"Then I'll trouble you."
After a pause, she continued, "Also, I may have to trouble you again in the future. When that happens, please do me a favor."
Su Qiao did not harbor much hostility toward Yuan Liu.
Previously, she had only wanted to teach him a small lesson.
Yuan Liu's eyes lit up, and he nodded gratefully. "Miss, please feel free to ask. If it's within my ability, I'll do my utmost."
"Then thank you in advance."
With that, Su Qiao tightened the straps of her back basket and started down the mountain.
Feng Han glanced at the back basket on her back. "Yuan Wu."
Yuan Wu understood at once and hurried forward. "Miss Su Qiao, let me carry that back basket for you! The path down the mountain is rather steep, and there are two more mountains to cross. It's better to conserve your strength."
Su Qiao glanced at Feng Han, then removed the back basket and handed it to Yuan Wu.
"Master, take care."
Left alone in the mountains, Yuan Liu was in an excellent mood.
"Mm."
Feng Han looked back at him and nodded.
Yuan Liu let out a huge sigh of relief.
He had finally made it through this ordeal.
Even he had not expected Su Qiao to speak up for him in the end.
If she had not said that last sentence, perhaps tomorrow—or the day after—he would no longer be serving at his master's side.
They should have had to cross three mountains before reaching the official road, but Yuan Wu had evidently made other arrangements. When they descended the first mountain, more than a dozen horses were waiting beside a small path.
Every rider was a man dressed in black brocade robes.
*
"Master!"
The group immediately dismounted and knelt on one