The news struck like lightning, and in an instant, Feng Yin Wan's body was engulfed by a chill.
A warm hand reached from behind, cupping her forearm and supporting her.
Feng Yin Wan's consciousness flickered back, her unease suppressed as she gathered her scattered thoughts.
"Notify everyone to search outside the city immediately. We must bring him back before Chen Chen enters the capital!"
Three days. The people from the sect had only just arrived. That little fellow should not have reached the capital yet.
No matter what, he could not enter the city, nor could he be exposed to everyone's eyes!
...
As dusk began to fall, a carriage entered the city, just in time.
It was an ordinary cargo carriage, piled with several boxes filled with wine and glass wine vessels imported from the Moon Kingdom.
After entering the city, the carriage drove along the main road, circled the city a few times, and then turned into a secluded, deep alley.
"Whoa—"
The coachman let out a long cry, and the carriage stopped just in time in the alley.
Soon, a seam appeared in the rearmost box, and a child, kicking his little legs with all his might, crawled out from within.
Almost instantly, the undeniable scent from the box also spread out. The coachman sniffed, his eyes widened, and he jumped off the carriage.
"Oh, dear ancestors! How much of my wine have you drunk!"
He rushed forward like a startled bird, only to be met with a pile of empty wine jars.
The coachman's heart ached, and his eyes began to roll uncontrollably.
"An entire box! Oh, my heavens!"
"I worked hard to transport five boxes, and you drank one box all by yourself on the way! You... you're going to kill me!"
He looked at the scattered wine jars, wishing he could just smash his head against them.
But the little child on the carriage moved before he did.
The wine smelled so sweet. He couldn't help but keep drinking it on the road.
At first, he didn't feel anything, but now that he had climbed out, his head felt like it had doubled in size, and he saw two little birds flying before his eyes...
Ugh, I can't. I'm going to faint.
Seeing his small body sway precariously, about to fall back into the box right after climbing out, the coachman had to reach out and steady him.
"Hey, wake up! We're in the capital! The capital!"
His voice was as loud as Granny Zhang's, who was stir-frying in the kitchen.
The little fellow frowned, rubbing his ears, and his consciousness finally returned a little.
Mm, right!
He was supposed to go to the capital to find his mother.
The capital, had they arrived?
He glanced around blankly, and a hint of disappointment surged in his eyes.
He thought it was some good place, but this capital was really not great. Not as good as their Xuanmen!
Never mind, finding his mother was more important.
So, he patted his head, which felt a bit heavy, gently pulled away from the coachman's support, swayed, and bowed his head.
"Thank... thank you!"
Mother had told him to thank others when they helped him. Even though this was his first time traveling so far, he remembered!
Seeing him unable to stand steadily, yet still swaying and bowing to him, the coachman's eyes widened, disbelieving what he saw.
You... you weren't this polite when you were drinking!
A little, but not much!
The little fellow paid him no more mind, bowed once, and climbed out of the carriage.
Seeing him pat the dust off his legs and about to walk forward, the coachman jolted and quickly called out to him.
"No, wait!"
Feng Jin Chen turned, his small face full of confusion.
"Is there something else?"
Yes! Of course, there was!
The coachman ran a hand through his hair, his already sallow face turning purple with exasperation.
"Your antidote for the 'Teng Teng Wan'..." He hadn't given it to him yet!
He didn't know how it happened, but he had fallen for this little brat's trick and been given that 'Teng Teng Wan'. His stomach hadn't been right all along the way!
He had worked so hard to bring this ancestor to the capital, only to have him drink a box of wine. Was it easy for him?
Feng Jin Chen tapped his forehead, as if just remembering. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a handful of colorful pills.
As he sifted through them, he mumbled to himself.
"Teng Teng Wan... Hmm, where did it go..."
His little hands moved the pills around, and the coachman's heart fluttered, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
Why did he have a feeling that this was a bit unreliable??
As expected, the next second, he saw the little child frowning and handing him a handful of pills.
"I forgot which one is the antidote. I'll give all of these to you."
"...!"
The coachman dared not take them.
"What are these pills? Will they kill me?"
Feng Jin Chen frowned even tighter at his words.
"Hey, I already said I forgot. You try them yourself! Don't delay me finding mother!"
Without giving him a chance to speak, he shoved the pills into his hand and quickly hurried away.
His short legs moved as if he were on wind-fire wheels!
In a blink of an eye, only the coachman remained in the alley, trembling with a handful of pills.
His head was already a little dizzy, and after rushing out, the blush on Feng Jin Chen's small face deepened.
But this did not affect the wideness of his eyes at the sight before him.
Lanterns were lit, and this was the main road in the city. The long street was bustling with people in shops, and the roadside stalls were lively.
It was truly vibrant and dazzling.
He couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow," and then his eyes widened as he walked straight towards a stall selling candied hawthorns.
"What is this?"
Red, round, and strung together.
It smelled sweet and fragrant, and it looked delicious!
Having run a stall for twenty years, he had seen his fair share of freeloaders.
The vendor heard him and was about to shoo him away, but when he looked up and met Feng Jin Chen's rosy little face, he found himself unable to speak.
This little one was a bit too cute.
But he had his principles.
So, he sized up Feng Jin Chen and then twirled a candied hawthorn in front of him.
"This, my boy, is called Tanghulu. One skewer costs two wen. If you want one, get your grown-up to buy it for you."
Although the child's clothing was understated, the material was of excellent quality. Such a child's family couldn't possibly be poor.
Feng Jin Chen frowned at this.
"What is two wen?"
He had never heard of it.
He thought for a moment, took out two pills from his pocket, "Can this count as two wen? I... I haven't found my mother yet."
The vendor glanced at the pills in his hand and said perfunctorily, frowning.
"No, no. If you want one, come back and buy it after you find your mother!"
The vendor regretted his words even as he spoke them.
Unexpectedly, the round, bun-like face simply drooped for a moment, then nodded at him again.
"Thank you, uncle."
Mother had told him to be polite, and it was okay to be refused.
He said this, turned, and stepped back. But after only two steps, a sudden gust of wind rushed past his ears.
In front of him, a carriage was hurtling directly towards him.