Chapter 104: Seeking Shelter

You could say that this journey has been all about braving the elements—eating on the go, sleeping under the stars. Despite their considerable wealth, there simply weren’t any places to restock along the way, so everyone ended up looking bedraggled and dusty… But then again, this was the path they chose for themselves.

They’d left in a hurry, worried they wouldn’t be able to protect their goods, so how could they possibly take the crowded, well-traveled main roads?

That’s why, when they suddenly spotted a territory up ahead, their delight was genuine and not at all exaggerated—they truly were overjoyed at the prospect of finally getting a proper rest.

But just as everyone was celebrating the thought of a comfortable place to stay, they caught a glimpse of the territory’s “true face.”

In an instant, the joy on everyone’s faces was replaced by disappointment.

“This… must be a newly established, small territory, right?”

Even though Su You had spent an entire day renovating the place two days ago, she was limited by the materials at hand. No matter how skilled she was, there was no way she could turn a pile of stones into something grand and luxurious.

So when the small caravan saw the neat but still rather crude stone walls and gate, it was impossible for them not to feel let down.

Still, none of them really minded.

After all, out here in the wilderness, just having a territory to offer them a place to rest was already a stroke of luck—how much more could they really expect?

No matter how poor the conditions, this was still a territory protected by the Heartfire of the city!

That was a huge step up from sleeping in tents every night and having to post guards in shifts.

“Actually, having things this basic is a good thing for us,” Sister Yun said, her words clearly carrying a deeper meaning.

Those who understood her immediately felt their disappointment melt away, replaced by a sense of relief.

“Sister Yun is right,” someone agreed. Others, not quite catching on, tugged at their companions’ sleeves, quietly seeking an explanation.

One of them sighed at the confusion on their faces, then lowered his voice and explained, “There are pros and cons to good conditions, and pros and cons to bad ones. A new territory like this means there aren’t many people, and their fighting strength is weak… Of course, we wouldn’t do anything bad, but it pays to be cautious.” In other words, while the conditions here were poor, the territory posed little threat to them. They didn’t have to worry about anyone getting greedy over their goods, and even if someone did, they wouldn’t be much trouble to handle.

The few who hadn’t understood now saw the light, and their feelings shifted to relief, just like the others.

While they were discussing this, Sister Yun had already gone up to knock on the stone gate by herself.

A moment later, the gate opened, revealing a young, delicate-looking woman—Dolly, who had been left behind to “watch the house.”

Dolly glanced at the group and quickly guessed who they were. After all, she’d once been part of a caravan herself and knew all the telltale signs. Plus, before leaving, Su You had mentioned that a caravan or some lone merchants might be arriving soon…

Although Dolly didn’t know how Su You could have known that, it didn’t affect her trust in her “Lady Lord.”

“You are…?” Even though she’d already figured out their identity and could guess their purpose from their appearance, Dolly still put on a wary and slightly confused expression.

Don’t be fooled by how obedient and harmless she seemed around Su You—she’d taken part in plenty of caravan trades, met all sorts of people, and heard her share of strange stories. She was hardly some naïve little flower.

Her previous misfortune had just been a matter of bad luck and a foolish teammate—otherwise, things would never have turned out that way…

Seeing that the gatekeeper was such a young woman, Sister Yun’s gaze and tone softened.

“Sorry to bother you. We’re a caravan passing through. We’re willing to pay something in exchange for a few days’ shelter and a chance to rest,” Sister Yun said, then waited quietly for Dolly’s reply.

She could tell that this young woman wasn’t the type to be difficult, so unless something unexpected happened, she didn’t think her request would be refused.

Of course, not refusing didn’t necessarily mean agreeing, but everything could be negotiated.

They weren’t expecting to stay for free—they’d pay for their lodging. This was a small territory that probably lacked everything, while they were fully stocked and had plenty to offer. There was no way they couldn’t afford a place to stay.

Hearing Sister Yun’s words, Dolly hesitated for a moment, then turned around and said something to someone inside. A young man soon came over to take her place.

This was Lyle, who had also been left behind to “watch the house.”

“If you just want to rest, we can let you in. But as for staying overnight…” Lyle trailed off, not finishing his sentence.

Sister Yun found this a bit odd but said nothing, assuming they just wanted more compensation. She gestured to the people behind her.

One of them quickly pulled something from their chest and hurried over.

Since Dolly had stepped aside, she couldn’t see what it was, but Lyle immediately recognized it as a high-quality piece of fabric.

Judging by the amount, it was enough to make at least three sets of clothing (top and bottom). As for the attributes, that would depend on the other materials and the maker’s skill.

At Sister Yun’s signal, the person holding the fabric tried to hand it to Lyle, but he quickly waved it away and didn’t accept.

“Um…” Lyle frowned slightly, unsure how to address her.

“My surname is Yun—Yun Li. I’m the leader of this caravan,” Sister Yun—Yun Li—introduced herself simply, then waited to see what Lyle would say next.

If it was just about wanting more payment, Yun Li thought he was being a bit too coy, so there must be another reason for his reluctance.

“Captain Yun, you misunderstand. That’s not what we meant. We’re just residents of this territory—we don’t have the authority to let you stay,” Lyle explained, and Yun Li suddenly understood."