Chapter 134: The Journey

"Gray, I'm hungry!" Liefier looked pitifully at the fragrant roast chicken. Ye Tian’s culinary skills were truly excellent; she hadn't expected such a simple roast chicken to emit such an enticing aroma.

"Want some? Well, you can't have any!" Ye Tian roasted the chicken slowly and unhurriedly, occasionally fanning the flames, which caused Liefier’s cute nose to twitch uncontrollably.

"Gray, I was wrong. You can punish me however you like!" Liefier’s eyes darted around, and with a mischievous smile, she walked over to Ye Tian, sat right on his lap, and gently hooked his chin with her finger. "How do you want to punish me?"

"Oh no!" Ye Tian felt a jolt of alarm. The Ice Witch was back! He hurriedly pushed Liefier away. "Which piece would the honorable Miss Liefier like to eat? I'll tear it off for you."

"I want to eat a whole one. What should I do?" Liefier sat on a nearby tree stump, cupping her face with her hands.

"Fine, one it is!" Ye Tian quickly brushed a layer of fragrant oil onto the two roast chickens, sprinkled something on them, and handed one to Liefier.

"What did you sprinkle?" Liefier asked curiously, looking at the white powder.

"Table salt!" Ye Tian held up a small pouch and shook it.

"Strange, I didn't see you add any spices!" Liefier looked at the glistening, oily chicken. Although she was a bit hesitant, the aroma was simply too irresistible, and she couldn't help but take a bite. An indescribable deliciousness immediately flooded her taste buds.

"Delicious!" Liefier immediately abandoned her lady-like image, tearing into the meat voraciously as if she had never eaten before.

"Could you slow down a little?" Ye Tian asked, feeling rather depressed. Why did these young ladies become so fierce the moment they dropped their elegant masks?

"None of your business!" Liefier mumbled. "Gray, I didn't see you use any spices, so why did the flavor penetrate so deeply?"

"I seasoned it beforehand while cleaning the bird," Ye Tian said, munching on his own chicken.

"No wonder!" Liefier continued to gobble it down. Before long, a large roast chicken was finished. Liefier dropped the bones, looking somewhat disbelieving. "Ugh, I'm full."

"You ate so much, you'll be bloated later!" Ye Tian handed her a water canteen, feeling exasperated.

"Who told you to make it so delicious? If I get fat, I'm holding you responsible," Liefier said, washing her hands elegantly and taking a sip of water, looking dissatisfied.

"I say, you can't be serious!" Ye Tian said, feeling helpless. "Fine, no breakfast for you starting tomorrow. Time to go on a diet."

"In your dreams! I'm not dieting!" Liefier stood up and gracefully showed off her figure. "Do I look like I need to lose weight?"

"No," Ye Tian replied earnestly. Liefier’s figure was fully mature, with alluring curves, especially her proud, towering chest which could kill with a glance. Her every movement possessed a charm that teenaged girls simply lacked. Strangely enough, she was still a virgin.

"Perhaps it's her personality," Ye Tian thought, looking at the mesmerizing Liefier. The title of "Ice Witch" was well-earned; setting aside her looks and figure, her temperament was truly irreplaceable.

"What are you staring at? Keep looking and I'll dig your eyes out!" Liefier pouted.

"Eat up and go to sleep," Ye Tian said.

"And you?" Liefier asked.

"I'll keep watch," Ye Tian replied calmly.

Ye Tian lay quietly on a large tree stump; for him, it made no difference where he slept. Liefier slept in the carriage, which had a temporary windproof and cold-resistant barrier, making it quite comfortable.

The flames flickered, and Ye Tian stared silently into the fire, his thoughts drifting. Suddenly, there was a stir in his chest, and a white figure floated out. Stretching comfortably, Ibera appeared before Ye Tian with a playful grin.

"Gray!" She lunged into Ye Tian’s arms.

"No way, have you gained weight since I last saw you?" Ye Tian feigned pain.

"Liar!" Ibera didn't fall for it; she reached out and pinched Ye Tian’s nose. "Did you miss me?"

"No!" Ye Tian said seriously.

"Hmph, you bad man!" Ibera began to fiddle with Ye Tian’s face in annoyance.

"Can we not be so mischievous?" Ye Tian sighed, stopping the girl. It was strange; previously, Ibera’s body felt like smoke and dust, dissipating at a touch, but now Ye Tian could actually grasp her arm.

"Is this for real?" Ye Tian was startled. He touched her; while she was much colder than a living person, she had a tangible, physical presence. "Is this for real?" He kept touching her, and his hand inadvertently brushed across the girl's chest.

"Eek!" Ibera immediately floated away. "Pervert!" She pouted her ghostly little lips.

"What are you yelling about? I didn't touch anything," Ye Tian said, feeling frustrated.

"What! Are you saying I have no chest?" Ibera was indignant. She floated down, sat on Ye Tian, and pressed his hands against her chest. "Touch it, go on, touch it! Who said I have nothing?"

"Gray!" Suddenly, Liefier’s shrill cry echoed in his ears, and the surrounding air turned frigid as an ice spike flew toward Ibera.

"Hmph, is that all you've got?" Ibera floated aside, dodging the spike. Ye Tian rolled over and quickly stood up. "Wait a moment!"

"Where do you think you're going!" Liefier shouted, and a barrage of ice spikes rained down on Ibera. The latter giggled and vanished, only to reappear right in front of Liefier. However, Liefier smiled at the corner of her mouth. "Ice Box!"

*Swish, swish, swish!* Several walls of ice appeared around Ibera, encasing her like a refrigerator.

"Hmph, pathetic!" Ibera gently tapped a claw against the ice wall, and *crack*, the wall shattered. Ibera giggled as she floated out.

"Impossible!" Liefier’s expression was one of disbelief. A ghost had effortlessly broken her Ice Box spell with a single tap. Unwilling to give up, she gritted her teeth and formed several ice blades, launching them at Ibera.

"I told you both to stop!" Ye Tian let out a roar that sounded like a lion's. *Clatter!* Liefier’s ice blades shattered into a shower of ice shards. Ibera covered her ears tightly; Ye Tian’s attack was like a sonic wave that even she struggled to withstand.

"Are you okay?" Ye Tian asked, looking up.

"I'm fine!" Ibera floated down with a grin and wrapped her arms around Ye Tian’s neck. "Gray, who is this big-chested, brainless woman?"

"Who did you say was big-chested and brainless?" Liefier was furious, raising her staff to attack again.

"Stop, stop!" Ye Tian quickly intervened. "My two ladies, what time is it? Can't you let a person rest?"

"You're the one not letting us rest!" Liefier said angrily. "Why are you shouting for no reason? You scared me to death."

"If I didn't shout, would you two have stopped?" Ye Tian sighed. "Fine, let me introduce you. This is Miss Ibera, and this is the young lady I currently serve, Miss Liefier."

"Never heard of her," Ibera pouted.

"You!" Liefier was immediately incensed. "Gray, she is a ghost, a creature that should be eradicated. Why are you keeping her?"

"Do you think I want to?" Ye Tian replied helplessly. Ibera immediately looked teary-eyed. "My dearest Gray, we were so close, and now you want to abandon me!" She turned and floated away, crying.

"That's how it is. I found her on the road, and she insisted on staying inside my prayer beads," Ye Tian said, taking out a bead.

"Hmm, such a thick aura," Liefier remarked. "Strange, this bead isn't a magic item."

"It's not. It's a prayer bead, left behind by an eminent monk, and it carries an aura of righteousness," Ye Tian explained, looking at the bewildered Liefier. "Think of it as similar to holy water."

"Light magic? Hmm, a bit like it. No, wait, how can a ghost merge with light magic?" Liefier was confused.

"Don't ask me, I don't know either," Ye Tian shrugged. "By the way, why are you up instead of sleeping?"

"I heard a scream, and when I got up, I saw you pinned under a ghost. I thought she was trying to harm you, so I attacked her with magic. I didn't realize you were being intimate," Liefier pouted.

"I'm dizzy. You go be intimate with her then," Ye Tian said, feeling deflated.

"Hmph." Liefier thought about it; ghosts have no physical form, so even if she wanted to be intimate, it wouldn't work. She pouted and returned to the carriage.

"Alright, come out," Ye Tian said softly. A giggle echoed in his ears.

"How did you know I didn't leave?" Ibera hugged him. "Gray, I'm not going back in. It’s no fun in there."

"Can ghosts exist during the day?" Ye Tian asked. "Aren't you afraid of the sun?"

"I am," Ibera said, looking dejected. "The light elements inside are too hard to absorb. It took me so long to absorb just this tiny bit!" She held up a tiny sliver of a fingernail.

"Then keep working at it!" Ye Tian laughed. "Didn't you say you'd have a physical body once you absorbed enough?"

"Maybe it’s not that simple," Ibera sighed. "Forget it, I won't think about it. Gray, I'm so bored, tell me a story?"

"Uh, a story?" Ye Tian scratched his face. "What kind of story do you want to hear?"

"Anything good will do!" The girl hung onto Ye Tian with a smile.

"Alright, I'll tell you the story of Liu Hai catching the toad. Once upon a time..."

Early the next morning, Liefier was awakened by a delicious aroma. She got up to find Ye Tian preparing breakfast.

"Morning, Miss," Ye Tian said with a grin.

"It smells so good. Wait, I need to wash up. I want to eat!"

"Which one do you want to eat first?" Ye Tian asked, feeling exasperated.

"Eat first!" Liefier said firmly. Since no one was watching anyway.

"OK, coming right up!" Ye Tian smiled and brushed on a layer of oil.

"Gray, what if I get fat?" Liefier asked while gnawing on the roast chicken. Even though she had already finished one, she felt she hadn't had enough and started on another.

"Don't worry, you certainly will," Ye Tian laughed.

"What does that mean?" Liefier was shocked.

"Think about it, if you get fat, will that guy Nick still want you?" Ye Tian teased.

"That wouldn't do! It’s so ugly to be fat!" Liefier grumbled. "I don't care, if I get fat, you're responsible."

"Fine, then don't eat!" Ye Tian reached out to take the chicken from her.

"No, I haven't had enough yet!" Liefier hurriedly dodged. "What about that ghost?"

"She went back in, it's daytime now," Ye Tian said.

"Hmph!" Liefier thought for a moment, then took a fierce bite of the chicken leg. "Gray, where did you pick up that ghost? I advise you to throw her away."

"Why?" Ye Tian asked curiously.

"Ghosts are dark creatures, forbidden by the Church of Light. That's one thing, but more importantly, if a ghost evolves into an evil spirit, the danger is immense. If it were a high-level evil spirit, even I might not be able to handle it." Recalling last night's battle, Liefier felt depressed. She was a Magic Master! And yet, she couldn't even break through a ghost's defense!

"Don't worry, this ghost is harmless," Ye Tian said with a smile. Liefier pouted. "Are you finished? If so, let's get back on the road."

Ye Tian whistled, and Old Black came strolling over.

"You're full, aren't you?" Ye Tian hadn't tied Old Black up at night, and it had gone off on its own in the morning. Old Black snorted, and Ye Tian patted its muzzle before hitching it to the carriage.

"Help me up!" Liefier saw Ye Tian sitting in the front and felt dissatisfied, gesturing for him to help her inside.

"Just lift your feet and get in. Why are you so delicate?" Ye Tian sighed, jumped down, and helped her into the carriage.

"Hmph, you are my steward now. Serving your master is your duty!" Liefier said indignantly.

"Yes, yes, I'll remember that!" Ye Tian bowed. "Honorable Miss Liefier, may we depart now?"

After a good night's rest, Old Black was in high spirits. It ran for fifteen hundred miles without a break all day. Seeing that it was still early, Ye Tian felt sorry for the horse and stopped to unhitch it, letting it rest.

"I didn't expect you to treat your horse so well," Liefier pouted as she stepped out of the carriage, looking around, and suddenly felt depressed.

"What's wrong?" Ye Tian asked.

"If only I had a flying pet, we wouldn't have to run so far."

"Forget it, what kind of pet could handle your size?" Ye Tian opened his pack and started rummaging through it.

"Hmph, what's that supposed to mean? There are plenty of flying pets that can carry me! A griffin, for example," Liefier said angrily.

"A griffin? Oh, that lion-headed giant bird?" Ye Tian had seen pictures in the Continental Chronicles. It was a giant bird with a lion's body and eagle's wings, two or three times larger than any lion he had ever seen, and incredibly fierce. It was said that some empires had tried to raise them, but they were too delicate and the costs were astronomical, so they never succeeded, though the legends remained.

"I remember an empire called Babylon supposedly had some, but they rarely appeared in public, right?" Ye Tian pondered.

"You know quite a bit. That was the Babylonian Royal Griffin Knight Order. It could be said to be the only remaining griffin group on the continent, but there were only a hundred of them. Griffins are too precious."

"How fast are they?" Ye Tian asked.

"We could reach the Imperial Capital in less than a week," Liefier sighed.