Aunt Harris retorted, “Even the sons of noble families always have someone by their side to serve tea, pour water, wash clothes, and make the bed, don’t they? My younger sister isn’t bad-looking—if she can’t become a concubine to Young Master, being his personal maid is still a good deal. That’s much better than letting such a pretty girl fall into the hands of some rascal or idler.”

“Sis, be honest with your aunt—do you want to remain a widow, or would you rather serve Young Master? Don’t say I didn’t warn you: strike while the iron is hot. Today, Young Master carried you all the way down the mountain—you two have already gotten close once. If you seize the opportunity now, things are sure to work out.”

Widow Brooks, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, said anxiously, “But… would Young Master even want me? I’m a widow, after all.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? As long as you stick close, Young Master won’t get away. Just wait to lie on Young Master’s soft couch.” Aunt Harris patted her hand and said with a smile.

A group of women chatted at Widow Brooks’s house until late, only leaving one by one at last.

After everyone had left, Widow Brooks lay tossing and turning on her bed, unable to sleep as she replayed everything in her mind—especially the moment when Young Master carried her. That compliment, “quite big,” made her heart pound wildly, and even her body felt hot. She wished she could be as soft and limp as she was during the day, lying on Young Master’s back, letting him carry her along the mountain path.

In the blink of an eye, a day passed.

The next morning, Ryan Thompson woke up at the dojo as usual, fetched water to wash up, then picked up his Tiger’s Mouth Swallowing Spear to warm up for morning practice.

Before he could even stretch, he heard the neighing of a fine horse.

“Whoa~!”

Several men on tall, strong horses stopped in front of the dojo. Upon seeing Ryan Thompson, they immediately dismounted and strode over.

“Young Master didn’t return yesterday. The master was worried about Young Master’s safety and specially sent us to check on you,” the leading man said respectfully, cupping his hands.

“Oh, it’s Edward Stone. My old man always makes a fuss over nothing. Just because I was a day late coming home, he gets so anxious and sends a whole team to look for me.” Ryan Thompson put away his spear and stood still. “Forget it, I won’t practice today. If I don’t hurry back, my old man will probably lose his appetite again.”

He knew his father’s temperament—he doted on him to the extreme.

Luckily, he was someone who had transmigrated here; otherwise, he’d have been spoiled rotten and turned into a complete good-for-nothing.

“Did you bring my horse?” Ryan Thompson asked.

“Young Master’s thousand-li steed is right here.”

Edward Stone waved his hand, and immediately a man led over a tall, well-built horse—its whole body snow-white, powerful and muscular, with cloud-like hooves and scales under its belly.

This horse had been bought by Ryan Thompson’s father, David Thompson, from abroad at great expense when Ryan Thompson was ten. Back then, it was just a foal. Five years had passed, and now it had grown up. Ryan Thompson had even given it a bold name: Night-Shining Jade Lion. But this horse truly was a fine steed worthy of the name.

The thousand-li steed snorted affectionately when it saw Ryan Thompson and walked over to him.

Ryan Thompson stroked its neck and smiled, then grabbed the reins and swung himself onto its back. “My master is probably meditating right now, so let’s not disturb him. Let’s go.”

With a squeeze of his legs, the thousand-li steed—Night-Shining Jade Lion—charged forward, its iron hooves thundering as it sped away like the wind.

“Follow Young Master!” Edward Stone shouted.

The eight or nine men behind immediately responded, each riding a fine horse and following closely.

Over the years, Ryan Thompson hadn’t just sat idle at home. Unlike his father, David Thompson, who only bought land and hoarded gold and silver, he spent the family’s earnings on hiring guards and acquiring warhorses. He even set up several horse farms and granaries. Under Ryan Thompson’s management, the Li family now had not only power but also a formidable armed force.

If only he knew exactly which world he’d ended up in, he figured he could have raised several armies in a decade or so.

The team led by Edward Stone was just a part of the Li family’s guards.

“Hyah~!”

Ryan Thompson rode the snow-white Night-Shining Jade Lion, leaving a trail of dust behind.

However, when passing through Lower River Village, he slowed down, afraid that the horse’s speed might injure someone or trample them.

In this ancient era, if someone was hit or trampled by a horse, with the level of medicine available, there was a high chance they’d die.

A human life was no small matter—Ryan Thompson would never be careless about that.

Slowing his horse, as he passed by Widow Brooks’s door, he saw Widow Brooks and several village women moving stools to sit outside, basking in the sun. It seemed Widow Brooks’s feet were much better—after a day’s rest, they were no longer as red and swollen as yesterday.

Widow Brooks also saw Ryan Thompson riding by, her eyes lighting up.

Ryan Thompson smiled, “Take good care and recover.”

With that, he rode off quickly on his thousand-li steed, ten riders following close behind.

After Ryan Thompson and his group had gone far, the area in front of Widow Brooks’s house became lively again.