Chapter 32: The Lu Woman

The Qingya bandit stronghold was not large, with only about thirty people total; building it any bigger would only be a burden.

If more people come later, we can expand again.

After searching, they found little of value.

Until Dabao suddenly paused, as if sensing something, and moved aside a pile of clutter, revealing the entrance to a cellar.

Chu Danqing glanced briefly and saw that the marks were fresh.

“Locked from inside,” Dabao tried to open it but found the cellar door would not budge.

His eyes instantly flashed with murderous intent; under the enhancement of his sharpened claws, he tore and scraped at the entire door with his claws.

Soon, the cellar door shattered, and Dabao charged inside.

Sounds of struggle came from the cellar; after about ten seconds, Dabao climbed out, gripping one person by the arm.

It was a man and a woman, both young.

“What’s going on with you two?” Chu Danqing asked.

The man’s face was filled with terror, his body marked with obvious claw wounds—clearly inflicted by Dabao.

The woman, by contrast, looked calm; apart from her soiled clothes, her attire and ornaments revealed she was no ordinary girl.

“He hit me,” Dabao threw the man onto the ground, disgruntled.

The woman remained held in his grip.

“I am Lu Qiaoyun, eldest daughter of the Lu family of Yangxian,” the woman spoke first, then turned her gaze to the man: “As for him, he’s just a foolish, faithless fool blinded by greed.”

Hearing this, Chu Danqing suspected some melodramatic affair was at play.

He asked: “So what’s his connection to these bandits?”

The Lu family must be one of the three major clans, but Chu Danqing wasn’t particularly interested.

He’d rather join the government or the Peace Dao.

As an outsider, entering a power structure bound by bloodline offered little room for advancement.

“Their dog-headed strategist,” Lu Qiaoyun offered.

“Bitch!” the man cursed: “You’re the boss’s wife—you dare frame me?”

“Good sir, don’t believe his lies. I was kidnapped and held for ransom.”

Chu Danqing didn’t take one side’s word; he used his Investigation Technique instead.

He targeted the man—not for any other reason, but because he had struck Dabao.

【Second-in-command of Qingya Bandits】

“Dabao, kill him,” Chu Danqing didn’t bother reading the rest; the name alone made it clear who was guilty.

With Chu Danqing’s order, Dabao killed the man on the spot; a Superior-grade treasure chest immediately appeared.

Dabao picked it up and handed it to Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing didn’t open it; he stuffed it into his storage space to open later—there were still outsiders present.

“Good, I’m heading to Yangxian County—I’ll escort you back,” Chu Danqing said.

Lu Qiaoyun shook her head gently: “I won’t go back.”

Her tone turned self-mocking: “Returning in this state would only bring shame upon the Lu family. Better to end it.”

Chu Danqing was initially puzzled—what was there to be ashamed of after being kidnapped?

But he quickly realized: this was not the modern world, but an ancient feudal society.

A woman taken captive—people would first wonder not whether she was a victim, but whether she had preserved her chastity.

This wasn’t just her personal matter—it was a matter of family honor.

Chu Danqing wanted to say, “Better to live than die,” but such platitudes were useless.

The world was this way; no one could change it.

“When were you taken?” Chu Danqing asked. If it hadn’t been long, there might still be a chance to salvage things.

He thought: if he could save a life, he should.

“I wasn’t taken—I ran away with him of my own will. Only later did I learn he only wanted my Lu family’s wealth,” Lu Qiaoyun bitterly regretted her poor judgment.

“????” Chu Danqing stared, dumbfounded—so you’re a love-struck fool?

Judging by her demeanor, she seemed lucid now—but how long that would last, he didn’t know.

He knew one thing: after saving her, he’d keep his distance.

Saving someone and avoiding them weren’t contradictory.

“Honestly, I’m not interested in your love and hatred.”

“Dying might be easy—but have you thought of your parents? They raised you with hardship; what will become of them if you die?”

“Living is—”

Chu Danqing began appealing to emotion; Lu Qiaoyun’s face showed inner conflict.

“I was deceived and brought here this morning,” Lu Qiaoyun was speaking, when she saw Chu Danqing pull out a large, square iron box from nowhere.

He then took out a pile of things she didn’t understand.

“Change into Dabao’s clothes first. Then take off yours—I’ll wash and dry them. It’ll take no more than half an hour—a quarter of an hour.” Chu Danqing knew an hour was two hours, but how to describe half an hour, he wasn’t sure.

The large iron box Lu Qiaoyun saw was a small washing machine, generator, and other such devices.

His storage space was large, and since he had little else to store, he’d filled it with household items, food, clean water, and more.

“Who is Dabao?” Lu Qiaoyun’s suspicious gaze fell on the impossibly large clothes, then to the monstrous figure beside Chu Danqing.

“Him. You won’t want mine—he’s five years old, and these clothes are new, never worn. No need to be so cautious,” Chu Danqing explained.

Dabao disliked clothes—they hindered combat; fur was enough. But Chu Danqing had prepared them anyway.

Hearing “five years old,” Lu Qiaoyun was stunned—could he really be five??

“Then thank you, Dabao,” Lu Qiaoyun found a room, changed clothes, and tossed her old ones into the washing machine.

Dabao silently cranked the hand generator; Chu Danqing poured in detergent and set the washer-dryer.

As for water—the stronghold had it; no concern there.

“Master is a remarkable person. With this snow blocking all roads, why suddenly head for Yangxian County?” Lu Qiaoyun broke the silence, trying to lighten the mood and probe Chu Danqing’s intentions.

“To beg for a meal,” Chu Danqing answered according to his cover, then added truthfully: “Dabao was born with a weakness—he needs rare celestial treasures.”

“I’m just a wandering sorcerer with a little knowledge—enough to survive, but raising Dabao is hard.”

“So I wander everywhere. I heard of Yangxian County and came here.”

Chu Danqing knew when to stop; he changed the subject: “And you? What will you tell them when you return?”

“I had a flimsy excuse ready—but now I have a better one.”

“A remarkable person like you, Master—I shall invite you to serve as a household guardian for the Lu family. It’s only proper,” Lu Qiaoyun said.

(End of Chapter)