111 The Ruined Temple

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A gentle breeze accompanied Li Xintian along the way, bringing a refreshing coolness. The trees on both sides rustled softly in the wind. Within the forest, a tiger pressed its front paws on a struggling rabbit, its jaws wide open, effortlessly biting through the rabbit’s neck. It even crushed the rabbit’s bones with ease, swallowing everything without a drop of blood spilling from its mouth.

The headless rabbit twitched its legs a few times before going still, blood spurting from its neck and staining the ground. The tiger’s eyes narrowed, baring its teeth in apparent satisfaction. It moved its paws aside and swallowed the rabbit’s body in one gulp, not even spitting out the fur, the crunching sound crisp and fragrant.

Suddenly alert, the tiger paused mid-bite, swallowing hastily. Its ears twitched as it caught the sound of hooves and a carriage approaching. Moving stealthily, it ran toward the source of the noise but stopped about a thousand meters away, sensing the presence of multiple people. It crouched, listening attentively to the voices from the carriage.

“Grandpa, Grandma, are you tired? Shall we take a break?”
Li Xintian kept Zou Wu Sky alert and made sure he didn’t get down to avoid frightening anyone.
“That’s a good idea, let’s rest for a while. Everyone must be exhausted,” said Huo Wanping, lifting the carriage curtain.
“Everyone, let’s stop and rest for a bit,” Li Xintian nodded and called out, and the group halted.
“Remember to form a circle while resting. Don’t wander off alone. Even when you need to relieve yourselves, go in groups so we can respond quickly if there’s danger,” Li Xintian instructed after a moment’s thought.
“Yes, Young Master,” the servants responded obediently. They all knew Li Xintian was like a father to them; all orphans taken in by him.

“Qiu Yan, keep an eye on them. I’ll go hunt some game to feed everyone,” Li Xintian told Hu Qiuyan, glancing at the midday sun.
“Alright, do you need my help?” she asked.
“No, just watch over them closely. This is a dangerous time,” he replied, waving her off.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m heading out for a bit to hunt,” Li Xintian said before turning to leave.
“Cousin, take me with you!” Chen Yuanwen was eager to join the hunt.
“You’re just making trouble. If you learn some skills from your old man, then maybe I’ll take you hunting,” Chen Zishan scolded, flicking Chen Yuanwen’s ear.
“Ouch! Grandma, look at this!” Chen Yuanwen yelped in pain, but Huo Wanping just laughed and didn’t intervene.
“Alright, alright, just let Xintian go. Stay safe,” she said with a smile.
“I will,” Li Xintian nodded and quickly disappeared into the woods.

The tiger crouched, slowly retreating to wait for another chance. Before leaving, it used its tail to sweep the ground, wiping away its footprints. Its intelligence was comparable to that of an adult human.

Li Xintian leapt onto a tree branch, scanning the undergrowth. Suddenly, a large porcupine stirred nearby, shaking its body.
“Good, you’re the one,” Li Xintian decided. He jumped down from the branch and charged at the porcupine.

The porcupine immediately sensed danger, its quills standing on end. Li Xintian paid no mind to the spikes and kicked the porcupine’s belly. The porcupine screeched in pain as he braced himself on the ground and delivered a crushing kick to its jaw, shattering both jaw and neck.

The porcupine’s thick, fatty belly was tough but not fatal. The second kick was deadly, and the creature died instantly.
“All done,” Li Xintian said, hoisting the porcupine onto his shoulder and walking away.

The tiger, still watching from afar, was impressed by Li Xintian’s skills and even spoke aloud: “This person has some tricks up his sleeve. Looks like there will be action tonight.”

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Li Xintian was unaware of the hidden dangers nearby.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back,” he called out, carrying the porcupine on his shoulder.
“Young Master, leave it to me. I’ll gut the porcupine,” said Zhuo Guangdao, the Chen family steward, who had risen from nothing alongside Chen Linqing.
“No, I’ll help. It’s too much for you alone at your age,” Li Xintian insisted.
“Very well, I’ll assist you,” Zhuo Guangdao chuckled, understanding Li Xintian’s intentions.
“Xintian, glad you’re back,” Huo Wanping smiled warmly.
“Everyone, split into groups of three to gather firewood. Later, we’ll have roasted meat,” Li Xintian announced.
“Great, Young Master! We’re looking forward to enjoying your cooking again,” the servants cheered, putting away their rations and getting to work.
“Be careful not to wander too far,” Li Xintian reminded them.
“We know, Young Master,” they replied with smiles.

Taking the knife from Zhuo Guangdao, Li Xintian began dissecting the porcupine and cleaning its skin.
“Young Master, the fire is ready,” a servant reported.
“Perfect,” Li Xintian said briskly, finishing the preparations and placing the porcupine over the fire to roast.

Everyone eagerly anticipated Li Xintian’s culinary skills. Though gentlemen typically stayed away from the kitchen, Li Xintian did nearly everything himself.

After a while, the porcupine began to sizzle, and its savory aroma wafted through the air. Everyone inhaled deeply, mouths watering. Even the tiger a kilometer away caught the scent.
“Who would have thought this person could cook so well,” the tiger sniffed, speaking aloud.

“Alright, get ready to eat. Make sure you each have something clean to eat with. Everyone gets a share,” Li Xintian said, judging the porcupine perfectly cooked.
Everyone eagerly prepared their utensils, and Li Xintian distributed the meat.

“Young Master, your cooking is unmatched. Whoever marries you will be very lucky,” one servant joked with a smile. Others laughed, casting glances at Hu Qiuyan, who blushed and turned away.
“Enough, you rough fellows shouldn’t tease a young lady like that,” Zhuo Guangdao said wisely.
“Ha! She’s already part of the family now, no longer a young maiden but our grandparents’ granddaughter-in-law,” Chen Yuanwen teased, joining in.
“Come on, cousin, you know better. If they don’t know, that’s one thing, but why stir up trouble?” Li Xintian whispered with a smile. “Everyone, eat quickly. Afterward, we need to keep moving and find a place to rest tonight.”

“Cousin, I’m just looking out for you. She may be a fox, but she’s deeply devoted to you. Don’t let her down. Haven’t you noticed how much Grandpa and Grandma like her? See that jade bracelet on her wrist? That was Grandma’s gift,” Chen Yuanwen added.

“Look at me. When I married the granddaughter-in-law, Grandma gave me a present too. That shows how much she likes her,” Chen Yuanwen continued in a low voice to Li Xintian. Then, looking at everyone, he laughed: “Grandpa, Grandma, eat up. Young Master’s cooking is really something.”

“You’re such a foodie,” Huo Wanping retorted with mock annoyance.

Li Xintian’s sharp eyes caught the bracelet—one he had personally given Huo Wanping at her birthday banquet. She had said then that she would pass it on to the granddaughter-in-law she favored. The jade bracelet gleamed brightly in the sunlight, translucent enough to reveal skin beneath; without sunlight, it appeared milky white. Although cherished by Huo Wanping, she had made her intentions clear.

The journey continued uneventfully, though Li Xintian remained quiet, pondering his relationship with Hu Qiuyan and how to resolve it. Chen Yuanwen’s words lingered in his mind.

As night approached, they still hadn’t reached their destination.
“Xintian, it’s almost dark, and we haven’t arrived at the next stop. Staying out here in the wilderness could be dangerous,” Hu Qiuyan warned, riding alongside him.
“Qiu Yan, sneak off and see if there’s a place nearby where we can rest for the night. If there’s danger, escape immediately,” Li Xintian whispered.
“Alright, I’ll go now,” Hu Qiuyan nodded and slipped away like a streak of light, leaving only a fading shadow on her horse’s back.

By dusk, Hu Qiuyan returned.
“There’s an old, ruined temple not far from here. It should be safe enough for the night, and the path there is clear,” she reported.
“How far?” Li Xintian asked, relieved.
“About two or three kilometers. We can get there before nightfall,” she replied.
“Good. Lead the way,” Li Xintian said, moving to the rear of the group.

One servant trailing the supplies called out, “Young Master, when will you hold your wedding banquet for everyone to drink at?”
“Yeah, we’re all hoping your wedding will be something special, especially since you’ve been so clever since childhood,” another added with a laugh.
“Don’t worry. When I marry, you’ll all be invited. You’ll definitely get to drink a toast,” Li Xintian replied with a smile.
“Stop talking—we’re almost there. Keep your spirits up; soon we’ll be resting and can chat all night,” Li Xintian urged as the servants prepared to settle down.

“Yes, Young Master,” the two servants acknowledged, understanding his character.

Guided by Hu Qiuyan, they arrived at the ruined temple by nightfall. The moon hung high in the sky. The temple’s plaque was broken, its missing piece vanished, crows cawed nearby, and spiderwebs draped everywhere. The paper lattice on the doors was shredded, showing signs of long neglect.

“Everyone, be alert. Night shifts will be in pairs to keep watch. Stay vigilant. If anything happens, shout or beat the gong,” Li Xintian instructed after the servants settled in. He inspected the temple, finding it secure apart from the decayed, unrecognizable deity statue covered in cobwebs and dust. The beams above were similarly draped with webs.

“Understood, Young Master,” the servants replied in unison.

“Alright, remember that. I’ll take a walk outside before coming back in,” Li Xintian said, opening the temple door and stepping out into the night.