Chen Tang rolled on the snow with Li Junqing in his arms, got back up, and stared at the white-clothed scholar not far away, feeling puzzled inside.
He had just sensed that the white-clothed scholar seemed to be holding back.
"Haha, young brother, you have quite the skillful moves."
The white-clothed scholar sheathed his sword, cupped his hands in salute to Chen Tang, and said with a smile, "I am Li Zhongmou, I was rude earlier, I hope you won't mind, young brother."
"Li?"
Chen Tang's heart stirred.
Li Junqing, though deeply asleep earlier, was awakened by the commotion and groggily opened her eyes.
Standing up and seeing the white-clothed scholar in front of her, though her eyes were still a bit dazed, she recognized him and softly called, "Second Brother, why are you here?"
Li Zhongmou looked at Li Junqing with a bit of reproach but also with a trace of doting, saying, "Not just me, our eldest brother and third brother have been frantically searching for you. If we hadn't stopped him, even father would have left the city to look for you."
"Ah."
Li Junqing felt guilty and said softly, "I'm sorry for making you all worry."
She then seemed to recall something and looked towards Chen Tang beside her, saying, "Second Brother, I'm lucky to have met Brother Chen today, he saved my life. Otherwise, you really wouldn't have been able to see me."
Li Zhongmou was not surprised upon hearing the name 'Brother Chen.'
He had already suspected the name Su Mo was probably fake.
Initially, when he saw Li Junqing lying limp on Chen Tang, flushed and unconscious, he secretly thought something was wrong.
He even thought Li Junqing might have been harmed.
Moreover, with Chen Tang carrying her towards Changze County, Li Zhongmou suspected he might have ill intentions.
However, being calm by nature, he didn't act rashly, which led to the earlier probing.
After learning from Li Junqing that Chen Tang was her savior, Li Zhongmou immediately straightened up, approached, cupped his hands towards Chen Tang, bowed deeply, and solemnly said, "Thank you, Brother Chen, for saving my sister. I am deeply grateful."
"No problem."
Chen Tang casually waved his hand.
"Now that your brother is here, I'll be on my way."
Having safely delivered her, Chen Tang addressed them and then turned to leave.
Li Junqing watched Chen Tang's departing figure, pursed her lips in silence, hesitated for a moment, and then called out loudly, "Brother Chen, will we meet again?"
"We should."
Chen Tang said, "If there's a chance to go to Wu'an County, we might bump into each other."
Li Zhongmou noticed the reluctance in Li Junqing's eyes, had a sudden thought, quickly stepped forward, and took out a token from his waist, handing it to Chen Tang, saying, "Brother Chen, please take this token. When you come to Wu'an County in the future, present this token at the Li Mansion, and you will be able to find us."
"Li Mansion?"
A trace of doubt flashed through Chen Tang's mind.
In this world, a household referred to as a 'mansion' is generally not simple, usually wealthy or noble.
Originally, when Li Junqing mentioned she had been rejected from a marriage and faced criticism, he thought her family was quite ordinary.
But now it seems they must be a wealthy and noble family.
"Alright."
Chen Tang didn't decline, accepting it and tucking it into his chest.
"I'm off."
Chen Tang waved his hand and set off again.
Before long, he disappeared into the vast night.
Li Junqing watched the direction in which Chen Tang left for a long time without speaking.
"He's gone, and you're still watching."
Li Zhongmou teased with a smile.
Li Junqing snapped back to reality at his words, retracted her gaze, and lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
Li Zhongmou smiled lightly and asked, "Can you still ride a horse?"
"I should be able to."
Li Junqing assessed her physical condition and was amazed.
Before sleeping, she was still weak, mentally exhausted, and her ankle hurt terribly.
But upon waking, not only had the injuries healed, but her ankle also didn't hurt as much, even the swelling had subsided, and her whole body felt warm and strong.
Little did she know that the sip she drank earlier was a rare treasure, Celestial Ginseng Monkey Wine, more effective than any miracle elixir.
It was excellent for relaxing tendons, activating blood circulation, and healing bruises.
With Li Zhongmou's help, Li Junqing mounted the horse.
Li Zhongmou led the horse towards Wu'an County.
"What exactly happened, tell your second brother."
Li Zhongmou asked on the way.
Li Junqing omitted the part where she lost composure after drinking and intimately involved with Chen Tang, but recounted everything else without hiding anything.
"Remarkable, remarkable."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhongmou's eyes were filled with amazement, and he continuously praised.
"So, he didn't know your identity or background at all, just met by chance yet acted righteously. Moreover, he just kept a promise and protected you down the mountain, even risking his life."
"He values life lightly but takes promises seriously; he truly has the bearing of a Jianghu hero, I am not as good as he is."
Li Junqing was pleased to hear her second brother praise Chen Tang so highly, and she couldn't help but smile.
Over the years, Li Junqing had endured so much pressure and criticism that it had been a long time since Li Zhongmou had seen such genuine joy on his sister's face.
Li Zhongmou said with a laugh, "Junqing, your eye for people isn't bad."
"Second Brother, what are you talking about!"
Li Junqing's face flushed slightly, then she sighed lightly, "I'm not going to marry anyone."
"Do you really not plan to marry in the future?"
Li Zhongmou said, "It's rare to find a man who caught your eye, that's fate, and he is indeed excellent. It's just that his background seems rather ordinary, not quite matching our family."
"Father wouldn't agree."
Li Junqing also shook her head.
"What are you afraid of? You have us."
Li Zhongmou comforted, "Big Brother dotes on you the most, as long as it's the person you choose, he'll definitely support you. I admire a Jianghu hero like Brother Chen the most and will stand by you too."
"As for your third brother, there's no need to say more. Brother Chen's personality matches your third brother's temperament. When your third brother meets him, he'll probably like him so much that he'll want to drink with him all night."
"With us three speaking for you by father's side, are you still afraid it won't work out?"
Li Junqing lowered her head slightly, her face turning bright red as she seemed lost in thought.
She covered her ears, also shielding her flushed face, and said, "Second Brother, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Li Zhongmou laughed heartily at her reaction.
Li Junqing's movements were a bit large, causing her to feel something unfamiliar in her chest, prompting her to frown slightly and reach to feel it.
Li Zhongmou pondered, "It's just that this person seems to come from a humble background, he might not be able to afford a betrothal gift, and father might feel that it's a bit embarrassing."
"Ah!"
At this moment, Li Junqing let out a startled cry.
"What is it?"
Li Zhongmou quickly turned to look, seeing that Li Junqing was holding a roughly human-shaped Mountain Ginseng.
"This is..."
Li Zhongmou focused, unsure of himself.
"A top-grade Earth Ginseng..."
Li Junqing's eyes reddened, her vision gradually blurred, as she murmured softly, "He, he still gave it to me."
"Top-grade Earth Ginseng? He gave it to you?"
Li Zhongmou was shocked.
Such a thing is incredibly precious!
He reached out to take it, examining carefully, and indeed it was not wrong.
Then, Li Zhongmou, secretly delighted, laughed loudly, "Junqing, this is the betrothal gift, it's settled!"
"What?"
Li Junqing tearfully asked.
Li Zhongmou said, "Father has been sick for a long time. If he takes this top-grade Earth Ginseng, when the time is right, we can say it's a gift from Brother Chen. A person with a short mouth doesn't criticize the food; even if he opposes this marriage, he won't have the face to speak against it!"
In the Wu'an County Mansion, a man in his fifties stood in the courtyard, frowning with worry, having stayed up all night.
For some reason, he suddenly felt a twinge in his nose, and sneezed.