Through their conversation, Chu'he learned that the young man was named Li Goudan, who made a living by gathering herbs and hunting in the woods. He first took off his outer robe and lent it to Ninth to cover his bare body, but Ninth clearly had no intention of wearing it, showing obvious disdain.
Chu'he glared at him. "I don’t want my husband’s body to be seen by others as we walk back!"
The word "husband" once again made Ninth’s ears burn.
Previously, Chu'he had only referred to him as her fiancé in public, but now he had been promoted to "husband," signifying that his status had risen, and he held a higher place in her heart.
He took the robe and meticulously wrapped himself up, then leaned against her side, gazing at her with curved eyes.
Li Goudan was amazed—this "mountain spirit" really had an astonishing talent for changing expressions.
"This cabin in the woods was built for times when I couldn’t make it out before dark. Over time, I stayed here more often and eventually treated it as home."
Li Goudan was simple and honest by nature. Having accepted Chu'he’s silver, he enthusiastically rummaged through his cabinet and pulled out two sets of relatively new clothes.
Chu'he was finally able to change out of her soaked garments, though her petite frame was much smaller than a man’s. The borrowed clothes hung loosely on her, even with the sleeves rolled up and the pant legs tucked.
She looked like a child playing dress-up in adult clothing.
Ninth also changed, shedding his exotic Miao-style attire. Despite the rough hemp fabric, his tall, elegant figure still stood out strikingly.
Seeing Chu'he’s comical outfit, his eyes lit up, and he couldn’t resist moving closer, eagerly studying her from head to toe again and again.
"I want Ah'he to wear my clothes."
Chu'he replied dismissively, "Maybe another time."
She pushed Ninth aside when he blocked her view and asked Li Goudan, "Where is this place? Are we still within the borders of Canghaizhou?"
Li Goudan nodded. "This is the western outskirts, not far from the city."
"Did you come from the city?"
"Yes, I set out before dawn today to gather the freshest mushrooms."
Chu'he pressed further, concerned. "Has anything unusual happened in the city? Like cases of poisoning?"
Li Goudan shook his head in confusion. "No."
Chu'he: "What about the water sources? Any issues?"
Li Goudan thought for a moment. "I did hear something happened last night. Many Demon-Suppressing Guards and Spirit-Patrol Guards gathered around the well at the tower. Rumor has it someone tried tampering with the water, but that’s impossible—the Lord of the Prefecture has long since secured the city’s water sources."
Like many others, Li Goudan spoke with admiration. "As long as the Lord is here, those cunning evil spirits won’t get a chance to cause trouble."
Hearing that the water was safe, Chu'he secretly sighed in relief, but then frowned. If the water wasn’t the target, what other schemes would the malevolent forces attempt next?
She tugged Ninth’s hand. "Let’s hurry back."
Ninth nodded. "Alright."
The western outskirts were far from the city. Even riding his trusty donkey, Li Goudan had taken several hours to get here. He wouldn’t sell the little donkey—it had been his companion for years.
With no other households nearby, buying a horse was out of the question.
Ninth shook Chu'he’s hand. "I’ll fly Ah'he back."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly recalled Ninth’s recent state. Pressing her lips together, unsure if he had fully recovered, she shook her head. "I don’t want to fly. Let’s walk."
Shortly after Chu'he and Ninth bid farewell to Li Goudan and left, a sword-bearing young man arrived at the cabin. With a loud thud, a massive wild boar was thrown to the ground.
Li Goudan rushed out excitedly. "Hero Fang, you’re back!"
The young man wore an indigo robe, a longsword hanging at his waist. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, his features handsome, with an air of righteous dignity.
He smiled. "Is this the boar that’s been causing trouble?"
Li Goudan examined it carefully and nodded. "That’s the one! You can still see the arrow wound I gave it on its hindquarters. Hero Fang, you’re incredible—bandits the day before yesterday, a fleeing conman yesterday, and now this wild boar today! With you around, we can all sleep soundly!"
The young man remained humble. "Eliminating threats to the people is only right."
"Speaking of which, I just met a married couple being chased by mountain bandits. They were in a sorry state—the man had been stripped naked, and the woman fell into the water. Both were a mess. I heard the bandits still wouldn’t let them go and kept pursuing them."
The young man’s brow furrowed. "Bandits causing harm in this area? I’ll go after them. I can’t let them continue their atrocities."
As he prepared to leave again, Li Goudan called out, "Hero Fang, aren’t you looking for your junior brother? I got word that someone matching the person in your portrait was seen heading to a place called Wutong Village with a young woman!"
"Priorities matter. If bandits are harming innocents, I cannot ignore it."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the young man’s toes lightly tapped a stone, and his figure soared like a startled swan, vanishing into the forest in an instant.
Li Goudan watched with admiration. "Fang Songhe, the Gentleman Sword—truly living up to his name."
Hidden in the shadows, a group of black-cloaked, masked figures lurked.
Their leader spoke. "Tonight, on the city lord’s command, we will join forces with the other groups and storm Canghaizhou. We’ll take Wenren Buxiao’s head and help our lord seize the region!"
The others responded in unison, "Yes!"
"Remember—once we enter Canghaizhou, show no mercy. Leave no one alive!"
Again, they chorused, "Yes!"
Suddenly, a flash of indigo—a sword-wielding young man now stood atop a tree, having appeared without a sound. "Black robes and masks, hiding in the shadows. So, you’re the ones robbing and murdering innocent travelers."
The leader was startled. "Who are you to meddle in our affairs?"
"In broad daylight, you not only robbed that couple but also hunted them down. Now you plan to slaughter an entire city? This is a matter I, Fang Songhe, will not overlook."
"The Gentleman Sword, Fang Songhe?!" the leader exclaimed in shock.
Standing on the branch, the young man’s indigo robes fluttered in the mountain wind, yet his posture remained unwavering, straight as a pine.
His sword left its sheath. "Today, I shall deliver justice."
A cold gleam sliced through the forest’s light, like a silvery ribbon cutting through the air, casting a frost-like glow over the surrounding foliage.
The black-clad figures were swiftly routed. The masked leader, wounded, was hastily helped up by his subordinates.
He slapped a hand down angrily. "Which idiot thought it was a good idea to play bandit and rob a young couple? And to drag Fang Songhe into this! We have bigger plans—since when was robbery so entertaining?"
A cold flash of swordlight swept through, leaving no escape. In an instant, all the villains lay slain by a single blade.
The young man sheathed his sword with effortless grace, his blue robes untouched by blood, exuding nothing but righteous aura. After a final glance at the corpses strewn across the ground, he turned and walked away.
On the post road, a carriage rolled forward at a leisurely pace.
Inside, a richly dressed, rotund nobleman, stifled by the stuffy air, pushed open the window. Tossing a grape into his mouth and fanning himself, he sighed disdainfully.
"These backwater hills can’t even grow wildflowers properly. How dull."
The driver replied, "Young Master, we’ll reach Wutong Village in a few days. Bear with it a little longer—perhaps there’ll be something novel there."
"Hmph! A village full of bumpkins—what novelty could they possibly offer?"
Just then, his eyes lit up at the sight of a man and woman walking along the road.
The pair wore coarse hemp clothes, clearly common folk. From a distance, the man’s head of white hair suggested advanced age, but the girl’s slender figure was unmistakable even in plain attire. Without a trace of makeup, her faint profile alone was enough to captivate.
"Hey, miss!"
The young master reached out, only for the driver to stop him.
"We must hurry to Wutong Village, Young Master. Mind your words and actions—don’t stir unnecessary trouble!"
Pouting, the nobleman withdrew his hand but couldn’t resist muttering, "Such a beauty wasted on a withered old man! What a shame. With looks like hers, she’d be better off with me—silks, delicacies, all the luxuries she could want. Better than trudging this dirt road in rags!"
Chu'he walked along, nibbling on wild berries Ninth had gathered for her. Hearing someone call out, she glanced up but paid no further mind.
Ninth suddenly tilted his head, grinning. "Chu'he, walking is so tiring. How about I take you horseback riding?"
The mischievous glint in his eyes told her exactly what he was plotting. "Ninth, we can’t just bully people."
"But someone called me a ‘withered old man,’" Ninth said, eyes glistening, lips quirking. "Said I wasn’t good enough for you."
In an instant, Chu'he’s rationality vanished, blood boiling. "Fine! Let’s teach them a lesson!"
Moments later, several thuds echoed as bodies hit the ground.
The young master’s flabby frame wobbled as his servants struggled to haul him up. His jewels had been stripped clean—even the half-eaten grapes were snatched away.
Fuming, he pointed at the figures galloping off on horseback. "Who the hell are you, daring to rob me?! Have the guts to leave your names!"
The girl’s voice rang out, clear and melodious. "We stand by our deeds—no aliases here!"
The young man pulled her close, shielding her from the dust, and laughed. "The world calls me the Blade Demon—Third Son of the Blade Clan!"
The nobleman stomped his feet. "Blade Demon, you’ll pay for this!"
"Achoo!"
Elsewhere, Heart Knife was flipping through the Jianghu Beauty Rankings when a sudden sneeze struck him. A familiar chill crept up his spine. He shuddered, clutching his head in dread.
"Oh no, not again!"
