply scooped her up by the waist.
“Since you’re so slow, I’ll carry you.”
“I-I don’t want to!”
No more walking on numb feet, but being carried in front of everyone filled Su Mu with shame.
Naturally, her protests meant nothing to Chen Qing.
Though prior interactions had softened Chen Qing toward this foolish Master, allowing minor verbal outbursts,
Su Mu’s place in her heart remained that of the Traitorous Shizun who betrayed her in her past life and deserved harsh revenge now.
The Tomb Raiders behind exchanged bewildered glances.
They’d assumed she was coerced by that brutal woman too, but it didn’t seem so.
Of course, if Su Mu heard their thoughts, she’d yell that she absolutely was coerced by this wicked woman.
Chen Qing carried Su Mu right into the roadside inn.
Few people were around, but facing strangers, the socially anxious Su Mu buried her head in Chen Qing’s chest like an ostrich.
About to set her down, Chen Qing saw the buried head and curved her lips faintly.
She kept holding Su Mu, showing no immediate intent to release her.
“Innkeeper, one room.”
“Right away.”
The middle-aged proprietor eyed Chen Qing and her armful curiously.
Fine-looking lass, eyes cold though. The girl in her arms has a nice figure too.
Two beauties like this, embracing publicly—youths and their games.
Busy thoughts aside, nosiness ruined business.
He took Chen Qing’s silver and swiftly handed over the room tag.
Chen Qing ignored the trailing Tomb Raiders.
She hadn’t needed them yet; keeping them saved recruiting anew and provided porters.
Housing was their problem.
Chen Qing carried Su Mu to the room on the tag. As the door clicked shut, Su Mu finally lifted her head from the ostrich position in Chen Qing’s embrace.
