Chapter 31: Bathing by the River

Zhao Chi hurried home.

His stamina was severely depleted.

But he didn't rest, immediately tapping to teleport.

Amid his coarse and heavy breathing, the scene before his eyes shifted.

The next moment, he arrived at his territory.

He noticed that beside the lord's house, the holes produced when the women were born had already been filled in.

The 1-cubic-meter toolbox next to them had also disappeared.

Panting, he opened the door.

There was no one inside.

But the toolbox was in the room.

Some of the tools inside were missing.

It must have been Gu Qing and the others who carried it in.

But where had they gone?

Zhao Chi set down his bundle and rice in the house, then came out to search for their tracks.

He looked down.

He saw a large arrow scratched into the muddy ground.

The arrow pointed east.

Zhao Chi went back inside, took a woodcutting knife, then slowly followed the arrow forward.

He walked into the woods.

The grass on the ground had also been deliberately cleared.

The markers left for Zhao Chi were clearly visible.

Zhao Chi followed the markers onward.

Before long, through the gaps between the trees, he saw a river.

This must be the small river he had chosen to configure.

But this river was not small at all.

It was roughly 10 meters wide.

The current wasn't particularly fast.

The river water was pale green, but very clear.

Occasionally fish could be seen swimming past.

The women were all in the water not far away.

Carefully washing their bodies.

Chatting away as they washed.

Three women stood on the bank.

They had already finished washing and were tidying their damp hair.

Holding woodcutting knives or axes in their hands.

Probably keeping watch at the same time.

Gu Qing was among them.

She had now washed her body clean.

Without the obstruction of mud, every kind of scenery was fully visible.

Full and rounded.

Slender waist, full hips.

Long legs, jade-like feet.

Zhao Chi only glanced once, then lowered his head.

Although they were his subjects, he still had to consider their feelings.

Otherwise their loyalty would drop.

Besides, such matters required willing consent.

He lowered his head and walked toward the group of women bathing.

Not to get a clearer view, but to protect them.

After all, they were all women — very unsafe.

As a man and as their lord, he was of course obligated to protect them.

Gu Qing was looking around.

Seeing Zhao Chi, her brows lifted and she said happily, "Oh! My lord has returned."

The surrounding women stopped talking and all looked over.

Zhao Chi actually felt a little nervous.

He took a deep breath, strode forward, and went straight up to Gu Qing.

Earlier his gaze had only swept her body; now he truly saw her face.

But this time, Zhao Chi's gaze did not move away again.

After all, looking at a face wasn't an offense.

And Zhao Chi didn't want to look away either.

Bathed, Gu Qing was even more lovely and radiant.

Willow brows, alluring eyes, red lips.

Her cheeks were fine and tender, white with a flush of red.

Zhao Chi confirmed she was currently bare-faced.

If that were the case, the red of her cheeks and lips were her own natural color.

Though she wore no makeup, she was born with a certain bewitching charm.

Added to that was her faint smile.

That was the reason Zhao Chi did not want to look away.

"What is it, my lord? Why do you keep staring at me?" Gu Qing laughed softly.

Only then did Zhao Chi come back to his senses: "Oh… um… how is it, are you safe?"

"Mm, we're safe."

Zhao Chi asked: "I brought some old bedsheets and cloth — can you make simple clothes from them?"

Gu Qing nodded: "Of course, no problem."

Zhao Chi sighed: "For now I can only ask you to make do with old cloth, but in the future I will certainly let you wear good clothes."

Hearing these words, Gu Qing put away her smile.

She said very seriously: "My lord, please don't say that. You were willing to take us in and find materials for us to make clothes — that is already more than enough. Everyone knows the territory has only just begun to be built, and everything is in short supply. We won't mind such a small matter."

The other female villagers all nodded.

"That's right, my lord, there's no need to mind such a small thing."

"Anyway, it's summer now — as long as it can cover our bodies a little, that's fine."

"My lord, we all believe in you."

Zhao Chi felt a touch of emotion.

"Alright then, go ahead and wash. Next time I'll bring some shampoo and shower gel over."