Qing Yangzi didn’t return until the middle of the night. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Aunt Li rushed over: “Oh, you’re finally back!”

Qing Yangzi had been drinking and asked drunkenly: “Why aren’t you sleeping in the middle of the night?”

“That Peach girl from Qing Village came and took A’Zhi away.” Aunt Li looked worried: “I searched for you for half the day but couldn’t find you. She’s been gone for a whole day now – what should we do?”

Qing Yangzi didn’t listen to a word she said and collapsed while laughing.

“Hey, don’t sleep!” Aunt Li pulled his arm: “With Peach girl’s temperament, she won’t escape without losing a layer of skin. Aren’t you going to check? Wake up!”

Qing Yangzi was unconscious.

…

Xie Chi suffered endless torment. She didn’t have the courage to fight Song Qingtao to the death – after all, this was her territory. This female bandit was too jealous and hot-tempered. Killing her would just waste one bullet.

She didn’t want to die at all. She was still young, had many things undone, and still wanted to return to see her grandfather.

She could only endure it. Maybe if she held out until He Feng returned, it would be fine.

But it had been almost two days, and He Feng still hadn’t appeared.

…

Xie Chi hadn’t eaten since being brought to Qing Village. In the evening, the little brother guarding the door threw in half a steamed bun. Xie Chi wasn’t a particularly noble person, nor did she have strong self-respect. In her consciousness, staying alive was most important. She couldn’t starve to death before Song Qingtao tortured her to death.

She finished the bun in a few bites. The little brother handed her a bowl of water. Looking at this disheveled, injured person, he sighed: “You could offend anyone else, but you had to offend the young miss. You’re in for suffering.”

Xie Chi returned the empty bowl to him: “Has He…” The word “Feng” didn’t leave her lips before she quickly changed her address: “Has the young master returned?”

“You still dare mention the young master.” The little brother looked around sneakily: “Don’t mention him in front of the young miss. Previously there was a woman who just smiled at the young master, and the young miss pulled out all her teeth.”

Xie Chi fell silent.

“Good thing you’re obedient and gentle – the young miss hasn’t particularly made things difficult for you.”

Xie Chi curled her legs. With all these injuries, this was “not making things difficult.”

“Do you want more water?”

Xie Chi nodded.

“Then I’ll get you some more.”

“Thank you.”

The little brother stood up to go out. Just reaching the door, he was kicked back in, crashing into the pile of wood in the room.

Xie Chi shuddered, then saw Song Qingtao storming in furiously, a long whip in her hand, which she lashed heavily across the little brother.

The little brother didn’t dare cry out in pain and immediately prostrated himself on the ground: “Young miss.”

“Getting bolder and bolder, learning to show favoritism to outsiders.”

“Young miss, I was wrong.” He kowtowed repeatedly: “I was wrong, please forgive me.”

“Get out.”

The little brother rolled and crawled out from beside her legs.

Song Qingtao slowly walked toward Xie Chi, smiling: “Such a slut indeed, wherever you go you want to seduce men, just like that worthless sister of yours. Truly from the same nest.”

Xie Chi’s heart trembled.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Song Qingtao put her hands behind her back and crouched in front of her: “You don’t know yet, do you? She’s dead.”

Xie Chi froze.

“Little bitch, seducing my father, still wanting to go down the mountain. Dream on. Do you think I’m dead?”

“You killed her?” Xie Chi clenched her fists.

“That’s right. Bang! One shot and her brains splattered out.” Song Qingtao laughed twice, using the whip handle to lift her chin: “Her privates were all ruined by men. No point living. I helped her find relief – you should thank me.”

Xie Chi stared at her intently. Song Qingtao was angered by her gaze, stood up and raised her hand for a lash: “Keep looking at me like that and I’ll gouge out your eyeballs.”

Song Qingtao raised her hand again. This time, Xie Chi caught her whip. Song Qingtao wasn’t prepared and was almost pulled down by her. But Xie Chi didn’t have enough strength – she hadn’t eaten much and was covered in injuries. She couldn’t overpower Song Qingtao, only making her more furious.

“Lowly slave!” Song Qingtao hadn’t brought knives or guns. She casually grabbed a wooden stick, broke it in half, and stabbed it into Xie Chi’s calf.

From far away, heart-rending screams could be heard from the little wooden house.

“Beg me. Beg me to spare you.” Song Qingtao gripped the stick and twisted it in circles, watching her bite down in pain, hands clawing at the ground until her nails cracked.

“Didn’t expect you to be so stubborn. What? Waiting for Third Brother to save you?” Song Qingtao pulled out the stick and stabbed her other leg: “What do you think you are? Just a plaything, like your sister – worthless goods to be passed around.”

Song Qingtao had tortured enough and found it boring. She clapped her hands and left.

The stick was still lodged in her leg. Half of Xie Chi’s body was numb. She gripped the stick and pulled it out, her hands trembling from the pain.

…

Xie Chi lost a lot of blood, but she didn’t die. She was rescued by He Feng.

After Qing Yangzi sobered up and learned the news, he went to Qing Village to demand her back, but Song Qingtao wouldn’t release her. He had no choice but to go to the mine to find He Feng. The two rode hard and fast straight to Qing Village, nearly turning it upside down.

When Xie Chi regained consciousness, she felt herself in a warm embrace: “You brat, why did you take so long to come? I almost died waiting for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Xie Chi found it incredible – actually hearing those three words from this unreasonable boy.

She was very weak, her head resting on his shoulder, her body swaying: “Are you riding a horse?”

“Yes.”

Her forehead kept lightly bumping against He Feng’s body: “I haven’t ridden a horse in so long. I can ride too.”

“When you’re better, I’ll take you riding. I’ll give you the most beautiful horse in the stronghold.”

“Am I about to die?”

“You won’t die.” He Feng quickened his pace: “If you die, I’ll make the entire Qing Village pay with their lives.”

Xie Chi smiled: “That sounds pretty good.”

“Almost there.” He Feng gently shook her shoulder: “Stay alert, do you hear? A’Zhi, A’Zhi.”

“You’re so noisy. Can’t you be quiet?”

“No.” He bumped her forehead with his chin: “Talk to me.”

“Don’t want to.”

“I’ll send you down the mountain, send you back to Wuxi. If your father dares refuse you, I’ll kill him. Anyone who dares say a word, I’ll cut out their tongue.”

“So fierce.”

“I mean what I say.”

“Really fierce. But I’m fierce too. At ten I fought three monkeys alone and never lost a fight. But you people are too bad – I don’t dare resist. You have guns too. What if you kill me?” Xie Chi hugged his waist: “I’m afraid of dying. I don’t want to die.”

Warmth touched his shoulder – she was crying.

Her tears seemed able to penetrate skin and flesh, drilling into his heart. He Feng felt a stifling pain in his chest.

“I hate you all, you fierce bandit.”

…

He Feng placed Xie Chi on the bed and patted her face: “Wake up.”

Xie Chi opened her eyes with difficulty. Seeing He Feng’s face, she smiled with relief: “I didn’t die.”

“The doctor will be here soon.”

“Good.”

He Feng pulled open her collar, looking at the whip marks and bruises on her shoulder extending downward. He paused, then closed her clothes.

“Coming, coming.” Qing Yangzi brought the stronghold’s doctor.

Xie Chi had two stick wounds on her legs – not piercing through but deep enough. Wood splinters of various lengths remained in the flesh. The doctor used tweezers to pull them out one by one, applied medicine, and bandaged.

He Feng stood to the side with clenched fists. The doctor was so nervous he was covered in sweat.

After treating her legs, the doctor was about to undress Xie Chi when He Feng stopped him: “What are you doing?”

“Applying medicine.”

“No.”

“But… I can’t apply medicine without undressing her.”

“No.”

“Then I’ll give you the medicine – you do it.”

He Feng took it. The doctor gathered his things to leave: “I’ll give the prescription to Qing Yangzi. Call me if anything else comes up.”

“Fine.”

The doctor left.

He Feng held the small medicine jar, standing before her.

Xie Chi’s body couldn’t hold out anymore, but her consciousness remained. He Feng turned her over to lie face down on the bed, stripped off her clothes, revealing her bloody back.

She clearly knew how hideous her body looked now, but with her life nearly gone, how could she care about beauty, ugliness, or chastity? Even if he stripped her naked now, she wouldn’t care.

He Feng carefully applied the medicine. Xie Chi bit the quilt without making a sound.

Halfway through applying medicine, He Feng suddenly smashed the medicine bottle violently and stormed out angrily. Soon after, an aunt came to continue applying medicine.

…

He Feng went to Qing Village, once again scaring the guards half to death.

He grabbed someone at random to lead the way, heading straight for Song Qingtao’s room. He kicked the door off its hinges and strode angrily toward the bed.

Song Qingtao hadn’t fully awakened. She looked groggily at He Feng approaching: “Third Brother.”

He Feng picked up the long whip hanging on the bedside rack, threw off her quilt, grabbed her ankle and dragged her directly to the floor. Without saying a word, he lashed her immediately.

Song Qingtao rolled around in pain: “Ahh—”

“I didn’t give you that whip to play with like this.”

“Third Brother! You’ve gone mad!”

“Song Qingtao, have you forgotten whose mountain this is? Daring to touch my person – you’re seeking death.”

He Feng showed no mercy. As she rolled around, he lashed her chest again, splitting skin and flesh.

“You… you actually… for an outsider!” Song Qingtao was in pain and fury, unable to speak clearly: “What… what is she to you! You’re hitting me for her!”

He Feng didn’t deign to answer her question. He threw down the whip and was about to leave when Song Qingtao lunged over and grabbed his clothes, tearing and pulling. The whip marks hurt like knife cuts: “Don’t leave! Explain this to me clearly.”

He Feng was never gentle with people, women included. He kicked her in the stomach: “Keep grabbing at me and I’ll kill you.”

Song Qingtao didn’t believe it. He Feng had grown up with her – they were childhood sweethearts. She didn’t believe he would kill her for some wild girl from who knows where. As if throwing a tantrum, she rushed over and hugged him again: “If you have the ability, shoot me! Kill me!”

He Feng really had the ability.

He shot her hand.

Song Qingtao looked at the bloody hole in her hand, stunned for a long moment before screaming.

He Feng took her whip outside and casually threw it into the fire.

Everyone watched his fierce appearance, not daring to make a sound.

He Feng grabbed a small man nearby: “Who else touched her?”

The small man trembled with fear.

“Speak!”

He Feng’s roar startled everyone.

The small man’s tongue wouldn’t straighten: “No one, no one.”

He Feng looked at him with murderous intent: “Qing Village has my people. If you dare lie to me, I’ll chop you up and feed you to wolves.”

“Liu Er’Gou… Liu Er’Gou… he… he… he touched her bottom once.”

“What else?”

“No… nothing else.” The small man was so scared he wet himself: “Everyone knew she was… your person… Sister Peach had someone sleep with her… no one dared… just… just Liu Er’Gou… touched her bottom once… nothing else really.”

He Feng threw him down. The small man sat on the ground, his legs stiff.

“Where’s Liu Er’Gou?” He Feng looked around. Seeing no one answer, he shouted: “Speak!”

“Probably sleeping in his room.”

“Bring him out.”

In a moment, Liu Er’Gou was brought out, crawling on his knees to He Feng: “Young master, I was wrong, I was really wrong.”

He Feng didn’t want to waste words, coldly looking down at him. This calm appearance was more frightening than rage: “Which hand did you use?”

Liu Er’Gou didn’t answer, kowtowing repeatedly: “Young master, spare my life. I won’t dare again.” He slapped himself hard: “This rotten hand, this rotten hand.”

He Feng drew his knife: “I’ll ask you once more – which one?”

Liu Er’Gou knew he couldn’t escape. He extended his right hand. Before he could react, He Feng stepped on his arm and brought the knife down, severing the hand completely.

He looked at his severed limb, the pain beyond feeling. He covered the spurting wound and writhed on the ground.

He Feng wiped his knife, sheathed it, kicked away the severed hand on the ground, and walked out without a word.

The commotion was too loud. Song Mang was awakened, didn’t even dress properly, and rushed over immediately. Seeing his precious daughter’s bloody hand – the bullet had gone straight through her palm, plus the two whip wounds – he was heartbroken enough to want to kill He Feng.

He cursed as he came out, drew his gun and pointed it at He Feng: “What did Qingtao do that you were so ruthless?”

Seeing him draw his gun, Qing Yangzi also raised his gun at Song Mang. Having followed He Feng for years, he had some status and courage. Even facing the head of Qing Village, he showed no fear: “Head Song, put it down.”

He Feng pressed down Qing Yangzi’s hand and stepped toward Song Mang. Unexpectedly, even on his own territory, Song Mang was scared into stepping back.

“Uncle Song, go ask your precious daughter yourself.”

“Whatever her faults, you shouldn’t have laid hands on her! You injured her right hand – how can she hold a gun!”

“Still want to hold a gun?” He Feng gripped Song Mang’s gun barrel, seized the gun and threw it behind him: “I’m sparing your daughter’s life for your sake. If she dares hurt my person again, I’ll kill you both.”

Song Mang’s hands shook with rage. Seeing He Feng and Qing Yangzi leave, he pointed and cursed: “You little bastard, you’ve got nerve! Just you wait.”

…

He Feng and Qing Yangzi rode hard back to Yun Village. He went to Xie Chi’s room to check – she was already asleep.

He stood by the bed watching her for a while before going out.

Qing Yangzi waited outside the door, head lowered: “I didn’t watch her properly. Punish me.”

“Don’t take blame on yourself. It’s their fault, nothing to do with you.”

Qing Yangzi’s eyes reddened. Seeing Xie Chi tortured like that, he was heartbroken too: “Song Qingtao is truly cruel. Crippling one of her hands is letting her off easy.”

He Feng closed his eyes and sighed deeply: “What else happened while I was away these two days?”

“It’s… A’Zhi’s sister.”

Seeing him hesitate, He Feng asked: “What about her?”

“Dead.” Qing Yangzi clenched his fist: “When I went to Lei Village that day to get her, I heard she’d been given to Song Mang by Lei Er. When I went to Qing Village to look, I learned she’d been dead for two days. Seems she got some bad disease, was driven down the mountain, then chased and killed by Song Qingtao.”

He Feng’s face was cold: “Continue.”

“The body was thrown off a cliff. When found, there wasn’t much left – couldn’t bring it back. I had people bury her on the spot. I couldn’t bear to tell A’Zhi, but she kept asking, so I avoided her. Didn’t expect Song Qingtao to come. It’s all my fault.”

“Enough, stop blaming this and that.”

Both fell silent.

After a while, He Feng said: “Arrange for two people to guard the gate. No outsiders allowed in from now on.”

“Then… who doesn’t count as outsiders?” Qing Yangzi rubbed his eyes: “So I can give instructions.”

“Except for me, everyone else is.”

…