As Guo Liang and the chief spoke, the villagers gathered around, their curiosity by the sight of Zhang Lian. Whispers spread among the crowd, mixing with the cool air of the evening.
"Who is she?" a woman murmured to her neighbor, her eyes wide as she looked at Zhang Lian's beautiful appearance.
"She looks like she's from a wealthy family," another man speculated, eyeing Zhang Lian's fine dress and beautiful face.
A group of children, too young to understand the situation, stared at Zhang Lian with wide eyes. One of the girls asked her mother. "Mama, is she a fairy?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
The mother patted her gently, but couldn't help as she glanced at Zhang Lian. "She does look like one, doesn't she?" she whispered back, unable to hide her amazement.
As Guo Liang relayed the situation to the chief, saying, "We found her in the forest. She was alone and lying there and she seemed to be in a coma.
We tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't wake up. We thought she might have some background with her clothing, or perhaps she is a cultivator, so we brought her back. But there's something else, Chief…"
The chief, waiting for Guo Liang to continue.
"We returned early because something was wrong with the city. There was smoke rising from within, no guards at the gates, and no one was around the city gate. It felt like the city was under attack, so we ran back as fast as we could."
The chief's eyes widened in concern. Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he replied, "You did the right thing by coming back. If the city, which has cultivator's staying in is having trouble, it's best not to take any chances.
As for this girl… Perhaps she might know something when she wakes up. We'll wait until morning, and if she doesn't wake by then, you'll need to go back to investigate."
Guo Liang nodded in agreement. "Understood, Chief. But what should we do with her tonight?"
The chief looked at Zhang Lian's peaceful face, his gaze lingering on her fine clothing and delicate features. After a moment, he said, "Since you brought her, you should take care of her for now.
If she has a background, you might get a reward when she wakes up. If not… Well, she might not survive due to hunger. Either way, it's best to keep her safe until we know more."
He paused, then added with a hint of a smile, "And if she has no family or background, perhaps your brother could marry her. She's certainly beautiful."
Guo Liang looked down at Zhang Lian, uncertain. The idea of his brother marrying someone they knew nothing about didn't sit well with him, but he nodded anyway.
As the villagers slowly dispersed, still whispering about the mysterious girl, Guo Liang turned and made his way home with Zhang Lian on his back, while his brother went back to his parents house, as he lives separately, since he is already married.
---
As Guo Liang approached his home, he noticed the familiar outline of the small, sturdy structure that he and his wife had built together.
The house was simple but well-maintained, made of wood and clay with a roof.
A small garden out front displayed a few vegetables. The door was wooden, with a simple handle, and a small window for the light to come.
He knocked on the door, and a few moments later, a soft voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
"It's me," Guo Liang replied, his voice slightly tired from the long journey.
There was a brief sound of shuffling, and the door opened. Standing there was Guo Liang's wife, Li Hua.
She was a small woman with long black hair tied back. Her skin was lightly tanned from working in the farm with him, and her eyes lit up, when she saw him. She was dressed in a simple blue dress, the kind worn by village women.
But her expression quickly shifted to surprise when she saw Zhang Lian on Guo Liang's back. "Who is she? And why are you back so early?" Li Hua asked, stepping aside to let him in.
Guo Liang stepped into the house, feeling the familiar warmth of their home. The inside was simple, with wooden furniture.
A table with two chairs was in the center of the room, and wooden racks were lined around the walls, holding jars of preserved food and a few personal belongings. The floor was clean, and a simple mat lay in the middle of the room.
"We found her in the forest," Guo Liang explained as they moved further inside. "She was alone and sleeping, and she wouldn't wake up, so we brought her with us. The chief told me to take care of her—he thinks she might know something about what happened in the city."
Li Hua's brow furrowed as she processed his words. "What happened in the city?" she asked, concerned voice.
Guo Liang didn't respond immediately. Instead, they walked together to the guest room, a small space with a single bed and a window. The room was rarely used, but Mei Lin kept it tidy, a simple clean blanket folded on the bed.
They gently laid Zhang Lian down on the bed, untying the strips of cloth that had held her own Gou Liang. Li Hua adjusted the blanket, carefully covering Zhang Lian's sleeping form. The girl's breathing was slow and steady, and her expression remained peaceful.
Once Zhang Lian was settled and the cat had kept flying, but no one could see him, or hear him, So it kept looking around.
Later, Guo Liang and Li Hua left the room, closing the door softly behind them. They walked back into the main living area, where Guo Liang finally answered her earlier question.
"The city was strange," he began. "There was smoke rising from within, but no one was around. The guards were gone, the gate area which was filled with people going in coming out was blank. It felt like something terrible had happened, so we left as quickly as we could."
Li Hua face tightened with worry, her hands clasping together as she listened. "That sounds serious… I'm glad you came back safely," she said, her voice gentle but concerned.
Guo Liang nodded, feeling the tiredness of the day. "I'm tired," he rubbed the back of his neck while saying this.
Li Hua in a sweet voice said, "I didn't expect you back so soon, so I haven't prepared anything, but I'll make something quickly," she said.
As Guo Liang went to their bedroom, a small room with a simple bed and a chest for their clothes, Li Hua headed to the kitchen area.
The kitchen was just a corner of the main room, with a stone hearth for cooking and a small table for food preparation. She quickly gathered some ingredients—a few eggs, a handful of green vegetables, and a small piece of dried meat.
"I'll make an egg and vegetable stir-fry with some rice," she called out as she set to work, her hands moving swiftly. The smell of cooking soon filled the house, the familiar, comforting aroma of a simple village meal.
Guo Liang lay down on their bed, closing his eyes for a moment to rest.
While Li Hua was cooking
...
The next day, as sunlight went through the small window, the cat's flaming tail flicked back and forth impatiently.
It was waiting for Zhang Lian to wake up, a sense of nervousness in its eyes. The cat knew that if Zhang Lian didn't wake soon, it would have to use the emergency healing function, which would cost 5 more SP.
The thought of Zhang Lian's possible anger for already using 10 SP on the emergency escape worried the small creature.
Just as the cat was thinking about this, Zhang Lian woke up in the bed, letting out a long yawn. "Ahhh… Why do I feel so hungry? That was a really good sleep," she mumbled, stretching her arms and rubbing her eyes.
She looked around, confused by her surroundings. The room was small and simply furnished, with wooden walls and a single window that allowed a light.
The bed she lay on, well it's not comfortable she muttered , with a simple blanket covering her. A wooden table sat in the corner, holding a few clay pots. The room was clean, but it was clear this was a simple room—nothing like her own house.
Her memories started to return, and her heart skipped a beat. "Wait… wasn't I running away? And a Demonic Cultivator attacked us…" Her eyes widened as she sat up quickly, looking around for any signs of danger.
Her gaze fell on the cat, who was sitting on the bed beside her. The cat, sensing her attention, looked up at her, its big orange eyes filled with relief.
"Host, you're finally awake!" it said with excitement, flying up and flicking its tail happily.
The little creature wrapped its paws around her neck in a hug, its voice filled with affection. "I missed you! I thought I'd have to use another 5 SP to wake you up!"
Zhang Lian blinked, surprised by the cat's behavior. "Another 5 SP? Did you use SP before too?" she asked, her tone was filled with anger as she started to realize what the cat had done.
The cat's ears drooped slightly as it floated back, its voice turning a bit fearful. "Host, I… I did it to save you."
Zhang Lian's expression softened as memories of the attack flooded back. "Save me? Oh… Yeah, I was attacked by a Demonic Cultivator." She reached out, grabbing the cat and shaking it slightly. "What happened? Did you save my parents too?"
The cat, its tiny body shaking slightly in her grip, tried to get free, "Host, let me explain what happened!"
It quickly began recounting the events, from the moment the Demonic Cultivator had attacked to when it used the emergency escape function, bringing them to safety. Zhang Lian listened, her grip on the cat slowly loosening as it told the story.
"We were brought here by villagers who were passing by," the cat explained, its tone somber. "As for your parents… I have no idea what happened to them." It shook its head sadly, its orange eyes filled with regret.
Zhang Lian's heart sank as she released the cat, her eyes taking a look at the simple surroundings once more.
Zhang Lian sighed, her thoughts racing. "So we're in a village… but where?" she asked the cat.