"Why have you stopped? What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"
Feng Jin leaned out to look at Ling Mohan, who was studying a map. A hint of worry surfaced in her heart. After a moment, she voiced her concern, "You haven't lost your way, have you?"
The man's gaze remained fixed on the map, his brow furrowed. Although he remained silent for a long time, Feng Jin had already guessed most of it from his expression. Her heart skipped a beat. This was truly bad.
"You said you don't know the way, yet you insisted on appearing so capable. Now look at us... lost. Neither of us will get back today."
Feng Jin became anxious, her face filled with worry. She impulsively snatched the map Ling Mohan was examining and started to study it herself.
If they continued to rely on Ling Mohan, they would likely have to spend the night in the wilderness. Neither of them would be able to return. She had no intention of staying here to be a mosquito's feast with Ling Mohan.
"Don't snatch it! I was just figuring it out, we'll be out of here soon!"
Just as he was starting to see some clarity, Feng Jin snatched the map from his hand. His thoughts became a jumbled mess, like a pot of porridge.
"You're not allowed to snatch!" Feng Jin snapped, and the man's outstretched hand quietly retracted.
After Feng Jin finished studying the map, she realized they were going in the completely opposite direction. She shot Ling Mohan a reproachful glance. He claimed to know the way, so how could he get lost even on his own path? He was truly remarkable.
If his soldiers were to find out about this, they would surely mock him endlessly.
"If you can understand it, quickly give me the map. I can definitely lead you out."
Ling Mohan was convinced Feng Jin wouldn't understand and reached out to get the map back. Little did he expect Feng Jin's next words to almost utterly disgrace him.
"No need. I already know how to get out. If we were to rely on you, we'd really have to spend the night here."
Feng Jin folded the map and tossed it behind her into Ling Mohan's hand. "You keep it and look at it slowly when we get back."
Feng Jin looked up at the sky. Within moments, she determined their direction and pointed to the area to her front left. "Go that way, and we'll be out directly."
With the direction determined, leaving became much simpler. Feng Jin, too lazy to walk, hopped directly onto the carriage and ordered Ling Mohan to drive.
The man reluctantly drove the carriage forward, secretly hoping they wouldn't get out. That way, Feng Jin would have to obey his commands unconditionally, allowing him to regain some authority.
Alas, things never go as planned. Following Feng Jin's directions, the carriage drove straight out of the forest.
Ling Mohan's face fell. He hadn't expected Feng Jin to be right and for them to actually get out.
"Since we're out, let's hurry back to the manor. Don't dawdle here."
She had no desire to enter that eerie, terrifying forest again. The sooner they returned, the better.
"No, we came all this way, and I've been planning this for a long time. It would be a waste not to go."
Ling Mohan refused to mention going back and continued to drive the carriage forward. What happened earlier was purely an accident, and it would absolutely not happen again.
"Stop the carriage! I'm not going with you, I want to go back to the manor!" Feng Jin shouted. She no longer believed Ling Mohan's nonsense. Going out with him was simply asking for trouble.
"Trust me just this once. Nothing like this will happen again, I promise!"
He remembered the way completely this time and would not get lost again. He had to get it right this time, to make Feng Jin look at him with newfound respect.
She had always been helpless against his stubborn nature. For now, she could only go along with his wishes and trust him a little longer. If they got lost again, she would never believe him again.
Fortunately, Ling Mohan's performance this time was not too disappointing. Although there were some twists and turns along the way, they finally arrived safely.
Feng Jin looked at the manor ahead and then at the man. "What are you bringing me here for... what are you plotting!"
"This manor has natural hot springs. I bought this estate many years ago. Today, I'm being benevolent and letting you enjoy them too!"
Feng Jin pouted, a look of helplessness on her face. She thought it was something incredibly important that Ling Mohan had so mysteriously tricked her into coming for. It turned out he just wanted to take her for a hot spring bath.
They had almost gotten lost too. Considering that, the hot spring bath had been quite difficult to achieve.
Upon closer inspection, Feng Jin was also captivated by the scenery of the estate. It was less of an estate and more of a fenced-off area with a few simple buildings constructed.
"What do you think? The estate is quite nice, isn't it? It cost me a lot of money to buy this land back then. If you like it, I'll give you this estate."
Feng Jin continued to survey the estate, her gaze not on Ling Mohan. And give it to her... With her own assets, let alone a small estate like this, she had more money than the national treasury.
Seeing Feng Jin's prolonged silence, Ling Mohan asked somewhat anxiously, "What's wrong... Don't you like this estate?"
His tone was like that of an artist who had poured their heart into a creation, excitedly displaying it, only to have it suddenly smashed to the ground, trampled upon, and declared worthless.
At this moment, even from ten feet away from Ling Mohan, Feng Jin could feel the immense anger radiating from him.
Feng Jin's eyes flickered with suspicion. She quickly spoke to comfort Ling Mohan's fragile heart. "It's not that I don't like it, but since it's your cherished possession, I can't just take it away. You should keep it for yourself."
She didn't want to accept anything from Ling Mohan, only to find out later what else he might expect from her.
It was better not to accept it. Besides, she didn't lack such things. She'd let Ling Mohan keep it and admire it himself.
"In my heart, only you are the most important. Since you like this estate so much, I'll give it to you."
With a wave of his hand, the man directly gifted the vast estate to her, not even blinking an eye.
Feng Jin felt no joy. The corners of her mouth twitched uncontrollably. She hadn't said she wanted it!