Chapter 69: Zhou Lin Escapes Danger

  Xun Yu stepped down, and Li Jue knelt in silence.

  The recent series of events made Li Zhēn realize the inadequacy of his own foundation. The War Rider system was indeed a heaven-defying existence, but after all, it was just an inanimate object and couldn't do anything without human involvement.

  People-oriented is the king's way. Talent is what Li Zhuang needs most.

  However, this is not something that can be rushed. Xun Yu being able to join his team was a special case and he's already very satisfied with that. His current influence isn't small either, but it's all at the borders, and few people know about it. His reputation still isn't enough, in this era, reputation is too important, if one's reputation is grand and renowned throughout the world, then naturally many talented scholars will flock to join him.

  So enhancing one's own reputation is also of utmost importance.

  Thinking of Xun Yu's strategy, Li Jing couldn't help but smile slightly. Overawing Dong Zhuo and weakening Han Sui wasn't also a way to enhance his reputation?

  It seems that Xun Yu had long been aware of this and was secretly preparing for it.

  As various thoughts flashed through his mind, Li Zhong fell silent, and a faint sense of loneliness surged up in his heart once again.

  It has been nearly two years since he arrived in this era, and his household is already quite large. Even someone as capable as Xun Yu has been won over by him through a combination of gentle and firm means, and is now under his command.

  But in the still of night, Li Zhēng still felt very lonely.

  That sense of isolation from the world made his emotions somewhat numb.

  Just like what's happening now, Zhou Lin is being detained and his life is in danger, but Li Zhong can abandon him without hesitation. This has to do with his own personality, but also with emotional apathy.

  When I first learned of the news, I was still very angry in my heart, but it's only been a few days and it's hard to find that anger and annoyance. Even Zhou Lin's image in his mind has faded somewhat.

  It's said to be indifferent, which might even be a compliment, but Li Zhong himself thinks it seems a bit too cold-blooded.

  "Is this still me?"

  Silently asking myself.

  Li Zhong couldn't help but shiver.

  He thought of Fu Xi's face again, and Li Zhong's heart gradually warmed up.

  *sigh*

  Li Zhong sighed and closed his eyes.

  He wants freedom, likes to be high above, but doesn't want to forget his feelings. He will stand at the top of the ridge, overlooking the small mountains, but he wants to laugh loudly and share this freedom and joy with others, not alone, coldly watching the vast ocean.

  After a long time, Li Zhong slowly got up and walked out of the study.

  "Xiao Cui, Xiao Liu?"

  As soon as the words fell, the two maidservants, who were even more spirited and lively, rushed to Li Zhēn's side.

  "Old Master."

  "Hmm..." Li Zhēng suddenly felt that the title 'old master' didn't sound quite right, so he smiled and said: "Call me young master, 'old master' sounds like I'm really old."

  The two girls stuck out their tongues and made a cute face, then quickly giggled and called out "Young Master".

  Pinching the two red and shiny cheeks, Li Zheng smiled: "Accompany Young Master to go out for a walk."

  The two girls looked surprised and then delighted, and they hastily surrounded Li Zhēng on both sides, walking out of the house.

  They have been following Li Zhēng, serving as Li Zhēng's maids for over a year. Although Li Zhēng is usually gentle and doesn't mind their occasional impoliteness, there seems to be a barrier between Li Zhēng and them.

  As the closest maid, they sometimes feel wronged.

  Walking on the flat stone road, both sides are dense and lush with grass, listening to the insects chirping in the grass, eyes watching the lovely little girls chattering around him, Li Zheng's mood is exceptionally clear.

  They talked about everything and everyone in the pasture, interesting, uninteresting, annoying, all sorts of things, many of which Li Jing didn't even know.

  But it made Li Zhēng and this grassland he had built with his own hands become one.

  It's actually quite funny, the grassland from nothing to something, from a few dozen people to now a huge scale, Li Zhēn besides being in charge, actually really doesn't even understand his own grassland as well as some random house slave.

  Shaking his head, Li Zhēng looked at these two lively and cheerful girls, like butterflies dancing, and couldn't express what he felt in his heart.

  It took Li Zhong half a day, under the leadership of the two girls, to tour his own pasture as if he were a tourist.

  He didn't know how many people he had exchanged warm greetings with, nor the group of women who were busy processing raw fur, nor the carefree elderly, nor the extremely happy children.

  It wasn't until then that he truly felt happy in his heart.

  Perhaps a person's happiness is not true happiness; seeing everyone happy because of oneself is also a kind of great freedom, great joy and great pleasure.

  In the following days, Li Zhēng became more leisurely and busy at the same time.

  Leisure is his heart, busyness is his action.

  Xun Yu and others found that the lord they were facing now seemed to have changed greatly in an instant, although they didn't know the reason why, but it made people feel much more intimate.

  Every day, I care about the development of the pasture, handle what needs to be handled, pay attention to Zhangshan and White Wolf's actions, and worry about Zhoulin's safety in my heart. Or take a walk on the pasture, chat with the elderly, talk about this year's harvest, or joke with people, look forward to everyone's future, relaxed and at ease.

  Then from time to time, he would go to Lingzhou, either to visit Old Man Li and listen to his life experiences, or to stroll around the Lingzhou Academy, watching those students who were diligently seeking knowledge and encouraging them.

  Either go to Fuping again, take a look at Nuo Luo, take a look at your own army, sometimes also compare riding and shooting with them, and chat with them.

  If there is a chance, I will go back to the countryside and take a look around by myself, to see the living standards of the people under my rule and their spiritual outlook.

  All of this was done in a very casual and natural manner, yet it made Li Zhēn's connection with his subordinates even closer, and he also gained a deeper understanding of his own territory.

  September has arrived.

  On the first day of September, Li Zhēng couldn't wait to open the mysterious store.

  The mysterious shop in August gave him a huge surprise, so for September, he was very much looking forward.

  This time, the eight new items that appeared in the mysterious shop were not as stunning as last time, but six of them happened to be within the range that Li Zhong needed.

  Armor diagram and original material formula!

  They are all exclusive first-tier armor for the three War Riders born anew - Golden Winged Tiger Rider Armor, Fierce Storm War Rider Armor and Pigba Dragon Rider Armor.

  After such a long time, Li Zhong had also roughly figured out some rules. Except for the extremely rare ones, such as that terrain-changing blueprint and other precious items, many of the other goods were tied to the development of the ranch.

  So after just synthesizing three new warhorses, there were corresponding drawings produced, and Li Zhēn didn't find it strange.

  Buy all six blueprints related to these three sets of armor and send them to the corresponding functional buildings for analysis, then wait for crafting.

  That day, Li Jing was playing with a group of children in the pasture when Xun Yu arrived.

  Looking at the master who looked like a little kid, looking at him laughing and playing with those little kids, Xun Yu felt amused and also very affectionate.

  "My lord."

  He bowed his head and clasped his hands together in greeting.

  Looking at Xun You's smile on his face, Li Zheng patted his hands and let the children play by themselves before saying: "Is there good news?"

  "It's indeed good news." Xun You stroked the head of a little boy passing by, and smiled: "Generals Zhang Shan and Bai Lang have safely brought Zhou Lin back to Baishui River."

  "Oh!"

  Li Zhong's face was filled with a look of delighted surprise: "Really is good news! What's the specific situation?"

  Two people walked while talking.

  "The reason is, it's a bit unexpected. Xun You smiled and said: "Zhou Lin was not actually detained in the territory of the Xu Bu clan, but in the territory of the Lan clan. This time, he escaped, not thanks to the rescue of Bai Lang and Zhang Shan, the two commanders, but because he escaped on his own."

  "Oh?"

  "The specific process was not detailed in the letter, and it's not too late for Master to ask again when Zhou Lin returns."

  "It was my fault for being impatient... In that case, I'll head to Baishui River immediately... During this time, Zhou Lin must have suffered a great deal as well..." Li Zheng let out a soft sigh, his expression suddenly changing to one of cold severity: "Since Zhou Lin is safe and sound, the Xiongnu people will have to pay the price!"

  Xun Yu nodded slightly and reminded: "Your Excellency, the Xiongnu can be put aside for the time being, and it's not too late to return with interest later. Now that it's September, the situation in Liangzhou may change soon."

  Li Zheng furrowed his brow and nodded: "I have a plan in mind."

  Xun Yu fell silent and did not speak again.

  Baishui River, Baishui Zhai Shicheng, now renamed as Baishui City.

  In the city center government office, Zhou Fei held Zhou Lin's hand tightly, with tears of joy and gratitude welling up in his eyes, rendering him speechless.

  "Uncle will worry."

  Zhou Lin's already gaunt body fell to the ground, deeply kowtowing.

  "Get up! Get up!" Zhou Fei wiped away tears: "Our old Zhou family is also blessed by heaven, you're fine, that's all that matters, as long as you're fine!"

  Zhou Lin stood up, his originally chubby face now showing cheekbones, with some scars on his face. He must have suffered a lot during this period. However, his spirit seemed to be very vigorous, and his eyes were much sharper.

  "Hey Old Zhou," Zhang Shan said with a chuckle, "now that Little Zhou has returned safely, why don't you stop crying and be happy instead?"

  "It was I who was rude." Zhou Fei took out a handkerchief, wiped his face and smiled: "I should also thank you two, otherwise my nephew..."

  "It's none of my business." Zhang Shan waved his hand.

  Bai Lang said: "Zhou Linfeng was lucky to have escaped on his own. I met him halfway up the mountain and brought him back."

  Zhou Lin smiled and said, "If it weren't for the two leaders, I'm afraid I would have starved to death before even reaching Baishui River."

  The atmosphere in the hall became more intense as soon as these words were spoken.