Chapter 950: Calculating Scholar 5

After that, Tang Wan played a few more games before going to bed.

Two days later, Little Cutie said excitedly, “Host! The villain will be going into the mountains tomorrow morning!”

Hearing this, Tang Wan perked up. “Got it. Which mountain is he heading to?”

“Red Mountain nearby. Don’t worry, host—I’ll guide you then!” Little Cutie said confidently, puffing up its chest.

After all, as an upgraded system, giving directions was a trivial task.

Tang Wan nodded in satisfaction. She prepared some dry food and got ready to set off early the next morning.

…

At dawn the next day, Tang Wan carried a medicine basket and headed up the mountain.

By then, Ye Qingtong had already entered the mountain and begun hunting.

Tang Wan wasn’t in a hurry. All she needed was an encounter with him—even just meeting face to face would be enough.

To make herself look like a proper herb gatherer, she actually picked quite a few medicinal plants along the way.

It wasn’t until nearly noon that she finally reached the area where Ye Qingtong was.

After wiping the sweat from her forehead, Tang Wan found a smooth, flat rock and sat down. She took out her water flask from the basket, drank a few sips, then reached down to remove her shoes.

To make this meeting appear natural, she had deliberately worn her feet raw.

When she took off her socks, several blisters were visible on the soles of her feet.

For a moment, Tang Wan nearly teared up.

This was just the climb up—how was she supposed to make it back down later?

…

Just as she was feeling miserable, a deep male voice suddenly sounded behind her.

“Don’t move!”

Tang Wan stiffened.

Who—?

Tong Tong?

The next instant, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

A hatchet flew past her and embedded itself deeply into the tree trunk behind her.

The same voice spoke again, calm and steady. “You’re fine now. Good thing I noticed in time—you were about to be bitten by a venomous snake.”

Hearing this, Tang Wan turned her head.

At the same time, Little Cutie said, “Host, that’s the villain—Ye Qingtong!”

…

Tang Wan relaxed immediately.

In the next moment, she saw a tall, rugged man standing by the tree. He was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, carrying a basket and a quiver, dressed in coarse cloth. He reached out and easily pulled the hatchet—still stained from cutting off the snake’s head—from the trunk.

After retrieving it, Ye Qingtong looked toward Tang Wan.

At this moment, Tang Wan was still holding her socks. Her jade-like cheeks were flushed, dotted with fine beads of sweat.

Their eyes met.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Qingtong’s gaze, and his favorability toward her rose instantly.

This girl… was unbelievably beautiful.

For a brief moment, he unconsciously tightened his grip on the hatchet.

…

Meanwhile, after glancing at Ye Qingtong, Tang Wan deliberately shifted her gaze to the brightly colored snake lying dead nearby.

Her pupils shrank abruptly.

In the next second, she dropped her socks, sprang up from the rock, and darted straight toward Ye Qingtong—letting out a terrified scream.

“Ah! A snake!”

Before he could react, she had already leapt into him, arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

Startled, Ye Qingtong instinctively tossed the hatchet aside and quickly reached out to support her waist, afraid she might fall.