No, he was not only saving her, but also helping her.
To build his own prestige.
...
After everything was settled, the old chief summoned Bai Xiaojing alone.
"Sit down, my girl," the old chief said while pointing to one side. Then he continued to work as if Bai Xiaojing had never existed. He used primitive and simple tools to make bowstrings.
Bai Xiao sat down obediently. She looked at the old chief, who was slowly playing with the hemp rope, circles after circles. She watched very carefully.
Every movement of the old chief was as slow as the slow-motion so that Bai Xiaojing could see every detail clearly. When he finally finished the first step of his work and began to tie the first ear, he looked Bai Xiaojing up and down with the corner of his eye to see if she was impatient or if
