Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Several days later, on a mountain path.

The stone walls on both sides are hard and grayish, with stones protruding from time to time. They are dark brown and look like fangs. You have to walk with your head down, or you will bump your head. The stone walls are wet, with water droplets dripping down slowly. When there are many drops, they will gather into small puddles on the ground. The water is clear and you can see your reflection, but it will shatter if you shake it.

Moss grew on the wall, green and abundant in the dark, in clumps, carrying a damp and cool smell that wafted into the nose.

Xiao Bai walked ahead, the hem of her indigo skirt stained with mud, some deep and some shallow. She walked slowly, occasionally stopping to brush aside the drooping vines.

Jiang Xiaochuan followed behind her, two or three steps behind. Mo Xue on his back was wrapped in coarse cloth, with only the hilt of the sword showing. He would occasionally look up at the stone wall, at the water droplets, at the moss, without saying a word.

After walking for about half an hour, a bright light suddenly appeared before our eyes.

The sunlight poured down, dazzling and blinding. Both of them squinted and raised their hands to shield their eyes. Fine dust particles danced in the light, golden and shiny, swirling around like halos.

Once I could open my eyes, I could see the sky. It was blue, clean, and cloudless. The sun had just risen and was still gentle, warming my skin.

There were sounds coming from afar, a buzzing, noisy sound, like human voices, and others, but I couldn't make it out.

The two looked ahead.

In the valley, there was a flat, open area with fertile, reddish-brown soil. A clear stream flowed from the deep mountains, meandering through the land. On both sides of the stream, houses were connected, all in the style of the Miao people, built of wood, square, with sloping roofs covered with thick thatch or black tiles. Things hung from the corners of the houses, white, and upon closer inspection, they were bones, animal bones, big and small, some still with horns, looking ferocious.

There are three bridges over the stream. The closest one is a wooden bridge, made of two thick logs tied together with vines, lying across the water. It's simple. The middle one is a stone bridge, built of large stones with thick piers and a sturdy stone slab surface. The furthest one is also a stone bridge, but it's different. It's made of small stones, has no piers, and is arched, like the style of the Central Plains. It looks out of place in these mountains of southern Xinjiang.

After looking at it for a while, Xiaobai said, "That arched bridge was built by the Han people."

Jiang Xiaochuan hummed in agreement.

The two walked down the path, which was a dirt road, compacted by footsteps, with lush green grass on both sides. The further they went, the more people there were.

Most of them are Miao people. The men are strong with dark skin, wearing indigo or black short jackets that reveal their muscular arms. The women wear silver ornaments on their heads, necks, and wrists, which jingle as they walk. Their clothes are brightly colored, in red, blue, and green, and are densely embroidered with flowers.

When they saw Jiang Xiaochuan and Xiaobai, they all looked over with direct, undisguised gazes, more curious than hostile. After a few glances, they went back to their own business.

There were stalls by the roadside selling animal hides, gray, yellow, and mottled, laid out on the ground. There was also fresh meat hanging there, with drops of blood dripping down. A few steps further, there were stalls selling trinkets, jade, beads, and silver ornaments, displayed on small wooden boards, gleaming brightly.

Xiao Bai stopped and squatted in front of a leather goods stall. The stall owner was an old Miao man with deep wrinkles on his face, as if carved by a knife. He pointed to several pieces of leather on the ground, muttering to himself and gesturing with his hands.

Xiao Bai listened, nodded, and replied with a few words in a strange tone, but the old Miao man understood. He grinned, revealing his yellow teeth.

She picked up a gray squirrel skin, its fur thick and soft, and rubbed it in her hands. Then she picked up a leopard skin, its spots beautiful.

She turned to Jiang Xiaochuan and said, "The leather here is good and cheap. Do you want to buy some?"

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't say anything. He walked over, squatted down, looked at the leather, and then looked at the other items on the stall.

It has horns, I don't know what kind of beast they are, they are curved and sharp, there are small bone carvings, birds, beasts, rough, but they have a certain charm.

He pointed to several pelts: leopard skin, wolf skin, and a white fox skin. He also pointed to several bone carvings. The old Miao man's eyes lit up, and he spoke even faster, gesturing with his hands to indicate the names and prices.

Jiang Xiaochuan took out a money pouch from his pocket, counted out some loose silver, and handed it over. The old Miao man took it, weighed it in his hand, and smiled even more broadly. He rolled up the leather, strung the bone carving with straw rope, and handed it over.

Jiang Xiaochuan took it, flipped his hand, and the item disappeared.

The old Miao man was stunned. He rubbed his eyes, looked at Jiang Xiaochuan's empty hand, and muttered something, probably something like "Han Chinese magic".

Xiao Bai smiled, got up, and went to another stall, which sold jade ornaments. The stall owner was a Miao woman with many heavy silver ornaments on her head. The stall displayed jade rings, jade pendants, necklaces, and beads. They were not very exquisite, but the jade was warm and smooth, with the unique bluish-green color of southern Xinjiang.

Xiao Bai picked up a jade ring and looked at it in the light. The jade was clear and had fluffy inclusions inside, like clouds. She then picked up a necklace with round beads of varying sizes strung on a leather cord.

Jiang Xiaochuan walked over and stood behind her. His gaze fell on a silver bracelet with a small red jade pendant carved into the shape of a fox lying down with its tail coiled.

He picked up the bracelet, looked at it, and then looked at Xiaobai's wrist. Her wrist was slender and fair; it would look good on her.

The female stall owner was saying something and gesturing for the price. Jiang Xiaochuan counted out the money and gave it to her, then handed the bracelet to Xiaobai.

Xiao Bai paused for a moment, then took it, a glint in her eyes. She put the chain on her wrist, the silver chain making her skin appear even whiter.

The little red fox is lying there, so sweet.

She raised her wrist, waved it in the light, and asked, "Does it look good?"

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at it and nodded: "It looks good."

Xiaobai smiled again, her eyes curving into crescents. She picked up the jade ring she had been looking at and handed it to Jiang Xiaochuan: "This is for you."

Jiang Xiaochuan took it; it was a plain jade ring, uncarved. He looked at it, slipped it on his thumb—too big—then tried it on his index finger, and it fit perfectly. The jade ring was warm and smooth, cool to the touch.

He didn't say thank you, he just hummed in response.

Xiao Bai didn't mind and went to look at other stalls. She looked at silver ornaments, embroidery, pottery jars, and herbs.

Jiang Xiaochuan followed behind her, stopping occasionally to buy something. Sometimes it was a few packets of herbs, sometimes a piece of cloth embroidered with strange patterns, sometimes a string of dried fruit. After buying it, he would put it in his pocket and disappear.

The way passersby looked at them gradually changed, especially the men. Their gazes towards Xiaobai held a different kind of allure—a mixture of surprise, greed, and a restless desire.

A burly man with a scar on his face, accompanied by two companions, blocked the road. He stared at Xiaobai, saying something in a rising tone, his intentions malicious. His companions also laughed, their eyes sweeping over Xiaobai.

Xiao Bai ignored him and tried to walk around him, but the man reached out and tried to grab her arm.

I didn't touch it with my hand.

Mo Xue drew her sword three inches from its sheath, a flash of blue light, and a sudden chill arose. The sword hovered three inches in front of the man's throat, motionless. Jiang Xiaochuan stood beside Xiao Bai, his hand on the hilt of the sword, not looking at the man, but only at the sword.

The man froze, his face contorted with rage, and his companion also froze, taking a step back.

The surroundings became quiet. Passersby stopped and watched. A child was crying, but an adult covered his mouth.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't move, nor did his sword. After a few breaths, he raised his hand, and the ink-black sword returned to its sheath, the blue light fading away. He glanced at the man, his gaze indifferent.

Sweat beaded on the man's forehead, his lips trembled, and he stepped aside, his companion quickly making way as well.

Jiang Xiaochuan grabbed Xiaobai's wrist and walked forward. The crowd parted, and no one stopped them.

After walking a dozen steps, Xiaobai said softly, "Actually, it's not necessary..."

"Troublesome," Jiang Xiaochuan interrupted, releasing his grip.

Xiao Bai glanced at his profile, a slight smile playing on her lips, but said nothing more.