He Feng had been away from the mountain for many days without returning. Xie Chi couldn’t wait for him any longer and once again attempted to escape from the stronghold.

The stronghold gates were guarded at all times. Even at night, not even a weasel could sneak in.

Late at night, Xie Chi avoided the patrolling guards and crept along the wall to the remote northern side of the stronghold. She happened to see several sandbags piled against the wall – with that height, it would be easy to climb over.

Just as she was about to go over, a voice came from behind her: “What are you doing?”

Fortunately, the patrol belonged to He Feng’s men. They didn’t do anything to her, only escorted her back to He Zhan’s quarters.

…

According to what Xie Chi understood, Yun Village was the leader among the three strongholds. The head chieftain was called He Zhanghui, He Feng’s father. He Feng’s mother had also been abducted and brought up the mountain. It was said she was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, bewitching He Zhanghui completely. But when she was brought up, her belly was already two months along. He Zhanghui doted on her extremely, indulging her to the point of allowing her to give birth to another man’s child – that was He Zhan. No wonder he wasn’t respected here and suffered cold stares. It was already remarkable that He Zhanghui had let him keep his life.

The people in the stronghold didn’t take He Zhan seriously. His food, clothing, and daily necessities all depended on He Feng. Xie Chi’s life here was also precarious – she often had several bandits whistling at her and making crude remarks. She didn’t even dare step outside.

That evening, He Zhan coughed up blood, and Li Shan wasn’t around. Having no choice, Xie Chi had to go out to find someone.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t find Li Shan but encountered Song Jiao from Qing Village.

Song Jiao had come to see He Zhanghui. Seeing a pretty girl scurrying past, he inquired and learned she was the little wife who had been abducted for He Zhan a few days ago, not yet married.

Song Jiao’s heart itched. He also knew He Zhan’s status, so while drinking, he directly asked He Zhanghui for the woman. Although He Zhanghui was drunk, he wasn’t completely senseless and refused Song Jiao, saying she belonged to He Zhan. Who would have thought Song Jiao would boast he’d trade ten rifles for her. He Zhanghui happily agreed.

Before the wine was finished, Song Jiao hurriedly rushed to He Zhan’s quarters. He claimed to be taking the woman, but it was really robbery – two of his subordinates grabbed Xie Chi and dragged her outside.

He Zhan was half-lying on the bed. Having just taken medicine, his cough had improved slightly, but the urgency made him cough violently again. He couldn’t speak clearly: “Let… let go…”

Song Jiao looked at his half-dead appearance and laughed mockingly: “You’d better wait until you’re better and have the head chieftain find you another one. I’ll take this one first.”

He Zhan fell to the ground. Li Shan escorted Song Jiao and his men out, then returned to help him back onto the bed: “Take it easy. If you get hurt, Third Master will skin me alive.”

“Go stop them… stop them…” He Zhan said half his words before starting to cough again.

Li Shan pulled the quilt over him: “How would I dare?”

He Zhan could barely protect himself, let alone protect her. Others wouldn’t interfere either.

This Song Jiao was clearly no good – two terrifying scars on his face, bald head, yellow teeth, short legs, no neck. When he walked, he looked like a toad standing upright, and he was old enough to be her father.

The more Xie Chi struggled, the tighter the two men dragging her gripped.

She despaired.

Suddenly, the men dragging her stopped.

“Young master.”

“Young master.”

He Feng!

It was He Feng!

Song Jiao was very polite to He Feng: “Little Feng, just back from down the mountain?”

“Yes.”

“Haven’t seen you for several days. You should come sit at my place.”

“Another day.” He Feng said to his follower behind him: “Qing Yangzi, give the wine to Uncle Song to take back and taste.”

Qing Yangzi handed over the wine, which Song Jiao’s subordinate received.

“This wine – I can smell the fragrance even through the bottle.” Song Jiao smiled happily: “Qingtao thinks of you every day. Tomorrow, I’ll set up a table and wait for you.”

“Good.”

“He Feng.” Seeing He Feng chatting pleasantly with him, Xie Chi called his name twice: “He Feng—”

He Feng looked at Xie Chi being held down by the two subordinates: “What is Uncle Song doing?”

“Your father gave me a girl. Damn, she’s quite spirited. See how I’ll deal with her when I get back.”

“Isn’t this my big brother’s woman?”

“Your brother doesn’t want her, gave her to me.”

“Is that so?” He Feng smiled: “Then Uncle Song, take your time.”

Xie Chi: “…”

“Make sure to come drink tomorrow.”

“Good.”

They dragged her past He Feng.

Xie Chi didn’t give up. She used all her strength to break free and threw herself at He Feng’s legs, hugging them.

He Feng was stunned, not expecting her to pull this move: “Uncle Song, looks like she’s unwilling.”

“Willing or not, she has to come with me.” Song Jiao waved his hand, signaling his subordinate to pull her away.

Xie Chi looked up at him pleadingly: “Save me.”

One of Song Jiao’s men came over to pull her. Xie Chi held tight to his legs. This pulling and tugging angered He Feng. Being tall, he looked down at the subordinate, his voice so cold it was frightening: “Are you trying to pull my leg off?”

The subordinate immediately let go and retreated, not daring to raise his head.

Qing Yangzi stood behind He Feng, suppressing his laughter.

Song Jiao pointed at Xie Chi: “Don’t make me angry. Let go quickly, or you’ll suffer later.”

How could Xie Chi let go? At this moment, this thigh was her only hope.

Song Jiao angrily drew his gun. He Feng pressed down on his hand: “Uncle Song, don’t lose your temper.”

“Don’t interfere.” Song Jiao pushed away his hand and pressed the gun against the back of Xie Chi’s head: “Will you let go or not?”

Xie Chi held on even tighter.

He Feng suddenly felt his pants become wet. Was she crying?

“Let go!”

Song Jiao roared, just about to pull the trigger when He Feng’s hand covered Xie Chi’s head, blocking Song Jiao’s gun: “Guns aren’t for shooting women. For my sake, let her go.”

“The woman I’ve set my sights on either comes with me or dies.”

“She won’t let go.” Although He Feng was smiling, his tone was unusually serious: “How about Uncle Song takes me along too?”

“Little Feng, that’s not interesting. What, have you taken a fancy to her too?”

“Will Uncle give way then?”

Song Jiao’s face turned livid. He knew He Feng didn’t want to let the woman go. Unable to provoke this hothead and unwilling to create a standoff that would embarrass him in front of many brothers, he reluctantly put away his gun: “Fine, it’s just a woman.” He smiled stiffly and patted He Feng’s shoulder: “I’m leaving. Thanks for the wine.”

“Uncle Song, take care.”

Song Jiao left with his subordinates.

He Feng blew down at her: “Still not letting go?”

Xie Chi didn’t move.

“Deaf?” He Feng flicked her ear with his finger: “If you don’t let go, I’ll have to chop off your hands.”

Only then did Xie Chi release her grip.

He Feng looked at her red eyes: “You got my pants dirty. What should we do about that?”

Xie Chi looked at that small wet patch and wiped it with her sleeve.

“The more you wipe, the dirtier it gets.” He Feng put his hands behind his back and stepped back: “Qing Yangzi, take her back to big brother.”

“Alright.”

He Feng headed toward the main hall. Xie Chi quickly stood up and chased after him.

He Feng turned around, and Xie Chi stopped too.

“Why are you following me?”

Xie Chi stepped forward twice: “Can you protect me?”

“Beg me.”

“I beg you.”

“Begging me is useless.” He Feng chuckled and walked away quickly: “Follow me again and I’ll break your legs.”

“…”

Qing Yangzi walked to her side: “Let’s go.”

Xie Chi had no choice but to follow him back to He Zhan’s place.

…

That evening, Li Shan brought two bowls of noodles, having eaten the few pieces of meat on top. He put down dinner and left, not caring whether He Zhan could eat or not.

Xie Chi couldn’t lift He Zhan, so she moved the table and chairs to beside He Zhan’s bed to eat together with him.

While eating, several gunshots suddenly rang out.

“Why are there gunshots? Is someone attacking?”

“It should be Little Feng. He often hunts at night.”

“Hunting? Why at night?”

“He says it’s to practice marksmanship and night vision.” A slight smile appeared on He Zhan’s pale face: “Little Feng is quite a marksman.”

“Oh.”

“Finish eating and rest early. Don’t wander around. It’s not safe inside, and it’s even more dangerous outside.”

Xie Chi understood his implication and nodded.

After He Zhan fell asleep, Xie Chi sat outside the door, recalling the day’s events, and couldn’t help feeling chilled again.

She couldn’t stay here any longer. Even if she risked groping her way out in the dark and rolling down a cliff, falling into traps, or encountering wild beasts, it would be better than staying here. What if she got lucky and didn’t die?

After two quarters of an hour, Xie Chi secretly snuck to the place she’d been yesterday. Seeing no one around, she quickly ran over, climbed onto the sandbags, and flipped over.

Xie Chi quickly dove into the woods. There were too many trees blocking the starlight – she couldn’t see a meter ahead. She slowly felt her way forward, falling several times. Going around in circles, she actually lost her bearings.

The mountain’s dark silhouette pressed oppressively before her eyes. She couldn’t tell which way was the path and which way was a cliff. Now even if she wanted to retreat, she didn’t know which direction to go.

If she waited until dawn, the bandits would all come out and she’d be caught again.

Xie Chi plunged ahead blindly, leaving it to fate.

Suddenly someone called her from overhead.

“Hey.”

Xie Chi’s heart jumped in fright. She looked all around – front, back, left, right – no one.

“Over here.”

The voice came from above. Xie Chi looked up and saw a dark figure in the tree.

He Feng was spinning his gun in his hand, sitting on a tree branch: “Midnight escape?”

Seeing him, Xie Chi immediately changed her strategy.

If He Feng hadn’t been there today, she would probably have been gnawed to the bone by that old turtle by now.

Facts proved that tears were still useful.

Perhaps she could still win him over.

She pretended to be naive: “What are you doing in the tree?”

“Watching you.” He Feng put away his gun: “Watching how you fall into my trap.”

Xie Chi didn’t dare move.

He Feng broke off a small branch and threw it at her: “There are three traps around you, all freshly made by me.”

Look how capable you think you are.

Xie Chi pretended to care about him: “Be careful, don’t fall down. It’s so high.”

“You’re the one who needs to be careful.” He broke off another piece of branch and threw it to her left rear: “Snake.”

Xie Chi looked over and indeed saw a snake.

But she had grown up playing with snakes.

Xie Chi deliberately screamed and stepped back two paces. He Feng jumped down from the tree, grabbed the snake, and played with it in his hands: “Look how scared you are, yet you’re running around at midnight. Aren’t you afraid of stepping on a nest of snakes?”

Xie Chi stepped back another pace.

He Feng held up the snake and swayed it back and forth, deliberately scaring her: “What’s to be afraid of? How cute.”

“Don’t come over.” Xie Chi hid behind a tree.

He Feng found her panicked appearance extremely satisfying: “This is my territory. I’ll go wherever I want.”

Xie Chi suddenly crouched down, holding her head and crying.

He Feng watched her with amusement: “Crying?”

Xie Chi ignored him.

“Cry again and I’ll stuff it in your clothes.”

Xie Chi cried even louder.

He Feng turned away: “Fine, fine, I’ll throw it away.”

Only then did Xie Chi raise her face, tears in her eyes, looking at him pitifully. Her voice was soft and sweet: “Stay away from me.”

He Feng helplessly waved his hand: “Alright, I’m leaving. Do as you please.”

Xie Chi quickly stood up and called after him: “Wait.”

He Feng turned back: “What now?”

“I don’t dare walk alone.”

“But you dared come alone?”

“I didn’t know there were snakes.” She pouted, lowered her eyes, looking aggrieved: “And it’s so dark, I’m scared.”

“What, you want me to escort you down the mountain?”

Xie Chi said nothing.

He Feng curved his lips: “You’re not my woman. I can’t make that decision. If I send you down and big brother gets angry with me, what then?”

“I’m not his woman.” Xie Chi hastily explained: “He told you to send me down the mountain.”

He Feng ignored her and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“Back to sleep.” He Feng walked a few steps, then turned back to look at her: “The mountain paths are dangerous at night. If you don’t want to die, go back obediently.”

Xie Chi silently followed him. He Feng walked slowly, as if deliberately waiting for her.

Xie Chi thought to herself that this little rascal was quite easy to manipulate.

No wonder when Ninth Sister made mistakes and cried, Father would stop punishing her and instead coax her. So tears were this useful.

Almost at the stronghold, light illuminated the woods. Xie Chi looked at his back and deliberately twisted her ankle hard, crying out in pain.

He Feng turned to look at her.

Xie Chi propped herself up with her hands, trying to stand. Halfway up, she fell back down from the pain.

He asked: “Sprained your ankle?”

“Mm, it hurts so much.”

“Hurt to death then.”

“…”

He Feng walked away directly without looking back.

Xie Chi limped after him. Her fall just now was real – she hadn’t expected this He Feng to have no understanding of tenderness toward women. In a moment, he was gone without a trace.

She returned the same way, wanting to climb back over the wall at the northern side. Her foot really hurt. After three failed attempts to climb up and down, she was drenched in sweat from the pain.

Xie Chi had no strength left and prepared to rest. She supported herself against the wall with one hand and rubbed her ankle with the other. Suddenly something cold fell on her neck. Looking again, it was actually a flower snake. She didn’t panic and slowly straightened up.

“You’re not afraid?”

Hearing the voice, she looked up and saw He Feng sitting on the wall with a smiling expression.

Looking at his infuriating expression, Xie Chi suddenly felt a surge of anger. Unable to control herself, she grabbed the snake from her shoulder and violently whipped it across his face.

Good heavens.

He Feng’s face was whipped to one side, blood flowing from his nose.

He casually wiped away the blood, turned his face back to look down at her, and unhurriedly drew his gun from behind, pointing it at her.

Xie Chi didn’t cower either. She threw away the snake and calmly stared at him: “Go ahead and shoot me. Living in this bandit’s den is worse than death anyway. Rather than being toyed with by you people, I’d rather die clean.”

He Feng tilted his head, put away his gun: “If you were a man, your brains would already be splattered.”

Xie Chi turned and limped toward the woods again.

“Where are you going?”

“To feed the wolves.”

He Feng jumped down from the wall, caught up with her in two steps, and hoisted her over his shoulder. Xie Chi pounded his back: “Let go!”

He Feng slapped her bottom: “Hit me again and I’ll chop off your hands.”

Xie Chi clenched her fists and pounded him even harder.

He Feng easily threw her over to the other side of the wall. Xie Chi landed on the sandbags, feeling like her waist was about to break.

He Feng leaped over and crouched on the ground looking at her: “Comfortable?”

Xie Chi reached out to hit him. He Feng grabbed her wrist: “At your speed, even with ten hands you couldn’t hit me.”

His strength was too great – Xie Chi couldn’t break free.

“Pretending for so long, finally showing your true face.”

Xie Chi kicked at him with her feet. He Feng also grabbed her calf.

“You know what you’re like?” He laughed: “A self-important little deer.”

“Cut the crap.”

He Feng released her and dusted off his hands: “I like your temper.”

Xie Chi rubbed her wrist. Seeing half his face covered in dried noseblood, she suddenly wanted to laugh.

“Have you slept with my brother?”

Xie Chi didn’t answer.

“I’m asking you.”

“What’s it to you?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Have you slept together or not?”

“Why are you asking this?”

“I’ve taken a fancy to you.” He stared at her, his eyes reflecting the not-too-distant bonfire, sparkling brightly. Whether he was joking or serious was unclear: “If you haven’t slept together, I’ll take you. If you have, I’ll kill you.”

…