Chapter 10: Affection Grows Once More

Lu Chuan placed his belongings inside the room.

With some surprise, he asked, “Why do you ask that?”

“...” Bai Siyu’s cheeks flushed deeply. “We’re already yours, so why would you...” She stopped herself, nervously twisting the edge of her clothes.

At that moment, Su Ruan, sitting nearby, spoke frankly and carelessly.

“We’re all children of the martial world; just speak plainly. If you truly look down on us or have other concerns, we can leave right now.”

“Leave?”

Lu Chuan chuckled. “And where exactly would you go?”

“Simple. I’ll knock you out, and then you just tell the authorities that the two of us escaped!”

“As for us, you don’t need to worry!”

Su Ruan gritted her teeth, resolutely declaring, “If worst comes to worst, the two of us will become bandits!”

Hearing this, Lu Chuan shook his head with a hint of helplessness. “Alright, don’t say such discouraging things. I know what you mean. I’m not dissatisfied with you at all. Two beautiful wives like you make me happier than I can say. But right now, the most important thing is to solve the food shortage problem!”

“And make sure you both have enough to eat and wear!”

Lu Chuan smiled. “Besides, if love endures over time, what does it matter if we’re not together every day and night...”

“We have a long future ahead of us!”

Without giving them a chance to respond, Lu Chuan added, “I’m going to cook. After running around all day, I’m starving!”

At these words, Su Ruan’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Bai Siyu stood there stunned, as if struck by lightning.

If love endures over time... what does it matter if we’re not together every day and night?

Could Lu Chuan really be just an ordinary farmer?

Bai Siyu looked at him, momentarily bewildered.

Name: Bai Siyu
Age: 16
Attractiveness: 91
Favorability: 55
Benefits upon adoption: Basic hunting skill (acquired); Basic beast-taming skill (acquired); Basic cooking skill (acquired); Intermediate planting skill (acquired); Intermediate beast-taming skill!

Suddenly, Bai Siyu’s favorability had risen?

Lu Chuan then turned his gaze toward Su Ruan.

Name: Su Ruan
Age: 17
Attractiveness: 89
Favorability: 40
Benefits upon adoption: Personal space: 3 cubic meters (acquired); Basic kiln-firing skill (acquired); Basic night vision ability; Space expansion by 3 cubic meters!

What the hell?

Su Ruan’s favorability had broken through 40?

After bringing Su Ruan back, Lu Chuan noticed that her favorability was growing the slowest among the three.

However, the advantages she brought were actually the best.

Setting aside the personal space, this third skill—basic night vision—is truly formidable.

Sometimes, a person’s vision can determine many things.

It could even save a life at a critical moment.

And at 40 favorability, she gained another space expansion!

Lu Chuan felt incredibly fortunate.

Meanwhile, Bai Siyu had provided him with an intermediate beast-taming skill.

This was just the kind of skill he could put to good use.

Entering the kitchen, Lu Chuan quickly prepared some food.

The three of them sat around the table.

“By the way!”

Lu Chuan suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, “Do you know Zhou Tong?”

“Zhou Tong?”

Su Ruan and Bai Siyu exchanged a glance, puzzled. “Is he the constable who escorted us?”

“Yeah.”

Lu Chuan took a bite of food and forced a wry smile. “I ran into him today on the street.”

Then he recounted everything that had happened.

After hearing it, Su Ruan furrowed her brows deeply. “Do you have a grudge against him?”

“Maybe it’s because of us...” Bai Siyu smiled bitterly before continuing, “If it weren’t for us, our master wouldn’t have suffered such misfortune.”

“What does this have to do with us?”

Su Ruan asked belatedly.

Bai Siyu gave a bitter laugh. “Haven’t you noticed? Zhou Tong has been leering at us the whole way, probably thinking that if no one chooses us, he could...”

“He actually harbors such intentions?”

Su Ruan slammed the table suddenly. “This man is truly despicable!”

“Master!”

At that moment, Bai Siyu cleared her throat.

“Originally, our family in the Central Plains was well-off, but now, we face calamity and things are far from what they used to be. Moreover, the local county magistrate isn’t as good as the current one. Zhou Tong is in charge of Hongtu County, so we must find a way to resolve this issue.”

“If we don’t, not only will he tamper with the food supplies, but our lives will become increasingly difficult!”

Bai Siyu spoke with grave seriousness.

Lu Chuan nodded, committing the matter to memory.

Su Ruan then looked toward the bow hanging on the wall. “Master, lend me that bow. Give me two days, and I will take care of this problem for you!”

Goodness!

Are you the mercenary here? Your murderous intent is even stronger than mine.

Before Lu Chuan could respond, Bai Siyu hurriedly shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Killing Zhou Tong would be easy, but if he had no backing, he wouldn’t be so arrogant.”

“Even if we have to kill him, it must be done without anyone knowing.”

“We can’t stir up trouble.”

“And definitely not with our bows!”

Su Ruan felt the situation was more complicated. “Ugh, why does it have to be so troublesome?”

“Master, if you need anything, just say so! As children of the martial world, I will never refuse to help!”

Lu Chuan smirked.

What a true child of the martial world.

Those who know think you’re a general’s descendant; those who don’t might mistake you for a mountain bandit!

That night.

Su Ruan and Bai Siyu lay in bed.

Each covered by their own quilt, they nestled close, sharing warmth in the cold winter night. Their intertwined forms created a unique and intimate scene.

“Do you think Master is really just a simple farmer? He can hunt, cook, and seems to know how to read and write!”

Bai Siyu asked.

“Know how to read and write?” Su Ruan asked, a beat slow. “What makes you say that?”

“‘If love endures over time, what does it matter if we’re not together every day and night?’”

“A common person wouldn’t write such poetic lines.”

Su Ruan’s eyes brightened as she realized. “Now that you mention it, those lines are indeed more evocative and meaningful than what I’ve heard before!”

The two women embraced, whispering intimately.

Outside, the winter wind howled through the night.

Lu Chuan, however, felt a headache coming on.

There was too much to do. He wanted to repair the house, but first, he needed to hunt enough game.

So, tomorrow, he would have to venture into the mountains once again.