"Save Xu Da Niu? There's such a thing! No wonder Xue Niang injured her elbow that day, it was to save this kind of thing!"
At this moment, Xiao Shan wished he could beat Xu Da Niu to death!
Xu Da Niu turned pale at Liu Dong Huai's words, and the villagers pointed at her. Her mind became a mess, and she covered her face and burst into tears.
However, at this moment, no one sympathized with her anymore.
Even Wang Shu Zhen, who usually had a good impression of her, kept her distance. No wonder her daughter didn't play with her; how could this daughter be so wicked!
Liu Dong Huai cupped his hands and announced another matter to the villagers, "Xu Da Niu is speaking nonsense. Please, all aunts and uncles, do not listen to her ramblings. Dong Huai will be getting married soon, and the young lady by my side is my fiancée."
He took Su Yu Ruo's hand. Su Yu Ruo was both happy and shy, leaning against him obediently.
The villagers' attention immediately shifted.
"What a beautiful girl, Dong Huai, congratulations!"
As expected of a scholar. His father was in prison, yet he had such a good girl marrying him. Judging by the clothes she wore, she must be from a good family.
Xiao Shan pulled Xue Niang along as they continued home. Before they reached home, they saw a man with a fierce face running towards them. The man's eyes widened when he saw Xue Niang, but when he saw Xiao Shan beside her, his body trembled, his eyes flashed with fear, and he ran past with his head down.
"Isn't that Xu Da Niu's man?"
Xue Niang had met him once on their wedding day and remembered his arrogant demeanor.
Xiao Shan snorted.
"Xiao Shan, why is he so afraid of you?"
Xiao Shan whispered something in her ear, and Xue Niang's eyes widened in surprise.
"I can't possibly keep a venomous snake in the village. It could harm you once, and it will harm you a second time. Some people's wickedness is on the surface, while others hide it in their bones. Xu Da Niu, born into such a family, has developed a selfish nature. When you are good to her, she will be grateful. When you are not beneficial to her, she will erase all the good you've done for her and bite you back, just like today."
"You can kill human traffickers without mercy, but you don't have the resolve to kill someone who appears pitiful. However, such people are even more terrifying; they will always bite you in the back when you are unprepared. Therefore, you cannot show mercy to a venomous snake. Xue Niang, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Did you suffer at the hands of such people before?"
"That's impossible. I've just seen too much. The only person who can hurt me... is you." Xiao Shan's eyes held a hidden meaning. He opened the door and entered the house.
"I..." Xue Niang clearly misunderstood. She then thought that she might have caused Xiao Shan to be harmed, and a look of stunned disbelief appeared on her picturesque face.
"I don't want to either. The one who least wants you to be hurt is me..."
"I know, you just couldn't help yourself." Xiao Shan took off his upper garment and threw it onto the pile of firewood, revealing his strong upper body. Several scratch marks on his chest and back were particularly conspicuous.
"Look, like a kitten."
Xiao Shan pushed her against the door. It was good to have a house with a yard; no one could see anything.
"Xiao Shan!" Xue Niang blushed. So this is what he was talking about!
Speaking such suggestive words, without regard for the time of day. The bright sun was shining, wasn't he ashamed!
"But it doesn't hurt. I like it when you scratch."
His gaze was scorching, with surging waves within. His warm breath continuously disturbed her earlobes, and his strong masculine aura enveloped Xue Niang.
Her breathing quickened, and her legs went weak.
"During the day, it's not allowed..."
"Not allowed what?" He admired her flushed cheeks, like ripe apples hanging on a tree, making people covet and eager to pick them.
"Not allowed to indulge in lust? We are people of the mountains and wilds; we don't have such rules."
Xue Niang was both shy and annoyed, thinking he was really going to... but then Xiao Shan let out a pleasant low laugh and released her.
"Are you tired? Go and rest for a while. I'll chop some firewood; we've used up quite a bit these past few days."
Indeed, a lot had been used, especially with the frequent use of hot water.
Xue Niang playfully hit him in annoyance and ran into the house.
Xiao Shan's laughter followed her.
After going out to plant vegetables, Xue Niang's hands were covered in dirt. She carefully cleaned her fingernails and then thought of the scratches on Xiao Shan's body, which looked quite deep.
At that time, she couldn't remember how she had scratched him; perhaps it was because she had been driven mad by him that she had scratched him in a daze.
She should trim them!
Xue Niang cut her nails short and rounded the edges. She glanced out the window.
Xiao Shan was already chopping a pile of firewood with his axe. The autumn midday sun was still harsh, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
As if noticing someone watching, Xiao Shan looked up towards her. Their eyes met, and the light in his eyes was even more dazzling than the sun.
"A Shan." Xue Niang couldn't help but murmur.
Xiao Shan grinned, his smile hearty yet a little silly, as pure as a child's. It was a stark contrast to his sturdy physique, yet it warmed Xue Niang like the sun.
There was another knock on the door. Xiao Shan's expression turned serious, and he returned to his calm demeanor. He dropped the axe and went to open the door.
Outside stood a young boy dressed as a servant, Liu Zi from Fu Lai Restaurant.
"Strongman Xiao, so you've moved here!"
"Yes. Is there something?" Xiao Shan was always direct.
Liu Zi knew his temperament, so he quickly explained, "Strongman Xiao, the restaurant has booked a large party for the day after tomorrow. The manager sent me to ask if you could send some game tomorrow. The payment will be double the usual rate; we'll buy as much as you have."
Xiao Shan thought for a moment and replied, "Yes!"
"Alright!" Liu Zi said happily and bid farewell, "Then I'll quickly report back to the manager!"
Liu Zi, having received confirmation, drove his carriage away.
Xiao Shan closed the door, thought for a moment, and stopped chopping wood. He went to the back of the door, picked up a shovel, and began to dig.
Xue Niang, by the window, was a little puzzled, wondering what he was doing.
She curiously walked over, "Xiao Shan, what are you digging for?"
"Digging for treasure."
What treasure? Did he hide treasure?
After digging about half a meter, he indeed found an oil-paper package. Xiao Shan opened it and took out a stone about the size of a fist. It was dark and unremarkable, even a bit ugly.
"What treasure is this?"
"A meteorite," Xiao Shan explained. "It was brought back from the Ghost Forest. The reason the Ghost Forest can confuse people is because of it. This stone contains mysterious power that can influence people's emotions."
"Ah? Then why did you bring it home?"
Xue Niang suddenly thought of something and her eyes widened, looking at Xiao Shan in disbelief. "That day, I thought I was dreaming. Could it be this..."
"What are you thinking!" Xiao Shan interrupted her, showing no signs of guilt. That was due to the medicine, not the stone's effect.
"I've handled it all. How could I let the energy leak?"
"Xue Niang, I'm going to the mountains tonight to set up a simple illusion array with this stone. I'll feel more at ease if you're home alone."
"Set up an array?" Xue Niang looked at him with sparkling eyes, "Xiao Shan, you're so amazing!"
Xiao Shan felt a little flattered by her admiring gaze. "Yes, it's just some small tricks."
"But it's very impressive," Xue Niang emphasized again.
She truly felt that someone who could set up arrays was like someone who could control the wind and rain. She had heard that powerful arrays could allow a thousand people to fight tens of thousands!
No wonder he could become a god of war that struck fear into the hearts of the Turks.
Xiao Shan pursed his lips, his gaze as dark as the deep. She should have experienced his prowess in other aspects, which were even more formidable than setting up arrays.
"Xue Niang, go and get some rest."
Gathering strength for the task ahead.