Koi Fubao: Being loved by everyone on the road to escape from famine

Xiao Tingxuan's eyes were as sharp as an eagle. He immediately caught sight of his sister and Master Fan's arrival. His excitement was beyond words. He suddenly jumped up, his arms drew a joyful arc in the air, and his shouts were full of affection and enthusiasm: "Little sister, Master Fan, we are here!"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhixue's lips curled up naturally, and her pace unconsciously quickened, almost jogging closer. The moment she hugged her family tightly, all her worries and fatigue seemed to dissipate with the wind.

Zhou Shuqiong and Xiao Wei, the loving parents, finally let go of the heavy stone in their hearts when they saw their daughter standing in front of them unharmed. It was a feeling of relief and gratitude after a long separation.

Xiao Tingrui was always so considerate. He noticed the heavy bag on Xiao Zhixue's back and quickly stepped forward to take it. His tone was filled with a bit of blame and love: "Little sister, where did you and Mr. Fan go with the official last night? Did you encounter any trouble?"

Xiao Zhixue responded with a comforting smile and shook her head gently: "No, we worked together with Master Fan to rescue the villagers of Taoyuan Village. Those officials will never dare to arrest them and force them to do hard labor again."

When the people around heard this, they all felt proud and gratified for Xiao Zhixue's heroic deeds. It was an admiration that came from the heart.

At this time, Ying Yi quietly approached Fan Yanmu. His eyes keenly caught the subtle coldness on his master's face. The doubt in his heart prompted him to ask softly: "Master, is there anything that makes you unhappy?"

Fan Yanmu simply responded with a faint "It's okay". The depth and restraint in his tone made Ying Yi tactfully stop investigating. He quietly stepped aside and observed secretly.

He gradually discovered that Fan Yanmu's eyes would always inadvertently follow Xiao Zhixue's shadow. It was a complex and indescribable emotion, while Xiao Zhixue was immersed in the happiness of regaining family warmth and was unaware of all this.

Ying Yi wondered secretly in his heart, could it be that some unknown friction during the journey made his master feel a little dissatisfied with Xiao Zhixue?

But this is only his personal speculation and he dare not speak it out easily for fear of touching some sensitive nerves.

Zhou Shuqiong, the attentive mother, asked with concern: "Third girl, have you eaten anything on the way? I just cooked a pot of refreshing wild vegetable soup. Would you two like to have some to warm your stomachs?"

As she finished her words, she quickly took out two wheat-scented cakes from the package and filled a bowl with steaming soup.

Although Xiao Zhixue had tasted some simple and rough roasted leopard meat before, the long walk and the hunger at noon made her stomach feel a little empty.

She took the cake handed to her by her elderly mother, turned and looked at Fan Yanmu. There was an imperceptible tenderness in her bright eyes, as if silently inviting him to share this simple and warm meal.

"Brother Fan, come and try this cake. Although it is simple, it tastes like home."

Upon hearing this, Fan Yanmu slowly stood up, walked to Xiao Zhixue's side with elegant and calm steps, took the cake, and then calmly returned to his seat. Throughout the whole process, his expression remained uniquely calm and indifferent.

None of this escaped Zhou Shuqiong's sharp eyes. A slight ripple arose in her heart, and she wondered secretly that the interaction between the two people along the way seemed to lack a lot of the tacit understanding and closeness they had in the past.

I remember that in the past, Fan Yanmu always liked to sit next to Xiao Zhixue.

But now, he seemed to be keeping a certain distance from her intentionally or unintentionally.

This made her sigh in her heart. She touched Xiao Zhixue's arm with her fingertips and asked with concern and a little worry: "Third girl, did something unpleasant happen between you and Mr. Fan on the way? Seeing you like this, mother always feels that something is not right."

Xiao Zhixue's lips curled up slightly, with a barely perceptible sarcasm, and her eyes lightly swept across Fan Yanmu's aloof figure, like a cloud passing by inadvertently in the spring, understated but meaningful.

"Who knows? Maybe the morning dew has dampened our rationality, causing us to take the wrong medicine."

Her words were like a breeze blowing across the lake, creating layers of delicate ripples.

She took a light bite of the slightly dry and hard biscuit in her hand. The dry taste spread in her mouth. She chewed hard, and every bite seemed to remind her of the hardships of life.

To ease the discomfort, she quickly scooped up a spoonful of wild vegetable soup. The light yet naturally fragrant soup slid down her throat, finally relieving the dry choking sensation caused by the biscuits.

On Fan Yanmu's side, the same food tasted like wax in his mouth and was bland.

He swallowed the last bite of cake expressionlessly, his movements seemed somewhat mechanical, and then he stood up suddenly, as if to get rid of this depressing atmosphere.

His figure revealed an unspoken determination, like a lone wolf about to leave the pack and prepare to step into the unknown wilderness.

Upon seeing this, Ying was extremely reluctant to follow this sudden decision, but faced with Fan Yanmu's cold eyes and the unquestionable tone in his words, she could only suppress her reluctance silently and sit back in her original position, with a barely perceptible worry in her eyes.

Looking at Fan Yanmu's lonely back as he walked away, Yingyi became more and more convinced that an invisible wall had been quietly erected between the two of them since some time ago.

Xiao Zhixue had no intention of getting up and chasing after him. The continuous long-distance walk made her legs feel as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and every step she took caused pain.

After the meal, she snuggled up to Zhou Shuqiong's warm body and slowly closed her tired eyes, trying to find a little comfort in this moment of tranquility to let her soul rest.

However, this tranquility did not last long. A burst of rapid and powerful horse hoof sounds came from afar, breaking the silence.

"Yingyi, why are you the only one here? Where is the master?"

Before Ying Er finished his words, he had already landed on the ground with swift and graceful movements, jumping off the horse.

Ying Yi's eyes unconsciously swept lightly in the direction of Xiao Zhixue.

"The master went out for a walk alone and told me to stay and protect every villager here."

Upon hearing this, Ying Er let out an "Oh" as if he had suddenly realized something. He tied the horse neatly and then sat down next to Ying Yi without caring about the casualness of the occasion. He was straightforward and had a loud voice. All this made Xiao Zhixue, who wanted to take a nap, frown slightly, and her sleepiness was almost gone.

"I have delivered the secret letter safely. I am so exhausted. Fortunately, the Marquis was generous and gave me a fast horse. Otherwise, I really don't know when I can rush to Sanma Town to meet you."

Once Ying Er started talking, he talked like a torrent, completely unaware that his blunt words had revealed important information.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ying Yi's sharp gaze was like ice, silently but strongly cast at Ying Er. That look seemed to freeze the air in an instant, making Ying Er suddenly realize that he had spoken out of turn.