As the two descended the mountain, they heard heart-wrenching cries. A funeral procession was carrying a mat, with a sallow-faced woman and three or four children in mourning clothes weeping as they walked.
The village chief walked solemnly beside them.
Someone had died in the village.
It looked like the pillar of the household had passed.
The village chief saw Xiao Shan now and, noticing he had come down the mountain with his wife, his eyes flickered with surprise but he thought nothing more of it.
Xiao Shan’s devotion to his wife was well-known in the village; it was not strange for him to take her anywhere.
Seeing his wife growing more radiant by the day, the village chief’s courage swelled.
He stopped, not following the procession.
“Xiao Shan, I want to talk to you.”
“Mm.”
Xiao Shan frowned. The village chief never sought him out for good news, and he didn't particularly want to listen.
“Alas!” The village chief’s face fell, and he seemed to age several years. “The one we just sent off was San Shunzi. I remember visiting when he was born; his parents had specially found someone to give him a good name, San Shun: heart smooth, family smooth, everything smooth. Alas, his fate was not smooth. Not yet forty, and he’s gone, leaving behind a widow and orphans, how will they live?”
The village chief wiped away a tear. Xiao Shan had a bad feeling.
Xue Niang’s heart was heavy, and she frowned, asking, “How did he die?”
Seeing her question, the village chief sighed again. “He died of illness. The family had many mouths to feed, not enough grain. They gave their remaining food to the children, and when he felt unwell from hunger, he ate dirt. That’s how he ruined his health. When he died, he was so thin there was no flesh on his body, but his stomach was as distended as a woman in her tenth month of pregnancy.”
He didn’t die of illness; he died of poverty! He was forced to death by this world!
Xiao Shan’s eyes were dark. Impatient with listening, he got straight to the point, “If you have something to say, just say it. I’m busy!”
Xue Niang had never heard of such a thing and opened her mouth slightly in surprise.
The village chief was a little embarrassed, but for the sake of the villagers, he had no choice. “Xiao Shan, there are many like this in the village. I’m afraid they won’t survive the winter. You are the only capable one in the village. Could you take some of the village youths to hunt with you? I promise they won’t cause trouble. You just need to protect them if danger arises… and you’ll get a share of the hunted prey each time…”
Xiao Shan scoffed. “The mountains are full of danger. Who will be responsible if someone dies?”
“I will! I’ve made it clear to them all. Once in the mountains, life and death are by fate, and their families will never trouble you. At worst, I’ll have everyone going sign a letter of guarantee with me!”
Seeing Xiao Shan did not refuse, the village chief immediately gave strong assurances.
“No! I disagree.”
The village chief hadn’t expected Xue Niang to be the one to refuse. He had thought her soft-hearted and that if Xiao Shan agreed, everything would be fine. Who knew she would disagree?
The village chief quickly looked at Xiao Shan, afraid he would defer to his wife on this matter too.
As expected, when Xiao Shan heard Xue Niang’s refusal, he raised an eyebrow. “Then it’s no good. My wife disagrees.”
The village chief’s face flushed with embarrassment. If these were youths from his Liu family, he would have slapped him long ago. What kind of man was he, not relying on a woman for sustenance, why was he so obedient?
“Daughter-in-law Xiao, why do you disagree? Do you have any other concerns?”
“It’s easy to say, ‘just protect them if danger arises.’ If they encounter fierce beasts, wolf packs, how much can he protect? If he were alone, he would have run long ago. Bringing you all along is just a burden. Why expend effort and take risks? Furthermore, you talk about signing a guarantee, but can a guarantee control people’s hearts? If Xiao Shan protects this one and loses that one, won’t the family of the lost one resent him? This thankless task, we won’t do it!”
Her sympathy for the villagers was one thing, but she absolutely would not risk Xiao Shan’s life.
In this world, the lives of others were of no concern to her; she only wanted Xiao Shan to be well.
Xiao Shan’s lips curved upwards. Seeing his wife protect him, his heart felt warm and deeply comforted.
“Then that’s settled. We’ll be going now. We just returned from the mountain, and my wife is tired.” Xiao Shan, in a rare good mood, bid farewell to the village chief, almost causing the chief to faint from frustration.
“Wife slave!”
This wouldn’t do. He still had to think of a way. It seemed he could only try to influence his wife.
Upon arriving home, Hu Zi rushed at them like a madman, only to be kicked away by Xiao Shan. When they left, he had clearly thrown it a pile of food, but now there was nothing left. It really could eat!
“Quickly pick out the eggs, we’ve saved so many!”
“I know. You go rest. Are you very tired? See if your feet have blisters.” Xiao Shan urged her into the house.
Her feet didn’t have blisters, but her ankles ached from exhaustion. Logically, climbing the mountain should have been more tiring, but she hadn’t expected descending to be more so. She had even been carried by Xiao Shan for a stretch midway. She suspected all her strength had been drained by him on the mountain.
Xiao Shan heated some water and soaked her feet, then massaged them according to acupressure points.
Xue Niang remembered how he had held her foot in the cave and nibbled at it bit by bit, and she couldn’t help but curl her toes.
Her body temperature began to rise. Xue Niang placed her foot on Xiao Shan’s neck. “Xiao Shan, if the village chief asks for your help again, will you agree?”
“Isn’t that up to you?”
Xiao Shan caressed her delicate foot, sending waves of warmth through her.
He was always so hot.
“Then it’s fine.” Xue Niang was no longer worried. “You’re not allowed to go.”
“I won’t go. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”
“Mmm, you may withdraw. This empress wishes to sleep.”
Xiao Shan: “……”
Such a little thing, crossing the river and demolishing the bridge!
Xue Niang was sleeping soundly when she was woken by a whimpering sound. She got up and was surprised to find herself wearing silk brocade robes. Beside her knelt a young boy, who was crying.
“Why are you crying?” Xue Niang asked.
“Princess, please go and see the young master. If he continues like this, he will go mad.”
“Who?”
Xue Niang groggily got up and followed the young boy out. Outside the door was a long corridor with pavilions, and a pond full of blooming lotuses exuded a fragrance. A person sat in a pavilion.
Dressed in immaculate white, his hair as black as ink, his back was elegant and straight.
“Wen Tang Gege?”
The man turned around, revealing a face of unparalleled handsomeness, a straight nose, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, with a hint of scholarly air amidst his sharp demeanor.
He looked at her, his clear, bright eyes showing a trace of sadness.
“Princess, where did you go?”
He reached out his hand from afar, his eyes growing more melancholic. “Princess, I can’t find you.”
“I lost the princess.”
“I am unworthy, I am unworthy to be the Divine Monarch of Da Yao!”
He drew a dagger, his face, as serene as the clear moon and gentle breeze, now filled with storm and rain, and without hesitation, plunged it into his own chest. kuAiδugg
“Young master! I beg you, don’t torment yourself like this. The princess will return!” The young boy hugged the man’s leg and cried out.
Xue Niang wanted to go over but found there was no path. She cried out urgently, “Wen Tang Gege, Wen Tang Gege, what’s wrong with you?”
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed by a rough hand, and an angry face appeared before her.
Xue Niang felt a sharp pain and her eyes snapped open. The magnified face above her made her flinch in fright.