Seeing three pairs of eyes staring at her, Jiang Mingyue quickly remembered they were childhood friends of the original owner.
It's just that in the book, they were barely mentioned, not even considered as minor characters, causing her to overlook their existence.
Indeed, that's another flaw in the book.
Who said Jiang Mingyue had a bad temper, was selfish, and had no true friends around her?
Someone spoke first, but it wasn't directed at Jiang Mingyue.
"See, I told you she would definitely come." The speaker was a long-haired Huang Mao, naturally having that hair quality. Jiang Mingyue remembered he was called Fang Tao, the most lively and talkative member of the "Four Treasures of the Study" group.
The other two ignored him, directly bypassing him to look at Jiang Mingyue, assessing her up and down.
Shu Wenquan, the tall and thin scholar: "Looks like you've recovered well."
The girl Xia Xiaosi was much more direct, grabbing her, "Yuebao, you make people worry so much, don't fight with that White Lotus anymore; you can't beat her."
Jiang Mingyue didn't speak; in fact, she was trying to use spiritual power but found it didn't work on these three.
Yep, they are undoubtedly friends, and only those with good character would reflect her spiritual power back, forming an automatic protection mechanism.
"Alright, I'll listen to you guys."
Shu Wenquan shook his head: "For people with ill intentions, it's not that you don't provoke them, they'll stop bothering you. Look at this first."
After speaking, Shu Wenquan opened his palm, revealing a lump of something resembling yellow soil.
Xia Xiaosi: "Is this soap?"
Fang Tao proudly raised his chin, looking like a rooster that won a dance battle.
"Of course, it's soap. I found this with the bookworm by the river. You don't know, it was late at night, mosquitoes were everywhere, and the two of us were covered with bites trying to find evidence. Look at these bumps; they hurt so much."
Fang Tao rolled up his sleeves, revealing a row of shocking bumps on his arms.
"I told you, our Yuebao wouldn't be someone who jumps into the river. Clearly, someone had ill intentions."
This was something Jiang Mingyue didn't expect because the book didn't mention this soap incident at all. It just said the original owner didn't want to return to the countryside but couldn't refuse the family's decision to send her away, so she threatened to jump into the river to make her parents change their minds.
But it didn't say...
As if a bolt of electricity struck, Jiang Mingyue caught more of the original owner's memories, no wonder the original owner felt her footing slip at the time. Although it had just rained, the ground wasn't slippery to that extent, but adding wetted soap flakes made it different.
Jiang Mingyue looked at Shu Wenquan, the most resourceful among them, who happened to be looking at her too, causing Jiang Mingyue to nearly avoid eye contact.
Those clear eyes seemed capable of penetrating all obstacles, exposing demons and monsters in broad daylight.
Jiang Mingyue had no confidence in winning in front of such a person, worried about revealing any weakness.
But in game theory, avoiding confrontation is a big taboo, even more so since they aren't really in a game.
"After suffering this ordeal, it seems you've become more sensible. Going back to the countryside might not be a bad thing after all."
Fang Tao: "Hey! Bookworm, why don't you tell them that we followed the trail and found the soap was related to Jiang Zhenzhu's follower?"
"Yeah, it is related. Yuebao, remember this name, Zheng Honglian. It was her brother who placed it. I suspect Zheng Honglian was behind this, otherwise, it wouldn't be such a coincidence.
And all these things together... do you get what I mean?"
Jiang Mingyue: "…" made her anxious for a while, but truly, they trust her unconditionally.
"Yes, it all points to Jiang Zhenzhu."
At the intersection, she really should've used spiritual power across the distance.
Now she'll have to wait until the next encounter.
Xia Xiaosi: "Didn't I say so? The first day I saw that woman, I knew she wasn't anything good. By the way, do you remember who saved you?"
Jiang Mingyue looked puzzled.
Xia Xiaosi: "You don't think you climbed up by yourself, do you?"
She really did think so.
But now, reminded, she started to recall.
It seems she crossed over at that very moment, her body wrapped in underwater weeds, sinking downward, with her head feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds.
But then, her mind was full of the weightlessness of falling into Wuyun Mountain Grand Canyon, unaware she'd crossed over.
Until later, when seemingly strong arms embraced her waist, pulling her out of the entanglement of the weeds, she only thought it was a pine branch hitting her during the canyon fall.
But pine branches and human arms are different.
Yet, she couldn't remember more.
Shu Wenquan observed her state, shook his head, and sighed: "I knew it. It's okay, good people don't ask for recognition. We'll just remember in our hearts."
Just then, Jiang Zhenmei, who's been silent, finally spoke.
"Um…" She pointed to the setting sun in the west, "Lil' sis, we really need to go, or it will be dark."
"Well, I'm leaving now, remember to miss me, you three."
Xia Xiaosi quickly stuffed a package into her arms, "Yuebao, we can only send you this far. You have to learn to take care of yourself." Xia Xiaosi reluctantly tugged at Jiang Mingyue's clothes, "These things were pieced together by us three; you might need them."
Unlike a mesh bag, a piece of cloth wrapped everything, unsure what's inside.
"You three truly treat me best. Thank you! I'll come to the city to see you whenever I can. Take care, everyone."
No matter how much she dislikes leaving, she has to go.
Oddly enough, Jiang Mingyue's steps felt unusually light on the road ahead, as if twelve kilometers were nothing, and ten more wouldn't be an issue.
"Mingyue, they're all good people, don't forget them."
Jiang Mingyue: "… Yeah, I'll listen to you, third sister."
The twelve-kilometer path is really hard to walk, becoming a complete mountain trail, with stones littered about, truly testing one's footing.
"Mingyue, stop looking around, keep an eye on your steps; the road is tough."
"Sis, the scenery here is beautiful." In the future, this place will surely be a tourist attraction.
Jiang Zhenmei simply smiled: It's good if Mingyue likes it.
If this is considered beautiful scenery, Qingshan Village is even better, although they couldn't even fill their stomachs, leaving them with little concern for how the scenery looks.
"Mingyue, are you feeling tired? Sit on the stone and rest for a while."
"Third sister, do you hear it, is it the sound of a car?"
Jiang Zhenmei looked confused: not unable to hear, but shocked, the kind seen only in school textbooks.
"Are you sure it's a car sound?"
"Definitely, wait, here it comes, look..."
Curiously turning around, Jiang Zhenmei saw a green fellow—a car—not supposed to appear, wobbling quickly towards them.
Jiang Zhenmei quickly pulled Jiang Mingyue aside, "It's dangerous, we should avoid it."
Jiang Mingyue, wanting to hitch a ride: "…"
However, there was no need for Jiang Mingyue to think further, as the car stopped in front of them, and a head popped out.
"Little Yueyue, we meet again."