Mu Hanyan led his horse through the crowded throng, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the small stalls along the road. Nearing the Longyan Mountain Range, the wares displayed on these stands were dazzling with an assortment of strange flowers and herbs along with refined iron ore that even Mu Hanyan had seldom seen.
Seeing that Mu Hanyan and his companions were dressed with a noble air and leading horses that were also rare to come by, the merchants guessed that these must be the young descendants of some great family out on an expedition. They were thus exceptionally enthusiastic, their voices growing louder when they saw them pass, even going so far as to grab them and tout their goods.
After journeying so smoothly for many days, they were about to reach Xiushui City, yet they had to pass through Xiaoyang City. Mu Ze and the others were dreadfully afraid that Mu Hanyan’s suppressed playboy nature of many days would lash out and stir up trouble. Exchanging a glance, one of them took the horse’s reins while the others encircled Mu Hanyan in the middle, not daring to give him the chance to interact with strangers.
Surrounded by his companions like the moon by stars, Mu Hanyan walked forward while they all secretly prayed: just don’t cause trouble, just don’t cause trouble, once we’re through Xiaoyang City, everything will be all right.
They were fervently praying when a woman’s cry suddenly pierced their ears, "What are you doing?" Newest update provided by novᴇlfire.net
The men were startled and turned to look, only to see a woman with her shoulder seized by Mu Hanyan, her face full of panic as she shouted at him.
"Disaster, exactly as feared has happened! Big Playboy Mu still can’t control his nature and has stirred up trouble!" lamented Mu Ze and the others inwardly.
What vexed them most was that if you’re going to be a thief in the night, at least have some taste, won’t you? Look at this woman, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, a good and full age by this era’s standards, but not particularly attractive. Her face was heavily made up, but the makeup did little to hide what lay beneath it, akin to a pancake served at a scallion stand.
It appeared that Big Playboy Mu really had been pent up these days; his sights even settling on such goods! Even if you’re going to commit an impropriety, do it with someone like Fourth Miss Zhao who’s full of charm and grace, not with someone who makes us feel ashamed. Oh no, that’s wrong, that’s wrong, it wouldn’t be right to force unwelcome attention on anyone, whatever their appearance.
After a few moments of silent criticism, they quickly shed their improper thoughts.
"What do you say?" asked Mu Hanyan, holding onto the woman, with a smile playing across his face.
If this smile had shown while assuming his ’God-man’ persona, it would carry an enigmatic air, but to Mu Ze, it clearly had a lecherous tinge.
That you can smile so lasciviously at such a woman, there’s simply no saving you. They all sighed together.
"Brother Han Yan, please let her go, let her go. You said you’d listen to me on the road," Mu Ze said anxiously.
"Oh, are you sure you want me to let go?" Mu Han teased the woman with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"Please, Brother Han Yan, just let her go. Go wild all you want when we get back, but right now we’re in Xiaoyang City, not, not our turf; we have important matters at hand," pleaded Mu Xitian anxiously.
So embarrassed he was that he couldn’t bring himself to mention Heishi City, instead referring indirectly to his own domain.
"Yes, yes, why trouble her since she looks ? When we’re back, I’ll help you arrange a meeting with Fourth Miss Zhao, and you can do whatever you want," Mu Yuying was also beside herself with anxiety, even making a morally ambiguous promise in her attempt to placate Mu Hanyan.
"The world’s changed, people’s hearts are ever the same." At this point, other passersby started to notice the commotion and gathered around. When they heard the conversation, someone sighed.