“If you can’t speak up, I’ll go ask my brother directly.”

“No.” She lowered her face and repeated: “No.”

“Scared?”

“Mm.” Xie Chi was honest: “I don’t want to die. As long as I don’t die, anything is fine.”

“That’s all you aspire to.”

“Without life, there’s nothing.”

“Then why didn’t you go with Song Jiao?” He Feng smiled: “Desperately hugging my thigh.”

Xie Chi met his gaze and said seriously: “He’s disgusting, doesn’t look like a good person at all. If I really went with him, I probably wouldn’t live long either. You saved me. Although you’re sometimes fierce, you’re not evil by nature. You’re young, have high status – having you as backing is the best choice.”

“Sweet little mouth.” He Feng grabbed her foot and suddenly twisted it hard: “Just teasing you, and you took it seriously.”

Xie Chi frowned from the pain, but after his twist, it actually hurt less.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. You’re not worthy of dying under my gun.” He Feng stood up, looking down at her: “If you had slept together, you’d be sister-in-law. I couldn’t bully sister-in-law.”

“…”

He Feng grinned wickedly: “Since you haven’t, we’ll have some fun.”

“…”

“Does your foot still hurt?”

“A little.”

He Feng grabbed her arm and pulled her up, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack.

“I can walk myself.” His shoulder was broad and his walk steady – lying like this wasn’t uncomfortable. Xie Chi gripped his clothes: “Where are you taking me?”

“Where else? To my room.”

Xie Chi was stunned for two seconds, then struggled harder: “I won’t go, put me down, I won’t go!”

“You spoke so sweetly just now, already regretting it?”

Xie Chi stopped moving.

He Feng scoffed: “Going to my room – dream on.”

This direction was toward He Zhan’s place.

Her heart settled.

He Feng walked to He Zhan’s courtyard gate and put her down: “Go in yourself. Pack up – tomorrow morning I’ll have Qing Yangzi come get you. We’ll settle accounts slowly.”

Xie Chi had a bad feeling. Looking at the blood on his face, she tried to make amends: “Does your nose still hurt? I’m sorry, I hit too hard. If you’re angry, hit me back – I absolutely won’t make a sound.”

“Stop pretending.” He Feng saw right through her: “Go back and sleep well. You won’t have much sleep in the future.”

“…” Xie Chi couldn’t figure out this boy: “What exactly do you want to do?”

He Feng didn’t answer, just smiled and walked away.

Xie Chi watched his figure disappear into the night, slowly returned to her room, her whole body aching. She lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling beams, somewhat worried.

He Feng, this madman, was hard to deal with.

…

The next morning, Xie Chi was eating steamed buns with He Zhan when He Feng’s subordinate Qing Yangzi arrived. Without waiting for Xie Chi to finish breakfast, he took her away.

You could judge a master’s status by his residence. He Zhan’s place only had a small courtyard with two rooms. He Feng’s place not only had a large courtyard with many rooms, but also a private kitchen. She couldn’t even count all the servants cleaning the place.

He Feng wasn’t in the courtyard. Xie Chi didn’t see him until evening.

Qing Yangzi led her outside where He Feng sat on a stone bench under a tree, cleaning his gun. Seeing her approach: “You’re here.”

“Mm.”

He Feng lazily glanced up at her, then lowered his eyes again: “Been here a day, familiar with it?”

“Mm.”

“Does your foot still hurt?”

Xie Chi didn’t answer.

Qing Yangzi poked her back, whispering: “He’s asking you.”

He Feng blew on his gun, attention fully on his precious weapon: “Still stubborn. Let’s see how many days you can stay tough.”

Hearing this, Xie Chi turned around with a changed expression, smiling ingratiatingly: “Young master, may I ask what you brought me here for?”

“Nothing much. I’ve been in the stronghold lately, just lacking entertainment.” He Feng put his gun in the holster at his waist: “I think you’re not bad.”

“I’m very boring.”

“I’ll make you interesting.”

He Feng asked Qing Yangzi: “Is dinner ready?”

“Ready long ago, just waiting for you.”

He Feng stood up. Passing by Xie Chi, he snapped his fingers at her: “Come on, let’s eat.”

Xie Chi silently followed.

A whole table full of dishes – Xie Chi found it both exaggerated and wasteful, but also… tempting. At He Zhan’s place she’d had thin soup and plain water – she hadn’t eaten meat in a long time.

He Feng poured wine for her: “Can you drink?”

“No.” This was a lie. Xie Chi could drink well. Her grandfather liked to drink and always had her accompany him. After years of this, most men couldn’t out-drink her.

“Learn.”

He Feng raised his wine cup, signaling her to lift hers. Xie Chi raised her cup and took a small sip, pretending to frown.

He Feng was amused and lifted his leg, foot on the long bench: “Good?”

“Awful.”

“If it’s awful, drink another cup.”

“…”

He Feng tapped the table: “Pour it full, or should I serve you?”

Xie Chi filled the wine.

He Feng drank only four taels before losing interest – drinking with this little woman was no fun. He didn’t eat much food, just some meat before putting down his chopsticks and supporting his face with his hand to watch her.

Xie Chi kept eating, glancing at him: “Why are you staring at me?”

“Where are you from?”

She made up an answer: “Suzhou.”

“Southern.” He Feng asked again: “What brought you to Shandong?”

“Sightseeing.”

“Toured yourself right into trouble. Pitiful.”

“Then let me go?” Xie Chi stopped her chopsticks, staring into his eyes.

He Feng was silent for a moment: “Dream on.”

“…” Xie Chi lowered her eyes, sullenly picking at her food with force.

“Keep me entertained and happy, and letting you go isn’t impossible – along with that seventh or eighth or ninth sister of yours.”

“Really?” Xie Chi’s eyes widened with anticipation.

“Does it sound like a lie?”

“Will that second-in-command of Lei Village listen to you?”

He Feng smiled lazily: “Even if I wanted his wife, he’d have to give her up.”

Xie Chi was overjoyed – seemed she’d found the right person. But her happiness lasted only five seconds before her heart went cold again: “What do you want me to do?”

“Guess.”

Xie Chi thought of intimate matters between men and women.

He Feng saw her thoughtful expression and tapped her hand with a chopstick: “What lewd things are you thinking?”

Hearing those two words, she shot up: “I wasn’t!”

“Getting worked up too.” He Feng raised an eyebrow: “Sit down.”

Xie Chi stood for a moment, then sat back down: “Just tell me directly – what do you want me to do?”

“Would you do lewd things?”

Xie Chi blushed.

“Getting shy too.” He Feng was thoroughly amused: “Don’t flatter yourself – I’m not interested in you.”

“…”

He put down his leg and stood up: “Keep eating, eat more so you’ll have strength.”

“…”

He Feng stretched and walked to the door, leaning against it. The door was old and creaked: “What’s your name?”

Xie Chi didn’t dare reveal her real name, not even her surname, to prevent future trouble if she escaped. She thought for a moment and answered seriously: “A’Zhi.”

He Feng wasn’t interested in her surname: “Which character?”

“Zhi as in sesame.”

He Feng looked at her and smiled: “You really do lie easily. I’d be a fool to believe you.”

“…”

“Ugly name, zhi as in sesame.” He repeated it, straightened up, looked at the door beside him, and pushed it all the way with one palm. It made a grating creak: “Change the character – zhi, as in creak-creak.”

“…”

What a lovely name you’ve given.

He Feng looked at her displeased expression with great satisfaction and walked out happily.

Even after he’d gone far, Xie Chi could still hear his laughing voice:

“A’Zhi, A’Zhi.”

…

He Feng’s nickname was He Three-Crazy, though everyone only called him that behind his back – very few dared say it to his face.

Why He Three-Crazy?

First, it related to his name – three dots and the character feng; second, he was ranked third; third, he was an absolute madman.

Xie Chi had originally thought he was just arrogant and unreasonable, but after three days together, she finally understood why everyone called him Three-Crazy.

Xie Chi was nearly driven to death by his torment.

Just this morning, He Feng had dragged her to practice shooting.

How?

He tied her hair up tight and stuck a feather straight up on top – a beautiful pheasant feather.

He said: “When the feather has no more plumes, your task is complete.”

Anyone would go crazy. Fortunately Xie Chi could endure it, and she understood his marksmanship. Bullets flew over her head again and again – she could clearly feel the feather trembling. To say she wasn’t afraid would be a lie. Xie Chi was terrified, afraid he might tremble and her head would really explode.

Fortunately his hand was steady, and Xie Chi successfully survived.

He Feng put away his gun and waved from a distance: “A’Zhi, come here.”

Xie Chi sighed in relief. Her tense body immediately relaxed, but she felt extremely tired. She pulled out the bare feather from her head and walked over glumly.

“Amazing, right?”

“Amazing.”

“Very exciting, wasn’t it?”

“Exciting.”

“Want to play again?”

“No more.” Xie Chi plopped down on the ground: “I’m tired.”

He Feng lightly kicked her calf: “Tired already.”

Xie Chi moved her leg away, not letting him touch it.

He Feng suddenly reached toward her. Xie Chi leaned back, avoiding him like the plague.

“Come here.” He crooked his finger.

Xie Chi pretended not to see.

He Feng bent down, hand heading straight for her head. Xie Chi covered her head and hid it between her legs.

He Feng picked up the down feathers stuck in her hair and blew them away: “That afraid of me?”

Xie Chi opened one eye to peek at him, pretending to be weak: “Don’t hit me.”

“Have I hit you?” He Feng straightened up, looking down at her: “Get up.”

Xie Chi put down her hands, straightened her back, looked at He Feng’s extended hand, and grasped it, using his strength to stand up.

Be tough when you should be tough, be soft when you should be soft.

Always opposing him would only increase his desire to conquer – when would this torment end?

He Feng didn’t torment her further, brought her back to the courtyard, then went out himself.

He didn’t return until late at night. There was commotion outside that woke Xie Chi.

She didn’t go out, lying in bed listening to the sounds outside. He Feng must have been drinking – he cursed a few times and knocked something over.

As she listened, those chaotic footsteps came closer and closer. She had just sat up clutching her quilt when the door was kicked open.

A tall dark figure stood in the doorway, clean bright moonlight spread behind him.

Xie Chi huddled in the corner of the bed watching him, not daring to move.

He Feng was very drunk, couldn’t find his direction, stumbled in. Such a big person sat on the bed, but he seemed not to see her: “A’Zhi—”

“A’Zhi—”

Seeing his unclear state, knowing he might do something outrageous, Xie Chi quietly got out of bed and hid under it.

Fortunately He Feng didn’t notice.

He Feng felt his way to the bedside, reached in but didn’t find anyone. He knelt down, his knee right toward Xie Chi’s face under the bed.

“I’ll count to three – come out.”

Xie Chi lay on the ground, face to the floor, holding her breath.

“One.”

Xie Chi’s heart raced.

“Two.”

It jumped to her throat.

“Three.”

Stay calm, stay calm.

The room fell quiet.

Why was it so scary?

Xie Chi raised her face and met He Feng’s hazy eyes.

In that instant, she felt her heart stop.

He Feng smiled lazily, his voice low and husky: “Found you.”

“…”

Xie Chi was dragged out by He Feng, her elbow scraping the ground and breaking the skin.

He Feng sat on the bed with legs spread, staring at Xie Chi standing straight: “Am I scary?”

Xie Chi didn’t look at him: “Not bad.”

“Then why hide under the bed?”

“There was a mouse.”

“Did you catch it?”

“No.”

“Aunt Wang has two cats in her courtyard. I’ll bring them tomorrow to take a look.”

“…” Xie Chi suspiciously peeked at him. He really believed it?

He Feng yawned and hit his head with his fist: “Mice won’t do. I find them annoying too.”

“…” He really was drunk.

He suddenly fell backward, sprawling on her bed, muttering: “Need to find cats… cats.”

No more sound.

Xie Chi moved closer and peered over. He Feng had closed his eyes and fallen asleep.

She knelt on the bed, raised her fist wanting to beat him up, hand suspended in mid-air, but didn’t dare. Just as she was glaring at him viciously, He Feng suddenly opened his eyes.

Xie Chi jumped in fright.

“You still want to hit me.” He Feng pressed down her fist, grasped her wrist, turned over and went back to sleep.

“…” Xie Chi tried to pull her hand away unsuccessfully, then tried to pry his fingers, but he gripped tighter.

“Pry again and I’ll chop it off.”

“…”

“I’m not scaring you.” He drew a knife from his waist and placed it by his face: “Don’t move.”

Xie Chi stopped struggling. She lay beside him, studying his face.

Actually, just in terms of looks, He Feng was truly handsome – a young, elegant gentleman, not crude and barbaric like other bandits. His beard was cleanly shaved, his paired sword-brows neat and tidy with hardly any stray hairs, light double eyelids, long sparse lashes, a high straight nose. His features were perfectly positioned, looking refined, clean, and bright. Xie Chi was somewhat puzzled – a bandit who grew up in the mountains, wielding knives and guns daily, running wild all over the mountain with blood on his hands, why would he have some scholarly air, especially when his eyes were closed?

Perhaps he resembled his mother who was beautiful as a celestial fairy.

Xie Chi’s legs went numb from kneeling, so she simply sat on the ground.

After a long while, He Feng should have been deeply asleep. She tried pulling her hand again but still couldn’t break free.

“Why don’t you just drink yourself to death?”

“Mm?”

“You’re awake?”

He wasn’t awake, just hummed softly.

“…”

…

He Feng woke before Xie Chi. He lay in bed watching Xie Chi sitting on the ground. This girl was really tender, tenderer than any he’d ever seen. Her skin was so white and thin that probably a light scratch from a small branch would break it.

He Feng didn’t understand tenderness toward women. He didn’t lift her onto the bed or think to cover the little girl with a blanket – just watched her sleep dryly.

Remembering how she hid under the bed last night, he laughed unkindly, even making sound.

This laugh woke Xie Chi.

She slept with an aching back, neck pain, and stiff waist. Opening her eyes to see He Feng staring at her with a smile, she felt creeped out and jerked her hand away. She fell backward, supporting herself with both hands on the ground: “Why are you staring at me like that?”

He Feng didn’t answer, sat up cross-legged looking at her: “Come here, massage my shoulders.”

“…”

Was he even human?

He wasn’t human.

But she still had to coax him, indulge him, flatter him – who told him to be the mountain king?

“Then turn around.”

He Feng patted the bedding beside him: “Climb up yourself.”

Xie Chi climbed behind him with a cold face and obediently massaged him.

“Use more force. When you hit me that day, you had quite some strength.”

“…”

Xie Chi squeezed him hard, thinking he’d scold her, but He Feng said nothing.

Why was her heart racing?

“Xie Wanzhi.”

Hearing this name, Xie Chi’s hands suddenly stopped.

He Feng laughed: “Don’t stop, continue.”

Xie Chi felt a bit guilty.

“Your surname is Xie, you’re from Wuxi. You came here to visit relatives – Xie Jiamin in Jinan, your second uncle. Your father is Xie Jiaxing. Your family ancestors painted in the palace, now they do silk business. You’re ranked seventh, and the one captured with you is the ninth. I heard you paint well – is that right?”

“Since you’ve found everything out, why ask me?”

“Do you know that while you’re desperately thinking of going back, in your family, you two sisters are already dead?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sealed coffins, buried, tombstones erected – dead.” Seeing her silence, He Feng continued: “Very simple. Unmarried daughters kidnapped by bandits – how shameful.”

Xie Chi didn’t seem overly shocked, calmly lowered her eyes, looking thoughtful.

“Looks like you can’t go back.”

“What about my grandfather?” Xie Chi didn’t care about others, only cared about the grandfather who raised her.

“Don’t know, didn’t inquire.” He Feng grasped her hand and pulled her in front of him: “Why go back anyway? Staying in my stronghold is great.”

“Stay here for what? To be your dog? A plaything?”

“What do you want to be then? My wife?” He pinched her chin, looked left and right, deliberately sighed: “Still lacking a bit, but passable.”

Xie Chi pushed away his hand: “Even if I’m homeless and wandering everywhere, I don’t want to stay here.”

He Feng was silent.

“Can you go out?”

“Fine, cry by yourself for a while.”

He Feng walked to the door, turned back to glance at her. Xie Chi lowered her head in thought, looking somewhat forlorn. He closed the door for her: “About enough. Come out to eat later – miss the time and there’s nothing to eat.”

Xie Chi wasn’t actually sad, rather found it reasonable.

She knew Xie Jiaxing’s character too well – always emphasizing family reputation, fame, face. How could he accept daughters who’d been in a bandit’s den?

Could she still return to grandfather’s side then?

…

Xie Chi’s mood adjusted quickly. She didn’t give up going down the mountain because of this, even though the Xie family had abandoned them.

Not eating or drinking was meaningless – she’d be the one to suffer. She cleaned herself up and went to eat with He Feng.

He Feng saw her calmly sit across from him and rolled an egg over: “Giving you an egg.”

Xie Chi caught it: “I want more.”

He Feng rolled another to her: “Want more?”

“Yes.”

He Feng said to Qing Yangzi: “Have the kitchen boil twenty more.”

“So many.”

“Not many. She can eat them. If she can’t finish, she can’t leave the table.”

Xie Chi cracked the eggshell and bit down half the egg, as if competing with him: “Twenty is nothing – I could finish forty.”

He Feng laughed: “Qing Yangzi, go boil forty.”

“Ah.” Qing Yangzi scratched his head and left: “Alright then.”

…