Chapter 80: Self-satisfied

Li Qi suddenly realized that Shen Shuibi usually seemed a bit silly, but at times like this, she could hit the nail on the head.

So, he awkwardly ran a hand through his hair and replied, “Mm…”

That was actually the case.

Li Qi wasn't very willing to kill people; even if letting the Wang family go carried some risk, and Wang Laotai didn't seem like an honest person, he still didn't want to kill them.

Ultimately, if he truly wanted to kill, he wouldn't have insisted on Li Weng retreating.

If he had just helped Li Weng, the Wang family would have been utterly ruined in no time.

Li Qi didn't have any psychological resistance to killing; he just felt that killing shouldn't be so easy.

A suspicion, a grievance, and then wiping out an entire family…

Coming from another civilized world, he couldn't quite accept such things yet.

If they were enemies, like those soldiers and the Strongmen Gang members, he wouldn't hesitate at all to kill them.

But the Wang family wasn't an enemy; they were just pitiful people who had to rack their brains to scheme in order to survive.

So, even though their scheming was directed at Li Qi, he didn't feel angry; he merely took it as a reminder for himself.

In the future, he must be even smarter and not be easily deceived.

This time, he could bear the consequences and even gained some benefits, but next time might not be the case.

“So, Li Qi, you seem to feel a bit guilty, do you feel like you took a risk for this? So you feel a little bad towards me?” Shen Shuibi asked again.

Li Qi couldn't hold back anymore; he turned his head: “Shen Guniang, are you usually faking it?”

This was where Li Qi felt a bit awkward; if it were just him, taking risks was taking risks—one person takes responsibility for their actions. If he chose to be a good person, then bearing the consequences was understandable.

But now Shen Shuibi was with him, which meant she was also sharing the risk, making him feel a bit awkward.

“Ah?” Shen Shuibi heard Li Qi’s rhetorical question, her eyes blank, and then she let out a bewildered “Ah?”

Looking at her like this, it didn't seem like she was faking it…

Was it because of her overly keen senses? Or was it pure sixth sense?

It was a bit embarrassing.

“Cough, cough, cough, never mind, you continue,” Li Qi changed the subject.

Shen Shuibi was indeed immediately distracted, still so easily led around.

So she continued, “Hmm, speaking of which, I’m actually the biggest source of risk for you. According to what Li Qi said, shouldn’t I feel guilty?”

Before Li Qi could reply, she continued talking to herself: “See~, you don’t even think I’m a risk…”

But before she could finish, Li Qi suddenly interrupted: “Well, you are indeed quite a big risk. Don’t you feel guilty?”

Shen Shuibi heard this, and the rest of her words were choked back.

She released her hands from around Li Qi’s waist and sulked, shrinking back behind him.

The rabbit was angry.

And Li Qi, sitting in front, no longer spoke.

Mainly because… if he let Shen Shuibi continue, he would feel very awkward.

He shouldn't say such things; there was no need to be so intimate. Anyway, with the old horse, a journey of thousands of miles was only about ten days. Soon, after finding Empress Luofu, they would have to part ways. Why bother with all that?

For his next step, Li Qi planned to return to Li Prefecture City.

Actually, according to Shen Shuibi’s route, there was no need to return to Li Prefecture City, but Li Qi decided to take this detour to return to Paibo Gang.

First, he wanted to tell the Paibo Gang members to stop practicing the Ox Strength Technique.

Second, he wanted to teach them the Carp Current Intent.

As for the third…

There was no third.

Li Qi shook his head, casting away extraneous thoughts, then patted the old horse's neck: “Old horse, run faster. We’ll enter the prefecture city tonight!”

The old horse neighed, decisively picking up speed.

With hooves treading on clouds and mist, swift as a gust of wind, the Dragon Steed traveled through the mountains and forests. Yi County was four to five hundred li from Li Prefecture City, but this distance was covered in just half a day.

Departing at noon, not only did they arrive that night, but Li Qi reached the outskirts of Li Prefecture City even before the sun had set.

Having a vehicle versus not having one—that was the difference.

And a three-wheeled bicycle versus the priceless Dragon Steed he rode—that was another difference!

Li Qi couldn't help but sigh, he had walked for half a month, and the old horse had made it back in half a day. The difference between people sometimes was truly…

However, after just a moment of感慨, Li Qi patted the old horse’s belly, then dismounted: “Old horse, it’s still the same. You and Shen Guniang wait outside, I’ll go into the city alone to buy some things. We’ll rest for a night, then go find Empress Luofu. This time, you must be prepared, we’re going to be traveling non-stop.”

The old horse neighed indifferently a couple of times, seemingly thinking that a journey of thousands of miles was nothing.

Shen Shuibi, however, was no longer angry. Her temper rarely lasted more than five minutes, and she had already recovered on the way, so at this moment, she looked up, excitedly: “Can I go into the city with you?!”

“No,” Li Qi shook his head.

“Why?” The rabbit clearly showed a disappointed expression.

“Because I’ll be back immediately, and you’re too beautiful. Li Prefecture City is not like Yi County; if someone takes a liking to you and something happens, I might not be able to protect you,” Li Qi said.

This reason pleased the rabbit greatly, so the rabbit chose to accept it.

Anyway, Li Qi would only be gone for a few hours.

And he would bring things back.

However, at this moment, Li Qi suddenly thought of something. He pulled out a hairpin from his pocket.

“This, I bought it earlier to strike up a conversation with a peddler when I was trying to get information. I don’t need it, so it’s for you,” he handed it to Shen Shuibi.

Shen Shuibi was stunned for a moment, then happily took it, saying politely, “Thank you!”

“Thank me for what? I bought it to get information, and it’s made of copper, not worth much,” Li Qi shook his head, feigning indifference: “Then I’ll go into the city first. I should be back tonight, won’t be long.”

“Mm!”

“Neigh!”

Shen Shuibi and the old horse responded together.

Li Qi, carrying his basket on his back, swaggered towards Li Prefecture City.

As for Shen Shuibi, after he left, she leaned against the old horse’s head and quietly said, “Old horse… you say he usually seems so smart, but why is he acting like a child now? Why does he always pick on me? Did I make him angry? Is it because I got too close and annoyed him?”

Shen Shuibi asked for the old horse’s opinion.

And the old horse, after a couple of neighs, didn’t know what it was thinking, just nibbled on the green grass, squinting its eyes, offering no comment.

As an old Dragon Steed, he was too lazy to bother with such messy things.

Old people become wise, and old horses can also become wise.

At times like this, speaking was a mistake.

Better to observe from the sidelines.

Don’t ask me, I’m just a horse.