Chapter 15: Who Was He? (1/2)

Translator: Flying Lines

Edited by Lord Immortal

In late autumn, it was gloomy at night, especially in the mountain forest. In the moonlight, the trees cast a dappled shade that moved when the wind stirred, and the leaves rustled in the autumn wind. On occasion, some tiny animals rushed away, and the noise they made could scare people off.

Compared to the noisy forest, the peaceful silence of the evening protruded. The murmuring of running water never ceased. All of a sudden, with a splash, a robust man sprang out of water. After pushing the girl in his arm onto the riverside with all his might, he also climbed up to the land. Sitting on her side, he was out of breath.

It was late at night. Only the faint moonlight lit the road up ahead.

Under the dim moonlight, the girl on the ground should be Xie Mengxuan who choked on water and lost consciousness. After resting for a while, the man came to lie her down flat and pressed upon her abdomen several times. He didn’t stop until she threw up the river water.

Standing straight, the man looked around and then glanced at Xie Mengxuan with delight and excitement in his eyes.

A gust of cold wind made the man shiver. He bent to hug Xie Mengxuan in his arms and disappeared in the woods, only leaving wet footprints.

Xie Mengxuan felt hot and cold from time to time as if she had gone back to the river bottom where she struggled in desperation and could do nothing although her hands and legs were all free. In the end, she saw the brightness and yelled. “No!”

Xie Mengxuan sat up with her eyes closed and mouth wide open. She took a deep breath several times to ensure she was out of danger.

Eventually, after her pounding heart calmed down, she opened her eyes to observe the surroundings.

She was in a clean cave, and there was a bonfire nearby. A wooden stick was hung next to the fire with a man’s outer clothing on it. Xie Mengxuan looked at her clothes. It was what she wore before she fell into the river. Her dress was half-dry but still a little bit damp, which made her uncomfortable.

Who? Who had saved her?

Xie Mengxuan held the clothes with her eyes full of puzzlement. She remembered that no one had come to save her before she lost consciousness. Was she just in good luck? Where was she?

A slight headache pained Xie Mengxuan. Indeed, it was a tough and arduous journey during which she jumped from the cliff top and fell into the river. She risked her life every time, always on tenterhooks.

As she was recalling what she had experienced, from the entrance of the cave came a man who only wore underclothes. “You are awake? Do you feel ill?”

Frightened by his voice, Xie Mengxuan was on the alert. The man appeared to be an upright gentleman with dashing eyebrows and bright eyes. Although he only wore underclothes, he didn’t try to cover the rest of his body. In addition, his smile and gentle voice made him look friendly.

Xie Mengxuan looked at him and then her eyes fell on the outer clothing next to the bonfire. She guessed that this man might be the one who had saved her life.

She slowly stood up, leaned on the wall, and slightly nodded toward the man. “Who are you, gentleman? Why are you here?”

“I came here to save you. As for my identity, you’ll know it in the future. Do you feel ill? If not, we are going to hurry with our journey.” The man went forward with a smile and put on the nearly dry garments.

Xie Mengxuan frowned. Although she owed the debt of life to him, there were all kinds of people around her. Therefore, it was necessary for her to remain alert.

“Thank you for saving my life. Where are we going? Since you are so warm-hearted, are you going to send me back?”