Chapter 14: Rat Spirit

Li Yaner breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the grass spirit hesitate at the sight of the fire, lingering in place for a while before cautiously moving two steps forward and peeking in their direction with curiosity.

Hiding behind the Big Boss, Li Yaner also peeked over carefully,

"What is it doing?"

Gu Shi Yi grunted,

"This little grass spirit doesn't have much cultivation, it usually hides underground to practice and avoids humans, hard to find. It naturally fears fire but still dares to come closer to inspect, most likely driven by some monster with higher cultivation in these mountains... We just wait!"

As he spoke, he finished the remaining dry buns, then saw the little grass spirit still looking around here and there. Suddenly, he chuckled, pulled a stick out of the fire, and with a whoosh, tossed it over,

"Ow..."

The little grass spirit let out a frightened cry and turned and burrowed into the bushes, vanishing from sight. Gu Shi Yi laughed heartily without bothering about it, took a thick blanket purchased from the inn out of the carriage, spread it near the pile of sticks, and picked up some more dry wood to toss into the fire,

"Ha... ah..."

Gu Shi Yi stretched with a yawn,

"It's getting late, I'm going to sleep!"

Sitting on the blanket, he took off his shoes and warmed himself by the fire. Li Yaner was better off, being a clay figure now without the sensibilities, she ignored scents and filth, but it was Big Boss who suddenly popped out of a broken pottery jar, pointing at Gu Shi Yi's smoky feet and complaining,

"Gu Shi Yi, your feet stink!"

Gu Shi Yi rolled his eyes,

"How can they not stink after a day's travel?"

He then stretched out his toes and picked at them repeatedly, causing Big Boss to disdainfully jump back a few steps,

"Ew... can't you just wash them?"

"The water's too cold, don't feel like it!"

Big Boss moved upwind, muttering under their breath,

"Lazy woman, no wonder you can't marry at thirty, only Niu Da would dare to have you!"

Gu Shi Yi pretended he hadn't heard, contentedly warming his feet, wiggling his toes. His gaze swept through the surrounding bushes, and he chuckled,

"If they don't come soon, I'm really going to sleep!"

As he spoke, rustling sounds came from a distance. Li Yaner, frightened, swiftly burrowed into Gu Shi Yi's embrace, while Big Boss hid behind a rock. Gu Shi Yi nonchalantly glanced at the Peach Wood Sword beside him and smiled warmly toward the shadows beyond the fire's glow. After a moment, a figure emerged from where the firelight could not reach.

Gu Shi Yi narrowed his eyes to scrutinize the newcomer, a man around twenty-five or twenty-six, with a countenance not exactly handsome. His eyes were small, and his lips protruded slightly, giving him a slightly sinister look. He wore a Confucian Robe, donned a Confucian Crown, and actually held a book in his hand. The man's gait was also peculiar, swaggering like an actor singing on a stage.

Upon reaching the fire's light, he bowed respectfully to Gu Shi Yi from a distance and said,

"Miss, it's late at night, and I've missed my lodging. Please be kind and allow me to share your fire for the night..."

Gu Shi Yi scrutinized him with an amiable smile, then nodded after a while,

"You are quite the handsome one, I like handsome young men the most. Come over!"

The scholar was delighted upon hearing this, bowed again, moved a few steps closer, and with a strange twist, sat down beside the fire. Gu Shi Yi eyed him warily,

"Young Master, where do you hail from?"

The scholar smiled politely, gestured with a refined bow, and replied,

"I am a resident of Li Family Village, heading to Huang Village. I lost my way in the mountains and it grew dark while I wandered to this place. In my desperation, I was fortunate to come upon you, miss. Thank you very much!"

Gu Shi Yi nodded cordially and offered a piece of bread,

"Young Master, would you care for some?"

Upon this, the scholar rose and after giving a deep bow, sat down three steps away from Gu Shi Yi, taking the dry bun she passed him. Gu Shi Yi watched with a warm smile as the scholar clumsily placed the bun by the fire to toast. Then he picked up the book that was lying beside him and addressed her,

"Miss, I've been studying the Four Books and Five Classics recently. I find the depth of wisdom in these texts infinite. If I pass the exams next year, I'll surely become a high official!"

Does this person have some sort of cat disease?

Gu Shi Yi looked at him with a peculiar expression, then at the book in his hand, and back at the scholar with a chuckle,

"Then I shall preemptively wish you success in names gracing the golden list!"

It seemed this Little Demon probably had something loose upstairs. In this desolate wilderness, suddenly having a scholar appear with nothing but a book, even if it wasn't Gu Shi Yi, any regular person would think there's something off about this guy, right?