The people that have come to this place before were actually still relatively many, including Le Cheng Emperor. At the bottom of the valley near one of the sides of the cliff, paved a bluestone plate path. It was very rare for just one family to come out. It was usually either some officials accompanying one another, or some young ladies coming together, and all maintained their own status, so naturally won’t do anything out of line. Just, the people slowly walking along the bluestone path were relatively many, appearing to be lively, but in reality, the atmosphere was more or less just like a bunch of people strolling through one’s gardens, very much boring.
Probably having long grown tired of that kind of method, this trip, Luo Pei Shan for the most part all walked along the side of the stream. The small and large rocks were strewn at random, the branches messily interweaving. This path definitely wasn’t easy to walk on, but even if he was moving along at snail pace, Luo Pei Shan was still in high spirits. And with Jing Wan and them constantly crossing back and forth, he completely wasn’t worried about not being able to keep up.
At a certain moment, Jing Wan suddenly stopped in her tracks, “Bai Shao, Hei Mei, listen, is that the sound of a cat?”
“Sound of a cat?” The two sisters both stopped, carefully listening. The two of them, because were practitioners of martial arts, and in the past, also once traversed the mountains, towards the sounds in the mountains, they were the most clear about. Just now, they just didn’t notice. After all, even if they could play as they pleased, they still didn’t forget their duties, with majority of their attention all on Jing Wan. As soon as they took notice, they naturally discovered the target immediately.
It was beneath two pieces of intertwined rocks, the sound very weak, and moreover, there was even bloodstains outside. This was probably also having gotten hurt. Hei Mei stretched her neck to look, “Miss, it’s a mountain cat, and its leg is injured.”
Mountain cat? Wasn’t that just a leopard cat? “Quickly bring it out.”
(T/N: In chinese 山狸子 and 豹猫 are both names for leopard cat, but 豹(leopard)猫(cat) is the literal translation, while 山狸子 is like a common name, which literally translates to ‘mountain leopard cat’.)
In the past, the sisters naturally have seen leopard cats before. Don’t look at how its size is more or less similar to a house cat, it really was just similar in size, and was extremely violent, its wild nature difficult to tame. Even if just a cub, its claws were still very sharp. Moreover, ordinary ropes simply wasn’t able to restrain it, with it being able to have the rope bitten half in seconds. According to what she knew, leopard cats were even able to bite through iron chains. As a result, she advised Hei Mei to be careful and don’t get herself injured.
However, Hei Mei clearly still had a way of handling leopard cats, effortlessly having the little thing pulled out.
“It’s even just a cub?” With it appearing very small, Hei Mei was able to easily hold it with her two hands. It was mainly a silvery gray color, with its chest, abdomen, as well as the inner side of its four limbs all white, and its spots black, appearing fluffy and very cute.
However, although it was cute, it was very restless, brandishing its claws and wanting to turn its head to bite. Unfortunately, it was all useless, that look in its eyes exceptionally wary. “Indeed a cub, at most two months old. However, if it continues struggling, the injury on its leg will open.” Bai Shao said.
“Then what should we do? Is there a way to let it calm down?” They’d unexpectedly encountered this little guy. And seeing it suffer, Jing Wan found it a bit unbearable. Moreover, Jing Wan actually had a slight obsession with furry animals.
“Miss, Hei Mei and I, in the past, have both killed quite a few animals before, including leopard cats. Our father said, these little guys are all very intelligent, and for those that have been hunters before, normally all weren’t able to raise them. In fact, they very much reject us approaching them.”
Jing Wan understood, even though she didn’t know where this kind of saying came from. However, Jing Wan still tried to reach out to pet it, and very miraculously, it actually settled down quite a bit. Moreover, its paw tried to reach for Jing Wan, that little gaze also fixedly staring at her. Jing Wan felt her little heart lightly shaking, extending her hand to hold it.
Hei Mei didn’t object, but still controlled its claws, preventing it from suddenly injuring Jing Wan.
Jing Wan carefully avoided touching its wound, one hand holding it, while her other hand pinched its ear, then moved backwards along its head, lightly brushing over its body, as she softly consoled it. Surprisingly, this really was quite effective. “Bai Shao, go fetch some medicine over and have its leg bandaged.”
Because they were outside, the relevant things naturally were all prepared.
Jing Wan continuously consoled it. Perhaps because it sensed her kind intentions, the wariness in the little guy’s eyes faded little by little. In fact, even its sharp claws were all retracted. Jing Wan felt very amazed, and just called for Hei Mei to let go. Thus, aside from that injured leg, the other three legs were all pulled into the crook of Jing Wan’s arms, appearing very quiet and harmless.
“This leopard cat likes miss very much.”
Jing Wan hooked the corner of her mouth, her eyes and brows curved. It can be seen, the little guy’s reliance, Jing Wan very much enjoyed.
“This happy?”
The sudden voice made Jing Wan jump in surprise, but also because of that familiar voice, Jing Wan immediately turned her head. On the bluestone path less than twenty feet behind her, that just happened to be at a bend in the path, a plainly dressed yet still unbelievably handsome man, with eyes bright like the stars, was fixedly staring at Jing Wan.
“Wangye, how come you’re also here?”
Li Hong Yuan softly smiled, “Because you’re here.”
Despite clearly knowing what kind of person he was, Jing Wan’s heart still uncontrollably sped up, her face somewhat heating up. He really did have his ‘romantic words’ skill maxed out, making one this unbearable as soon as he opens his mouth. However, bastard, don’t just flirt like this as soon as one meets! Would it kill you to speak properly?
It won’t kill him to speak properly, because Jin Qinwang was merely just stating the truth. It genuinely was because Jing Wan was here, that’s why he came.
Li Hong Yuan went forwards a few steps, crouching down by the edge of the bluestone path and extending his hand towards her.
Jing Wan hesitated for a moment, going forward. The pavement reached her chest, “Wangye, um, how about you wait a moment?”
(T/N: Added picture to avoid confusion about pavement lol.)
Li Hong Yuan shifted his hand and just seized the leopard cat in Jing Wan’s embrace. That place was near Jing Wan’s chest. Speaking of which, even he hadn’t received that rare honor before, yet let an animal beat him to it. Li Hong Yuan lifted it by the nape, raising it before him, his eyes slightly narrowing as he stared at it. The little guy randomly kicked the air. This time, the fur on its entire body all explode, its tail also rigidly raising, and the cries as if out of fear, yet also like a threat, continued incessantly. However, in Jing Wan’s ears, it was somewhat pitiful.
“Wangye, it’s hurt, so…….”
Li Hong Yuan lift his hand and threw it backwards. Jing Wan’s heart stopped, and when she thought that it would ‘suffer misfortune’, that tiny body was instead firmly caught by the bodyguard behind him. Jing Wan distinctly relaxed a breath.
Seeing Jing Wan care that much about an animal, Li Hong Yuan naturally felt annoyed inside. He rather wanted to have that bastard directly slaughtered. Besides, being that ugly, it didn’t even have the worth to be skinned. However, who let his wife like it. “Why don’t you come up.”
This time, Jing Wan actually didn’t refuse, reaching out and placing her hand into his. It was still that kind of sensation.
Reasonably speaking, for a young lady from a respectable family, it was very difficult to just lift one’s foot and climb up like this borrowing someone else’s strength. It would look very crude and unrefined alright. Besides, even climbing onto a horse carriage, they all needed to pad with a two step ladder. However, since her fiancee didn’t care, what can others still say?
That’s why, even if Luo Pei Shan just happened to see, he also just chose to silently watch. Regardless of what this living Enma did, you just need to watch. There was no need to say too much. It’s not like he didn’t do anything to his granddaughter, so…………..
As soon as Jing Wan steadied herself next to Li Hong Yuan, she immediately went to go see the little guy.
Li Hong Yuan’s eyes covered with gloominess. The paw that originally wanted to reach for Jing Wan suddenly pulled back.
Jing Wan blanked. In a blink of an eye, she was already getting disdain?
