Chapter 4: The Daughter of the Lu Family

The Qingya Bandit Stronghold was not particularly large, housing only about thirty people; building it any larger would have been a burden. It could always be expanded later if the population grew. After a thorough search, there was little to show for it.

Suddenly, Dabao paused, as if sensing something. He overturned a pile of debris, revealing the entrance to a cellar. Chu Danqing observed it briefly and could tell the marks were fresh.

"Locked... from inside," Dabao attempted to open the cellar door, only to find it wouldn't budge. A fierce light flashed in his eyes, and with the enhancement of his Rending Claws, he continuously tore at the door. Before long, the door shattered, and Dabao rushed inside.

Sounds of a struggle emanated from the cellar. About ten seconds later, Dabao climbed out, clutching a person in each hand. They were a man and a woman, both young.

"What's going on with you two?" Chu Danqing asked.

The man’s face was filled with terror, and he had visible claw wounds on his body, clearly inflicted by Dabao. The woman, by contrast, remained calm. Aside from being a bit dirty, her clothing and accessories suggested she was not a girl from an ordinary family.

"He... hit me," Dabao said, tossing the man onto the ground with a look of dissatisfaction. The woman remained held in his other hand.

"Lu Qiaoyun, eldest daughter of the Yangxian Lu clan," the woman said first, then cast a cold gaze at the man. "As for him, he’s just a blinded, treacherous fool."

Hearing this, Chu Danqing sensed some dramatic conflict. He asked, "So, what is his connection to this bandit stronghold?"

The Lu clan was one of the three major noble families in the region, but Chu Danqing was not particularly impressed. He actually preferred to join the government or the Taiping Dao. As an outsider, there was little room for advancement in a power structure based on blood ties.

"A devious advisor, perhaps," Lu Qiaoyun offered.

"You bitch!" the man cursed. "It’s clear you’re the mistress of the Qingya bandit chief; how dare you frame me? Sir, do not listen to her lies. I was a hostage kidnapped by them."

Chu Danqing did not take either side at their word, choosing instead to use his Appraisal skill. He targeted the man—not for any other reason, but because he had dared to strike Dabao.

[Second-in-Command of Qingya Stronghold]

"Dabao, kill him," Chu Danqing said without reading the rest of the details. The name alone made it clear who was who.

Following the order, Dabao killed the man instantly, and an Excellent-grade treasure chest materialized. Dabao picked it up and handed it to Chu Danqing. Chu Danqing didn't open it; he tucked it into his storage space to deal with later, as there was an outsider present.

"As it happens, I am heading to Yangxian County; I can see you home along the way," Chu Danqing said.

Lu Qiaoyun shook her head gently. "I am not going back." She spoke with a hint of self-mockery: "Returning in such a disheveled state would only bring shame upon the Lu clan. It would be better to end it all."

Chu Danqing was initially confused—what was so shameful about being kidnapped? But he quickly realized this was not a modern world, but a feudal, ancient society. If a woman were abducted, the world would not consider her a victim; they would obsess over her purity. This was not just a personal matter, but a question of the family's honor.

Chu Danqing wanted to offer words of comfort, but he knew that a sharp tongue could be as lethal as a blade. The world was what it was; it could not be changed by human will alone.

"When were you kidnapped?" Chu Danqing asked. If it hadn't been long, there might still be a chance to salvage the situation. He figured if he could save a life, he should.

"I was not kidnapped. I eloped with him of my own volition. It was only afterward that I realized he was merely plotting to steal the Lu family’s wealth." Lu Qiaoyun regretted only her own poor judgment.

"???" Chu Danqing was bewildered. So, you’re just a hopeless romantic? Looking at her, she seemed to have come to her senses, though he wasn't sure how long that would last. He knew one thing: once he saved her, he should keep his distance. Saving someone and keeping one's distance were not mutually exclusive.

"Actually, I have no interest in your love life or grievances," Chu Danqing continued. "Dying is easy, but have you thought of your parents? They raised you with such hardship; what will they do if you die? Only by living can you..."

Chu Danqing played the emotional card, and a look of inner conflict appeared on Lu Qiaoyun's face.

"I was deceived and brought here early this morning. It’s just that my appearance is so wretched, one can tell at a glance, it is truly..." As Lu Qiaoyun spoke, she saw Chu Danqing pull out a square, iron box from nowhere, along with several other items she didn't recognize.

"Change into Dabao's clothes first. I’ll wash your clothes and dry them. It will take half an hour—a quarter of a shichen, at most." Chu Danqing knew a shichen was two hours, but he wasn't sure how to describe half an hour in their terms. The iron box was a portable washing machine and generator. His storage space was large, and since he had nothing else to put in it, he kept it stocked with daily necessities, food, and water.

"Who is Dabao?" Lu Qiaoyun asked, her suspicious gaze shifting from the impossibly large clothes to the hulking monster beside Chu Danqing.

"That's him. You certainly wouldn't want my clothes. Dabao is only five, and these are new and unworn, so don't worry about it," Chu Danqing explained. Dabao disliked clothes because they hindered his movement, preferring his own fur, but Chu Danqing had prepared them anyway.

When Lu Qiaoyun heard the words "five years old," she was stunned. *This* is five years old?

"Then, my thanks to Dabao." Lu Qiaoyun found a room to change, then stuffed her soiled garments into the machine. Dabao silently cranked the generator while Chu Danqing added detergent and set it to wash and dry. As for the water, the stronghold had a supply, so that wasn't an issue.

"Sir is clearly a person of extraordinary talent. Why would you be heading to Yangxian County in this heavy snow?" Lu Qiaoyun asked to break the stagnant atmosphere and probe Chu Danqing’s intentions.

"Just looking for a way to make a living," Chu Danqing replied, sticking to his persona and adding, "Dabao was born with a deficiency and requires all sorts of rare treasures to sustain him. I am merely a wandering mystic with a few meager skills—enough to get by, but it’s quite difficult to raise Dabao. That’s why I wander, and having heard of Yangxian County, I decided to come."

Chu Danqing knew when to stop, so he shifted the topic: "What about you? How will you explain this when you go back?"

"I had a flimsy excuse before, but now I have a better one," Lu Qiaoyun said. "I shall simply invite a man of your extraordinary talents to return with me as a patron saint for the Lu clan. That is only logical."