Li Chen rose from the grass and advanced cautiously with the crossbow still in hand.
When he reached the woman’s side, he saw that she was in the prime of her youth. Though tightly bound, even with cloth gagging her mouth, she was still strikingly beautiful.
At that moment, she kicked her legs frantically, her eyes filled with panic.
“I am not a villain. I happened to pass by and can save your life. Do not make a sound. Tell me what happened. Are there still those who kidnapped you nearby?” Li Chen asked in a low voice as he cut the cloth from her mouth with his short blade, his face still covered.
“Over there, be careful…” The moment the gag was removed, the woman screamed sharply.
At the same time, a warning surged in Li Chen’s heart. He spun swiftly and pulled the trigger.
Thud.
Three meters away, a bandit who had been raising a steel blade to strike collapsed to the ground.
He held the blade in one hand, and in the other he was still clutching half of his trousers.
Clearly, he had just gone into the nearby woods to relieve himself. He had not noticed Li Chen earlier. Halfway through, he spotted him approaching and had not even had time to pull up his trousers before sneaking over to attack.
Only then did Li Chen understand why he had sensed no danger and seen no one earlier.
It truly was an unfortunate coincidence.
The powerful crossbow bolt pierced straight through the bandit’s body and embedded itself into a distant tree, the tail of the bolt still vibrating.
Looking at the now-dead bandit, Li Chen frowned. His plan to capture a live prisoner for questioning had once again failed.
He turned back and cut the ropes from the woman’s hands and feet. As he looked at her, something stirred in his mind. She seemed familiar somehow, yet he had never met her before.
“Thank you, young master, for saving my life. I, Zhang Yuer, will remember this kindness forever,” the woman said with a graceful bow.
Li Chen’s brows drew together slightly.
When she spoke, her large eyes were sharp and lively, flashing with cunning intelligence.
She had hesitated slightly when stating her name. It was obvious she was lying, unwilling to reveal her true identity.
He did not expose her, only nodding faintly. “Where do you live?”
“I originally resided in Liangjing, but due to war we moved beyond the pass. I am currently staying in Pingyang County City,” Zhang Yuer answered with lowered eyes.
Her reply flowed smoothly, without a single flaw.
But before Li Chen, a legendary mercenary king tempered by countless battles and skilled at reading human nature, it was far from convincing.
She was still lying. Mostly lies, with only a little truth. She was too composed, as though she had carefully considered her answer rather than speaking instinctively. This story is hosted at NovelPing.
Li Chen grew impatient and snorted. “Who bound you? Why?”
“I do not know,” Zhang Yuer replied, still lowering her head and shaking it.
“You may leave.” Li Chen glanced at her with a frown and turned to lead the horses away.
Perhaps she was simply protecting herself, being alert and cautious. It was likely he would learn nothing from her anyway.
But for a woman who would not even reveal her true name to the one who had saved her life, he had no need to waste another word.
Zhang Yuer was startled and hurriedly raised her head. “Young master, it is deep into the night. I am alone and dare not return to the city by myself. Could you escort me back?
“Please rest assured. I swear on my life that if you take me back safely, I will reward you generously.”
“No need. Farewell.”
Li Chen mounted his horse and rode off.
Zhang Yuer panicked and lifted her skirts, running after him. “Hey, young master, don’t go…”
In her haste, she ran too quickly and tripped, falling flat onto the ground with a mouthful of grass.
“Ptoo, ptoo…”
She sat up, spitting out the grass blades from her mouth.
In the distance, Li Chen reined in his horse and turned to look at her embarrassed state, unable to suppress a smile.
Zhang Yuer stood up awkwardly, wiped her mouth, and glared at him, both ashamed and angry. “You… you are truly selfish and crude!”
“You’re talking about me?” Li Chen was taken aback, pointing at his own nose in disbelief.
“Of course I am. I am a weak woman, alone in the middle of the night. I ask you to escort me back to the city, and you refuse out of inconvenience. If that isn’t selfish, what is?
“You leave without a word, show no compassion, and when I fall, you don’t even come to help me up. Is that not crude?”
She argued forcefully, though by the end she seemed to notice grass still in her mouth and spat several more times.
It was unclear whether she was spitting out grass or venting at Li Chen.
“I saved you. Why do you refuse to tell me the truth?” Li Chen frowned, ignoring her unreasonable complaints.
“You appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the night with your face covered. How was I to know who you were?
“For all I know, you could have been working with those bandits, staging a trick to gain my trust. Or perhaps you intended to kill them and then turn on me. Should I not be cautious? Visit NovelPing for the full chapter.
“Wait… how did you know I wasn’t telling the truth?”
Zhang Yuer placed her hands on her hips, looking both angry and aggrieved as she spoke rapidly.
Yet her large eyes never left Li Chen, observing every movement he made.
This man was tall and though lean, every inch of him radiated strength. He gave off a strong sense of security.
Moreover, he appeared upright and righteous. Unlike those crooked-eyed bandits, who looked wicked at a glance, he did not seem like a bad person at all.
Perhaps he truly was trustworthy.
After all, he had saved her. If this was truly just a chance encounter without hidden motives, and if he was good-looking enough, of decent character, and came from a respectable family…
She was not young anymore. Marrying him might not be such a bad idea.
Li Chen rubbed his brow. If he was going to do a good deed, he might as well finish it properly. Very well, he would escort her back.
Otherwise, she would chatter endlessly. If she followed him back to the village and uncovered his identity, that might bring trouble.
He dismounted, tied the other horses to a tree, and led one over. “Mount up. I’ll take you back.”
“What? You’re really taking me back?” Zhang Yuer exclaimed, delighted and secretly smug.
Had this clueless man finally been scolded into sense?
She quickly mounted, afraid he might change his mind.
But she was clumsy and failed several times.
Li Chen finally lost patience and placed a hand on her waist, lifting her up.
The moment his large palm touched her waist, Zhang Yuer felt warmth spread through her entire body. Her cheeks flushed red.
For an instant, she even imagined the names of their future children.
Li Chen mounted the horse and rode forward, speaking sternly, “I’ll see this through and escort you back. But remember, I merely happened to pass by and saved you. I do not wish to reveal my face or identity.
“When I take you back to the city, if anyone asks, say that the bandits who kidnapped you were suddenly ambushed by others on the way. They scattered in panic, and you escaped in the chaos, only to run into me afterward.
“Understood?”