Mount & Blade: Rise from Impoverished Tenant Farmer

Luo Xu paused for a moment, then raised his hand and gently placed it on her hair. His fingers slid slowly down her chestnut-brown hair, touching her back.

Luo Xu tightened his arms and pulled her into a tight embrace.

He had to admit that he had fallen for Sarah, this smart and courageous girl.

But he can't bring himself to say the word "like" yet.

In his view, love is not something that can be confirmed in a few days.

He and Sarah had known each other for too short a time, so short that he couldn't tell whether his feelings were just a fleeting impulse or a genuine affection that could withstand the test of time.

Luo Xu felt it would be too hasty to respond to her now, but he didn't directly refuse either.

"Sarah, I care about you a lot. It's just that we haven't known each other long enough to fully understand each other." Luo Xu rested his chin on her head, his voice incredibly gentle. "But I'm willing to give it a try with you first."

His fingers gently stroked her hair; the gesture spoke volumes more than any words.

He likes her, but he just needs time.

Sarah's tense body instantly went limp in his arms.

"Okay," she replied softly, her voice filled with undisguised joy.

Sarah looked up, her deep green eyes glistening with tears. She reached out and wiped away the dried scab on Luo Xu's nose with her fingertips.

"You're covered in blood, wash yourself first. I'll go tell the housekeeper to prepare hot water..."

"Wait a moment."

Sarah was about to turn around when Luo Xu stopped her.

Luo Xu glanced around to make sure no one was there, then took out the dragon flag cloth from his pocket and handed it to her: "Sarah, this is very important, and I can't keep it safe myself. Could you keep it for me?"

Luo Xu's voice was very low, and his tone was extremely solemn.

"I promise you." Sarah nodded without asking any further questions and hid the flag cloth inside her clothes.

"Remember, never let anyone know it exists."

After giving his instructions, Luo Xu helped her pick up her cane from the ground. Sarah reluctantly got out of his arms and turned to give instructions to the butler.

In no time, the housekeeper had prepared hot water.

Luo Xu walked into the bathroom and took off his clothes, which were stained with blood and sweat. The hot water washed over his shoulders, and his muscles instantly relaxed.

"Phew~" Luo Xu exhaled and closed his eyes, leaning against the side of the tub.

Steam rose from the top of the large wooden tub, and the water was stained red with blood.

A servant came in carrying a bucket and added hot water to his water several times.

After taking a shower, Luo Xu felt as if all the fatigue and bloodstains had been washed away, and he felt much lighter.

He changed into clean clothes and opened the bathroom door.

Sarah was waiting for him in the hallway, leaning on her cane.

She changed into a moon-white wool nightgown, the neckline slightly open, revealing a small patch of fair skin below her collarbone.

The thin rope tied around her waist outlined her slender figure, and with each breath, the contours of her body appeared and disappeared.

Her chestnut-brown hair was loose over her shoulders, the ends still slightly damp, probably from being washed with water earlier.

Seeing Luo Xu come out, Sarah gave him a wink: "Go to my room first."

The two arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

Luo Xu followed her a few steps, watching her carefully move up the steps one by one with her cane.

The cane tapped softly on the wooden stairs.

"Sarah."

"What's wrong?"

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"I'll carry you up."

Luo Xu reached out, supporting her back with one hand and putting the other under her knees to lift her up.

"You—" Sarah's face flushed red instantly, and she gasped softly, her cane frozen in mid-air.

"Your foot isn't fully healed yet, so be careful going up and down the stairs." Luo Xu looked down into her eyes, then gently lifted the person in his arms and steadily walked up the stairs.

"You didn't even tell me beforehand." Sarah stared at Luo Xu's profile, a slight smile playing on her lips. Her tone wasn't one of complaint, but rather of playful teasing.

After climbing the last step, Luo Xu gently placed her on the corridor floor.

Soon, a "knock-knock" sound echoed in the second-floor corridor.

The two entered Sarah's room. The room was small but tidy, with a low bookshelf against the wall and a dressing table next to it.

Luo Xu sniffed; the entire room was filled with a faint scent of roses.

Sarah had him sit on the edge of the bed, then walked to the bookshelf, pulled out "The Love of Aserai," revealing an inconspicuous gap behind it.

She carefully took out the flag cloth and lowered her voice: "No one will rummage through this place. The servants don't come into my room, and I always clean it myself."

Sarah turned around and put the flag back, raising her chin slightly: "Don't worry, this is safe with me."

Luo Xu stood up, stared at the bookshelf for a while, and nodded.

The location of the flag cloth is very well hidden; unless you search through all the boxes and cabinets, you won't find it at all.

Sarah leaned her cane against the bedside and lay down on the bed. She gestured for Luo Xu to sit beside her.

Tell me about what happened last night.

Luo Xu sat on the bed and began to recount his experiences from the previous night.

Scouting the bandit camp, arguing with Walter, assassinating a bandit all by himself...

Sarah listened quietly, only occasionally furrowing her brow.

After chatting for a while, Luo Xu's speech gradually slowed down, and he felt his eyes growing heavier.

After not sleeping all night and taking a hot shower, a wave of intense fatigue washed over me.

"Sarah, I'm sleepy, I'm going back now."

Just as Luo Xu was about to get up, Sarah stopped him.

"I want to hear more." A sly glint flashed in her eyes. "If sitting isn't comfortable, you can lie down and talk."

"I see..." Luo Xu hesitated.

He was a grown man, lying in Sarah's bedroom early in the morning; if someone caught him there, he would have no way to explain himself.

"Oh, I really want to hear what happened next." Sarah shook his arm and pulled him toward the bed.

"All right."

Luo Xu lay on his back on the bed and continued his story, unaware that Sarah was slowly moving closer to him.

Gradually, Luo Xu's voice became indistinct. He suddenly felt the bed beneath him was soft and comfortable, and an irresistible force made him close his eyes.

"Luo Xu?"

Sarah called out softly, and when he didn't respond, a smile appeared on her lips.

She leaned against the headboard, looking down at him quietly.

The tense lines on Luo Xu's face slowly relaxed, and his chest rose and fell gently with his breath.

Her gaze gently fell on his forehead, followed the contours of his brow bone, and slowly descended, finally settling on his lips.

Sarah suddenly remembered that in "The Love of Aserai", when the merchant and the lord's daughter were having a secret rendezvous in the garden, the heroine took the initiative to kiss the merchant.

The book describes lips, not cheeks.

She looked at that page over and over again, thinking about it constantly.

Would a girl really take the initiative to kiss someone?

Now she understands that when you truly like someone, all pretension, reserve, and playing hard to get become unimportant.

She just wanted to kiss him.

Her heart was pounding so fast she could hear it herself. She bent over, her chestnut hair slipping from her shoulders and brushing against Luo Xu's cheek.

Her lips lightly touched the corner of his mouth, the movement awkward and clumsy, not at all as smooth as she had imagined.

Luo Xu's lips were soft, still warm from a hot shower.

Her breath brushed gently against his cheek, her eyelashes almost touching his skin.

Sarah had only intended to touch him briefly before getting up, but the warmth spread through her lips and throughout her body.

Soft and ticklish, like a petal falling on the water, ripples spreading outwards in concentric circles.

Sarah's fingers clenched and unclenched gently, as if she had made up her mind, and her lips covered hers completely.

She could feel the outline of Luo Xu's lips, the temperature of his breath, and the warm, soft touch of his lips against hers.

Sarah held her breath, as if she were ignited by her own audacity.

She wanted more...