The young woman and Ui Feng exited the forest.
As her gaze met his, she stopped, unsure for a moment.
"I greet the Young Master!" She shouted with a shaking voice and bowed.
"The likes of you don't deserve to talk to the Young Master!" Ui pushed her away. "Now get to it!"
The Personal Instructor walked closer, but Lei didn't care about that. His gaze was fixated on the young woman.
Her hair was rather short, especially when compared to the Young Master's. Her curves were also hidden well by the worn and excessively large clothes.
If it weren't for her voice and delicate facial features, she could have passed off as a young man.
She walked and walked. The moment of truth approached.
Just like the Young Master had expected and hoped, the young woman lay her hand on the Beast's head.
The latter's gaze was still locked on Ui Feng.
"Here, Young Zhao."
A second cup of Jingu Tea was handed to Lei.
He reached for it, and each of the Disciples gave him a hand.
Lei randomly placed the empty cup into one of those hands.
'Even taking the Young Master's empty cup is an honor...?' He asked himself as the chosen Disciple smirked and the others' eyes threw daggers at that smirk.
"We'll be ready to go in just a moment, Young Zhao." The Personal Instructor said as he rubbed his hands together, before towards the young woman again. "Hurry it up, girl! I won't repeat myself again!"
"What's this about?" The Young Master asked after taking a sip.
"Oh, I apologize, Young Master. I thought that you would enjoy seeing your Tamed Beast, but I couldn't handle it myself. Only someone as great as you can tame it after all."
The Young Master looked away, and slowly brought the cup to his mouth.
'Mm... It doesn't have as much taste as the previous one. She used the same leaves... Against waste, I suppose? Since the Jingu Tea is expertly made according to the System, she must respect those leaves a lot... As an expert.'
The young woman grabbed the Beast by the reins and walked while making clicking sounds with her tongue. The Beast seemed eager to keep its gaze on Ui Feng, but it eventually followed her lead.
"Are you saying that she is as great as me?" The Young Master asked.
The question immediately made both Ui Feng's face and pressure drop.
"Of course not, Young Zhao! There is no one as great as you! It's just that... That girl is something of a runt. I found her in the forest right outside the Jade City, so she is half beast herself! Haha!" He laughed nerveously. "That must be why she got along with the Tamed Beast. Perhaps they are related. Cousins, maybe? Hahaha!"
The Young Master didn't react, which greatly surprised Ui Feng. He had expected the Young Master to, at least, let out a chuckle. But after being in there so long, the Young Master simply does not feel like laughing, right?
...
About fifteen minutes later, the Silver-Grade Beast stood with its side towards the Young Master, his Personal Instructor, and the three Disciples.
Connected to the Beast's reins, a carriage composed of two distinct parts.
A rudimentary structure made of sturdy wood. The front section of the carriage. It was a simple, open carriage, devoid of a ceiling or walls. The basic wooden design was used for the transport of goods and supplies. But also for the transport of individuals who did not require or, more often than not, deserve the comforts of a more elaborate carriage.
Directly behind it, a more luxurious rear section. Walls, doors, windows, and a ceiling. Lavishly adorned with intricate carvings, painted black and yellow.
'Phew.' Lei whistled internally.
Connecting the front section to the Silver-Grade Beast's reins seemed like an arduous job. And so did connecting that one to the rear section.
It wasn't a job for one person, let alone for a young woman who, physically, looked rather frail.
But she had done it.
Neither Disciple nor Instructor had moved. That kind of job was beneath them after all.
It was a job for the Servants.
'Cousins sounds right.' The Young Master chuckled.
Her palms were bleeding slightly. She kept them clenched to hide the blood as Ui Feng reprimanded her for taking her time.
The Young Master raised his gaze.
It was nightfall.
"When will we arrive?"
"Oh, uh..." The airheads had trouble figuring it out.
"By dawn, Young Zhao. We should make it to the city by dawn." Ui Feng answered as he turned around.
He turned back towards the young woman for a moment, before walking in the Young Master's direction.
She understood, and hopped onto the front section of the carriage, not without trouble.
"Shall we, Young Zhao?"
The Young Master stepped forward, and each moved towards where they belonged. Where they deserved to be.
The Disciples walked towards the front section of the carriage. The rear section could fit four people comfortably, but not five. Not that it mattered though. On their way here, the Disciples had already been ordered to take the front section anyways, leaving Ui Feng alone in the luxurious rear section.
His Personal Instructor opened the door for him.
'Oh. They even have steps for this one.'
The Young Master looked away a second later.
"You three. Get in here."
"Young Master?"
"Get in here. I'll sit at the front."
"Young Master, we could never take your place and leave you here!"
"That's right, Young Master! And with the night approaching, we can't leave you in the cold-"
"I'll take my place back if the cold gets to me. Right now..." The Young Master stared at the inside of the carriage for a bit. "I've been in there for too long. I'd rather feel the wind."
"Very well, Young Zhao. We'll all accompa-"
"No. I want to be alone. Let's get going."
The Young Master started walking towards the front section.
The rest nodded silently and somewhat awkwardly.
The Disciples entered the rear section, and so did Ui Feng.
This left the Young Master alone.
Alone because, as one might expect, Servants don't really count.
The Young Master hopped onto the front section of the carriage.
He took a seat and occupied the corner, his back, and left leg against the edges.
The young woman was seated at the front. In her bleeding hands, the reins.
Her pressed lips contorted from one side to the other.
'The Young Master wants to be alone. Then should I tell Borara to start walking? Should I ask? Wait... Should I greet him again? But he wants to be alone so-'
"Let's go." Lei said as he crossed his arms, his legs extended in front of him.
With a peculiar click of her tongue, the Silver-Grade Beast started walking.
After a couple of silent minutes,
"Do you know me?" The Young Master asked suddenly.