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Chapter 4 – Rescuing Lu Yan

“Then can you bring Daddy back first?” Xiao Yao pulled Gu Leyou back from her thoughts. “It’s raining too hard outside.” His voice grew softer and softer, as if he might burst into tears any moment.

“Okay, be good and stay at home. I’ll go find Brother Lu,” Gu Leyou agreed without hesitation. She stood up, put on her raincoat, and reminded him again, “You must not run around.”

Lu Yan got involved because of the Gu family’s mess. Who knows what means Madam Yang used to force him into the mountains to hunt for money. But with this heavy rain, the mountain must be dangerous. If something were to happen to Lu Yan, she would live with guilt for the rest of her life.

Besides, she needed some herbs from the mountain to treat Xiao Yao’s illness. She had to go up the mountain anyway.

“Lu Yan! Brother Lu!” The rain was getting heavier. Even with the raincoat, Gu Leyou was soaked through. The rain blurred her vision—she couldn’t see anything beyond the herbs right in front of her. All she could do was keep shouting.

“Brother Lu!” She shouted while identifying the herbs around her, stumbling forward with difficulty.

In her previous life, she often went into the mountains to collect herbs, but thanks to weather forecasts, she had never gone during a storm. Now, all that experience was useless. The mountain path was slippery with mud, and she kept losing her footing.

After who knew how long, she suddenly saw a figure collapsed on the ground ahead. In this weather, hardly anyone would go up the mountain—there was a good chance that person was Lu Yan!

Panic surged in Gu Leyou’s heart. She lost her footing and tumbled down right in front of the figure. Ignoring the scratches and cuts from branches and vines, she crawled over. Sure enough, it was Lu Yan, unconscious.

He had a severe bite wound on his shoulder. It looked like some basic first aid had been done, but in this downpour, it was all in vain.

“Brother Lu, wake up! Brother Lu!” Gu Leyou called anxiously, shouting at the top of her lungs.

This kind of wound needed to be treated immediately. She had no tools or medicine on her—she had to get him to a better environment. But she simply didn’t have the strength to carry an unconscious man down the mountain.

The rain showed no sign of stopping. Gu Leyou’s throat was hoarse from shouting, and her body couldn’t take it anymore. Her consciousness began to blur.

No way… She had just transmigrated, hadn’t even properly experienced this new life… and now she was going to die? So unlucky?

She couldn’t hold on any longer. Her heavy eyelids closed, and she collapsed beside Lu Yan.

But… her consciousness didn’t fade into darkness. Instead, she gradually felt warmth, and her mind became clear.

Gu Leyou slowly opened her eyes, only to find that she was no longer on that despair-filled mountain. There were no rain droplets pelting her from above—replaced instead by a space brimming with the vitality of spring.

Trees grew in abundance, herbs were everywhere, and a sweet scent drifted through the air. The entire space was warm, and her frozen hands regained feeling.

What is this place? Had she, like a protagonist in a novel, unlocked some kind of “golden finger” cheat?

She looked around and discovered that the space was full of herbs. Rare and precious types were few, but there was an abundance of commonly used basic medicinal plants. Besides the herbs, there was a peculiar spring.

The spring emitted a faint medicinal fragrance. The water was crystal-clear, shimmering in the sunlight like flowing gems.

After countless fantastical experiences in her past life, Gu Leyou boldly let her imagination run wild. “Could this spring cure all illnesses?”

So she filled a waterskin she had brought with her with the spring water and collected a bunch of herbs. Then, chanting in her heart over and over—“Take me back, take me back, take me back…”—she wished to return.

Soon, the sensation of cold raindrops returned to her. She was really back.

Gu Leyou opened her eyes and took a deep breath of the damp air, confirming her reality.

But with Lu Yan lying beside her, barely clinging to life, she had no time to marvel at her miracle. Saving him was more important.

By now, the rain had eased significantly. Refreshed from her time in the space, Gu Leyou dragged Lu Yan to a relatively dry area and poured some spring water into his mouth.

She held his wrist to feel his pulse. After drinking the water, he clearly regained some vitality. His pulse was strong—it was no longer the feeble state it had been earlier.

“This stuff works better than adrenaline!” Gu Leyou marveled, then began unbuttoning Lu Ting’s shirt to treat his wound.

When she pulled back his clothing, she was stunned. Lu Yan’s body was covered in scars—so many it was almost horrifying. These weren’t the kind of injuries one would get from hunting. They looked more like wounds from knives, swords, spears—all kinds of weapons.

He was definitely not just an ordinary hunter. Who was he, really?

She also remembered Xiao Yao’s old illness. Though it was said to be an old ailment, it felt more like some strange kind of poison. She had doubted that a child from such a remote village could be afflicted by such a thing.

But now, after seeing Lu Yan’s body full of scars, it all made sense.

After treating his wound, Lu Yan soon regained consciousness. When he saw Gu Leyou beside him, he was startled. “Why are you here?”

“I came to find you,” Gu Leyou said honestly.

“You did this?” Lu Yan pointed to his shoulder.

Gu Leyou nodded.

A flash of hostility appeared in Lu Yan’s eyes.

Gu Leyou frowned. “I saw your old wounds. But don’t worry—I won’t ask, and I won’t tell anyone. Everyone has their secrets.”

Lu Yan’s killing aura dissipated, replaced by a bit of guilt. “Sorry… I was too tense. Thank you for saving my life.”

“No need. You saved me before too,” Gu Leyou sighed. “And my aunt bothering you—it’s partly because of me.” She paused and added, “Xiao Yao said she asked you for a large sum of money. How much was it? I’ll pay it back. You just focus on healing.”

“You’ve seen Xiao Yao?” Lu Yan focused on something entirely different.

“Of course. Otherwise how would I know you were in the mountains?” Gu Leyou stood up and patted the dirt off her clothes. “I promised to help treat Xiao Yao’s illness. But I have to head home first—I’ll visit again later. You can get back on your own, right?”

She figured Lu Yan wasn’t the kind to accept help easily. Besides, after drinking the spring water, his condition had improved significantly. He was just weak from blood loss now.

“Let me treat you to a meal,” Lu Yan offered awkwardly. He felt he had to do something to repay her for saving his life, but didn’t know how else to express it, so he chose the simplest and most direct way.

“…”

A life-saving debt, and all he could think to offer was a meal? This guy really was straightforward!

Gu Leyou waved it off. “It’s already dawn. I’ve been out all night—my parents and Le Shu must be worried sick. Next time.”

With that, she began walking down the mountain.

Lu Yan watched her leave.

As soon as she got home, her parents and Gu Leshu rushed out to greet her.

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