Chapter 103 - 103 "So comfortable here, I no longer think of returning.
Chapter 103: Chapter 103 “So comfortable here, I no longer think of returning.
“What’s the rush?” Huang Zai’an happily took a sip of Spiritual Spring Water and postured, “It’s so pleasant here, I have no thoughts of returning.”
“Then you stay, I’m going back.”
“Little girl, what’s the hurry? You can go back, but you have to agree to one condition for your master.”
“What is it?”
“You cannot leave Longnan Ridge, and you must provide me with the water I drink every day.”
Qi Yue hissed in response.
“Have you gotten addicted to it, huh?”
“Mhm.” Huang Zai’an blinked proudly, his expression suggesting that if she didn’t agree, he would ‘die’ just to show her.
“Fine. Even if I leave, I’ll prepare your medicine.”
“Additionally, your master would like to discuss another matter with you.”
“What is it?”
“The last time you emptied the valley of its herbs, you didn’t make any good medicinal pills.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Then where is the medicine?”
“…”
The medicines were all growing in the space, and she had even transferred some to the back mountain where they were now proliferating extensively.
Why did she feel like this old man was haggling with her!
Suddenly, Qi Yue snapped out of her thoughts.
“What medicine? Didn’t I prepare medicinal water for you already?”
“Alright, even if you don’t say it, your master knows you have secrets.” Huang Zai’an took another sip of Spiritual Spring Water and glanced at her with a slanting eye, “You didn’t sleep in the wardrobe last night, did you?”
Qi Yue was startled for a moment but quickly nodded her head.
“Right, I slept under the bed.”
Huang Zai’an eventually left, mumbling to himself.
“…It’s strange, why do I always feel that this child is so secretive?”
Listening to his mutterings, Qi Yue couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her lips.
This old man was quite perceptive!
Once there was no one else around, she immediately closed the door and windows, instructed the maids outside not to disturb her, and then entered the space.
Inside the space, it was still brimming with life.
The stream was flowing, and the herbal fields, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees were all thriving.
The White Rhino was rolling around in a stone pit downstream of the creek.
Qi Yue walked over and crouched in front of the water pit, observing the White Rhino meticulously.
She was about to return to Northern Ridge soon, and before that, she needed to find a way to remove the rhinoceros horn.
If she used the method from her previous life, it would involve anesthetizing the White Rhino before removing the horn.
But this White Rhino was clearly not like those from her previous life, and she didn’t know if an anesthetic would work on it.
If it didn’t work, her wielding a chainsaw would probably be useless against this beast.
Alternatively, she could try using her considerable strength to tie up the rhino; there were chains for locking bikes in the storage room.
Thinking this, she immediately went to the storage to look for a chain, only to realize that it seemed to require some effort.
She discovered that her immense strength seemed to disappear while in the space.
Having no choice, she took several anesthesia needles and injected the White Rhino a few times to no avail.
It seemed as if the creature even enjoyed the sensation of her sticking needles into it.
Frustrated, she tossed the needle aside, and the White Rhino nuzzled her with its head as if asking, “Give me another shot, will you?”
Qi Yue was at her wit’s end.
She helplessly stroked the White Rhino’s head, while her other hand ran through its fur, which felt like short velvet.
“You, I caught you to treat an illness. And now what? Have I invited you to be a guest in my space?”
The White Rhino responded with a noise that seemed half understanding.
Qi Yue rubbed its smooth, satin-like head again.
“You have complaints, do you? I’ve been good to you. If those people had caught you, by now you’d be cut into who knows how many pieces! Even this skin would have been made into a drum!”
“Moo… Moo-moo…”
The White Rhino called out rhythmically, continuing to rub its head against her, as if it really enjoyed being scratched by her.
Qi Yue was also helpless.
Although the White Rhino was frighteningly large, it was too beautiful, making it difficult for people to feel fear towards it.
If it weren’t for Zhao Xiyan’s insistence on the White Rhino’s horn, she wouldn’t have thought about harming such a lovely creature.
She sighed and continued to scratch the White Rhino, chattering away to it.
“Do you know? With your horn, he will be able to stand up again, and my promise will be fulfilled.”
“Who made me promise him to make him stand again!”
“So, don’t blame me for cutting off your horn; after all, you’ll still have your life without it.”
“To sacrifice one horn for the return of a War God, you’d be willing, right?”
As Qi Yue prattled on, she was thinking whether, once they reached the Northern Ridge, she should release the White Rhino and then use her Innate Divine Strength to tie it up…
As she was contemplating this, she suddenly felt something hard in her hand and looked down, shocked.
It was the horn from the head of the White Rhino!
No, to be precise, it was the outer shell of the horn.
Gleaming with multicolored light, dazzling to the eyes.
Surprised, she looked at the top of the White Rhino’s head and saw that its beautiful horn had turned into a tender, new, small horn.
The new horn was much smaller, resembling the horn of a newborn goat, with faint traces of blood at the tip.
“Moo… Moo… Moo…”
The White Rhino called out, gently pressing its head against her hand as if to say, “I agree.”
Qi Yue’s nose suddenly felt sore and her eyes blurred.
She hugged the White Rhino’s massive head and promised earnestly, “Thank you. From now on, I will never harm you again.”
“Moo… Moo… Moo…”
With the White Rhino willingly offering its horn, Qi Yue’s heart immediately soared towards the Northern Ridge.
She decided then and there to leave early the next morning.
Previously, Chu Yuntian had been unhappy to learn about her divorce from Zhao Xiyan and had severely scolded Zhao Xiyan, so Qi Yue did not mention wanting to treat her legs, only saying she was escorting Huang Zai’an back to the Northern Ridge.
A disciple escorting her master was not opposed by Chu Yuntian.
However, he explicitly requested that Qi Yue return to the Longnan County Government soon.
“Yueyue, you might not yet know, but back in the day when your father garrisoned Longnan Ridge, he set up a large estate. It was intended for you to live there with him, but unfortunately…”
Chu Yuntian’s expression turned sorrowful when he spoke of the great battle of Longnan Ridge six years ago.
“You’re in a hurry to leave now, so there’s no time, but when you return, your adoptive father will take you there to see.”
“Aren’t you skilled in medicine? If you really can’t stand being idle, you could open a medicine hall here. Later, your adoptive father will find you a good family to marry into. Your father would certainly be happy.”
Chu Yuntian’s words gave Qi Yue something to think about.
Indeed, where could she go?
In this world, she had no relatives.
After her break with the Zhao Family, she couldn’t possibly live alone for the rest of her life.
She had to have a family, and living with the kind people of the Chu Family was not a bad option.
Once the date of departure was set, the Chu Family began to prepare the carriage and food for the journey.
After all, it was a ten-day walk from the Longnan County Government to the Northern Ridge, and even by carriage, it would take five or six days to arrive!
Chu Yuntian arranged for two maids to take care of Qi Yue during the journey, and several soldiers to escort them along the way.
Qi Yue refused the maids and kept the soldiers.
With so many secrets, it wasn’t suitable for her to be around people.
It took some effort to convince Chu Yuntian not to give her maids, but then he insisted on adding two more soldiers.
With all the comings and goings, along with the coachman, her, and Huang Zai’an, the group swelled to a team of over a dozen people.
This sincere and honest old man still had no idea how capable Qi Yue was, adamant about having her escorted along the way until he was satisfied!
Early the next day, the carriage left the Prefectural Office and quickly passed through the city gates.
Feeling the carriage stuffy, Qi Yue got out as soon as they left the city and mounted her horse, leaving Huang Zai’an alone in the carriage.
Just as she was about to spur her horse forward, she heard the sound of a fast-approaching horse from behind.
The rider was Zhang Fang, who had changed his previously deferential attitude towards Qi Yue, blocked her path with his horse, and wore an expression that was looking for trouble.