From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

Two days later, with less than ten miles from Yongqiu City, it was already dark. Not wanting to linger another night, Chen Shi decided to continue his journey.

When they arrived at the city gates, they found them already closed. Too lazy to knock, they simply used their ability to traverse the air to cross the city walls and enter the city.

Looking at the fork in the road ahead, instead of going to the Marquis's residence first, they went straight home.

In Jinwu Lane, the courtyard gates were already tightly closed.

With Chen Shi away, Cui Nong would instruct her maids to lock all the gates of the courtyard at sunset.

Without knocking to disturb the servants, he leaped into the courtyard. Presumably, the servants had already gone to bed early, and the courtyard was empty.

Chen Shi smiled and went straight to the backyard, where the lights were already off in Cui Nong's room.

Every day after dinner, Cui Nong would chat with her maid for a while before going to bed early.

He pushed the door, but it wouldn't open. The bolt was already in place. Chen Shi looked at it and then walked to the window on one side.

It was a hot day, and the window was left slightly ajar for ventilation. Chen Shi reached in and opened the window, then leaped inside.

The young maid was already fast asleep in the outer room, while Cui Nong lay on her side on the bed in the inner room.

Chen Shi stepped forward and gently patted Cui Nong's shoulder.

After a few moments, Cui Nong swayed and turned around. Moonlight streamed in through the window, revealing Chen Shi standing by the bed. Cui Nong was startled at first, then suddenly sat up in bed.

"Shuoqing".

Rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming, Cui Nong looked at Chen Shi with a face full of joy.

"You're back!"

"Nong'er, I'm back."

"Great! Oh, right, you must be hungry. I'll go make you something to eat."

Cui Nong was overjoyed. She got off the bed, put on her coat, and was about to leave.

I don't want to eat.

Chen Shi hugged Cui Nong from behind, nuzzling her ear and inhaling her scent, whispering something in her ear.

"I want to eat you."

Cui Nong shuddered, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Wait."

Gently breaking free from Chen Shi, Cui Nong walked to the door of the inner room, woke up the maid outside, and sent her away.

She tidied the stray hairs by her ears, lowered her head, and took small, quick steps back.

He glanced at Chen Shi, said nothing, and lay down on the bed, turning to face the bed.

We're waiting for him.

Chen Shi smiled and lay down on the bed, gently embracing Cui Nong from behind.

Cui Nong held Chen Shi's hand, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes weakly.

Just as they were waiting for Chen Shi's next move, Chen Shi suddenly stopped and got off the bed.

"What's wrong?"

Cui Nong turned around and looked at Chen Shi, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"I've been traveling for two days and I'm very dirty. Let the maid fetch some water for me to wash up."

Chen Shi smiled and pointed to the clothes he was wearing.

"It's alright."

Cui Nong let out a soft sigh and said with a smile.

"No, you'll get sick easily if you do that."

Chen Shi shook his head, then went out to tell the maid to fetch water.

Cui Nong lay on the bed, unconsciously clutching the blankets tightly, feeling a surge of anxiety and torment.

After a while, Chen Shi took a shower, changed into a bathrobe, and then came in.

"Nong'er, I'm here."

With a soft laugh, she lay gently on the bed and hugged Cui Nong from behind again.

Cui Nong had been waiting for this moment for a long time. She loosened her skirt and melted into Chen Shi's arms.

……

By the time the fighting stopped and the drums fell silent, the night had already deepened.

Cui Nong lay in Chen Shi's arms, her skin as smooth as a catfish. In the dim moonlight, she showed no signs of drowsiness, telling Chen Shi about the pain of longing she had felt these past few days.

After chatting for a long time, Chen Shi suddenly fell silent.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Um."

Chen Shi nodded, his expression serious.

Cui Nong turned her head and curled up in Chen Shi's arms like a cat, saying nothing, just quietly waiting for Chen Shi to make up his mind. As Chen Shi's status rose, the advice she could offer him became less and less.

Gradually, she transformed from a guide into a listener and a recipient of lessons.

After a long while, Chen Shi finally spoke.

"Nong'er, if I lose everything I have now, would you still be willing to stay with me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Cui Nong smiled and said something in a low voice.

"I'm not joking, I mean if I..."

"I didn't say you were joking. What I mean is, you're asking me if I still want to be with you? What nonsense are you talking about? Unless I die, I will never be separated from you in this lifetime."

Cui Nong didn't turn her head, and her voice was almost flat, as if she were describing something perfectly ordinary.

"...Nong'er."

Chen Shi was moved and hugged Cui Nong tighter, but he still had concerns in his heart.

"You really wouldn't care? I mean, what if I lost my current status, my money, even this yard, and became just like before. A penniless country bumpkin."

"Yes, you said it yourself, at worst things can go back to the way things were before. When you had nothing before, wasn't I already with you?"

"But...this is different."

"What's the difference?"

Cui Nong nestled comfortably in Chen Shi's arms, her eyes slightly closed.

"I've known this for a long time. What I want is you as a person, not your money, status, or position. Even if you have no money or status, even if you become a decrepit old man, a cripple, or a beggar, I will still be with you."

"Nong'er..."

Hearing Cui Nong speak the most touching words in the most ordinary tone, Chen Shi couldn't help but feel moved once again.

His love for Cui Nong was like the surface of a lake after a summer downpour, completely overflowing.

Words are inadequate; love is about doing more. He couldn't help but hug Cui Nong tighter again.

……

The rain pattered on the banana leaves all night long.

In the early morning, Chen Shi got up, while Cui Nong lay lazily on the bed, too tired to even open her eyes.

Instructing his servants not to disturb him, Chen Shi ate breakfast and went out by carriage to the Jing'an Marquis's residence.

After entering the mansion, instead of going to the tax office, he went to see Gu Tingshu first.

Gu Tingshu was seriously injured in the battle with the Chilong in Yongqiu Mountain, so he has been recuperating at home since returning.

In the study, Gu Tingshu sat there reading, and his complexion had improved considerably.

With Mu Yunsheng's medical treatment and the various precious medicinal herbs in the Marquis's mansion, it's normal that he recovered quickly.

After bowing, Chen Shi reported on the search situation in the mountains over the past few days.

"Um."

After listening, Gu Tingxu nodded slightly, but did not ask any further questions.

He knew in his heart that neither Feng Lin, Feng Ji, nor the elders of the Fufeng Association were easy to catch.

"Chen Shi, you did a great job this time. This is the second time you've saved me from danger. And you deserve the most credit for capturing the young Qilin this time."

Gu Tingshu looked at Chen Shi, smiled, and said something.

"What reward do you want?"

"I……"

Chen Shi hesitated slightly, looked up at Gu Tingshu, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice.

"Please allow me to resign from my position as chief steward, Your Excellency."