Chapter 40: On the road

Mountains were high and waters long, with lush green trees.

Li Qi carried a large backpack, his heart aching as he weighed his money pouch.

Nine hundred ninety-two coins, now only two hundred thirty-one coins remained.

And what he got in return was this large backpack on his back.

There were many things inside.

This large backpack itself was not cheap.

Rain-resistant cowhide paper, durable rice cakes, and some dried salted meat.

A large canvas tarp that could be folded into a big bundle for carrying things in the wild, rolled up into a handy short rope, used as a blanket, and was also wear-resistant and fireproof.

Two choppers, a small whetstone—at least they provided some Sharp Weapons in case of trouble in the wild, could be used to cut through blocking vines, and also to chop wood for fire.

Some tinder, two flints—no need to say more, for starting fires; normally, he'd use flints, but in an emergency, he could use the tinder that ignited with a flick.

There were also trauma medicine, insect repellent, some essential medicines—necessities for survival in the wild.

A bolt of linen, some small knives, a spatula, iron heads for farm tools, etc.—he brought these to moonlight as a Merchant, to sell some in villages to recover funds.

He was poor, so every bit he could earn counted.

Besides these, there were many small sundries, which he wouldn't list one by one.

In short, Li Qi was well-prepared for the long journey ahead.

Moreover, he spent a huge sum, a full sixty coins, to buy a new set of clothes for Shen Shuibi.

Her previous outfit, with its veil and cutouts, matched Young Master Zhu's style, but walking with him, she looked like a walking target about to be robbed.

So he changed her into a woman's linen dress; now she just looked like a pretty village girl.

Though a bit too pretty—how could normal villagers raise such a beauty?

After all, in ordinary villages or among Gang members like Li Qi, female family members, even if naturally beautiful, mostly needed to work and manage the household.

No matter how good one's natural looks were, if one grew up doing laundry, cooking, pounding rice, and chopping wood daily, any naturally beautiful person would grow into a peasant woman's appearance—big-boned and broad-waisted, with rough skin, very unattractive.

But honestly, people of Li Qi's class precisely needed this kind of wife.

Because they were familiar with various tasks, efficient, physically strong, not easily sick, and could work in the fields or help their husbands with heavy labor; they were excellent at maintaining the family's livelihood—this was the kind of wife one needed to get by.

If he truly kept a delicate beauty with soft skin and a petite figure at home, even if she didn't cause trouble, just her inability to work would make the family unable to bear the burden.

He couldn't afford her.

If she was willing to share her husband's burden, then after at most two years of work, she would also become big-boned and broad-waisted like other peasant women, her beauty gone.

Therefore, even though Shen Shuibi wore a linen dress, it was still obvious at a glance that she was definitely not an ordinary person.

But none of that mattered; after all, Li Qi felt that he himself should no longer be considered an ordinary person, and he should be able to handle it, as long as she wasn't too conspicuous.

Walking on the road, Li Qi looked at Shen Shuibi beside him, lightly dressed, carrying no luggage, carefree, leading the way as if on a picnic.

This reminded him of their conversation at the start of their journey.

At that time, Li Qi asked: “Shen Guniang, how do you determine the direction? Where is Empress Luofu?”

“By feeling it~ I’ve been by Niangniang’s side since I was little. Wherever Niangniang is, I know as soon as I open my eyes. As long as I follow my feelings, I’ll definitely find her!” Shen Shuibi said confidently, clenching her small fists and making a solemn vow.

To be honest, Li Qi only felt it was very unreliable.

But there was no choice; this was a world with demons and monsters, and it might actually work.

So… a journey with an unknown destination and no itinerary began just like that.

The two walked all the way, Li Qi carrying a large backpack containing all their luggage, while Shen Shuibi carried nothing, wearing her new clothes, hands empty, just walking forward.

Li Qi initially questioned her approach.

But after walking for two days, Li Qi discovered that she truly seemed to need no luggage.

Shui Bi could remain unsullied, not getting dirty even when walking in the wild; she neither sweated nor had any odor. Even if she fell and got covered in dust, when she got up with a bitter face, the dust would natural slide off her, not sticking to her skin at all.

Besides that, she didn't need to eat!

Yes, according to her own words, she was a natural unique being, not a common monster that had gained sentience, so she didn't need to eat ordinary food; she only needed to consume wind and dew, absorbing different Qi.

Because of this, she also didn't need to excrete, didn't need to sweat. If she wanted to, she could even not breathe; breathing was merely a means of eating for her.

No need to bathe, no sweating, always clean, always beautiful.

This… is she a two-dimensional beautiful girl?

Is she that low-maintenance?

In short, taking this thing on the road meant absolutely no logistical pressure; she could walk on her own and ran quite fast too.

Very good, very good.

The two of them trudged through the desolate wilderness for three days.

On this day, at noon, Li Qi needed to rest, make some lunch to replenish his strength, and stretch his legs.

Shui Bi was also very understanding; not everyone could be as energetic and fragrant as her without eating or bathing, so she waited patiently by his side.

After three days of getting along, the two were no longer so unfamiliar. However, Shui Bi was usually quiet, and topics were mostly initiated by Li Qi to relieve boredom on the road. So, when Li Qi went to fetch water and cook, she remained silent, looking into the distance.

She hadn't lied to Li Qi; she truly didn't know where Niangniang was, but the little rabbit could indeed vaguely sense Niangniang's location.

It was just… after walking for three days, she hadn't felt the distance close much.

This meant that the distance covered in these three days was nothing compared to the distance to Niangniang.

She didn't tell Li Qi this, because she was afraid that if she did, Li Qi wouldn't be willing to go with her to find Niangniang.

Because he struggled greatly walking the mountain roads, unlike her.

They had walked over two hundred li in these three days, but to find Niangniang, they would probably have to walk tens of thousands of li.

If Niangniang didn't move, it might take a year and a half.

“Sigh…” She sighed. At this speed, it would take a very long time.

If only they had a horse.

Unfortunately, Li Qi was very poor and couldn't afford one; a horse would cost twenty or thirty gold, and although Shui Bi didn't think it was expensive, Li Qi definitely couldn't come up with it.

As she thought this, she suddenly stood up.

Ahead… was that the neighing of a horse?