"My horses are experienced. They know the route themselves. They drop those fools near the edge of the meadow and immediately run back."

"Aren’t you worried people might hold you responsible if something happens to them?" Yang Qingxi asked.

"Not at all."

The ranch owner answered confidently.

"I make every customer sign a non-responsibility contract."

Then he added proudly,

"And record a declaration video too."

Su Mo’s lips twitched violently.

"That’s very... thorough."

"Hahaha!" The old man laughed loudly. "What can I do? Those death-seeking fools are part of my livelihood. I can’t reject business walking right to my door."

"That’s true."

Su Mo nodded seriously.

The ranch owner rubbed his hands together with a businessman-like smile.

"Well then, have you two decided what package you want? Horse riding around town, grassland racing, photography spots, short video shooting locations—"

He pointed proudly toward several scenic hills nearby.

"We can even guide couples toward beautiful, romantic spots."

Su Mo suddenly smiled.

"Can your horses drop us at the Frostspine Mountains?"

"..."

The ranch owner stared at him silently.

The smile on his face slowly disappeared.

Even the surrounding wind seemed awkwardly quiet.

After a long moment, the ranch owner finally spoke stiffly.

"...Young man."

"Yes?"

"Do I look like someone running a funeral business?"

***

After signing the liability waiver and recording a declaration video that sounded suspiciously similar to someone leaving behind their final words, the ranch owner finally allowed them to leave.

However, his expression remained extremely dark throughout the entire process.

Especially after hearing their destination again.

In the end, only Consort was brought out.

Queen stayed behind at the ranch.

The reason was simple.

Su Mo couldn’t ride a horse alone without looking like he was about to challenge gravity itself.

Thus, after a short discussion, Yang Qingxi became the rider while Su Mo sat behind her.

The ranch owner looked at the two with an expression filled with complicated emotions, as though he were personally watching two young people walk toward a dangerous abyss hand in hand.

Before they departed, he finally couldn’t help shouting loudly,

"Remember! If possible, just return from the edge of the mountain range!"

His voice carried across the grasslands.

"I want to see you two come back alive!"

The old man’s figure gradually became smaller behind them as Consort trotted forward through the endless meadow.

Su Mo looked back briefly before smiling faintly.

"That old man is pretty nice."

Yang Qingxi remained silent for a moment before quietly nodding.

"...Mn."

She also felt warmth in her heart.

Although the ranch owner spoke roughly and constantly called them death-seeking fools, his concern was genuine.

Unfortunately, the touching atmosphere lasted less than five seconds.

"Su Mo..."

"Yes?"

"Where are you putting your hands?"

Yang Qingxi’s voice was calm. But there was even a faint tremor hidden beneath it.

And for some reason, the moment Su Mo heard that tone, he felt a chill crawl down his spine.

His expression froze.

Earlier, while turning back to look at the ranch owner, his hands had subconsciously shifted upward slightly in search of balance.

Very unfortunately...

They had landed somewhere extremely inappropriate.

"I-I need a grip," Su Mo defended weakly.

"Then grab my waist!"

Yang Qingxi snapped immediately, her ears already turning red.

"Remove your hands from my chest!"

"Yes, Ma’am!"

Su Mo instantly let go and hurriedly lowered his hands properly onto her waist, trying his best to appear innocent and harmless.

Yang Qingxi bit her lip lightly but didn’t continue scolding him.

She simply remained silent afterwards.

Meanwhile, Su Mo felt slightly awkward inwardly.

[Miss Yang is probably angry.]

After a brief pause, another thought appeared.

[But I have to admit... the feeling was indeed soft and comfortable.]

[Although the waist isn’t bad either.]

[Still, the comfort difference is obvious.]

Yang Qingxi, who was already feeling embarrassed and flustered, immediately became annoyed after hearing Su Mo’s thoughts.

Especially his strange, review-like, evaluation tone.

’Who asked for your feedback, you bastard?!’

’You already took advantage, and now you’re comparing comfort levels?!’

Her face became even hotter.

"Bah! Shameless!"

"?"

Su Mo was suddenly scolded again despite behaving honestly this time.

He opened his mouth slightly before wisely deciding to stay quiet.

After all... he truly had touched the wrong place earlier.

Even if it was accidental, he couldn’t exactly argue confidently.

Thus, the two quietly rode across the grasslands beneath the cold wind.

Consort maintained a steady pace while the distant Frostspine Mountains gradually became larger before their eyes.

For a short while, silence filled the surroundings.

However, Yang Qingxi soon discovered something troubling.

The hands around her waist... were far too noticeable.

Su Mo’s palms were warm and firm against her body. Every slight movement of the horse caused subtle friction through her clothes. His breath occasionally brushed against the back of her neck due to how close they were sitting together.

And because Consort wasn’t exactly walking gently...

Their bodies inevitably bumped against each other repeatedly during the ride.

Yang Qingxi’s breathing unconsciously became slightly disordered.

A strange tingling sensation spread through her body.

Excitement. Embarrassment. Panic. Nervousness.

All sorts of emotions mixed together, making her head feel dizzy.

’No... this can’t continue.’

’I need to distract myself.’

Pretending to remain calm, she casually spoke,

"Since you can’t ride horses, why did you suggest this in the first place?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow behind her.

"Hm?"

"We could’ve transformed into birds and flown directly there."

Su Mo rolled his eyes.

"If there’s a convenient option, why choose the tiring one?" he replied naturally. "Besides, we still have a long hike ahead of us after reaching the mountains."

"That’s true."

Yang Qingxi nodded lightly.

The conversation successfully distracted her somewhat.

Then Su Mo suddenly remembered something.

"Anyway, it’s a good thing your mother knew the location of the White Moon Sect. Otherwise, I would’ve had to track down Wu Chaochang again." He paused briefly. "By the way, didn’t she leave rather quickly? What did you two talk about?"