Chapter 567: Turns out he's a village wildman

"Your cow?"

Bo Qing looked Li Er up and down, his gaze sweeping over his coarse cloth clothes, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, a half-smile.

"May I ask your surname?"

His tone was still polite, but his eyes had already given him away.

Looking down from above, with a hint of scrutiny, as if he were looking at a poor scholar who had come out of nowhere.

Li Er looked at him and spoke calmly:

"Surname Li, given name Er, courtesy name Bo Yang, a person from Qu Ren Li in the Chen State."

Bo Qing was stunned for a moment.

Chen State? Qu Ren Li?

Isn't that just a village?

His expression changed instantly.

That feigned politeness vanished completely, replaced by undisguised contempt and scorn.

"Qu Ren Li, Chen State?" he laughed out loud, turning his head to raise his chin at the few guards behind him, "Did you hear that? Someone from the countryside of Chen State."

Those few guards also laughed, their laughter full of mockery.

Bo Qing turned his head, looked at Li Er, and the smile on his face grew wider.

"I thought he had some great background," he said, drawing out his tone, "turns out he's just a village wildman."

He emphasized the two words 'wildman' especially heavily.

Li Er didn't speak, just looked at him.

Bo Qing was somewhat annoyed by his calm gaze, snorted coldly, and waved his hand.

"From now on, this cow is mine."

He untied the money pouch from his waist and casually threw it at Li Er's feet.

The money pouch fell to the ground with a dull thud, its mouth opened, and a few coins rolled out, landing in the dirt.

"Take it and get lost."

Li Er lowered his head and glanced at the money pouch.

He did not bend down to pick it up.

Nor did he look at Bo Qing.

He simply waved at the green ox:

"Come with me."

The green ox raised its head and glanced at him.

Then it stepped forward, walking toward Li Er at an unhurried pace.

Upon reaching Li Er's side, it bent its knees and knelt, allowing Li Er to mount its back.

Seeing these two fellows about to leave,

Bo Qing's expression changed.

His smile froze on his face, replaced by a dark, sullen look.

These two——

One a village wildman, the other a beast——

Actually dare to ignore him like this?

"Stop right there!"

He shouted loudly and waved at those guards.

"Intercept them! Stop them for me!"

Those guards, as if waking from a dream, all raised the weapons in their hands and surrounded Li Er and the green ox.

Seeing this scene,

Li Er's good temper was also completely gone; he sat on the green ox's back, lowered his head, and looked at those blocking his path.

His gaze turned slightly cold.

He lightly patted the green ox beneath him.

The green ox raised its head, and in its dark, shiny eyes flashed a hint of a human-like smile.

Yes, a smile.

That smile held a hint of 'finally I can move around' anticipation.

Its front hooves pawed the ground, it lowered its head, and it looked as if it were about to charge at those people——

"What's all the noise? What's happening?"

A clear, cold voice came from outside the crowd.

Everyone turned to look.

The crowd automatically made way.

A woman walked over gracefully.

She wore a light blue dress, her brows and eyes like a painting, her skin like congealed fat, and her whole person exuded a cool, aloof temperament that clashed with the noisy scene.

Liu Wan.

Behind her followed a maid, namely Xiaochun.

Further behind were two burly men, their eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Bo Qing's gaze fell on her; he first stared, then a flicker of infatuation flashed in his eyes.

He hurriedly adjusted his robe, put on a smile, and lifted his foot to step forward to speak——

But he had just taken a step when he froze.

Because Liu Wan's gaze went past him and landed behind him.

It landed on the youth riding the green ox.

Her eyes lit up slightly.

Then she stepped forward, walking past Bo Qing and straight to Li Er.

She stopped.

She smoothed her clothes and gave Li Er a proper salute.

"What a coincidence, Li Er—we meet again."

Li Er, sitting on the green ox, gave Liu Wan a slight nod in return.

"Yeah, quite a coincidence."

Liu Wan straightened, her gaze lingering on Li Er for a moment, then she glanced at the guards holding sticks and ropes around them, finally settling on Bo Qing, whose face was dark.

"Li Er," she asked softly, "what's going on here?"

Li Er glanced at Bo Qing:

"Just ask him."

Upon hearing that, Liu Wan turned to Bo Qing.

The smile on her face faded a little, replaced by a more distant politeness.

"Bo Qing," she said, her voice cool and neither humble nor arrogant, "Li Er is my lifesaver. If there's any misunderstanding between you, please, for my sake, let it drop."

Bo Qing's face kept changing.

He looked at Liu Wan, then at Li Er, his gaze darting back and forth, his lips twitching a few times.

"Lifesaver?"

"This village rustic saved Liu Wan?"

He took a deep breath, suppressed his displeasure, and forced a smile onto his face.

"So you're his lifesaver," he said, his tone sour, "well then… my apologies."

He paused, then clasped his hands toward Liu Wan.

"Since you've spoken, I'll naturally give you this face."

Liu Wan gave a slight nod.

"Thank you."

The smile on Bo Qing's face deepened a bit more as he stepped forward and said eagerly:

"Liu Wan, since we've met today, why not come to my residence for a visit? In a few days it's the Spring Festival—I've prepared some light food and drink, and even invited a few musicians from Song."

Liu Wan shook her head slightly.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have business today—let's do it another day."

Bo Qing's smile froze for a moment.

"Another day… another day works." He gave a dry laugh, "Then you'll have to grace me with your presence another day."

Liu Wan said nothing more, just nodded.

She turned and glanced at Li Er.

"Li Er, until we meet again."

Li Er nodded.

"Until we meet again."

Liu Wan, accompanied by Xiaochun and the two sturdy men, turned and left.

Her graceful silhouette vanished quickly around the corner.

Bo Qing stood where he was, watching her leave, the smile on his face fading bit by bit.

He turned his head and looked toward Li Er.

In that gaze were jealousy, resentment, and a hint of sinister scrutiny.

Li Er did not look at him.

He merely gave the green ox's head a light pat, and the ox stepped off, walking unhurriedly in another direction.

The guards instinctively tried to stop him, but Bo Qing raised his hand to halt them.

"Didn't you hear what I just said? Let him go." He said, his voice low.

The guards made way.

The green ox carried Li Er, slowly passing through the crowd, past the servants with sticks, past the onlookers, and disappeared at the end of the street.

Bo Qing stood where he was, staring at that retreating back, his gaze dark and terrifying.

"Young master?" a guard approached, asking cautiously, "Just let him go like that?"

Bo Qing said nothing.

He remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice cold as ice.

"Go investigate—find out where that Li-surnamed person comes from."

"And also what exactly is between him and Liu Wan."

The guard quickly nodded.

"Yes!"

Bo Qing glanced once more at the direction Li Er had disappeared, a cold smile curling his lips:

"A village rustic…" he muttered:

If you take the ox away, then it's fine; the beauty I've taken a liking to also wants to compete with me...............

I want to see just how capable you are.