"Jing'er!" Madam Zhong reacted before Qiu Ling. She got up and ran to her son, pulling him into her embrace and starting to cry again.
Jing Yi clung unto her, but his eyes didn't leave the bodies. Qiu Ling gritted his teeth. Why couldn't his love wait a while longer? He could have made those bodies disappear with just a moment more!
Jing Yi's lips quivered, as if he'd start crying again every moment. But finally, he only bit down on his lower lip and stayed quiet. Qiu Ling sighed. There was nothing he could do. Jing Yi had already seen. That couldn't be changed. So he should concentrate on the things, that could be done.
He went over to Mister Zhong and knelt on the ground before him. "Let me take a look at that."
Mister Zhong watched him a little warily, but Qiu Ling didn't say anything else. He just waited.
"Ah Lei!" Madam Zhong picked up her son and hurried over to her husband. "Don't be like that! The daoist master already offered to help. There's no reason to recline. You're not inconveniencing him." She threw him a meaningful glance and Mister Zhong finally let go of his arm.
Qiu Ling didn't bother with Mister Zhong's skepticism. He ripped the sleeve and looked at the wound. The blade had cut deep into the flesh, but thankfully, the bone wasn't injured. It would take a lot of time to heal, but it wasn't impossible. If he treated it with care, in a few weeks, nothing would remain.
However, all of that was under the requirement, that the injury was attended to. Qiu Ling narrowed his eyes. He extended his senses and found a small pond not far from there. "We'll need to rinse the wound first of all. There is a pond half a li northwest of here. I'd suggest, we bring you there. Thankfully, those men brought horses." He got up and went to one of the animals. It snuffled and pawed at the ground. Qiu Ling patted its head and it slowly calmed down.
That was one of the small advantages of being a dragon in the mortal realm: Animals felt his heritage and didn't dare misbehave. Whatever he wanted them to do, they'd do. Though, his presence did make them nervous.
Madam Zhong sat down her son and helped her husband up. They walked to the horse slowly, but hesitated at the side. Qiu Ling lifted his brows. "You do know, how to ride a horse, don't you?"
Madam Zhong shook her head. Her husband didn't say anything. He already felt dizzy, after continuously losing blood. And what was there to say anyway? They were simple village folk. Even if someone had a horse — like Mister Mao for example — they wouldn't use it in an extravagant way like riding. They would let them draw a cart instead, to move some goods for the villagers, if it was necessary.
Qiu Ling didn't really understand that. The human world was mostly foreign to him, after all. "Mn. You don't have to actually do anything. Just hold on tight." He helped Mister Zhong up into the saddle and grabbed the reins. His gaze slid to Jing Yi. Was the boy still afraid? Did he … fault him, for what he had done? Had he even seen him killing those men?
"Little boy …", Qiu Ling called out and went up to him. He squatted down before him and cast down his gaze, afraid to look at him. "Do you … fault me, for what I did?" He took a peek and found Jing Yi only blinking his eyes at him. "I killed those men. Do you mind?"
Jing Yi shook his head. "They wanted to hurt mommy. And father."
Qiu Ling coughed. The poor Mister Zhong had gotten injured and was still only mentioned as an afterthought. This child … was really too biased.
"It's good, that you understand. How about riding on a horse, too?"
Jing Yi looked at the animals, clearly not taking a shine to the idea. Qiu Ling turned around and shot Madam Zhong a glance.
She came over and squatted next to him. This might just be the opportunity, she had waited for. "You know, Jing Yi, mother did say, that animals are dangerous. But back then, you were a lot younger and not as tall as you are now. It's not as dangerous anymore. And mommy is with you. Nothing will happen to you."
Jing Yi looked at Qiu Ling again, asking for confirmation. Qiu Ling smiled. Finally! Finally, I'm the one he asks for his opinion! "Your mother is right. You don't have to be afraid. You can even ride together with your mother, how about that?"
Jing Yi nodded and extended his arms. Qiu Ling picked him up and sat him on top of the horse, helping his mother up after that. He took the reins of the horses and lead them toward the pond. The other animals followed after them, as if they were used to going with this group already.
Qiu Ling smiled. How nice of these bandits, to gift the Zhongs a couple of fine horses as well as all their belongings. If they brought that to the capital, they wouldn't be completely destitute. They certainly wouldn't keep the horses. If anything, they might hold onto one of them as a means of transport. The others, they'd probably sell, but that would provide them with a nice sum of money. It was the perfect start for their life in the capital.
The four of them soon reached the pond. Qiu Ling helped them down and started cleansing Mister Zhong's wound. It would have been so much easier, had he really been a daoist. Casually taking out some pill to heal even mortal wounds. How great would that be? But which dragon would carry something like that with him? Their bodies were as robust as a mountain. To seriously injure them was nearly impossible. Even the gods and demons had problems to do so.
Qiu Ling looked at the wound he had rinsed and frowned. He should dress it somehow. Was there something he could use? He had a look at the spatial ring on his middle finger, mentally sifting through all the things in there.
Of course, there was no dressing material. He could only use something else. Looking around for a while, he finally found a piece of cloth, that could be used. He winced taking it out. This was originally something, he had gotten for Jing He. But saving his mortal father would probably also get him into his good books?
He didn't hesitate any longer and reached out. Just before touching Mister Zhong's arm, he stopped, turned around and handed the cloth to Madam Zhong. "It might be better, if you dress the wound." Really, he had never needed to do something like that. Before he did something wrong and accidentally hurt the man even more, he'd rather let his wife do it.
Madam Zhong took the cloth, perceiving the smooth texture. She couldn't help feeling a little guilty. This seemed like it was worth very much. Could she really use this to dress her husband's wounds? But before she could ask, Qiu Ling had already turned around. She watched him smiling at her son, sighed and finally helped her husband. She didn't know, what he hoped to get from helping them, but she certainly wouldn't refuse this help.