Chapter Seventeen: Untouched Purity

The incident of Master Xue's daughter being abducted by mountain bandits was, at least within Qingyang County, common knowledge. Now that Xue Yun’er was speaking with increasing volume, more and more people heard her, making it all the easier to restore her reputation. In contrast, Li Yun—the chieftain—would be in less danger.

Qingyang, being but a county town, was not large. Upon entering the city, even with Xue Yun’er’s inconvenient legs, it did not take long before they reached the gates of the county office.

Li Yun kept one hand behind his back, the other resting on the hilt of his sword, gazing up at the city’s official building. He was tall and striking, with a naturally heroic air. Now, dressed in new clothes and with his hair neatly done, his demeanor was nothing like that of his former comrades on Cang Mountain. Even if a few bailiffs who had met him before passed by, they likely would not recognize him. Ordinary folk certainly wouldn’t mistake him for a bandit.

Just as they arrived at the government office, Master Xue—now in plain clothes—rushed out, supported by two young men. Upon seeing Xue Yun’er from afar, this official father could not hold back his tears. He strode forward, grasped his daughter’s sleeve, and wept, “My child… my child…”

Xue Yun’er, too, was overwhelmed with tears, and father and daughter wept together.

Li Yun remained composed and elegant, occasionally glancing around as though admiring the unfamiliar town, though in truth he was already plotting his escape. Although he felt moderately confident about the situation, it was still precarious—he needed to be ready to flee if necessary. He had already mapped out his escape route. If negotiations failed, breaking through the crowd would not be difficult. The county had only a few dozen guards, who could not assemble quickly, and with the low city walls, he was sure he could get out.

While father and daughter cried, the two young men stepped forward, both sizing up Li Yun with wary eyes. They were Master Xue’s sons, newly returned to Qingyang from elsewhere. Their own sister had been abducted by bandits in broad daylight, and even the authorities had been powerless. Yet a month later, some mysterious hero brought her home. Anyone would be suspicious.

The young men stopped in front of Li Yun, scrutinizing him from head to toe. The elder of the two cupped his fists and said, “I am Xue Shou. May I ask your esteemed name?”

“Li Zhao,” Li Yun replied with a faint smile. “From Taiyuan.”

In another world—perhaps in his previous life—he really was from Taiyuan. His words now carried a strong Taiyuan accent. He did not speak in pure dialect, but with a noticeable flavor, for who could say if the Taiyuan dialect of this era matched his own.

Qingyang, situated in the south-central region, had an accent quite different from the north. Although the Xue family were outsiders, they could easily hear the difference.

At this moment, Master Xue overheard their conversation. He turned to his eldest son, displeased. “Why such formality? This is our benefactor—you speak as if interrogating a suspect!”

Xue Shou, thinking his father was old and muddled, dared not argue, for filial piety was paramount. He simply bowed his head and stepped back behind his father, saying nothing.

“Benefactor,” Master Xue said, bowing to Li Yun, “the bandits were ruthless and I was powerless. Thank you for saving my daughter. Otherwise, I might never have seen her again in this life.”

He bent in a deep bow. Li Yun, though unfamiliar with the scholarly rituals, did his best to return the gesture and said, “Master Xue, you are too kind. To act in the face of injustice is merely my duty.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Song looked at Li Yun again, and some of the suspicion in his eyes faded. Behind him, Xue Yun’er also glanced up at Li Yun, her expression complicated.

Master Xue took a deep breath. “You have saved my daughter and become a great benefactor to our family. Please, do us the honor of attending a banquet at our home, that we may properly express our gratitude.”

Li Yun waved his hand. “Master Xue, my duty is done now that Miss Xue is safely home. To linger would risk seeming to seek recompense. Since she is returned, I shall take my leave.”

He cupped his fists and turned to go. Being tall, his strides quickly carried him away. Master Xue barely had time to react before Li Yun was about to disappear into the crowd. In desperation, he cried out, “Stop him!”

Several bailiffs immediately hurried to block Li Yun’s way. Li Yun bent his knees slightly and brushed them aside with ease—they were no match for him. However, his purpose was not simply to show off and leave. He paused, turned back to Xue Song, and frowned. “What is the meaning of this, Master Xue?”

Master Xue hurried forward, grasping Li Yun’s sleeve with a broad smile. “If you leave now, it will seem our family is ungrateful. Allow me to arrange a banquet—just grant me this small favor and at least stay for a meal.”

Li Yun shook his head. “Master Xue, I never act for reward. There’s no need.”

But Master Xue could not let him simply leave. Not that he truly believed Li Yun was a bandit, but he needed all of Qingyang to believe that Li Yun was indeed the hero who rescued his daughter. If Li Yun left so abruptly, the matter would appear too casual, and rumors among the people would be unavoidable. So, regardless of who Li Yun truly was, or where he came from, the play had to be acted out in full—at least for today.

In fact, it would be best if Li Yun could be kept in Qingyang for a time, treated as a guest until the story had fully taken root and everyone believed his daughter had been rescued by a hero. Only then would the matter be resolved. If, in the end, Li Yun was found to be a villain, Master Xue had plenty of ways to deal with him while he remained in Qingyang.

Master Xue stepped back, making as if to kneel before Li Yun, but Li Yun caught him gently with one hand, preventing him from bowing.

Master Xue was startled—what great strength this man had!

Li Yun was about to speak when Xue Yun’er, who had been speaking with her mother, approached and looked up at him. “Brother Li, you…”

“Just stay for two or three days, that’s all,” she pleaded softly.

Li Yun considered, then turned to the crowd of onlookers and announced with a smile, “Good people, it is not that I seek credit, but Master Xue’s hospitality is difficult to refuse. Shameless as it may be, I shall accept a meal at the Xue household. We men of the Three Jin region are known for our generosity and honor. I’ll eat one meal, but will not accept a single coin in return.”

At these words, the assembled townsfolk were convinced and cheered in approval.

Satisfied, Master Xue instructed his sons to escort Li Yun into the private quarters and ordered the household to prepare a banquet. He himself walked at the rear and pulled Xue Yun’er aside.

As father and daughter lagged behind, Master Xue glanced around, lowered his voice, and asked, “Yun’er, did he…”

“Did he bully you?”

Had Xue Song asked if Li Yun was a bandit, Xue Yun’er would have hesitated, unwilling to lie to her father. But this question left her with no doubts. She hung her head, cheeks flushed.

Seeing this, Master Xue’s face darkened. He was about to speak when his daughter shook her head slightly and whispered almost inaudibly, “Father, your daughter is still…”

“Still untouched…”