Chapter 77: Appearance

◎ Hero! ◎

The Hua family was in chaos due to the disappearance of their three children. Hua Zhan went to the village chief's house, but surprisingly, the village chief didn't take advantage of the situation to target the Hua family. Instead, he organized the idle villagers to search within the village, just as he had done when Hua Tianqu went missing. Some followed Hua Zhan up the mountain, as a villager claimed to have seen the children running uphill.

At that moment, Zhu Ying had already caught up with the three mischievous kids.

He was roasting a chicken, his mouth watering impatiently for it to be done. Before the chicken was fully cooked, he heard the cries of the children. Even if they weren't from his master's family, he would have rescued them on the road without hesitation. Upon recognizing the familiar voices, he abandoned the chicken, kicking some dirt over the fire before rushing to help.

The children were not far from his location; otherwise, their cries wouldn't have reached him. In a few breaths, he arrived to find the three of them in a pitiful state. The eldest, Hua Yan, was carrying his sister on his back while holding his brother's hand, both being chased by a wild boar across the hillside. They cried, snot and tears streaming down their faces, calling out for their parents, elder sister, and grandmother to save them.

Seeing the wild boar closing in on the children, Zhu Ying exerted all his strength, dashing at top speed. He kicked the boar aside, rescuing the children from its jaws.

The three children flew through the air, their sobs and sniffles ceasing. With mouths agape, they stared at Zhu Ying, utterly stunned.

As Hua Zhan and the villagers prepared to ascend the mountain, Zhu Ying descended with the three unharmed children in tow.

He had intended to replicate his previous method when rescuing Lord Hou and his party, leaving the three children on a slope at the foot of the mountain, making it easier for them to be discovered.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Lord Hou leading a large group of villagers searching uphill just as he descended. The two parties happened to meet by chance.

Upon seeing their father, the three children waved excitedly and shouted, "Father, Papa! We're here!"

"We flew here!"

Hua Zhan felt a great sense of relief, but he didn't let it show. His clenched fists relaxed slightly, though his expression remained stern, with his brows knitted even tighter. His imposing demeanor clearly indicated that the father was upset.

The three youngsters immediately clamped their mouths shut and hid behind the Hero, for they truly did not wish to face their father's scolding!

Little Guo'er peered discreetly ahead but failed to spot her sister-in-law among the group. Disappointed, she retreated, for without her sister-in-law or Grandmother present, there was no one who could save them in front of their father!

Hua Zhan approached Zhu Ying and nodded, addressing her. "You saved them?"

The three children were covered in bruises, their faces disheveled, with tear stains still evident and their eyes swollen from crying. It was clear they had endured great hardship, yet they managed to safely descend the mountain. This could only mean that they were rescued by this young man before them, who had a dark, earnest appearance and an overwhelming sense of justice.

Unprepared, Zhu Ying unexpectedly encountered the Marquis, and her initial instinct was to flee.

Yet reason quickly reined in such impulses. If he fled now, the Marquis would become suspicious.

Zhu Ying had no choice but to steel himself and nod guiltily.

He barely dared look the Marquis in the eye, remembering how he had spied on him day and night from the shadows and concealed the truth about his lord being alive. His guilt only deepened.

Suddenly, the Marquis bowed to him, saying, "Young Hero's great kindness towards my son today, Hua Zhan will surely remember and repay in the future..."

Zhu Ying hastily stepped aside and supported the Marquis with both hands, not daring to accept such a grand gesture from the Marquis. He was his lord's servant and covert guard; it was his lord who gave shelter to this group of homeless people, allowing them to survive. They would willingly give their lives for their lord, so how could they accept such respect from their lord's father?

He hurriedly replied, "It was just a coincidence, a small act of kindness. Please don't take it to heart."

As Hua Zhan was helped up, he looked at the young man's dark face with a sense of shame, feeling that he had failed as a father. If not for the Young Hero's timely arrival, might something terrible have happened to the three children?

He suddenly realized that since his eldest son left, he had been lost in his own world, constantly blaming himself. He had thought about how he had let the family name fall into disrepute, how he had no face to meet his ancestors, how he had wronged his eldest son, yet he had forgotten that he still had three other children, an elderly mother, a frail wife, and a daughter-in-law who needed his care...

How had he managed to get through these days? He couldn't recall. All he knew was that he hadn't properly cared for his three children, his mother, or his wife, and certainly hadn't taken care of his eldest son's wife. The entire family had relied on his daughter-in-law, and he had been like a wandering spirit, doing whatever she said. Apart from driving a carriage to help her gather silver for the mountain project recently, his mind had not been fully engaged in anything. What had he truly been doing?

In this state, he was no better than a living dead man!

Upon this reflection, a deep sense of guilt overwhelmed him, yet a rare clarity surged through his mind.

Zhu Ying was unaware that a single incident could provoke such profound thoughts in the Marquis and truly "awaken" him. He merely sensed that the Marquis was in a foul mood, perhaps due to the mischief of the three children?

He quickly explained, "Encountering a wild boar, the children were powerless; it's only natural that they would sustain some injuries."

Hua Zhan heard this and felt even more guilt and fear.

Zhu Ying: "..."

The villagers, seeing them engaged in conversation, hurried over to inquire about the situation.

Zhu Ying had a sudden stroke of inspiration: the villagers and the Marquis both believed him to be a wandering hero; why not embrace this identity and take the opportunity to settle near the Marquis's residence?

After a few moments of contemplation, he found the plan increasingly feasible. So, he spun a tale about traveling the world and happening upon the village while roasting a chicken on the mountain. He said he coincidentally rescued the children from a wild boar.

The villagers, captivated by the young hero's tanned, handsome face and righteous demeanor, didn't doubt his story for a moment. His darkened skin on his face and neck was surely a result of years of wandering under the sun. And his air of righteousness - how upright and noble he seemed! There was no question he was a true hero.

One villager patted his chest in lingering fear. "Why are there so many wild boars around? Last time, when Mu Tou and the others went up the mountain to search for someone, they also encountered one. Could it be the same one?"

Zhu Ying pointed behind him and said, "I killed the boar with one strike."

The villagers' eyes gleamed. "Where? Where is it?"

After Zhu Ying kicked the boar away, he swiftly finished it off to prevent anyone else from encountering it in the future. He needed to take the three children down the mountain, so he could only drag the boar outside.

He showed the villagers the direction, telling them it was still on the mountain and that they would find it if they followed this path.

In no time, everyone present rushed up the mountain, their hands rubbing together in anticipation. They vowed to butcher the boar once it was brought down and host a feast to satisfy their cravings.

Zhu Ying accompanied Lord Hou back home with the three children, where the family's women were anxiously waiting.

The matriarch fainted right away. She had managed to stay conscious when her son had encountered trouble on the mountain before, but this time, with her three young grandsons in danger, she couldn't hold on and passed out.

Mrs. Chen and Aunt Mei paced nervously. Yu Lian was applying pressure to the matriarch's philtrum, rousing her from her unconscious state. Muttering the names of her grandsons, the matriarch slowly regained consciousness.

Just then, Hua Zhan entered the house accompanied by others. The women looked over, both startled and relieved. Each of the three women scooped up a filthy child into their arms.

The twins were embraced by Mrs. Chen and Aunt Mei, while Little Guo'er cried on her sister-in-law's shoulder. She had held back her tears during her father's journey back, but seeing her sister-in-law, she couldn't contain her emotions anymore. Through her sobs, she said, "Sister-in-law Guo'er almost thought I wouldn't see you again. There was a pig, a big wild boar that wanted to eat us."

The twins were quite resilient. Their initial fear had been overshadowed by the hero's grandeur. They danced around excitedly, begging, "Brother Hero, teach us how to fly like you did! It was even more thrilling than any play!"

After detaching from their mother, they rushed to Zhu Ying's side and tugged on his hand, pleading, "Brother Hero, please teach us how to fly and kick boars away with one foot."

At the mention of this, Zhu Ying felt a piercing pain in the soles of his feet. In his haste to save the children, he instinctively kicked the boar, only to have it injure his foot due to its massive size. He hadn't noticed the pain while leading the children down the mountain, but now, the discomfort became unbearable.

Hua Zhan, being a martial artist himself, was acutely aware of Zhu Ying's reaction. He frowned and asked, "You kicked the boar directly?"

Zhu Ying scratched his head, feeling awkward. "I was in a rush to save them and didn't think it through." He should have stabbed the boar with his sword, as a true hero would!

Mrs. Chen hurried over, asking her husband if this young hero was the one who saved their children, and if he could introduce them.

Zhu Ying rubbed his head, feeling a bit bashful. Once his master returned, and his identity was revealed, he wasn't sure how to face the Marquis, Marchioness, and Young Lady.

He stole a glance at the young lady, who was soothing Little Guo'er by stroking her head. The child clung to her, tears still in her eyes, displaying utter reliance. Zhu Ying couldn't help but be moved; Young Lady was indeed incredibly gentle!

Just as the elderly matriarch was about to rise to see her grandsons, Hua Zhan quickly stopped her, saying, "It was my fault, Mother, for making you worry about the children."

The three children then ran over and nestled on their grandmother's lap, apologizing obediently. The grandmother sighed, "You troublesome children..." yet, she didn't scold them.

Hua Zhan introduced the young hero to the entire family, stating that his name was Zhu Ying and he was just twenty years old.

Zhu Ying added, "I come from a family of martial artists. My parents and kin were wiped out because of a secret martial arts manual, leaving me as the sole survivor, wandering without a home." He blinked, trying to recall the frustration of being silenced around his master and colleagues, which eventually turned his eyes red. Two teardrops rolled down his dark, handsome face, resembling crocodile tears.

Mrs. Chen and Aunt Mei listened with teary eyes. Seeing the young hero's tanned complexion, they could only imagine the hardships he must have endured. Otherwise, why would he be so bronzed?

Women, especially, felt compassion for orphans. Moreover, he had just saved their three children. Even the matriarch showered Zhu Ying with affection, urging him to stay for a gratitude feast before departing.

At that moment, Hua Tianqu rushed over from his home. Upon entering, he spotted the hero who had saved him before. Rarely displaying such youthful excitement, he exclaimed, "Hero!"

Zhu Ying turned and smiled even wider. With the young boy's testimony, his chances of staying in the village increased!

He didn't expect to reside permanently within the Hua household; after all, it wouldn't be proper for an outsider like him. However, if he could build a simple thatched cottage nearby, it would be better than hiding on rooftops or in trees, exposed to mosquitoes, wind, and sun. Plus, he could find opportunities to assist Lady Hua and her family.

Apologies, I intended to continue the story, but my health has declined, and I'm experiencing severe allergies—rhinitis, conjunctivitis... Especially my eyes, they're so itchy that I can barely keep them open, making it impossible to write.