: The Dongchang affair concluded, but another disturbance arose just before departure.

The two walked in silence, their shadows growing longer and longer in the snow, leaving only two lines of footprints.

After walking for another half hour, Duan Jingzhu could no longer hold on. He looked at Huangfu Duan, then turned back and exclaimed with joy, "There are people behind us! We're saved!"

Huangfu Duan was also somewhat pleased and hurriedly turned around to look, but suddenly his head ached, his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.

After a long while, Huangfu Duan exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly woke up, only to find himself lying in bed.

He touched his head; it didn't hurt much. Why was he lying in bed? Huangfu Duan was a little puzzled. He looked around; there was no one there. He was in a room with a fire burning nearby. A stove was hanging from the fire, bubbling and steaming. Something was probably cooking inside, and the aroma filled the entire room. Huangfu Duan took a deep breath, and his stomach growled loudly.

Shaking his head vigorously, Huangfu Duan realized that Duan Jingzhu must have knocked him unconscious. He was afraid that he would disagree with killing Xiao Ma, so he knocked him unconscious and planned to do it first and ask for permission later. What a guy.

Thinking of this, Huangfu Duan clenched his fists, got out of bed, and called out Duan Jingzhu's name.

The door opened, and a man entered—a Han Chinese. Huangfu Duan was both pleased and worried, and quickly said, "Thank you for saving me. Where is my companion?"

The man asked in confusion, "When I saw you, you were alone, covered in blood, and unconscious at my door. So I saved you. As for your companion, I didn't see her."

Huangfu Duan felt a chill in his heart. It must have been Duan Jingzhu who saved him, but also killed Xiao Ma, and then left him speechless. So he left him at the farmer's door and quietly left. Thinking of this, he was filled with bitterness. He was angry that Duan Jingzhu had killed Xiao Ma, but Duan Jingzhu had also saved him after all. He was very conflicted, but also somewhat helpless. After resting for a few days, he bid farewell to the farmer and returned to Dongchang Prefecture.

After returning to Dongchang Prefecture, he never saw Duan Jingzhu again. Every day, he would either look after the ewes, treat the horses, or read books. Occasionally, he would drink with Zhang Qing. But when the night was quiet, he would often stare blankly at the stable, where the little horse held his memories. Sometimes, when he imagined the happy life he had with the little horse, he would feel a surge of hatred towards Duan Jingzhu. He needed an explanation from Duan Jingzhu, but Duan Jingzhu seemed to have vanished without a trace, and he could no longer find him.

Several years have passed, and Huangfu Duan has been living a mundane life. Who knew that he would see Duan Jingzhu again today? In an instant, he was overwhelmed with emotions, and many things from the past came flooding back to him, including anger and heartache.

After the story was finished, Huangfu Duan looked at Duan Jingzhu with some resentment. Duan Jingzhu looked ashamed but remained silent.

After listening, Song Jiang felt that things were not so simple. He sighed, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Huangfu, I am Song Jiang. I have long admired your name."

Huangfu Duan had heard of Song Jiang's reputation, but not everyone would show Song Jiang respect upon meeting him. Huangfu Duan was not one of them. He simply cupped his hands in greeting, said nothing more, and kept his eyes fixed on Duan Jingzhu.

Song Jiang sighed. If he didn't resolve Huangfu Duan's inner conflict, let alone return to Liangshan with him, he probably wouldn't even be able to become friends with him.

Thinking about the story, Song Jiang felt there was a strange point: after Duan Jingzhu knocked Huangfu Duan unconscious, did he really kill Xiao Ma? Based on the blood on Huangfu Duan, it's definitely not convincing enough. The key point is what Duan Jingzhu did while Huangfu Duan was unconscious.

Song Jiang looked at Huangfu Duan, then at Duan Jingzhu beside him, and said, "Little Duan, what happened when Brother Huangfu fainted? Why don't you tell us today and let's see how to resolve it?"

A look of pain appeared on Duan Jingzhu's face. After struggling for a while, he finally said, "Brother Huangfu, whether you believe it or not, I really didn't kill Xiao Ma."

Huangfu Duan stared wide-eyed at Duan Jingzhu, somewhat incredulous that Duan Jingzhu hadn't killed Xiao Ma.

Duan Jingzhu spoke again: "I knocked you unconscious before because I wanted to kill Xiao Ma. Otherwise, the two of us would not have been able to get out of Changbai Mountain without food."

Huangfu Duan angrily asked, "And then what?"

Duan Jingzhu said regretfully, "After I knocked you unconscious, Xiao Ma suddenly jumped in front of you and stared at me, thinking I was going to harm you. When I raised my knife, Xiao Ma seemed to know something, looked at you, and then slowly lay down on the ground. At that moment, a roar suddenly came from afar."

Duan Jingzhu paused for a moment and then continued, "I was startled by the roar. A bear slowly emerged from the snow. I've heard people say that bears usually hide away during the cold winter and never show themselves. However, there are exceptions. A starving bear will come out to hunt for food in the cold winter, and it will be even more ferocious than usual."

"When the bear saw us, it charged towards us menacingly. I grabbed you and we ran forward. The little horse could have run away on its own, but it stayed in front of us to protect us. However, the little horse was too small and couldn't support the weight of both of us."

"The bear caught up with us quickly, and it looked like we were about to lose our lives. But then, the little horse kicked the bear. Enraged by the kick, the bear slapped the little horse. Although the little horse dodged, its hind leg was still scratched by the bear's paw. That's when the blood on your body splattered. The little horse kicked the bear again and then ran in the opposite direction. It was trying to distract the bear for us. Watching the bear chase after the little horse, I was deeply moved, but also felt guilty. I had even thought about eating the little horse. If it weren't for the little horse, we would probably all be dead."

"But I had no strength left, so I lay on the ground. Not long after, two hunters came out and rescued us."

"Because of Xiao Ma, I have no face to see you again, so after taking you away, I left you at someone's doorstep and left. Going back to Changbai Mountain this time is something I have wronged you with, so I have never dared to see you again."

After saying that, Duan Jingzhu lowered his head.

After hearing Duan Jingzhu's explanation, Huangfu Duan remained silent for a long time. So this was the truth; Xiao Ma had died trying to save him from the bear's jaws.

No, Huangfu Duan suddenly had a thought: maybe Xiao Ma isn't dead? Although he was just trying to comfort himself, it was still possible.

Seeing Huangfu Duan's face shift between sadness and joy, Song Jiang didn't want to disturb him, so he looked at Zhang Qing instead.

Zhang Qing shrugged, indicating that he was powerless to help. Zhang Qing also knew that although Huangfu Duan was easygoing, he was also stubborn, and he really had no choice but to wait and see what Huangfu Duan thought.

After a long silence, Huangfu Duan shook his head, sighed, and slowly said, "Please come in!"

The group entered the inner hall. Huangfu Duan gestured to an old servant to bring some tea, then said, "Duan Jingzhu, can you guarantee that every word you say is true?"

Duan Jingzhu raised his right hand and said firmly, "If I, Duan Jingzhu, have uttered even the slightest lie, may I be struck by lightning, torn to pieces, and die a horrible death."

The ancients placed great importance on oaths, so Huangfu nodded, his expression softening considerably, and he believed Duan Jingzhu's words.

After another moment of silence, the old servant brought tea. Huangfu Duan took a sip before saying, "Sir Song, you wouldn't come here without a reason. What brings you here today?"

Actually, Song Jiang originally wanted to lure Huangfu Duan to Yuncheng first, under the pretext of needing Huangfu Duan to help him inspect some horses. However, after hearing Huangfu Duan's story, and having gotten to know him, Song Jiang realized that Huangfu Duan was a meticulous, serious, stubborn, and rigid person who was hard to change once he made up his mind. He felt that it was better to be honest than to lie, and Song Jiang also disliked forcing people to do things against their will.

Thinking of this, Song Jiang smiled and said, "I would like to invite Brother Huangfu to come with me to Yuncheng."

Huangfu Duan was completely confused. He had heard of Yuncheng, but why did Song Jiang want him to go to Yuncheng?

Song Jiang added, "I have raised and acquired some horses in Yuncheng, and I would like to ask Brother Huangfu to help me assess them. This is something that only Brother Huangfu can do."

Huangfu Duan hesitated. He understood what Song Jiang meant: he wanted him to go to Yuncheng to work as a veterinarian. This was in line with his profession, but he did not want to leave Dongchang Prefecture. Although he was living a relatively frugal life in Dongchang Prefecture, he had lived there for several years and was used to everything there. He also had a close friend like Zhang Qing.

Seeing that Huangfu Duan hesitated, Song Jiang asked, "Brother Huangfu, please speak frankly. It is fate that we have met. If there is any difficulty, Song Jiang will not force you."

Huangfu Duan had come to admire Song Jiang somewhat and said with a smile, "It's not that I'm making things difficult, it's just that I've been in Dongchang Prefecture for a long time and it's a bit hard to get used to leaving suddenly. Please allow me to consider it."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "I suppose that Brother Zhu Gui was also sent by Brother Song to persuade me! I wonder if Duan Jingzhu will be going to Yuncheng with me?"

Song Jiang did not hesitate and nodded, saying, "Zhu Gui was indeed sent by me, and Xiao Duan will also go to Yuncheng with me."

Huangfu Duan squinted at Duan Jingzhu, while Duan Jingzhu, having resolved his inner conflict, looked back at Huangfu Duan without fear.

Huangfu Duan smiled slightly and said, "We'll talk about this tomorrow. Let's drink first today."

Song Jiang sighed inwardly. He could tell that Huangfu Duan was making excuses. It seemed that the matter was likely to fall through. But a forced marriage is never sweet. Since Huangfu Duan was unwilling to go to Liangshan, he certainly wouldn't force him.

The next morning, Song Jiang planned to take his leave with Wu Song and Duan Jingzhu. Although the trip to Dongchang Prefecture had not met expectations, the addition of Duan Jingzhu and a fine horse was a pleasant surprise.

At the street corner where Huangfu Duan lived, Song Jiang, Wu Song, Zhu Jing, and Duan Jingzhu clasped their fists together, and Huangfu Duan, Zhang Qing, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun also clasped their fists together.

At this moment, Duan Jingzhu suddenly lowered his hands and exclaimed, "What a fine steed!"

Huangfu Duan assumed he was talking about his horse and didn't pay any attention.

Duan Jingzhu pointed behind him and said, "There."

Huangfu Duan turned around and praised, "What a fine horse!"

Zhang Qing and the others also turned around to look, but instead of looking at the horse, they looked at a woman next to it. This woman was none other than the one Wu Song and Duan Jingzhu had clashed with his father about selling the horse yesterday.

The middle-aged man was also there, with his horse. Beside him was a young man, the same one who had traveled with the woman in Yunmeng Village that day. It was unexpected that he would appear here today as well, but for some reason, there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. On the contrary, the middle-aged man's two sons were not present.

The middle-aged man naturally saw Wu Song and his companions as well. He was still seething with anger from yesterday, and now that his enemies had run into him, he noticed Huangfu Duan staring at his horse and Zhang Qing looking at his daughter. He immediately flew into a rage and shouted, "You were lucky yesterday, but today you're asking for a beating!"

After saying that, he lashed out at Huangfu Duan with a whip. Huangfu Duan did not know martial arts and had no way to dodge it. If the whip had landed, Huangfu Duan would have lost half his life.

In the critical moment, Duan Jingzhu also drew his riding whip and swung it at the whip that was aimed at Huangfu Duan. The two whips became entangled, creating a stalemate. Soon, Duan Jingzhu lost his strength, and the riding whip was about to slip from his hand.

Song Jiang was furious. This middle-aged man was truly ungrateful. He had let him go yesterday, but today, after merely glancing at his horse, he was already causing trouble again. Moreover, he had immediately launched a deadly attack on Huangfu Duan. Song Jiang wondered what grudge Huangfu Duan held against him.

However, Song Jiang was a cautious man. The middle-aged man's sudden outburst must have been due to some kind of support, and since his two sons were not around, his only support was the young man beside him.

The middle-aged man's martial arts skills were average, and he would hardly be able to defeat Gong Wang and Ding Desun working together. At most, he could only fight to a draw. The girl seemed to know no martial arts. Was he so confident that this young master could defeat Wu Song and Zhu Jing working together? Moreover, his side also had Zhang Qing and Duan Jingzhu. Although Duan Jingzhu was weak, he still knew some martial arts. With himself, although he was average, he was still stronger than Duan Jingzhu. Not to mention that there was a brave warrior like Zhang Qing by his side.

Duan Jingzhu was starting to have trouble holding on, and Wu Song immediately stepped in, taking Duan Jingzhu's whip and pulling hard. The middle-aged man felt a tremendous force pulling him, and if he didn't let go, he would be pulled off his horse. As soon as he loosened his grip, Wu Song pulled the whip back into his hand.

Wu Song returned the whip to Duan Jingzhu and examined the other whip. Although Wu Song was not skilled in horsemanship, he had a good eye. After looking at it for a while, he realized it was a good whip and handed it to Song Jiang.

Song Jiang took the whip and said with a smile to the middle-aged man, "Yesterday I gave you a whip and a silver note. Do you want to repeat that today? I really have to thank you for your generosity."

The middle-aged man's face turned purple with anger, but he was wary of Wu Song and Zhang Qing's skills. He looked at the young man beside him and said, "They were the ones who humiliated me yesterday. I hope my nephew Yunlong will lend a hand."

It seems this young man is most likely his son-in-law, but judging from the woman's attire, she is probably an unmarried girl. It seems their marriage was arranged before they were born, and they haven't yet had a wedding ceremony, Song Jiang thought to himself.

The girl said, "Father, let's not cause any more trouble, let's leave quickly."

The young man, Yunlong, also spoke up, "Uncle, Huiniang is right. Why bother arguing with these people?"

Upon hearing the name Hui Niang, Song Jiang frowned slightly. He had been guessing the identities of the group yesterday, but he still didn't know what kind of people they were. Today, after hearing the name Hui Niang and learning that the young man was named Yunlong, he could roughly guess their identities.