I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script
Chapter 115

The Second Day as Escorts

Traveling with them meant no more crouching in the grass at night or being looked down upon by professionals, so Xu Shulou and her companion gladly agreed.

The Page Boy seemed to have reservations and tugged at Young Master Cheng’s sleeve. "Young Master, before we left the capital, the master instructed you to focus on the journey and avoid unnecessary complications. How could you forget his words just because you’re smitten with these ladies?"

"Pah! This is about upholding justice and lending a helping hand," Young Master Cheng shook his head. "What nonsense about being smitten? Learn to speak properly! I’m punishing you to copy the Dao De Jing—ten times!"

The Page Boy grimaced. "Young Master, I’m just worried about your safety."

"You don’t understand. Those villains think they’re chasing three bachelors," Young Master Cheng argued confidently. "If we bring along these ladies and pose as a wealthy family on a trip, it’ll throw off suspicion and spare the immortals secretly protecting us some trouble."

"Who said we’re three bachelors?" The Bodyguard protested indignantly. "I’m a married man."

"…" Young Master Cheng silently cursed under his breath.

Still, the discussion proved effective, and the three finally reached a consensus to let Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang join them on the journey.

After exchanging names, the Page Boy eagerly offered, "Ladies, where are your belongings? Let me help load them onto the carriage."

Xu Shulou shook her head. "We don’t have any luggage."

The three men exchanged glances, their expressions softening. Young Master Cheng invited them to eat. "You must be hungry. Join us for a meal."

"Thank you."

"No need for formalities," Young Master Cheng said, motioning for the Page Boy to take out a bottle of fasting pills. "Traveling makes hot meals inconvenient. What flavor would you like?"

Xu Shulou paused, realizing these must be the improved fasting pills Bai Roushuang and Ji Ci had developed based on Mr. Dan’s recipe—ones even mortals could consume.

After emerging from seclusion, she had been trapped by puppets for a year, and upon returning to Dustless Island, Madam Sheng and her junior sister had taken turns spoiling her with delicacies. She hadn’t yet had the chance to try these new flavored pills.

"I’ve never tasted them before, so I have no preference," Xu Shulou answered honestly. "Any one will do."

She merely stated a fact, but for some reason, the three men’s gazes filled with pity again.

Can’t even afford fasting pills? How pitiful… The Page Boy sighed and handed her a creamy grape-flavored one before turning to Bai Roushuang. "Miss Bai?"

Bai Roushuang quickly declined. "No need. I’d rather chew on steamed buns or flatbread."

When refining the fasting pill recipes with Sixth Senior Brother, she had sampled each flavor hundreds—if not thousands—of times. She had no desire to taste them again in this lifetime.

Yet her words only deepened the misunderstanding, and the three men’s expressions grew even more complicated.

Especially when Xu Shulou popped the creamy grape pill into her mouth, her eyes lighting up as she praised it to her junior sister. "Delicious! Sweet and fragrant, with an endless aftertaste. I can’t wait to try the other flavors!"

Bai Roushuang beamed with pride—no amount of praise from others could compare to her senior sister’s approval.

The others, however, fell into an awkward silence.

Xu Shulou belatedly noticed something amiss. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"It’s nothing," Young Master Cheng quickly cleared his throat, not wanting to embarrass her. "Let’s continue our journey."

"Alright," Xu Shulou offered. "I can help drive the carriage."

"Are you sure?" Bai Roushuang couldn’t help recalling the oxcart incident—they had driven it straight into a ditch, and it was the ever-patient Xuan Yang who had carried the ox out for them.

Xu Shulou understood her concern. "Horses are different from oxen."

"…"

In the end, they didn’t let her drive. Instead, the two ladies were seated inside the carriage while the Page Boy and Bodyguard took the reins.

To avoid prying eyes, they took a detour along a bumpy road. A few hours later, the carriage jolted violently and came to a halt.

A drowsy Young Master Cheng stuck his head out. "What happened?"

The Bodyguard looked uneasy. "Young Master, the horseshoe came loose."

Without horseshoes, the horse wouldn’t last long.

Young Master Cheng frowned. "We’re in the middle of nowhere. Where can we get it replaced? Can we make it to the next town?"

"Unlikely."

"Then…"

"I’ll try to fix it," the Bodyguard said, retrieving a spare kit from under the carriage. "The rental place provided backups."

Everyone disembarked to give him space. Moments later, the horse neighed in protest, and the Bodyguard yelped in pain.

"…Are you alright?"

Xu Shulou stepped forward to check his injury, but he flinched away.

"Stay still," she pressed him down, examining the wound on his leg. After a quick assessment, she concluded, "It’s fine. The bone isn’t broken—just some swelling for a few days."

Young Master Cheng sighed in relief before teasing, "So you actually don’t know how to change a horseshoe?"

"I’m a house guard for the Cheng family! Who knew I’d need to learn this? Driving a carriage is already impressive enough," the Bodyguard grumbled. "If I’d known you’d be demoted, I’d have studied harder."

"…" Young Master Cheng looked skyward. "I miss Guard Li."

"The Cheng family’s best guard is being watched by spies. He couldn’t come with us—the master ordered him to escort the decoy carriage along the main road," the Bodyguard explained. "You’ll just have to make do with me, Young Master."

"Then can you make do and fix the horseshoe?"

"…"

"I know how," Xu Shulou spoke up. "Let me do it."

The children of the poor grow up fast… Young Master Cheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Such a young and beautiful lady, forced to learn how to shoe a horse.

Even Bai Roushuang was surprised. "You know how to do this too?"

"I was fascinated with horseback riding as a child. My elder brother took me to learn… all sorts of things. I even sneaked off to watch a mare give birth once," Xu Shulou smiled. "So I’m more skilled with horses than oxen—I wasn’t lying earlier."

"…"

Of course, Young Master Cheng had no idea her "elder brother" was once a crown prince. He could only pity her circumstances.

Xu Shulou took the kit, first soothing the horse by stroking its mane before lifting its hoof. The horse remained docile, bending its leg obediently as she worked.

Her movements were slow and unpracticed, but it was clear she knew what she was doing. Finding the tools sufficient, she even trimmed the horse’s hooves while at it.

The others stared in awe, unable to comprehend how even the act of shoeing a horse could look so graceful. Only when she stood, patted the horse’s head, and whispered, "All done. Try out your new shoes," did they realize she had finished.

The horse obediently trotted in place, seemingly pleased, before nuzzling Xu Shulou affectionately. She laughed and hugged it in return.

Once the Bodyguard rehitched the carriage, they resumed their journey—only for the wheel to soon get lodged under a rock.

If it weren’t for the fear that rumors of cultivators aiding them might reach the emperor’s ears and cause trouble for Young Master Cheng, Xu Shulou would have simply carried him straight to their destination by flight.

Young Master Cheng, thoroughly exhausted by the ordeal, responded weakly to the bodyguard’s inquiry, “What else can we do? The three of us will have to lift the carriage ourselves.”

The Page Boy was merciless: “Young Master, with your delicate hands and utter lack of practical skills, perhaps you should stay out of this.”

“...”

Xu Shulou chuckled. “Let me help.”

“No need, no need! Please rest, miss,” the Page Boy and the bodyguard insisted, stepping forward to lift the carriage. They strained with all their might, their faces turning red from exertion.

Xu Shulou casually lent a hand, and the two immediately felt the weight lighten. Together, they managed to move the carriage aside.

Young Master Cheng folded his arms and remarked dryly, “Earlier, you two advised against bringing these ladies along. If we’d listened, the three of us would’ve been done for.”

“If only we could take one of those cultivators’ flying boats,” the Page Boy sighed. “But the boarding points are surely being watched, and the disembarking spot is still too far from our destination. We’d be just as vulnerable to pursuit.”

The group resumed their journey and finally arrived at the nearest city. They planned to rest briefly, stock up on pastries and wine, and continue. The bodyguard cautiously arranged for a new carriage, while Young Master Cheng instructed the Page Boy to buy fresh clothes for Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang.

Since they were posing as family members, Bai Roushuang casually styled her hair in the manner of a mortal woman. The Page Boy admired it and praised, “You’re quite skilled, miss.”

“This is nothing. Back when I was in the brothel—” Bai Roushuang caught herself too late. The three men’s expressions shifted awkwardly as they glanced at her, then at Xu Shulou, who had just finished changing nearby.

Xu Shulou noticed their stares. “Is something wrong?”

The atmosphere turned tense. Young Master Cheng cleared his throat and spoke solemnly, “Ladies, rest assured. The fact that you’ve traveled on foot without luggage to such a remote place already suggested you might be fleeing something. I just didn’t expect it was from a… a brothel. Ahem. In any case, I’ll ensure you reach Qushan County safely. You can start anew there.”

“…Thank you.”

“Do you have family there to rely on?” he pressed, still concerned.

“A nephew.”

“Is this nephew reliable?”

Xu Shulou gave him a once-over. “Fairly so. A bit too trusting of strangers, but his heart’s in the right place.”

“​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍Good.”

The two quickly ended their awkward, mismatched conversation.

Just as they were about to leave the city, they stumbled upon a commotion—a woman in white mourning robes was performing the classic “sell myself to bury my father” routine. Hearing the clamor, Young Master Cheng lifted the carriage curtain just as the woman threw herself at their vehicle. “Kind sir, have mercy on this poor soul!”

Moved by pity, Young Master Cheng told the Page Boy, “Give her some silver so she can properly bury her father.”

The woman’s face lit up. “Thank you, sir! I’ll serve as your maid in return. Please take me with you!”

“That won’t be necessary.”

She hesitated. “Even as a poor woman, I have my dignity. I can’t accept your charity without offering service.”

“We’re in a hurry,” Young Master Cheng refused. “If you leave now, who will handle your father’s funeral?”

“Well…” she faltered. “My uncles and neighbors can help.”

Young Master Cheng frowned. “If you have uncles to assist, why must you sell yourself?”

“They… they’re also short on funds.”

Xu Shulou couldn’t help but laugh. She hopped off the carriage and walked over to the “corpse” shrouded in white cloth. Pretending to stumble, she stomped down hard on it.

With a yelp, the figure beneath the cloth sprang up.

Xu Shulou took a closer look—ah, a familiar face. It was the black-clad man they’d encountered in the grass the previous night. Misled by the empty carriage, he must have realized his mistake and caught up.

The crowd erupted. Some screamed about a resurrection, while others rolled their eyes. “Resurrection? This is clearly a scam!”

Young Master Cheng’s group turned cold.

The “grieving” woman kicked the black-clad man in frustration. “I told you we should’ve gone with the ‘abduct the maiden’ act, but no, you insisted on ‘selling myself to bury my father.’ Look where that got us!”

“Tsk tsk,” Bai Roushuang mocked. “Now who’s the amateur here?”

The man’s face twitched. He desperately wanted to know how these two seemingly useless amateurs had infiltrated Young Master Cheng’s entourage, but there was no time for questions. The crowd surged forward, ready to drag them to the authorities. Seizing the moment, the carriage sped out of the city.