On the road, Wu Dingyuan asked about what had happened since they parted. Yan Ting said: “That day when Jiang Chong and those people saw you jump into the lake, they were furious, saying without a guide, they might never be able to get in again. Later, Jiang Chong brought cannons from outside, saying he would blow up the cave. I thought you were already dead and cried so pitifully…”

Wu Dingyuan, seeing her look at him with such genuine emotion, was moved and smiled: “Miss, you needn’t cry – look, am I not perfectly fine?”

Yan Ting smiled: “Yes! If I had known your fate was so strong, I wouldn’t have needed to cry.” Both immediately laughed.

Wu Dingyuan said: “Do you want to go directly back to Jiuhua Mountain? Or come with me to Mount Hua?”

Yan Ting’s eyes suddenly reddened as she shook her head: “My martial uncle was killed by that demon woman, and my junior sister needs someone to care for her. I’d better go to Mount Hua first. We can discuss further after finding my junior sister.”

Wu Dingyuan nodded: “That makes sense. Your junior sister is still young and can’t be without her senior sister’s companionship.” Thinking of Juan’er’s usual chaotic behavior, he couldn’t help but smile: “Has your junior sister been this mischievous since childhood?”

Yan Ting, thinking of her junior sister, also smiled through her tears: “Yes! This little child usually ignores everyone except our master’s words. Every day she comes up with mischievous ideas – I really don’t know what goes on in that little head of hers.”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Your sisterly bond is so good – it’s truly enviable.”

Yan Ting asked: “Does Lord Wu have any family? Do you have brothers or sisters?”

Wu Dingyuan shook his head: “I’ve been an orphan since childhood and never had any relatives.” Thinking of Lu Yun, he couldn’t help but sigh again.

After walking for a while, they came to a marketplace. Wu Dingyuan smelled an aroma from distant stalls – it was roasted meat skewers. Seeing Yan Ting drooling with desire and knowing she was hungry too, he smiled: “Want to eat some?”

Yan Ting nodded and hummed agreement. Wu Dingyuan reached into his clothes but after a long time couldn’t find half a coin. He couldn’t help but blush: “I forgot I don’t have any money on me.”

Yan Ting was also embarrassed and whispered: “This is terrible – my money pouch was also taken by the Kunlun Mountain people.”

Wu Dingyuan sighed: “If I had known, I should have taken Jiang Chong’s hundred thousand taels of silver – it would be much more convenient now!”

Yan Ting frowned: “There’s no use talking about that now. What should we do? Beg our way to Mount Hua?”

Wu Dingyuan patted her head and smiled: “Don’t panic – watch your big brother.” He brought Yan Ting to an inn and ordered the shopkeeper to prepare two upper rooms.

Yan Ting whispered: “We don’t have a single coin on us – how can we stay in such expensive lodgings? This costs money.”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “I have a few friends here. I’ll go borrow some travel money shortly – don’t worry.” He then ordered the shopkeeper to prepare a table of food and wine to be sent to Yan Ting’s room. The feast had large fish and meat with fully ten dishes – quite sumptuous.

Yan Ting was about to eat when she suddenly saw Wu Dingyuan hurriedly leaving. She quickly asked: “Lord Wu, aren’t you eating together?”

Wu Dingyuan turned back and smiled: “You eat first! I’ll be back soon.”

Yan Ting hummed agreement, feeling quite strange but not daring to ask more. Being extremely hungry, she began eating by herself.

Wu Dingyuan walked on the street and casually asked a passerby: “How do I get to the county government office?”

The passerby, hearing him ask about the government office, couldn’t help but be shocked: “The government office? What are you going there for? Are you seeking death?”

Wu Dingyuan frowned: “What do you mean seeking death? Your words are very hard to understand.”

The passerby whispered: “You’re from out of town, aren’t you? That government office lord has an unpleasant nickname – people call him the Great Demon King of Money-Grabbing. He’s usually extremely fierce. Anyone he sees gets fleeced. Don’t look for trouble if you have nothing to do.”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Perfect – I’m precisely looking for this kind of hellish place.”

The passerby gave him a white look and muttered: “Meeting a madman in broad daylight – how strange.”

By evening, Yan Ting saw Wu Dingyuan return to the inn carrying a large bundle. She smiled: “What are these things? So many packages?”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “They’re all for the young lady to eat, wear, and use.” He shook out the bundle and took out a sable fur robe, along with rouge and jewelry – all expensive items.

Wu Dingyuan said: “You can’t buy good things in small places – make do with these for now. Big Brother Wu will pick better ones for you later.”

Yan Ting saw that these items were all extremely precious. She exclaimed: “These things are all so expensive – how can I afford to use them?”

Wu Dingyuan laughed heartily: “How can you not afford them? These clothes and jewelry are usually worn by ugly old women in rich families. If they had spirits, they’d probably cry terribly. Come try them on!” He lifted the sable robe and draped it over Yan Ting’s shoulders. Yan Ting touched the robe – indeed it was first-class tailoring, workmanship, and materials, all the finest quality.

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “A beautiful girl like you should wear these precious clothes and jewelry – that’s what brings out your elegance.”

Yan Ting, hearing his praise, couldn’t help but blush and whispered: “Lord Wu flatters me – how can Yan Ting be called beautiful…”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “If you don’t count as a beauty, who in the world does? Could it be that ugly monster Jiang Chong?” Hearing him say this, Yan Ting couldn’t help but laugh.

That evening, Yan Ting indeed changed into the clothes Wu Dingyuan had given her. She wore a sable robe with a slim waist, light rouge on her face, and agate earrings. Yan Ting’s appearance was already extremely beautiful, and with this dress-up, she looked even more delicate than flowers, charmingly moving.

Wu Dingyuan looked with great pleasure, repeatedly praising: “Miss, you’re truly beautiful! Very beautiful! Hehe!” Wu Dingyuan wasn’t well-read, and after saying “very beautiful” several times, he couldn’t squeeze out any more words of praise. Even so, Yan Ting was secretly delighted.

Wu Dingyuan said: “I need to go buy some horses later. Since you’re dressed so beautifully, why don’t you come walk with me!” Yan Ting gladly agreed, and the two went out together.

Walking on the road, they indeed saw men throughout the street stealing glances at Yan Ting, obviously amazed by her stunning beauty. Though Yan Ting was just a country girl who hadn’t seen much of the world, being evaluated and discussed by people, her behavior was extremely graceful without the slightest awkwardness or shyness.

At the horse market, Wu Dingyuan asked Yan Ting to wait briefly while he went to select horses. Though this was only a small marketplace, being close to the Western Regions, there were quite good horses. Wu Dingyuan chose several fine steeds and ordered the assistants to deliver them to the inn, then returned to find Yan Ting.

Walking close, he suddenly saw a large crowd of men gathered ahead, all surrounding Yan Ting and talking to her. Unexpectedly, in just a moment, so many slick-haired, powdered men had come to chat her up. But Yan Ting maintained a stern pretty face with a cold expression – apparently this group of men was too vulgar and not one entered her sight.

The men were competing jealously when they suddenly saw a big man approaching from behind with a square face looking quite fierce. Everyone shouted: “The plague god is coming!” and instantly scattered completely.

That big man was none other than the dignified Commissioner Wu Dingyuan himself. Seeing Yan Ting’s great popularity, he immediately smiled: “Look at you – in just a short while, you can captivate all living beings!”

Yan Ting’s face reddened as she lowered her head and said softly: “Lord Wu is joking.”

Wu Dingyuan, seeing her red, tender, pink face and looking at her graceful figure – waist was waist, hips were hips, legs long and rounded, all the tall stature of a northern woman – couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter, thinking: “This girl is truly extremely beautiful.” He was somewhat lost in reverie.

Yan Ting, being stared at by him, blushed all over, momentarily overcome with shyness, and said sweetly: “Lord Wu, don’t look at me like that – it makes me so embarrassed.”

Wu Dingyuan quickly restrained his mind and laughed dryly: “Sorry, did I scare you?”

Just as the two were gazing at each other, several government runners suddenly rushed from behind and posted notices on the wall.

Yan Ting was curious and asked: “What are they doing?”

Wu Dingyuan glanced back and smiled slightly: “They’re catching a thief.”

Yan Ting said “Oh!” in surprise: “Catching a thief? Are there thieves active even in such a small place?”

As they spoke, the runners finished posting the notice and announced loudly to the crowd: “Fellow villagers, this thief went into the government treasury in broad daylight and stole exactly five hundred taels of silver. Everyone keep your eyes peeled – whoever can catch this person will receive a heavy reward from the county magistrate.”

Yan Ting saw a wanted criminal drawn on the notice – the person had a square face full of fierce features, looking extremely vicious. She couldn’t help but smile: “Let’s go catch this person – then we can earn some travel money, and Lord Wu won’t need to borrow any.”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Yes! But this fugitive is drawn too poorly – taking a perfectly handsome face and drawing it so viciously. This artist really deserves dozens of heavy blows.”

Yan Ting looked at the portrait and frowned: “That’s true – drawn like this, it somewhat resembles Lord Wu. That artist must have been scribbling randomly.”

Wu Dingyuan, hearing these words, just laughed heartily without speaking.

That night the two returned to the inn to sleep. The next day, Wu Dingyuan bought a large carriage pulled by four precious horses. He served as the driver while letting Yan Ting sit comfortably in the carriage. Yan Ting had lived in the mountains with her master since childhood – when had she ever experienced such luxury and comfort? She felt like a heavenly fairy, completely happy.

It was still the first month, with more than ten days until the first of the second month. Wu Dingyuan knew Qin Zhonghai, Yang Suguan and others would surely gather at Mount Hua. The two traveled leisurely, sightseeing along the way toward Mount Hua.