Retracting his thoughts, the man got straight to the point, "What reward do you want?"
As he spoke, he reached for his waist, his heart tightening — the item was missing.
"Are you looking for this?" The girl was holding an intricately red silk cord, shaking it from side to side, his Qilin Pattern Jade Pendant dangling below, warm and translucent.
A quick flash of killing intent passed deep in the man's eyes, "Miss, don't be too greedy."
"Hmm, it's a nice item, but I don't intend to take it. I'm a farm girl, saving you today was an accident. I can't keep things that are too valuable, keeping them could bring disaster. Just give me a hundred or eighty taels, and that'll be enough."
As she spoke, she tossed the pendant to the man. To outside observers, Xiao Cheng seemed casual, but inside, her heart was pounding. This person's presence was so overwhelming it made her too scared to make eye contact. It was an instinct she only felt in the face of danger.
This person's identity is probably unusual. Better not provoke further problems.
"Alright."
The man said nonchalantly, this small amount of money was insignificant to him.
He slowly sat up, leaning against the stone wall, his wound still faintly aching.
He reconsidered his position; how was he going to pay when he didn't have a single penny on him?
Suddenly, a small hand appeared in front of him, "Hand it over!" Suddenly she wasn't afraid of him anymore. Right now, she was the creditor, so why should she be intimidated?
Only then did the man remember he never carried any money with him.
Cough! Cough, cough! Reluctantly, he began, "Once I... once I contact my people, I'll repay you double the amount."
Looking into the girl's clear eyes, with no trace of deceit, they sparkled with a lively wit, her expression somewhat playful.
He dropped his guard and said, "Currently, I'm seriously injured and still need your care. Can we settle the tab later?"
This man... cheeky looking and quite thick-skinned.
"How can I take care of you? I'm just a girl, I can't bring a man back home with me! What about my reputation?"
Though she didn't particularly care, this was ancient times, and in ancient times, men and women could not sit together after age seven. Since she was technically a young lady, she couldn't bring a stranger home.
"How about this: I'll take you to the halfway point up the back hill of the village. There lives a hunter, whose home is isolated, and villagers rarely visit."
She had learned from Erya yesterday that Uncle Niu Da, the hunter, was kind and upright, living alone with his son Cheng Dashan.
Uncle was very nice, though his face bore a fierce-looking scar, so he typically had little contact with the village.
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss."
The man replied good-naturedly.
He not only needed to recuperate but also had to stay alert against those pursuing him, so staying low-key was best.
"By the way, may I ask your name so I know whom to thank later?"
Uh! This question stumped her. She couldn't exactly say she was called Xiao Cheng, that would reveal her secret. The original owner's family name was Cheng, so she decided on Cheng Xiao.
"Hmm, I'm called Cheng Xiao... Cheng Xiaoxiao, Xiao as in image." Yes, she would be called Cheng Xiaoxiao; she didn't want to be called Cheng Daya! Yes, that's decided.
"Cheng Xiaoxiao." An interesting name. "A warrior rides forth, with a jade bow mounted upon the saddle."
It seemed this girl... wasn't your average village girl. Indeed, what ordinary village girl would venture alone into the mountains, or dare to challenge him with fearless composure? It seemed he would have to investigate further.
If Cheng Xiaoxiao knew that the man thought of her like that, she'd surely give him a big slap: You're the village girl, your whole family is village girls! This old lady has seen plenty of young men, you're nothing worth noting...
Xiaoxiao smiled wryly, surprised by his talent.
"How should I address you, sir? And when we come down from the mountain, you'll need to write me an IOU." Spoken promises are unreliable; what if he refused to acknowledge his debt later?
"Yanlan."
The man thought for a moment, his eyes flashing with a hint of self-mockery. He had fallen so low as to write an IOU for a village girl; no one would believe it if mentioned.
"Well then, Mr. Yan, can you walk now? We need to hurry down the mountain. My family must be worried sick." Thinking about not having returned home for a night, how would she explain it?
"I can."
He then slowly stood up and walked out of the cave.
The early summer breeze brushed through, sunlight filtering through the lush leaves, dappled on his boots. It was the light of hope, shining into his heart.
Since destiny hadn't claimed him, he vowed vengeance against Yan State, no retreat, no surrender.
"I'll cut the path ahead, be careful not to strain your wound." She said, striding forward.
Watching the young girl's slender back, Yanlan felt a mix of emotions.
They walked on silently, without speaking a word. As they were about to leave the dense mountains, no mishaps occurred.
They communicated quietly with 77, wondering if it wasn't a pity not to bring down the tiger to sell. Her family was truly poor!
As she pondered, it seemed she had forgotten something? Oh right, where had the system's Energy Potion been stored? "Be honest, do you have a special space?"
"Host, you're mistaken! The Energy Potion is kept inside my energy form, which is only the size of a basketball; larger items wouldn't fit in."
Cheng Xiaoxiao was half convinced, "So the tiger wouldn't fit. What a pity."
At that, she heard shouts from afar, likely people looking for her.
No way could she let the villagers find them.
"77, scan and see which way to go to avoid the villagers on the mountain."
"Okay, Host, I can now scan within a 200-meter radius!" The system responded cheerfully.
"Alright, you lead the way then."
Following the system's guidance, they bypassed the villagers on the mountain and headed straight to the hunter's home.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Cheng Yong was almost exhausted. The village chief stumbled over, handing him a water pouch, "Rest for a bit, Cheng the Second. You've been searching all night. Daya is kind and will be fine."
At this point, Cheng Yong didn't even think about drinking. He couldn't rest until he found Daya. His wife had repeatedly urged him to take good care of the children before she passed away. He felt useless, unable to protect his daughter, letting things happen repeatedly.
No, he had to continue searching. He absolutely wouldn't go back until he found her. The worry and guilt in his heart were drowning him.
The village chief watched Cheng Yong's desolate back and sighed! At that moment, his eldest son Cheng Jinfu approached, "We've searched the back hills of the village three times already. Expanding the search area would require going to Mang Mountain, but most villagers are unwilling; few who enter Mang Mountain ever come out alive."
After pondering, the village chief made a decision.
"Alright, gather Cheng Beiniu, organize some brave young men from the village with weapons, and take a trip to Mang Mountain."
Cheng Jinfu nodded repeatedly, ready to set things in motion.
Still uneasy, the village chief added, "Be careful, safety is paramount. If you can't find anything, it's okay, but don't enter too far inside." As the village chief, he was duty-bound to look out for the villagers, but when it involved his son's life, he couldn't avoid having selfish concerns.
"Don't worry, Father, I know my limits." With that, he walked away.