Chapter 561: Cheng Zhou

The next day.

Morning sunlight filtered through the clouds, dispelling the chill and fear of the previous night.

Although the ground was still muddy, the sunlight warm on their skin made them want to squint.

The forest smelled fresh after the rain, birds chirping in the branches as if the ferocious tiger from last night had never appeared.

Li Er stood before the three hunters.

Lv Yong and his companions leaned against a large tree, their wounds simply bandaged.

Although they still winced in pain, their spirits had improved considerably.

Li Er clasped his hands toward them.

"Gentlemen, if I ever get the chance, I will surely visit Changxiangli."

Lv Yong grinned and nodded.

"Then we'll be waiting for your arrival!"

"We'll have good wine and meat ready for you!"

Old Zheng and Old Xu beside them also smiled and nodded.

But after the three exchanged a glance, Lv Yong took something from his bosom, held it with both hands, and handed it to Li Er.

It was a deerskin.

Or rather, a deerskin that had been carefully tanned and superbly preserved.

The fur was soft and smooth, catching a faint sheen in the sunlight—clearly top‑grade.

"This is…" Li Er blinked.

Lv Yong pushed the deerskin forward.

"Kid, this is our small token of gratitude," he said solemnly. "A life‑saving debt must be repaid; this is the finest hide we've hunted for—please accept it."

Li Er hastily waved his hands and stepped back.

"No, no! It was the ox that saved you, not me."

"I did nothing; how could I take your gift?"

"Nonsense," Old Zheng shouted loudly.

"That ox is yours, so you're the one who saved it—without you, could it have come out?"

"You're its master; it saved us, which means you saved us!"

Old Xu also nodded: "Exactly, if you don't accept it, we'll feel guilty."

"If we don't repay you, we won't be able to eat or sleep, constantly haunted by owing a life—that would be unbearable."

Lv Yong pushed the deerskin forward again.

"Take it; if you feel uneasy, sell it and use the money to buy good fodder for the ox."

"It saved us; thanking it on our behalf is just the same."

"We three may not know etiquette, but we know how to repay kindness!"

Li Er looked at the three of them, silent for a moment.

Then he took the deerskin and bowed deeply to them.

"Thank you, gentlemen."

Lv Yong grinned and slapped his shoulder.

"Go on, be careful on the road."

Li Er nodded, turned, and walked toward the ox grazing leisurely.

He swung onto its back; the ox lifted its head, let out a low "moo," then stepped forward at a slow pace.

Li Er looked back and waved at the three.

"Take care, gentlemen!"

Lv Yong and his companions also waved at him.

"Take care!"

"If you have time, come sit awhile in Changxiangli!"

"Don't forget to buy good fodder!"

Li Er smiled, then turned away.

The ox carried him farther and farther, gradually fading into the morning light.

In front of the wooden house.

Zhao Wen and his two companions surrounded the woman, fawning over her like three wag‑tailed dogs.

"Miss, did you sleep well last night?"

"Miss, were you frightened? Shall I fetch some calming herbs?"

"Miss, I'll have someone look for the carriage later—I'm sure we'll find it!"

They vied with each other, their voices growing more eager, as if they hadn't been the ones who shoved someone toward the tiger last night, as if a little earnestness now could erase that deed.

The woman merely gave perfunctory replies, occasionally nodding with an "uh," but her gaze often drifted off into the distance.

Xiaochun hurried over from the side and whispered a few words in her ear.

The woman nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.

Then she turned and walked toward the three hunters leaning against the tree.

Zhao Wen and his companions froze, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure what she intended.

The woman approached Lv Yong and his party and stopped.

The woman smoothed her clothes, then performed a proper salute toward them.

His manners were impeccable, his bearing graceful—obviously he came from a prominent family.

"I am Liu Wan of the Liu clan of Cheng Zhou."

"Thank you, gentlemen, for escorting me and Xiaochun to safety last night."

"If not for you, we two women would have surely perished already."

Lv Yong and his two companions were stunned.

They hurriedly stood up, waving their hands and scratching their heads, looking thoroughly ill at ease.

"Miss, please, please," Lv Yong waved his hands, "How could a man of honor stand by and watch someone die? Furthermore…"

He glanced at the three noble youths nearby, stretching their necks to look over, and curled his lip:

"We rescued the maiden only because she was pleasing to the eye; if it had been those few…"

He snorted, "We would only stand by and do nothing."

Liu Wan smiled faintly.

"You three are noble, but that young master who rode the ox earlier has already repaid the favor of saving lives."

"Now you have saved me and Xiaochun, yet you won't let me repay you—how could that be acceptable?"

Lv Yong was taken aback.

Lao Zheng and Lao Xu also exchanged bewildered glances.

Liu Wan continued, "Please, gentlemen, wait a moment; my people will arrive shortly, and then I will present generous gifts."

"Please be sure to accept them."

Lv Yong scratched his head and exchanged a glance with Lao Zheng and Lao Xu.

"Well…" he hesitated, "Miss, this is truly unnecessary."

"It is necessary." Liu Wan's tone was light, yet carried an unyielding insistence.

The three had no choice but to nod.

"Well… then all right," Lv Yong said, "we'll wait a bit longer."

He paused, then couldn't help asking:

"Miss, may I ask a presumptuous question—if you have attendants, why didn't you follow them last night?"

A hint of bitterness flashed in Liu Wan's eyes.

"It's a long story," she said softly. "On the road we encountered some matters, then happened to run into a heavy rain, and we got separated from them. After that we met you all."

She did not wish to say more, and Lv Yong, taking the hint, did not press further.

He nodded, said no more, and simply stood there, waiting together with her.

Not far away, Zhao Wen and his companions' faces shifted repeatedly.

"Cheng Zhou… surnamed Liu…" the man in a dark brocade robe muttered, his eyes wide open.

Zhao Wen's gaze flickered.

He naturally knew what that meant.

Cheng Zhou—that is the capital of the Zhou Emperor.

The surname Liu—that is a close kin of the Zhou royal house—the Liu clan!

It is one of the most core and illustrious nobles of the present royal house!!

Able to travel with carriage and maidservants in attendance, bearing such extraordinary grace——

The young lady before us can only be a member of that Liu clan!

Zhao Wen's heartbeat quickened a little.

If he could take Liu Wan as his wife……

Then his standing in the Zhao family would surely be……

He drew a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and his smile grew ever more earnest.

"Miss Liu.............."