In this chaotic world of martial arts, I'll become a god by adding skill points!

Chapter 98 A Woman, A Girl

As night deepened, the campfire crackled in the center of the campsite, dispelling the chill and dampness of the mountains and fields.

The cook worked quickly and efficiently, preparing a fairly substantial dinner using the ingredients he had brought.

There is hot soup, flatbread, smoked meat, and wild vegetables, and the aroma is irresistible.

The Zhao family's guards and servants were eating around another campfire, talking in hushed tones.

Wang Anping, Zhao Qingyue, Lin Yunshu, and the old housekeeper Zhao Fuzhe gathered around the smaller fire.

Zhao Qingyue ate her food in small bites, her gaze occasionally drifting to Wang Anping, who was quietly eating across from her.

In the firelight, the lines of his profile were exceptionally clear, and two small flames danced in his calm eyes.

She hesitated for a moment, put down the pancake in her hand, and said softly, "Brother Wang, when you were a child, did you have any particularly interesting stories?"

"Like climbing trees to raid bird nests, or going down to the river to catch fish?" She tried to find a less martial arts-related topic to bridge the gap.

Wang Anping paused slightly as he chewed, as if he were recalling something.

Childhood? My own childhood or the original owner's childhood?

He hadn't thought about his past life for a long time, but this sentence brought his thoughts back to it.

In his previous life, he was also from the countryside, and he must have done things like raiding bird nests, but back then it was just for fun.

Thinking about the original owner's experiences, he swallowed his food and said calmly, "Raiding bird nests was to find bird eggs to fill our stomachs, and catching fish was to satisfy our hunger. Interesting stories—I wouldn't call them interesting."

Zhao Qingyue was taken aback, then realized that she might have asked the wrong question, and a look of embarrassment and apology flashed across her face.

"I'm sorry, Brother Wang, I didn't mean it—"

Just then, a guard on patrol at the edge of the camp suddenly shouted in a low voice, "Who goes there?!"

Everyone immediately became alert, and Lin Yunshu even placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Two figures emerged unsteadily from the dark woods beside the official road.

As I approached the firelight, I could see that it was a woman in her early thirties.

She wore a faded, coarse cloth dress and looked haggard, but a hint of delicate beauty could still be seen in her eyes and brows.

She was holding the hand of a four- or five-year-old girl tightly. The girl had two pigtails and her little face was dirty.

A pair of large eyes looked timidly at the crowd in the firelight, carrying the unique innocence and unease of a child.

"Gentlemen, young masters and ladies—"

The woman's voice was hoarse, filled with exhaustion and pleading: "I'm sorry to have disturbed you all."

My daughter and I were on our way to visit relatives in Nanshui Town, but we took the wrong road, and it got dark. We were too tired to walk any further.

Seeing the firelight, I thought I'd come over and ask for directions and a drink of water.

As she spoke, she hid the little girl behind her back, appearing quite flustered.

Nanshui Town? Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu squinted and sized up the mother and daughter.

To get from Gushui County to Wanshanlin, you have to pass through Nanshui Town, which is also the last stop for supplies.

We encountered such a coincidence right after setting off. Could there be any problems?

After thinking for a moment, he asked in a deep voice, with a hint of doubt, "Who are you looking for there?"

The woman hurriedly said, "Looking for my husband's cousin, who runs a general store in Nanshui Town, named Liu Laoshi."

"With war and chaos, I can't stay at home any longer—"

Looking at the little girl's pitiful and timid appearance, especially her big, dark eyes, Zhao Qingyue felt a surge of pity.

She stood up and said softly, "Sister-in-law, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Come and sit down, there's some food here." As she spoke, she went to get the food.

"Miss!"

Zhao Fu quickly spoke up to stop her, shaking his head slightly at Zhao Qingyue, his eyes filled with obvious wariness.

He walked up to Wang Anping and asked in a low voice, "Young Master Wang, what do you think—?"

Although Zhao Fu wasn't very strong, he had lived for so long and had excellent judgment.

He had long realized that Wang Anping was no ordinary person, so whenever he encountered a problem, he would instinctively come over to ask for his opinion.

Wang Anping's gaze swept over the mother and daughter. The woman's steps were unsteady and her breath was weak; she was indeed an ordinary person.

The little girl showed no signs of anything unusual.

But his experience in the underworld taught him that what seems harmless is sometimes the most dangerous.

Especially in this desolate wilderness, far from any village or shop, the sight of a young woman leading a young girl at night is itself suspicious.

He slowly put down the food in his hand and said to Zhao Fu, "Uncle Fu, just to be on the safe side..."

The meaning is clear: he feels there's something wrong and it's not advisable to contact them.

Zhao Fu nodded knowingly, and was about to politely decline.

"Uncle Fu, Young Master Wang, you're both being far too cautious!"

Lin Yunshu spoke first, as he was already dissatisfied with Wang Anping's nonchalant attitude, as if he had everything under control.

Seeing that the other party was so wary of even a pair of orphans and widows in distress, he felt even more that the other party was pretending to be profound and was cold-blooded and ruthless.

He stood up and stood between Zhao Qingyue and the mother and daughter, saying to Zhao Fu, "She's just a woman with a child, what problem could she possibly have?"

Judging from their appearance, they must have been hungry all day.

Qingyue is kind-hearted. Since we've encountered her, helping her out would be a good deed.

Are you suggesting that with so many guards, we're afraid of a woman and a toddler?

His words appealed to Zhao Qingyue's sympathy, highlighted his own chivalry and sense of responsibility, and subtly criticized Wang Anping's cowardice and cold-heartedness.

Zhao Qingyue was indeed persuaded. She looked at the pleading woman and then at the timid little girl.

Feeling sorry for him, she chimed in, "Yes, Uncle Fu, Cousin Yunshu is right."

They look so pitiful, let them follow along for a while.

"Once they get to Nanshui Town, let them find their relatives on their own. There are so many of us, they should be fine."

Zhao Fu looked troubled. Since both the young lady and the young master had spoken, it was not appropriate for a servant like him to forcefully object.

But despite his worldly experience, the unease in his heart did not dissipate.

He hesitated for a moment, then compromised, saying, "Miss, young master, since you insist—then let them follow behind the group."

But we must stay far apart, and we can't camp in the same place. We can provide some food and water.

This was the best solution he could think of, and as he spoke, he glanced apologetically at Wang Anping.

After all, these are the young master and young lady, so he couldn't be too forceful.

Seeing Zhao Fu back down, Lin Yunshu felt she had gained the upper hand. She glanced smugly at Wang Anping and said to the woman, "Did you hear that? You can follow, but keep your distance. Take these cakes and water."

He had his servants bring some food and water to the woman.

The woman thanked the little girl profusely, bowing repeatedly, and then, as instructed, retreated to a large tree a dozen feet away from the edge of the camp, where she took the food and began to eat in small bites.

Wang Anping didn't say anything more from beginning to end, and just silently finished his food.

Then he got up, walked to the side, found a dry stone, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

He did not criticize Lin Yunshu for acting impulsively or Zhao Qingyue for being naive and soft-hearted; people always have to bear the consequences of their choices.

He simply reassessed the troublesome nature of this team in his mind.

A foolish young master, a naive and innocent young lady, and a butler who has some sense but lacks decisiveness.

A group of weak and unsuspecting guards.

Seeing this, he made a decision in his heart.

If they encounter danger, he will try his best to save Zhao Qingyue.

As for that cousin who's a bit of a fool and likes to entertain himself, and the others, well, that's up to fate.

Don't these people know that they should stay away from monks, the elderly, women and children when they are out and about?

How dare you take in someone like that?

The mountain breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the faint roars of beasts and the chirping of insects from afar.

The night grew even deeper.

He kept his eyes closed, but kept a sliver of his mind on the direction of the mother and daughter, always on guard.

This was very wrong; he felt something was definitely going to happen and he had to be prepared.

He didn't care whether others lived or died, but he couldn't afford to fail.

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