An Author and Protagonist Got a Happy Ending [Transmigration] - Chapter 29

Xiao Muyu took a step back, shaking her head repeatedly. “I’d rather not disturb Your Highness’s sleep. I move around a lot in my sleep; I’ll just sleep in this small partition.”

The Princess did not force the issue. “You seem quite frightened.”

Xiao Muyu unconsciously touched the back of her neck. “Do I?”

The Princess nodded.

Xiao Muyu: “…” Was it that obvious?

She was a bit uneasy, but it was mostly worry that those mindless bandits downstairs might stumble up and cause trouble, annoying the Princess. The Princess was not a person who showed mercy. This wasn’t the Xuefu Kingdom; the Princess was here with limited support. If something happened, not only would it be a mess of trouble, but back home, it would likely be blamed on Xiao Muyu again.

After all, she was the “burden.” Maybe she’d never get the chance to come out again.

However, she wasn’t at the point of being truly scared; she wasn’t a child who would scream at the first sign of a fright.

The sounds of smashing and looting downstairs intensified, and it seemed someone was heading up the stairs. But in an instant, all sound ceased.

The Princess set her book aside, her expression calm as if she had predicted this. Seeing Xiao Muyu dazed, she explained, “The innkeeper paid them off to leave.”

The commotion outside had been loud and not far off. Even if the words weren’t clear, one could guess the outcome from the innkeeper’s practiced warning and nonchalant attitude. Bandits caused trouble for money; if they simply wanted to cause chaos and panic, they wouldn’t have chosen the night.

Then again, the Xiyan Kingdom was indeed too chaotic right now.

The Princess frowned slightly. Things were a bit worse than she had imagined; it seemed they shouldn’t linger here long.

“Rest early,” the Princess said, making a decision. “We head up the mountain tomorrow morning.”

In the dark depths of a deep sea, unable to breathe, unable to see, the seawater was bone-chillingly cold.

Water weeds, spreading from nowhere, tightly coiled around her calves, then her entire body, pulling her forcefully into the abyss.

Splash—

An exquisite dagger fell into the water, slicing through the waves and severing the tangled weeds. She was finally able to open her eyes, instinctively struggling to swim toward the surface.

A faint light was visible in the distance, but the dagger remained before her, a blue gem on its hilt glowing dimly. For a moment, silence reigned as traces of blood drifted from the blade like silk caught in the wind…

The smell of blood grew thicker. She was about to stop breathing.

“Hah—!”

Xiao Muyu woke with a start. Only after escaping the dream did she realize she had forgotten to breathe. Air began to circulate again. She sat frozen on the bed, gasping for air; when she reached up to touch her forehead, her hand came away covered in cold sweat.

“What’s wrong?” came the Princess’s habitually icy voice. “A nightmare?”

Xiao Muyu was a beat slow in looking up toward the source of the voice. The Princess was sitting at the table, watching her. Likely having just gotten up, she wore only an outer robe; the snowy skin at her collar was clearly visible, and her collarbones were beautifully defined.

But for some reason, Xiao Muyu felt as if she saw a red shadow.

The Princess gathered her loose long hair, feeling a bit odd as she realized Xiao Muyu’s gaze was lingering too long.

“Are you unwell?”

Slap—!

Xiao Muyu slapped her own face hard, leaving a bright red mark on both cheeks. This snapped her into full awareness. She shook her head, her voice muffled behind her hands.

“No. Maybe I was just spooked by the events of last night,” Xiao Muyu made up a random excuse.

She would rather it be that reason. The details of the dream were already blurring, but she would never forget that deep sea until the day she died. That was her burial place in her previous life. The oppression of being unable to stop her fall and the agony of being unable to breathe were still vivid. She didn’t regret losing her life to save someone, but that didn’t mean she didn’t fear death itself.

It had been so long; why did she suddenly dream of that scene now? Xiao Muyu instinctively avoided the thought, forcing herself to stop thinking about it. She slapped her face twice more, appearing to return to normal, save for the two comical, irregular red marks on her cheeks.

Xiao Muyu glanced at the window and saw light peeking through the cracks—it was dim, lacking the brightness of day. She guessed it was early morning and the sun hadn’t fully risen yet. The Princess hadn’t even washed or dressed yet.

“Are we leaving soon?” Xiao Muyu asked.

The Princess didn’t answer. Instead, she walked quickly to Xiao Muyu’s side, scanning her thoroughly for a long time before her gaze finally settled on the pillow. She picked it up and sniffed it, her brow furrowing.

“Is there a problem with the pillow?” Xiao Muyu was surprised. She hadn’t felt anything abnormal while sleeping; the pillow only had a very faint herbal scent. If she hadn’t been paying special attention, she wouldn’t have noticed it at all.

“It smells like a sleeping incense, the same kind used at my place,” the Princess put the pillow back. “But it shouldn’t cause such a strong reaction.”

“Maybe I really was just spooked,” Xiao Muyu mumbled. Since the Princess seemed unaffected and said it sounded fine, she didn’t want to dig any deeper.

“Are you really that cowardly?” The Princess shot her a glance.

“Yes,” Xiao Muyu tried her best to look sincere.

“…” The Princess replaced the pillow and tucked a stray hair behind Xiao Muyu’s ear. “Get up and wash. We leave at dawn.”

Before going downstairs, the Princess stopped Xiao Muyu and pulled a dagger from her sleeve, handing it to her. The dagger wasn’t large; the hilt and scabbard were covered in flamboyant decorations, making it look more like a piece of jewelry, yet it felt unexpectedly light in hand.

However, the blade was incredibly sharp. Xiao Muyu pulled it out just a fraction, and a falling strand of hair split in two upon touching the edge. It was clearly a treasure that could cut through iron like mud.

“Keep it for self-defense,” the Princess said softly. She didn’t ask if Xiao Muyu knew how to use it, as if that were a given.

Xiao Muyu stared at the blade in a daze, suddenly recalling the knife from her dream. The knife in the dream also possessed a magnificent exterior—even more flamboyant than this one—and was said to be an ancient treasure.

…Wait, why did she know what kind of treasure it was? More importantly, when had she ever seen that knife? Why couldn’t she remember at all?

The Princess opened the door and said, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Muyu was pulled downstairs. Before she could return the dagger to its sheath, she stumbled and nearly cut her own hand. In that instant, as if by instinct, she twirled the dagger; by the time she realized it, she had returned the blade to its scabbard and hidden it against her person.

The downstairs area was still deserted; most guests weren’t up yet, and it wasn’t mealtime. The lobby was empty except for the shopkeeper dozing off next to his abacus. One could see a broken chair leg in the corner and many scratches on the pillars, but otherwise, everything looked normal. If one didn’t remember the commotion from last night, those details would go unnoticed, and no one would guess that bandits had visited.

So practiced, Xiao Muyu thought. Just as she was about to look away, her peripheral vision caught a flickering gaze. Someone was hiding behind a pillar, peeking at her.

“Xiao Linzi! Where are you hiding and slacking off? Hurry and help the guests with their luggage!” The shopkeeper slapped the abacus hard and shouted toward the pillar. “Are you hiding there eating again?!”

The shopkeeper then gave a fawning smile to the Princess. “Pardon the intrusion, guest. That is my nephew; he just arrived and doesn’t know the rules. Please bear with him. And regarding last night, we hope you weren’t too frightened. Please accept our apologies…”

As he spoke, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy wiped his hands and hurried out from the back, his mouth still glistening with grease. His hands likely weren’t much cleaner.

“No need. we didn’t bring much,” the Princess took a step back to avoid him. After settling the bill, she pulled Xiao Muyu toward the exit.

The boy hurried after them. “Hey, guests, where are you going? It’s dangerous around here; let me see you off for a bit.”

However, only seconds later, when he stepped out of the inn and peered in the direction the guests had left, they were nowhere to be found. He stood there scanning the area for a moment, then returned to the inn dejectedly.

The shopkeeper lifted an eyelid and waved him away impatiently. “What are you shouting for? Go help in the kitchen.”

“They didn’t even tip,” the boy pouted, squeezing his coin purse and muttering, “Those two looked so rich, yet they’re so stingy.”

Elsewhere, Xiao Muyu was being dragged into an alley by the Princess, feeling a bit bewildered. “Was there something wrong with that boy?”

“That boy has a crooked heart,” the Princess said. “In the middle of the night, I heard him meeting with those bandits in the back courtyard, saying he wanted to join them.”

“And?”

“The bandits thought he looked too weak and said no. However…”

“However what?”

“The boy gave them something.”

Selling out customers for money seemed exactly like something that boy would do. Both instinctively became more guarded.

The mountain the Princess mentioned was outside the city. They had entered through the West Gate, and the mountain was outside the East Gate. There was some distance between the inn and the East Gate, but neither was in a hurry; they even stopped at a wonton stall for breakfast.

This surprised Xiao Muyu. She had expected the Princess to be more fastidious and unwilling to eat at a street stall.

“I am not that picky,” the Princess showed no dissatisfaction; it seemed the street stall tasted no worse than the delicacies in the palace.

Doesn’t look like it, Xiao Muyu swallowed the thought. Even if she’s a character I created, there are things about her I don’t know, she couldn’t help but think.

After breakfast, as they continued toward the East Gate, both gradually felt as if someone was watching them from behind. It was a very clumsy tracking technique. Xiao Muyu and the Princess noticed the hidden gaze at almost the same time.

Was it those bandits?

Sure enough, not long after they exited the city gate, a group of brawny men wearing eccentric clothes, carrying large sabers, and sporting eye patches and scars rushed out, surrounding the two. A few scattered pedestrians fled in panic. A few who couldn’t run far enough felt their legs go weak and collapsed where they were, unable to move.

But the thugs didn’t care about the other pedestrians; they targeted the two women with clear intent, as if they knew from the start they were wealthy.

“Ladies, you must be kind-hearted souls. Life has been hard for us brothers lately; we hope you’ll show some mercy and provide us with some relief…”

The one-eyed leader rubbed his hands casually, but his tone held no hint of begging for alms. Conversely, the eyes of the man beside him were sharper; upon seeing the two women’s faces, his expression shifted.

“Look, boss, these two broads are quite something. Why don’t we just take them back together to be the wives of the stronghold? Let us brothers have a taste—”

The bandits all put on eager, lustful expressions.

Xiao Muyu covered her face, hiding behind the Princess as if in fear, while whispering, “Is it bad to shed blood at someone’s city gate?” She wanted to know if they’d be arrested by the guards at the gate if they killed someone here.

“Beyond the gate, it’s out of the guards’ jurisdiction. That mountain ahead is the border with the neighboring country. The King has no spare hands lately, so he naturally doesn’t care about what happens outside the border.”

Xiao Muyu breathed a sigh of relief, but turning to see the trembling, terrified elderly people nearby, she urged, “Just beat them half to death. It’d be a sin if we scared the ‘flowers and grass’.”

She accidentally spoke a bit too loud, and the people opposite heard her. The one-eyed leader’s brow furrowed, a trace of rage making his face look even more ghoulish. “What are you babbling about, you little wench? You dare look down on us?”

The others chimed in, “Exactly! She must be some high-born lady who doesn’t know the rules. Boss should teach her a good lesson.”

One even pretended to be helpful: “You two delicate ladies, why bother being stubborn? Just apologize to our boss, hand over the money, and say some sweet words. Maybe we’ll let you enjoy yourselves a bit.”

Xiao Muyu whispered in the Princess’s ear, “Are they very strong?”

The Princess pulled another dagger from nowhere—much longer and narrower than the one she gave Xiao Muyu. As she wiped the blade, she said casually, “Not as strong as a dog in my palace.”

Xiao Muyu: “…” So they’re very weak. No, she should say the dogs in the palace were unexpectedly strong. But they were raised in a palace overflowing with spiritual energy, after all.

Xiao Muyu felt at ease, but a new question arose: “Then where do they get the courage to block you?”

“They likely take us for Xiyan locals. Women in Xiyan are forbidden from cultivating,” the Princess wiped the blade, her tone still flat. “But the men aren’t much stronger either—go wait to the side.”

She didn’t lower her volume at all; everyone heard her clearly. Enraged, the one-eyed leader swung his large saber and charged. “Just two stinking brats! Now I’ll show you what I’m made of!”

Xiao Muyu’s eyes sharpened as she took a half-step back, instinctively entering a defensive posture. However, before she could finish the move, she was grabbed around the waist and forced backward.

The Princess held Xiao Muyu, dodging the incoming attack, and kicked the man beside her. One hit another, and two men flew out instantly, clearing a path. She pushed Xiao Muyu out of the circle and stood in front of her.

Xiao Muyu was forced through a few spins; by the time she regained her balance, she was outside the circle. Turning her head, she met the gaze of the trembling old woman who hadn’t run far yet. The old woman looked at her, then at the Princess who had just kicked two thugs so hard they couldn’t get up, and was dazed for a long time.

Xiao Muyu instinctively gave her a reassuring smile. The old woman shook even more violently.

Xiao Muyu: “…” Am I that scary?

The old woman leaned on her cane, trying to quicken her pace, but her speed was still like a snail crawling. After a few steps, she tripped over herself and was about to fall. Xiao Muyu instinctively reached out to help.

“Grandma, I won’t rob you. I’ll take you to the city gate in a bit—”

Before she could finish, the gentle smile Xiao Muyu had forced on her face froze.

There were only a few bandits; the Princess could have handled them easily on her own. If it weren’t for the fact that they were so close to the city gate and the Princess didn’t want to use spiritual power and attract attention, dealing with these novice cultivators would have been over in a heartbeat. Of course, there was also a small part of her that wanted to hit someone because she was in a bad mood.

In just a few moments, the last bandit rolled his eyes and collapsed. Before the Princess could even retract her blade, she turned to find Xiao Muyu standing rigid nearby, a striking blood-red scratch on her neck.

The Fifth Prince, covered in mud, appeared behind Xiao Muyu. Even just looking at his head revealed a pathetic state; his face was a mess of semi-dried black sludge, and his hair looked like a bird’s nest with two stray leaves stuck in it, as if he had spent the night rolling in a swamp.

But his current expression was one of triumph, as if he had caught a vital weakness. He smiled flamboyantly at the Princess. The dagger in his hand was pressed tightly against Xiao Muyu’s throat, the tip having already pierced the skin. Bright red blood slid down her snowy neck—the contrast was heart-stopping.

The old woman from before had fainted from fear and was tossed aside by the Fifth Prince.

The Princess grasped the situation instantly, and her face darkened immediately. It was as if someone had suddenly opened the door to an ice cellar; the temperature of the surroundings plummeted in an instant.

The first bandit to be kicked out still had some consciousness; just as he tried to get up, he saw the grass and withered branches before him covered in a layer of frost. His finger accidentally touched it, and the blade of grass shattered like cracked glass, vanishing into thin air in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, even the shards were gone, as if they had disappeared into the void. The bandit’s breath hitched, his head slumped down, and he passed out again.

From sheer terror.