"Among the sisters, I really only get along with Qixi. Although Xia Zhu is nice, there’s always a distance between us. Yurou, she always carries a touch of arrogance. So, it’s your good fortune. I accept this marriage."’ Sun Youwei said softly, resting her head gently on Lin Miao’s chest.

Lin Miao was silent, merely extending his arms to hold her tightly.

This lifetime, he could never repay Sun Youwei for everything he owed her.

He was no saint; why hold himself to saintly standards? As long as he acted without shame to his conscience, that was enough.

Early the next morning, two simple carriages departed from Dongshan City.

They didn’t disturb anyone.

If people found out, it wouldn’t be that they couldn’t leave but that the farewell would have been troublesome. After all, he was just leaving for a while, like a business trip; he would be back in a few days.

Li Hen City was a place that ordinary folk did not wish to go to, too dangerous.

Traveling this time of year, you had to consider wind and snow. Aside from tents, there were also sleeping bags. Lin Miao didn’t bring too many people on this trip.

Besides Sun Youwei, there were the two sisters Lianxin and Liansuo, Ling Yu’Er, and Lin Mao; in total, only six people.

If there were more people, the target would be bigger, making it easier for others to notice.

His senior sister’s body had completely recovered, and she had martial arts skills now. Although her combat strength was limited, compared to a year ago, it was incomparable.

Lianxin and Liansuo were both in the Meridian Passage Realm, and Lin Mao had the combat capability of the same realm. Although Lin Mao and Ling Yu’Er’s cultivation was a bit low, their survival skills in the wild were excellent, so bringing them wasn’t a burden.

Considering that there might not be places to stay along the way, they brought plenty of camping tents and necessary food and drink.

He didn’t plan to go to the manor outside the city yet because Ji Fei’Er was there. If she saw through their plans, it would be troublesome.

He would worry about that on the way back; anyway, Yue Mei’Er was still able to hold them steady for now.

The weather did not cooperate.

After only half a day, snow began to fall in the afternoon. Fortunately, it wasn’t heavy, so they could still make progress.

On this journey, Lianxin and Lin Mao were responsible for driving.

They were familiar with this route, though snow made the road slippery, and their previous estimation of reaching the destination in two days now seemed uncertain.

Inside the carriage, Sun Youwei nestled in Lin Miao’s arms, savoring the intimate happiness alone. She thought, how wonderful it would be if they could continue like this.

The carriage was specially outfitted with heat preservation measures; it was protected from the wind and snow, and naturally wasn’t cold, with a charcoal brazier for warmth.

If thirsty, there was hot tea; if hungry, there were snacks, and even candied fruits that Lin Miao had specially made for Si Miaoxue.

He had also arranged for someone to send things to Yue Mei so that she wouldn’t be lacking anything.

"Young master, the snow is getting heavier. We need to find some shelter from the wind and snow!" Seeing the worsening blizzard, the road ahead was becoming obscured.

"Okay."

"I remember there’s a village nearby, not too far. Should we head over to take shelter and rest for one night?" Lianxin suggested.

"Alright, let’s follow your plan."

Lianxin steered the carriage onto a side path, which was much narrower than the main road they had been traveling but still in decent condition, albeit a bit bumpy.

After traveling about three to four miles, they saw a village.

By this time, darkness was falling; every household had already closed its doors, but occasionally chimneys were still emitting smoke, indicating dinner was being prepared inside.

With so many people, they couldn’t stay in a small dwelling. They needed a house with more rooms, likely belonging to the wealthiest family in the village.

Getting off the carriage, they led the horses by hand.

Lin Miao and Sun Youwei changed into boots and donned fur coats, walking hand in hand through the village.

"Let’s choose this house; the road gets harder to walk if we go further in." Lin Miao stopped in front of a spacious courtyard and said, "We can park the carriages here."

He knocked on the door.

Inside, the noise stopped instantly. After some explanation, it was quite a while before an old man came out with an oil lamp, trembling as he opened the door.

"Sir, we are travelers caught in the snowstorm, unable to find lodging. We hope to stay at your place for the night," Lin Miao bowed and saluted respectfully.

The old man saw that most of Lin Miao’s group were young women, with only Lin Miao and Lin Mao as the young men.

Noticing their clothing was of fine material and seeing the two carriages, he believed their story almost entirely.

He opened the door and let them in.

This rural farm did not have a stable, just a cow shed, but that would have to do. They couldn’t leave the horses out in the cold.

The house had plenty of rooms since it supported a family with a cow, indicating a certain level of wealth.

There were quite a few people in the household: seven in total, including the old couple, their son and daughter-in-law, and two little grandchildren.

The house was usually big enough, but with Lin Miao’s group, it became crowded.

Though their carriage was habitable, finding shelter from the snow was preferable to having nothing in the wild.

The primary need was to borrow the kitchen for hot water, to wash up a bit, and soak their feet to get warm; it was bitterly cold.

"Young master, the countryside doesn’t offer much good food. You and the ladies, please don’t mind..." The old man brought a bag of coarse rice to prepare a meal for everyone.

"Thank you, kind sir." Lin Miao gratefully nodded, gesturing to Lin Mao a hint.

Lin Mao understood, took out a piece of silver from his pocket, and handed it over.

"Elderly man, this is the money for our stay and meals here. Please accept it," explained Lin Miao.

"So much, too much, it’s not appropriate..."

Brown rice, steamed sausage, wild vegetable soup were devoured by Lin Miao with great delight - food he had eaten plenty before.

Except now he no longer eats it, not because he couldn’t, but because he doesn’t need to go through that hardship anymore.

But occasionally having it once or twice, reminiscing the taste of those days, is still nice.

The piece of silver left by Lin Miao was more than enough. He didn’t want to give more, not because he couldn’t, but because sudden wealth can easily bring trouble to the poor, which isn’t always a good thing.

A fire was lit in the yard.

Someone always needs to keep watch at night.

Although it’s in the villagers’ home, necessary precautions should still be taken; one can’t be careless, as it’s essential for survival in an unfamiliar environment.

Even staying in an inn requires the same; after all, they brought many items with them, and losing them would be quite a bother for their journey.

The night watch was done in pairs; one person alone tends to doze off.

In the first half of the night, the watch was taken by Lianxin and Liansuo, while in the second half, it was Lin Miao and Lin Mao. Out in the world, there’s no need to distinguish so clearly between gentlemen and servants.

The second half of the night was the coldest period; could it really be the women standing guard?

Actually, with his current cultivation, closing his eyes to meditate for a night without sleep is no problem. If he reaches the Meridian Passage Realm, not sleeping for several days and nights wouldn’t be a problem.

A thick layer of straw was covered with a mattress, topped with a sleeping bag, truly allowing for warmth even in the outdoors, let alone inside the windproof snowproof house.

In the middle of the night, a sudden rush of footsteps was heard outside the courtyard.

Following were knocks on the door, "bang bang".

This startled Lianxin and Liansuo; with a leap, they jumped over the courtyard wall.

"Village chief, it’s me, Hao..."

The main house’s lamp was lit; the old man emerged in a ragged cotton robe, slipped on shoes, rushed out, and opened the door to let the person in.

"Hao, what’s wrong?"

"Village chief, my wife is about to give birth, quickly have Aunt go and check!" Hao said urgently.

"Alright, alright, wait a moment, I’ll immediately call Aunt over," replied the old man promptly.

In the deep night, encountering the arrival of new life is a blessing. Yet in this snowy weather, it might not seem so fortunate for this new life.

Lin Miao and the others all heard, but did not offer help, as doing so suddenly might raise suspicions.

Let alone why would they trust you?

Traveling away from home, best not meddling in others’ affairs.

Letting Lianxin and Liansuo back inside to sleep, Lin Miao and Lin Mao took some more firewood to make the fire in the courtyard burn brighter.

Not long after, about half an hour passed.

The old couple returned, with joyful smiles on their faces, clearly indicating Hao’s wife’s childbirth succeeded smoothly.

Originally contemplating stepping in, but thankfully, it wasn’t needed in the end, which was good. After all, if doctors had nothing to do anymore, it would mean no diseases left in the world, which is precisely what doctors would most wish to see.

The snow ceased in the latter half of the night.

Early next morning, Lin Miao and the group bade farewell and departed; this village was merely a brief encounter in life, perhaps to vanish entirely from memory as time passes.

Returning the same way, onto the main road.

The path Lin Miao took was a government road leading to Longchuan Canyon, albeit abandoned, yet more bustling than roads deemed as proper. Particularly in winter, traffic diminished dramatically.

Though the path to Longchuan Canyon and Li Hen City often witnessed horsemen galloping past, ice chips and snow splashing high.

The closer to Longchuan Canyon, the less safe the road became.

After all, people from the martial world rarely favor rules; if malicious thoughts arise, killing and looting in isolation is simply non-negotiable.

With a large group, most hesitated seeing Lianxin, armed with a sword, with the Snow Mountain Sect emblem on the carriage, restraining from any reckless behavior.

Snow Mountain Sect held considerable deterrence in the Northwestern martial world; angering them promises no good outcome.

Because Snow Mountain Sect’s women hold grudges deeply.

Thus, along the journey, little trouble arose, smoothly arriving at the edge of Longchuan Canyon where the small town lay.

The town was named West Gate Town.

It’s the necessary route and supply station into Longchuan Canyon; Lin Miao last passed by only briefly, without need for town restocking, he simply continued onward.

Going past West Gate Town, one could reach Li Hen City within half a day, relatively close.

Yet West Gate Town falls under imperial jurisdiction, with a checkpoint and an stationed imperial army unit, numbering about three hundred.

It’s meant to guard this entrance and exit route and supervise Li Hen City.

Certainly, there are many paths leading to and from Li Hen City, not limited to one; however, this official road is flat enough for large carts, which is unparalleled elsewhere.

Thus, the imperial court built West Gate Town; the town didn’t form overnight and was established following Li Hen City’s completion.

It existed since the previous dynasty.