Chapter 15

“You’re going to find Song Zhuanguo?” Xun Jinian’s face was full of disapproval.

“Uncle, I’m just going to get back what belongs to me. That jade pendant is the only memento my mother left me,” Xue Miaoyun explained.

“Nothing is more important than your safety. You’re a young woman traveling far. If something happens to you, how will we explain it to your parents?” Xun Jinian was very much against it.

“Uncle Xun, I have ways to protect myself. Not to mention my medical skills, even my current strength means that not even several strong men could take advantage of me. That jade pendant was passed down from my grandmother to my mother, always handed down to the daughters, never to the sons. If I don’t get it back now, I might never be able to.” Many things became harder to reclaim the longer they were kept away.

“Such an important thing… Why would Lihua use it as the engagement token?” Zhao Fengnian said, “Old Xun, let Miaoyun go. Don’t let this become a regret for the child.”

Xun Jinian looked at Xue Miaoyun, who appeared so pitiful, and finally agreed. He even personally bought her a train ticket.

“There are no direct trains. You’ll need to transfer at Lin’an City. You’ll have to stay in a small town near Lin’an Train Station for two days. I’ve already contacted one of my classmates there, and he’ll arrange your accommodation and meals.”

“Once you get to the army, get the items and return as soon as possible. The outside world isn’t safe.”

“Don’t talk to strangers on the way. Don’t eat anything offered by strangers. If something happens, don’t be curious—go straight to the train police.”

“Keep your belongings safe on the train. Keep your money close to you.”

Xue Miaoyun listened attentively to the earnest instructions from her uncles. She nodded seriously and appreciated their concern.

Finally, Xue Miaoyun boarded the train. She wasn’t afraid; after all, she had traveled alone many times before. Though the current social environment wasn’t as safe as it would be in the future, it wasn’t in complete chaos either. With her own abilities and the tranquilizer she had prepared in her space, she felt confident.

She didn’t know who Xun Uncle had contacted, but he had booked her a sleeper ticket with an upper berth. Xue Miaoyun was quite pleased with it; the upper berth was much cleaner and quieter than the lower one.

Trains in this era were slow, and Xue Miaoyun’s first leg of the journey would take two days and nights.

At night, she only managed to nap fitfully, half asleep, half awake.

When dawn broke, she finally managed to sleep for two or three hours.

Thankfully, she had her space. The bag she had with her contained only old clothes, so it was light to carry. She could even use them as a pillow while she slept. She also discovered that food stalls at the train station sold items without requiring tickets.

Whenever the train stopped, she could buy some food. Buying in bulk was a good idea, as the season wouldn’t spoil it quickly.

When she finally woke up from her nap, Xue Miaoyun felt her back and waist aching, and her whole body had stiffened from the long hours of travel.

With a difficult stretch and a few coughs, Xue Miaoyun carefully climbed off the bed, put on a mask, and prepared to head to the restroom to freshen up.

The train was crowded, with people packed tightly together, making Xue Miaoyun frown. She longed for the fast trains of the future. If only the bullet trains were available, she’d be able to reach her destination in just a few hours.

After squeezing through two carriages, Xue Miaoyun felt a sudden surge of frustration. Even the tourist attractions during May Day weren’t as crowded as this.

She swore that in the future, unless absolutely necessary, she would never travel again.

In a moment of distraction, Xue Miaoyun’s foot got caught on something, and she stumbled.

“Ah!” Unable to stop herself, she fell forward. Thankfully, the crowd was dense enough that she didn’t hit the ground, but she did end up crashing into someone coming from the other direction.

It was hard.

Xue Miaoyun instinctively grabbed onto the person.

Cang Ling saw someone trip over the luggage and stumble toward him. He instinctively reached out to help, but because they were so close, he only managed to catch her arm. Yet, the person still ended up falling into his chest.

A faint, warm fragrance wafted into Cang Ling’s nose, causing his body to stiffen.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, comrade.” Xue Miaoyun hurriedly tried to straighten herself up.

But something seemed to be tangled around her feet, and she couldn’t quite get up.

Cang Ling observed the flustered woman trying to find something to hold on to, then gently applied some pressure to keep her steady.

“Don’t move.” His deep, slightly hoarse voice, with its rich tone, made Xue Miaoyun’s movements freeze in place. She instinctively looked up at him.

He was so handsome!

Those beautiful eyes were enough to make anyone stare in awe.

Cang Ling looked at the girl, who had a big mask on, and from her voice, he guessed she couldn’t be too old. When her watery peach blossom eyes met his, he felt a sudden moment of surprise and a slight sense of attraction.

However, Cang Ling quickly regained his composure. He glanced down at her feet, and with a slight lift, he helped Xue Miaoyun stand up.

“Th-thank you,” Xue Miaoyun said as she finally managed to free her feet and stand steadily.

“You’re welcome.” Cang Ling’s gaze lingered for a moment on Xue Miaoyun’s pale, smooth neck.

Xue Miaoyun looked up at the man in front of her, who was easily a head taller than her, wearing a military uniform with a military cap. The sunlight streaming through the train window cast a shadow across his profile. His features were strikingly handsome, his facial lines sharp, and there was an air of sharpness to him when he looked at her.

He wore only a standard autumn uniform—not too thick nor too thin. Remembering the firm strength she had just felt, Xue Miaoyun blushed uncontrollably.

Thankfully, she was wearing a mask.

“Ahem, thank you… comrade?” She hesitated. Calling someone “mister” wasn’t really the norm in this era.

“You’re welcome, comrade.” Cang Ling’s eyes lingered on those expressive eyes of hers, and he felt quite pleased.

Xue Miaoyun felt flustered under his gaze. “Th-then, goodbye.”

She bowed quickly and hurried past him, eager to leave.

In modern times, she would have at least exchanged WeChat or something, but not in this era. Better not to complicate things.

Xue Miaoyun walked off decisively, but Cang Ling turned and watched her for a long moment.

After gathering her thoughts, Xue Miaoyun returned to her seat, only to discover someone hunched over her bed, rummaging through her bag.

“Who are you? What are you doing? Stealing something?”

Xue Miaoyun’s voice immediately attracted the attention of several nearby passengers.

The thief turned around. Upon seeing Xue Miaoyun, the person didn’t seem afraid at all.

“What stealing? Don’t say nonsense. I lost something, and I’m just looking for it,” the thief responded with a sly look, exuding a shady vibe.

“Lost something? Well, let me help you find the train police,” Xue Miaoyun said coolly. She wasn’t the type to argue with thieves. Even if she won, what good would it do?

Seeing Xue Miaoyun act so straightforwardly, ready to call the police, the thief was momentarily caught off guard. When people were out in public, most of them would try to avoid escalating the situation, letting small issues slide. But Xue Miaoyun wasn’t like that—she was used to seeking help from the authorities whenever there was trouble.

“Hey, stop! You think I’m afraid of you just because you’re going to find the train police?” The thief, Liu Ermao, was a habitual offender. If the police came, he’d be arrested immediately.

When he saw Xue Miaoyun preparing to call the police, Liu Ermao instinctively reached out to grab her.

But Xue Miaoyun wasn’t going to let anyone touch her. Before his dirty hand could reach her, she grabbed his wrist, exerted some force, and with a swift motion, threw him over her shoulder.

With a loud thud, Liu Ermao was thrown to the ground.