Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"I couldn't rest or regain my strength during such a process, so I could only dig a hole and temporarily bury myself to hibernate."

"Fortunately, a few days later, I finally heard a vibrating sound, and upon emerging, I saw you and the Rescue Association members."

"Haha." The other few people in the cart couldn't help but laugh, and afterwards, they each began discussing events that occurred during their escape.

Despite there being many sorrowful events, surviving the insect disaster left everyone with an inexplicable sense of relief. This feeling of surviving the catastrophe was so surreal, as currently, less than one in ten settlements near Shilin Mountain Castle remain, with many familiar faces having disappeared during the day of the insect swarm attack.

With no entertainment available, everyone could only chat along the way. Through these two days of interaction, the group slowly adapted to each other, perhaps because they had all experienced life and death, past trivial matters seemed inconsequential now. Compared to survival, nothing else was important anymore.

On the fourth day evening, Hexia's caravan finally encountered the first settlement in the western grassland.

"Do you see those sheepskin tents and felt? This should be a small settlement living off nomadism," Guy narrated while riding on his horse beside his companions.

"In my youth, I followed caravans to many places, so I'm familiar with this form."

"These small settlements, unable to occupy lush grasslands, have to search for corner grasslands on the periphery to sustain their livestock."

"Judging by their tents, the estimated population of the settlement should be around 30-40, with perhaps only a dozen or so able-bodied men."

"Should we go take a look, Hexia?"

Sura turned to ask the veiled, black-haired, black-skirted young lady beside him. Compared to other members, this young girl appeared extraordinarily distinctive, especially with her slender fingers devoid of calluses and signs of labor, her snow-white skin and delicate figure, which seemed unlike someone born in this muddy and chaotic world.

"Let's go take a look. After all, it's the first settlement we've encountered, and there are some questions I want to explore."

Thus, accompanied by the young lady, several people moved towards the distant settlement, with Guy riding ahead on his horse, which carried a crisp iron bell on its neck.

As they approached, the sentries from the settlement came out, waved to indicate, and stopped them in place.

Soon, several horseback members of the settlement rushed out, and judging by the movements within the settlement, they all seemed to know that a caravan had arrived outside.

"What are you... here for?" The man leading them, with a short-tail braid, frowned slightly, looked at the group with immense caution and vigilance.

"We are a passing caravan, do you need trade?" Guy stepped forward while the others stayed behind.

"Caravan?" The person seemed somewhat skeptical, looking at the well-equipped crowd, who mostly carried guns. Though wrapped in cloth and not quite visible, they were definitely not something a scimitar could handle.

"Yes." Guy then explained further to the person, eventually earning a bit of belief from the man.

"You want to buy food, but that's impossible. If it were summer, I would surely have someone host you well, but not now."

"It's because early spring is when the younglings haven't grown, right?" Guy also understood the situation.

"Then why come now, knowing this?"

"If we weren't short, we wouldn't have come all this way," Guy shook his head, mentioning the recent disaster near Shilin Mountain Castle.

"What you mentioned, I've heard of," with slight nodding from the other side.

"Looks like you too came from the east."

"Alright, I can offer some of the settlement's food reserves, but not much, and you need to trade at three times the usual value," the person plainly stated.

"That expensive?" Guy couldn't help but speak up.

"Hmph, that's the price now," the other explained rudely.

Seeing Guy still hesitating, Hexia lightly patted her gray-haired pony, riding it forward.

"Hello, could you offer a slight discount? We've brought quite a bit of goods, which may include things you need," her voice was exceptionally charming, capturing the immediate attention of those present.

The young lady, with slightly fresh features yet hard to conceal her captivating looks, merely turned her eyes slightly, entrancing the group for a while. Following that day, with all barriers in her heart removed, Tilan began to blossom with her own aura and allure.

Her demeanor was as gentle as an orchid in an empty valley, with indescribable clarity and liveliness in her eyes, unconstrained, sincerer in adapting freely to myriad changes in the world.

Even those who had a bit of hostility within them saw the black-haired elegant girl, and not only did their fierce expressions dissipate, but their speaking also lightened.

"Young Miss, what sort of goods do you have?" They might not genuinely care what merchandise she carried, merely wanting to hear her speak a bit more.

"Well, we have some prepared medicines, some firearms, tea to dissolve grease, dried flowers, and some fabrics and clothes..." Tilan touched her chin lightly with her curved finger, recalling the items brought.

Seeing her earnest response, those initially intending to hassle for lower prices felt a bit awkward to speak up, instead, they followed along asking to see the goods.

"That's no problem, follow me," Tilan lightly patted her gray-haired pony again, letting it carry her back to the caravan.

Hereafter, Tilan proceeded to introduce, as they inspected the items loaded on the wagons one by one.

After checking around, much of the previous suspicion and vigilance from the other side dissipated, realizing that this team truly intended to conduct business transactions, rather than masquerading as merchants for robbery.