Chapter 186 Traveling Together
Dust was flying on the official road as Li Yuanfang rode his horse at full speed. Under Di Renjie's order, he went to Pingzhou first to investigate the situation.

But not long after he set out, a tail appeared behind him.

Li Yuanfang noticed Ruyan following behind him and hesitated for a moment. He didn't know whether he should expose Ruyan's whereabouts.

It seems completely inexplicable that a young lady from the Di family could follow a highly skilled general of the Qianniu Guard without being discovered.

If Ruyan stayed with him a little longer, neither side would be able to continue the play.

Thinking of this, Li Yuanfang suddenly pulled the reins, the horse let out a long neigh, and accelerated instantly. He wanted to see how the other party would react.

As a result, Ruyan also sped up, always keeping a distance from Li Yuanfang.

By the evening, Li Yuanfang did not have time to stay at an inn, so he had to rest in the wilderness with no village in front and no shop behind.

As the last rays of sunset sank into the horizon, Li Yuanfang carefully selected a place sheltered from the wind and lit a bonfire.

The jumping flames dispelled the darkness and coldness around.

Li Yuanfang sat on a rock, adding firewood to the fire while warming it. There was also a wooden stick with steamed buns on it, which was slowly heated by the fire.

Behind a rock not far away, Ruyan was holding her breath and secretly looking at Li Yuanfang, and "accidentally" made a little noise.

Li Yuanfang caught the subtle movement, he tilted his head slightly, and said in a low but firm voice: "Come out!"

Ruyan was startled and turned around quickly, trying to hide, but she didn't expect Li Yuanfang to move, soaring into the air, drawing an arc in the air, tapping the ground with his feet, and instantly blocking her.

"Ah——" Ruyan seemed frightened and let out a shrill scream.

However, Li Yuanfang's expression was as cold as ice, and his eyes were as sharp as torches, staring straight at Ruyan.

The majesty made Ruyan cover her mouth involuntarily and stop screaming, leaving only the rapid breathing echoing in the night.

Li Yuanfang asked with a hint of chill in his tone, "Why are you here?"

Ruyan couldn't help but smile, and responded playfully: "Well, didn't expect it?"

Li Yuanfang did not answer, but turned back to the campfire.

Ruyan quickly followed, and a series of questions came out like a string of cannonballs: "You are so amazing, how did you find me? And can you teach me how to fly around just now..."

Li Yuanfang ignored Ruyan and announced coldly: "Tomorrow we will go to the nearest county government office together, and I will have someone take you back to Luoyang."

Ruyan screamed again when she heard this: "No!"

Then she turned around and tried to run, but Li Yuanfang grabbed her shoulders and she couldn't move.

She struggled hard and shouted anxiously: "Let me go! If you send me to the government, I will run away again. This time I will go to Pingzhou by myself so that no one can find me!"

"They said they would take me to Luoyang to play, but when I arrived in Luoyang, all the hosts left, leaving me alone at home. How can you treat a guest like this?"

Li Yuanfang sighed softly, revealing a hint of helplessness in his tone: "This journey is not just for sightseeing. It's winter now, and the weather is getting colder. You're a girl..."

Ruyan threw a tantrum and interrupted Li Yuanfang: "I don't care! I don't care... If you don't take me to Pingzhou, I will go by myself. Anyway, I will never go back to Luoyang."

Seeing this, Li Yuanfang sighed again, held up three fingers, and said seriously: "Three conditions!"

When Ruyan heard this, her eyes immediately lit up with joy and she nodded repeatedly: "Okay! Okay! I agree to any condition."

Li Yuanfang took a deep breath and said, "First, you must obey me in all actions. You cannot make your own decisions. Second, don't complain along the way. Third, come with me to the inn tomorrow and write a letter to the adults." "If you agree to these three things, I will take you to Pingzhou. If you violate any one of them, I will send you back to Luoyang immediately."

Ruyan quickly agreed: "Okay, okay, I agree to everything."

Her smile bloomed again, but Li Yuanfang still maintained that serious face and added stiffly: "I hope you can do what you say."

"Sure, sure." Ruyan promised hurriedly.

Seeing Ruyan's promise, Li Yuanfang handed a hot steamed bun to Ruyan and then stood up.

Ruyan quickly stood up and asked, "Where are you going now?"

"Go and get your horse and your luggage. Where is your horse tied?" Li Yuanfang asked.

Ruyan was relieved and pointed to the south: "It's in the woods over there."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanfang turned his head and left without looking back. Ruyan watched him walk away and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she had gotten away with it.

After a while, Li Yuanfang returned with a horse and an exquisite bag in his hand. He asked Ruyan, "Is this all the luggage you brought?"

Ruyan shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Yes, I only brought a few clothes, but I also brought a lot of money, which is definitely enough to get to Pingzhou!"

Li Yuanfang reminded expressionlessly: "It's winter now. It's okay at the post station, but in the wild, this little stuff won't last you overnight."

Ruyan thought for a moment and said, "If you need anything, go buy it tomorrow. I have to write a letter to my uncle anyway, so this is just on the way."

Li Yuanfang shook his head slightly, with a hint of helplessness between his brows: "What about tonight?"

Ruyan blinked and did not answer, looking at Li Yuanfang pitifully.

Seeing this, Li Yuanfang said no more, but silently took out a thick blanket from his bag and threw it to Ruyan: "Use it, it's new, I haven't used it before."

Ruyan held the blanket with her hands and looked up at Li Yuanfang: "What are you going to do?"

"I'm keeping watch."
-
The night passed quietly. Ruyan had only intended to rest her eyes and take a nap, but she fell asleep inexplicably. For a killer who was roaming around in the shadows of swords, such a comfortable and relaxing sleep was both precious and somewhat inappropriate.

As the dawn broke, she woke up slowly, her body instinctively tensed up, and she looked around vigilantly.

However, what came into view was a blazing bonfire. Apparently someone had been adding firewood last night to ensure the bonfire was burning brightly. The man who added firewood, Li Yuanfang, was now standing quietly in the distance feeding the horses.

Ruyan's vigilant mind relaxed, she grabbed the blanket on her body, and seemed to smell a charming smell.

She shook her head to clear away the distracting thoughts in her mind. She came here on a mission to cooperate with a plan far away in Pingzhou.

According to Li Yuanfang's request, the two came to a nearby post station, left a letter to Di Renjie, bought some dry food and cold-proof clothing, and set off for Pingzhou.

After Ruyan and Li Yuanfang left, a group of people in purple came to their camp last night and found the message left by Ruyan under a stone mark.

The leading woman in red took out the note, read it and said, "The Snake Head has left a message. Tell them to cancel all plans to follow Li Yuanfang and the Snake Head. This person is too skilled in martial arts, and he will be discovered if we are not careful."

"But our mission is to determine Li Yuanfang's exact location and cooperate with Pingzhou. How can we not follow him?" asked a man in purple.

The red-dressed woman smiled and said, "Don't worry. In the future, it will be like today. The snake leader will leave a message, and then we will come to get the news. The snake leader will inform us of their itinerary in advance."

(End of this chapter)