After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 9

Bian City, at the city gate.

Three young people stood at the entrance. Leading them was a woman wearing a mili, a veiled hat with a light gauze that draped from her face to her waist. Her figure moved with an ethereal grace, accentuated by a dark wooden hairpin and an amber pendant. No one would recognize her as the beggar who had knelt and begged for mercy just days ago.

Flanking her were two handsome young men. One was slender and slightly shorter, while the other kept his head bowed, fidgeting with his newly changed clothes.

Both men carried travel packs on their backs, while the woman alone seemed untouched by worldly concerns, her presence radiating an otherworldly aura.

After the morning’s incident, Cheng Jiuxiao had claimed to have hired a carriage for them at great expense. Yet the carriage contained nothing but a thin blanket. The driver whipped the horses into a gallop, delivering them to the city gate in just forty-five minutes.

It was as if he were saying, Get lost, and don’t come back.

Beneath her veil, Zhu Zhenzhen retrieved the token Cheng Jiuxiao had prepared for them. The pitch-black token was etched with subtle patterns and faintly engraved with a few violets.

This token was a valuable item, rumored to grant passage through the city gates and allow free lodging at the Sun and Moon Inn.

A commotion erupted ahead. Peering over, Zhu Zhenzhen saw a man being restrained by soldiers, his body bent like a willow branch under their pressure, yet he continued to curse and shout.

Damn my luck! Do you even know who I am, you dare stop me? Pfft! After all these trips, I finally run into a blind fool like you!

The soldier, his face grim, grabbed a wad of cloth and stuffed it into the man’s mouth, silencing his protests as he was dragged past Zhu Zhenzhen.

Zhu Zhenzhen watched thoughtfully.

They joined the orderly queue, where travelers were questioned one by one, their luggage inspected, before being allowed to leave the city.

In just a few moments, Zhu Zhenzhen witnessed at least five people being denied passage. One was even forced to kneel beside the road, restrained like the man earlier.

He looked familiar. Song Heng seemed to recognize him from somewhere.

Before long, it was their turn. Zhu Zhenzhen stepped forward.

Seeing her face completely veiled, the soldier glared, his tone hostile. Remove your veil. You need to show your passage token for inspection. Hold it out with your hand.

She meekly replied, Yes, yes, of course.

Zhu Zhenzhen subtly opened her palm, angling it to reveal the token hidden within. To be honest, she wasn’t entirely confident this would work.

To her surprise, the guard’s expression instantly transformed. His face creased into a wide, obsequious smile, wrinkles radiating from the corners of his eyes as he bellowed, Pass!

The guards who had been about to search their baggage immediately withdrew their hands and stood respectfully aside.

For a moment, Zhu Zhenzhen felt both flattered and a strange thrill of power.

They strode boldly out of the city gate.

Just when they thought the ordeal was over, the person who had been kneeling nearby shouted, I saw it clearly! They don’t have a pass! They bribed the guard!

The shout drew the attention of most onlookers. Sharp-eyed observers noticed their baggage hadn’t been searched and began whispering among themselves.

The guard, his smile vanishing, whirled around and kicked the kneeling man violently. The man spat out bl00d, his face slamming into the dusty ground.

A wanted criminal like you has no right to speak!

His kick served as a brutal warning. The previously indignant crowd fell silent, as quiet as chickens.

He wouldn’t bother explaining the reasons to the commoners. In this era, they’d only gossip for a few days at most. He dusted off his clothes and resumed his work.

Meanwhile, the trio, completely unaware, had already put considerable distance between themselves and the scene.

Two days passed quickly.

They now found themselves in a dense bamboo forest. Slender stalks rose in layered tiers, reaching toward the sky. At midday, the sun blazed overhead, its light filtering through the overlapping bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows across their bodies.

Silence, absolute silence, broken only by the rustling of bamboo leaves swaying in the breeze.

Something felt off. Though the past two days had been uneventful—their routine consisting solely of waking up and traveling—they had at least encountered merchants and peddlers heading toward towns at dawn, and occasionally scholars carrying bamboo baskets, wiping sweat as they hurried along at noon.

Yet now, after half a day’s travel, the muddy road showed not a single footprint.

With their supplies dwindling to almost nothing after two days, their mission for the day was to find wild game while continuing their journey. They had no choice but to press onward, steeling themselves for whatever lay ahead.

Zhu Zhenzhen made her decision, turning to the others. I’ll go ahead and scout the path.

Song Heng set down his bamboo basket, the thump of it hitting the ground echoing slightly. He pressed his lips into a thin line, remaining silent.

He had sensed the abnormality in the bamboo forest long ago. Even if the three of them encountered danger, he was confident he could protect them both.

But now that Song Zhen had proposed venturing alone, Song Heng’s eyes darkened like deep water. Knowing Song Zhen’s temperament, if something happened to her—if she died—she might very well end up badmouthing him to his father in the afterlife.

Then again, what did Song Zhen mean to him? She was merely someone he had momentarily mistaken for an old acquaintance. Her life or death was none of his concern.

Beside him, Lu Yin spoke up. I’ll go with you.

Lu Yin gently placed his bamboo basket on the ground and stepped forward to walk beside her.

Zhu Zhenzhen shook her head, pulling a forearm-length knife from her basket. I’ll go alone. You stay here with A’Heng and take care of yourselves. This forest feels off. After a few steps, she turned back to warn them again Don’t wander off while I’m gone.

No, I don’t agree, he said, choosing his words carefully. I’m worried you’ll be in danger.

Your opinion doesn’t matter. I’m the eldest, so you have to listen to me. Despite being peers, Zhu Zhenzhen spoke with the authoritative tone of an elder, trying to assert her dominance.

I’ll be back by nightfall at the latest, she declared, leaving no room for further argument.

Just as she turned away, Song Heng’s gaze clung to her like a leech, never wavering.

She feigned a leisurely walk for several hundred meters, waiting until her figure completely disappeared from their sight before accelerating into a sprint through the forest.

Since her leg injury had healed, she felt as if the world truly possessed the legendary martial art of qinggong—lightness skill. Combined with her rigorous training in the organization, her natural speed talent had been greatly enhanced.

As she ran, her white shoes left only faint impressions on the muddy ground, not a single speck of dirt splashing onto them.

After sprinting at full speed for about half an hour, she finally spotted two figures.

One tall and thin, the other short and stout.

Zhu Zhenzhen stopped a short distance away, taking cover behind a tree to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Why did Big Brother tell us to stay away from here? The thick, simple voice carried a hint of foolishness.

The taller man slapped him on the back. Just do what Big Brother says! No need for so many questions!

But you came here with me too…

I just didn’t trust you to come alone!

Fine. After a pause, he continued, Do you think Big Brother hid silver here? Are we treasure hunting?

Treasure hunting! The taller man punched the chubby one again. Even if we find treasure, it belongs to Big Brother. What’s it got to do with us?

Then what are we doing here?

Patrolling! Do you even know what patrolling means? Another dull thud.

Zhu Zhenzhen couldn’t help but stifle a silent laugh, her voice muffled as she watched the two comical figures.

If their Big Brother forbade others from coming here, this place likely held some secret. But it wasn’t important to her. As long as there were no immediate threats, she could continue on her journey.

By the time she finished thinking, the men’s voices had faded, suggesting they had moved on. She cautiously peeked out, saw no one, and stood up, brushing the grass from her ruqun skirt before turning to leave.

As she lifted her head, she froze, her veil nearly flying off.

The two gatekeepers stood right in front of her, their gazes fixed on her for an unknown duration.

Zhu Zhenzhen’s mind was a whirlwind of question marks. How could they have found me? I’d bet my entire career on it—I guarantee no one could have heard me laugh.

She took small steps backward, her face beneath the veil genuinely puzzled, and tried to divert their attention. How did you find me?

You were laughing so loudly, even a ghost could hear you, the chubby one retorted.

Is my professional training lacking, or is this guy the reincarnation of Shunfeng Er, the wind-eared deity?

Zhu Zhenzhen froze for a moment, then decided not to argue. Seizing the opportunity while he was still talking, she bolted, leaving a trail of leaves fluttering forlornly in her wake.

The forest was a tangled maze, and random running wouldn’t work. Afraid of exposing Song Heng and Lu Yin, Zhu Zhenzhen dared not retrace her steps. Instead, she executed a series of feints, planning to circle back once she’d shaken them off.

Though it seemed she’d run hundreds of meters, she’d actually only moved a short distance, hiding nearby and holding her breath.

Miss, come down from the tree. I know you’re twenty meters southeast of me, the tall one called out.

?! You don’t even need to turn your head, do you? You’re clairvoyant, aren’t you? The kind with X-ray vision.

After a disastrous setback in her career, Zhu Zhenzhen refused to give up. She tried switching positions three or four times in quick succession, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion, yet he pinpointed her location every time.

Will you come down and walk with us, miss, or shall we return and bring your companions back as well?

How does he know?

The bamboo forest was a labyrinth. If she avoided the muddy paths, she’d inevitably reach the village. Her lack of luggage and circuitous, hesitant movements suggested she was trying to protect her comrades.

The tall man’s mind worked with chilling clarity.

Miss, we’re not bandits who rob and kill. But you’ve trespassed here without explanation, and we deserve an answer.

This path was marked as the only route forward on the map Cheng Jiuxiao had given her. Now, she had only two options continue onward or retreat.

Retreating would mean wasting the two days she’d already spent traveling. More importantly, refusing to cooperate would put both her and Cheng Jiuxiao at risk of being hunted down.

With a graceful leap, Zhu Zhenzhen dropped from the tree, landing lightly on her feet.

Keep your word, she warned. I have powerful connections. Harm me, and you’ll find your entire village wiped off the map by tomorrow.

The stout man ignored her, while the tall man remained silent, both focused solely on tying her up.

Boss He! We caught a suspicious woman while patrolling the mountain today.

Zhu Zhenzhen followed them inside. This place didn’t resemble a bandit stronghold at all it was more like a small village.

A woman was taking in clothes that had been drying outside, while a man was butchering the game they had hunted.

Now, she was being escorted into the most luxurious wooden hut.

The interior was spartan a wooden table, a few stools, a bed draped with a tiger skin, and a dusty chessboard piled in the corner.

Where exactly were you patrolling? Didn’t I tell you not to bring back anyone you find on the road? Boss He, the man addressed as such, sat at the table. His hair was tied into a small bun, but the short strands stuck out in clumps, like a lion’s mane encircling his head.

The man’s prominent brow ridge and deeply sunken eye sockets contrasted

Did you notice anything unusual on the road?

The two men exchanged glances before answering in unison, No.

Understood. You may leave now.

After the men had departed, only Boss He and Zhu Zhenzhen remained in the room.

Boss He’s probing gaze swept over Zhu Zhenzhen before he strode forward and yanked open her veil.

A fleeting flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes. Unlike when she wore the veil, her hair now revealed a slight curl at the ends, and her large eyes, with their upturned corners, hinted at a seductive charm. Yet upon closer inspection, that alluring quality seemed to vanish like an illusion.

Boss He turned his head away, his back to her, and asked, Where are you headed? With so many roads available, why choose this one?

I’m going to Changding City, Zhu Zhenzhen declared with unwavering conviction, believing he would now let her go. This is the only road there.

As it turned out, it wouldn’t be that easy.