Hearing those words, Wu Youren's foot paused midair. He glanced back, gave an "Oh," and kept walking.
"Truly... heartless," He Wenhao sighed softly.
"That woman... Cynthia," Feng Qianjun said, gazing indifferently ahead. In the distance stood two men and a woman.
Wu Youren paused for a second time; he had spotted the girl as well.
Of the two men beside her, one was also an acquaintance—his former roommate, Salinen.
Wu Youren acted as if he had seen nothing, striding past the three with his head held high.
Salinen gave a slight nod. Seeing no response, he frowned faintly and muttered under his breath, "So arrogant."
"Wu Youren, stop right there!" Cynthia exploded. "Can't you see me?"
Wu Youren paused briefly, then continued forward without even looking back.
"You!" Cynthia's eyes reddened instantly, and tears welled up and spilled over.
In just those few seconds, it was as if a switch inside her had suddenly flipped.
"Old Wu, you've gone too far!" Salinen said, unable to watch any longer. "Cynthia has been worried about you this whole time."
The youth walked on, his words carrying on the breeze. "And what then? Have me move back in?"
Salinen was struck speechless. How could that be possible... have you suddenly choke me in the middle of the night again?
To Wu Youren's surprise, after taking the leopard cat meat, the first question the administrator asked was not about what he had experienced.
"I heard your family back in Jin is actually a big deal?"
"Nobody of great importance," Wu Youren answered blandly.
He was mentally prepared; after going out this time and running into such an enormous incident, more people were bound to pay attention to him.
Still, to think word had reached the administrator so quickly—clearly, someone had taken an interest.
Yet he was not afraid to speak of it. "My father might have barely counted as someone of note. He died in the Liang-Jin War."
"Mm," the administrator nodded calmly, showing no surprise. "A lot of people died in that war."
"Yes," Wu Youren nodded. "We're all ordinary folk... and Instructor Hong Yan treats me very well, too."
That instructor was someone whose entire family was said to have died at the hands of Jin people.
"Anyway, that strong liquor you gave me was good!" The administrator smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Grab a bite together at noon?"
"I don't drink," Wu Youren replied with a smile. "This counts as blood food—good for nourishing qi and blood. Keep it and enjoy it yourself."
"All right, then," the administrator said, not pressing the matter. "Keep tending your vegetables. I'll watch over this patch of land."
He had clearly sensed something was off, but there was genuinely little he could do.
With his standing, all he could do was ensure he didn't make trouble for the boy's vegetable patch—and even if superiors looked into it, he could come up with some excuse.
"Will do." Wu Youren could tell the man was holding back words, but why bother asking?
He turned to leave. "You should still drink less strong liquor, though. It's bad for your health!"
Walking down the path, his mood grew somewhat grim.
The haul this time had indeed been great, but now that he had become the focus of attention for so many, next time... would be troublesome!
He hadn't wanted to ask what happened, because his every move was under scrutiny.
In Liang right now, he was a solitary soul through and through. He didn't even dare trust his peers—and could their information really be better than the official guards'?
Forget it, better to think of happy things. At least being in the Martial Academy was better than Hostage Manor, wasn't it?
This time, his cash haul was ten silver dollars, including the cut Rossi provided.
Rossi hadn't fully sold off the goods yet, but he had advanced him his share.
If the man weren't a Liang knight, their relationship surely would have been much closer.
At any rate, with money in hand, he visited three shops and bought quite a few supplies.
As for whether the Life-and-Death Knot would take a cut, he no longer cared.
If he had it, he'd pay; if not, he'd owe it. Experience from his past life had taught him that the debtor was king.
Back at Hostage Manor, he had lacked any room to maneuver, without even a chance to handle silver or coin; owing money hadn't even been an option.
Now it didn't matter. He refused to believe they'd kidnap him, a hostage, over a few silver dollars!
At most, they would use him to extort money from his lord grandfather—though it was hardly as if he'd never heard of predatory payday loans before.
Would the lord... bother paying attention to them? At worst, they'd kill the hostage!
His cheap grandfather sent money every month only so he wouldn't seek his own death, sparing the family from having to send another sacrificial pawn.
If he were killed by rogues in Great Liang, that would suit them just fine—it'd even save on monthly allowances.
His mother would certainly care, but that household... did it have any money?
Some things really shouldn't be dwelled upon. That night, right as he was sleeping soundly, he suddenly sensed something amiss.
Upon returning this time, he had set up some traps around the cabin as well—now that others knew about him, it couldn't be kept hidden forever.
He didn't react immediately, however, continuing to feign sleep while focusing his senses.
"Heh, you're awake," came a cold laugh. It was the burly man from the Life-and-Death Knot. "Think your cultivation has made big strides?"
The man was likely at the knight level; a grand knight... Wu Youren didn't think he was important enough to warrant one.
Yet for the man to detect that he was faking sleep, unless it was a bluff, his cultivation was truly remarkable.
Still, Wu Youren had no intention of gambling on whether it was a bluff. He sighed softly. "I just grew some vegetables. Take whatever you like."
"Heh, damn," the burly man chuckled in exasperation. "Like you need to tell me? If they don't sell, they'll just rot in the dirt anyway!"
That remark... hit where it hurt!
Anyone who had grown vegetables knew this was the honest truth; unless farming at scale, this was pretty much how it always ended up.
Wu Youren sighed softly. "It seems we're both miserable souls. Why should one who tills the soil make things hard for another who tills the soil?"
"Heh." The burly man gave a genuine laugh. "Damn, kid, you've got something to you. Looks like among the hostages, you're the biggest potential threat!"
"Sir, you flatter me," Wu Youren said as he slowly sat up, careful not to trigger a misunderstanding. "I'm the poorest of the lot."
"You're the least simple," the burly man said, seated on a chair beside the bed. His shadowy figure wavered, his voice chilly. "Think that just because you cozy up to Instructor Hong Yan, we can't touch you?"
The burly man spoke with ill intent, but Wu Youren replied with total equanimity, "Then just give me a beating.
"Or make me suffer a bit to intimidate me... I'm used to it."
The man chuckled faintly. "Do you want to be thrown into the lake again?"
"Whatever," Wu Youren answered without a ripple. "Doesn't matter if you take your time fishing me out. A life is a life either way—just spare me the hassle."
"So you do fear hassle," the burly man said, feeling reassured.
In his line of work, what one feared most was someone entirely impervious to reason or threats. As long as there was something they feared, things could be negotiated.
He cleared his throat lightly. "I brought you news from home. Want it?"
Damn... A chill ran through the youth's heart. Sure enough, something had gone wrong among the other four hostages!
Chapter 32