The mountain path was complex, but Dahei was completely unaffected, weaving through the twists and turns, quickly making Yu Huishui lose his sense of direction. In front of them was a dense forest, and the cold winter wind howled through the valley like ghostly wails. If someone got lost in these mountains, they would be helpless, with no one to call for help.
“Whoa.” After passing through a patch of forest, Zang Liujiang pulled the reins tight, halting Dahei. His sword-like eyebrows furrowed as he muttered under a tree, “As expected, it’s gone.”
Under the tree were some torn clothes, likely rummaged through by some wild animal looking for food. Finding nothing, it had shredded the clothes in frustration and taken them away.
“No books in sight, probably dragged away by animals.”
Sensing Yu Huishui’s disappointment, Zang Liujiang gently patted his arm, comforting him as if coaxing a child, “Let’s take another look around the forest. If we still can’t find anything, I’ll have the brothers keep an eye out during their patrols.”
Yu Huishui understood that this wasn’t something that could be resolved by being unreasonable. Looking at the scattered, torn clothes, he felt a bit of fear. Were there such fierce wolves on this mountain? They didn’t even spare clothes with human scent.
The two of them rode slowly along the forest, which was somewhat dim, with occasional strange calls from birds and beasts, rustling as they followed the two intruders into their territory. Occasionally, there were fragments of clothing under the tree roots, but not a single page of a book was found. After circling for a long time, Zang Liujiang looked up at the sky through the forest canopy, judging by the sunlight that it was nearing dusk.
“Wife, if we stay any longer, we won’t make it back to the stronghold. How about we head back today, and tomorrow I’ll take you down the mountain to find a bookstore and see if we can get those books?”
Zang Liujiang’s careful suggestion was just what was needed to solve the immediate problem.
Yu Huishui was about to respond when Dahei, who had been quiet, suddenly snorted heavily, shifting its feet restlessly and slowly backing away from the depths of the forest.
“There’s something.”
Zang Liujiang’s voice lowered, his gaze fixed on the direction Dahei was alert to. In the dim depths of the forest, a pair of fierce, glowing green beast eyes stared back.
“Wife, hold this.”
Yu Huishui knew there was a beast lurking on the other side of the forest. Just as he was getting nervous, Zang Liujiang shoved a hard object into his hand.
It was Dahei’s reins.
“What are you doing?” Yu Huishui’s palms were sweaty, but Zang Liujiang just smiled at him. The next moment, he dismounted, waved his hand at Dahei carrying Yu Huishui, and shouted, “Dahei, run!”
“Zang Liujiang!!”
Yu Huishui’s hair stood on end. Dahei, without hesitation, turned agilely and leaped into the air. Only then did Yu Huishui realize that the beast in front of them was just a decoy. A large wolf, as big as a human thigh, was already closing in on Dahei from behind.
The wolf, failing in its ambush, let out an angry howl and leaped, trying to bite Dahei’s hind leg.
Dahei, with its keen instincts, braked sharply with its front legs and kicked powerfully with its hind legs, landing a fierce blow on the wolf’s jaw.
The force was substantial, sending the wolf flying and crashing to the ground, howling and spitting blood, clearly severely injured.
Seeing blood, the beast’s ferocity peaked. Despite its injuries, the wolf roared and lunged at Dahei, its jaws so close that Yu Huishui could see its blood-stained mouth full of fangs.
“Thud!”
A tiger-headed Miao knife descended from the air, slicing through the wolf’s neck with a gust of wind. Blood sprayed as Zang Liujiang grabbed the wolf’s tail, swinging it and smashing it against a nearby pine tree.
Snow from the branches fell with a rustle, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Yu Huishui wanted to look back, but Dahei was already galloping away, its hooves pounding the ground. Yu Huishui clung tightly to the reins, lying flat against Dahei’s neck.
“Dahei! Let’s go back!”
If they ran away, how could Zang Liujiang survive alone in a forest full of wild beasts?!
Dahei ignored Yu Huishui, galloping through the dense forest. Yu Huishui vaguely sensed that it was circling around Zang Liujiang.
The pine trees swayed, something unknown leaping through the branches, quickly approaching them.
“What is that?”
Yu Huishui tightened the reins, wanting Dahei to stay away from the strange thing. Whatever could move so nimbly through the branches was no ordinary wild monkey.
Dahei let out a loud neigh, and suddenly, a figure dropped from above, using the bending branches to leap onto the horse’s back.
“!”
Yu Huishui’s heart nearly stopped. Turning around, he saw that the one who had just dismounted to face the wild wolf alone was none other than Zang Liujiang.
His face was speckled with blood, the ring on his left ear swaying with Dahei’s movements, his neatly tied hair flowing behind him. His face bore a wild, unrestrained smile as he grabbed Yu Huishui’s hand, pulling him along as they rode.
Dahei responded, galloping out of the forest in a few breaths, charging onto the country road against the wind and snow.
“Hahaha! What a thrill!”
Zang Liujiang laughed loudly, reining in the horse. His face was full of excitement, clearly enjoying the thrill of the moment. Their hearts pounded wildly in their chests, and despite the winter, they were drenched in sweat.
“You…” Yu Huishui touched his wildly beating heart, finally finding his voice after a while, “You’re too bold! That was a wild wolf!”
Zang Liujiang looked down at him.
Whether it was the wind or the fright, Yu Huishui’s pale face was tinged with red, his delicate brows furrowed, and his round eyes reflected Zang Liujiang’s image, clear and unblinking.
Zang Liujiang’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
“Snort!” Dahei shook its head, letting out a strange cry, snapping Zang Liujiang back to reality.
“That’s nothing, just a couple of half-grown wolf cubs.”
Zang Liujiang squeezed Yu Huishui’s hand, which was cold, clearly still shaken.
Yu Huishui was about to say something when he noticed a few gray wolf paws hanging from Zang Liujiang’s shoulder. Following the paws up, he saw a wolf with its tongue out and eyes rolled back.
Zang Liujiang had two dead wolves slung over his shoulder.
Yu Huishui’s expression was so shocked it was almost twisted. Zang Liujiang, thinking he was afraid of the wolves, casually tossed the two wolves off his shoulder by their tails.
“Don’t worry, they’re dead as can be.”
Yu Huishui had never seen a wolf up close like this, nor dared to think about Zang Liujiang’s terrifying martial skills, able to dispatch two wild wolves with just a knife in moments.
“Perfect.”
Zang Liujiang shook his wrist, measuring the size of the two wild wolves in his hand, nodding in satisfaction.
He casually said, “I can make you a nice fur coat.”
By the time they returned to the stronghold, it was completely dark. Zang Liujiang had Xiao Yaba take Dahei away and handed the two hunted wolves to his men, then hurriedly led Yu Huishui back to their room to wash up.
The wild wolves from the mountains had a strong odor, enough to give one a headache.
The stove in the room had been burning for a while, a pot of water boiling warmly. Zang Liujiang haphazardly stripped off his blood-soaked clothes, grabbed the kettle, and mixed a basin of hot water, quickly cleaning up.
The two of them had been pressed close together on the horse, so Yu Huishui inevitably had wolf blood on him too, smelling heavily of blood, not to mention Zang Liujiang, who had been half-soaked in it.
Zang Liujiang’s back was to him, muscles well-proportioned and firm, his broad back fully exposed, his waist narrow and tightly cinched by a belt, pleasing to the eye, full of wild beauty.
Yu Huishui was secretly observing Zang Liujiang when he saw him pour the water with a splash, then refill the basin with clean hot water. After washing a towel and wringing it half-dry, he folded it neatly and brought it over.
“Come, wife.”
Zang Liujiang placed the towel over Yu Huishui’s face, the warmth spreading, wiping away the sweat and dust with firm strokes.
Yu Huishui wasn’t used to being served like this, reaching to grab the towel from Zang Liujiang’s hand, only to have his hand caught and each finger carefully wiped.
Zang Liujiang might seem rough, but he was meticulous inside. The blood smell on him was gone, not even a hint of sweat, just a faint scent of soap.
He wasn’t boasting; Zang Liujiang was indeed one of the best men for miles around.
“Not smelly, your hands smell nice, wife.”
Yu Huishui was caught off guard, Zang Liujiang bringing his hand to his nose, the breath brushing over his fingers, causing an inexplicable itch.
After a moment, Zang Liujiang chuckled and went out to dump the water, leaving Yu Huishui with a flushed neck alone in the room.
Outside, Cuicui, who had been eavesdropping at the door, was startled back a few steps by the door panel, looking in panic at Zang Liujiang holding a water basin.
“Big, big boss!”
Cuicui’s mother was the cook in the stronghold. She was young and didn’t like studying, so she stayed to help her mother, doing errands.
At sixteen or seventeen, the young girl was in the throes of first love, always thinking about the best man for miles around, Zang Liujiang. She thought that since there weren’t many girls her age in the stronghold, if the big boss ever wanted a woman, it would naturally be her turn.
But unexpectedly, a lady from a caravan appeared out of nowhere, and after just one meeting with the big boss, they got married that very night!
Cuicui often ran around the stronghold, and Zang Liujiang recognized her as a sturdy girl, always jumping around whenever he saw her, no wonder she grew so tall.
Cuicui didn’t know that her slightly exaggerated behavior to attract Zang Liujiang’s attention only left him with the impression that she could grow tall. Seeing the big boss looking at her, her face turned beet red.
“My mom sent me to bring food!”
Cuicui held the food box, sneaking glances behind Zang Liujiang. The door wasn’t fully closed, and she could see a figure in thin clothes sitting by the table.
Zang Liujiang nudged the door closed with his foot.
“You…”
Zang Liujiang frowned, looking Cuicui up and down, his handsome face showing little emotion, as if pondering something.
Cuicui’s face turned even redder, her head lowered, twisting her hands, her mind wandering.
They said the big boss was a man of deep feelings and loyalty. Although he never explicitly said he wouldn’t take concubines, the villagers all assumed he would be a one-woman man for life.
But now, with the big boss looking at her like this, could it be that seeing a woman had changed his mind? Wanting to take a few more concubines?
She, Liu Cuicui, never thought of being a concubine, but if the big boss really had thoughts of taking her, that lady would surely oppose her every day, and then…
Cuicui hadn’t finished imagining the future struggles in the stronghold when she heard Zang Liujiang speak, “Do you know your clothing size?”
“!” Could it be he wanted her size to make a bridal gown? Wasn’t this too fast? Her mother didn’t even know yet.
“I know…” Cuicui’s voice was as small as a bird’s chirp, shy and bashful.
“Alright.” Zang Liujiang nodded, handing her the water basin and taking the food box.
“Go to the back and find Old Liu, the one living east of your house, and tell him your clothing size. I hunted two wolves this afternoon, and I want him to make a coat for my wife.”
Cuicui stood there, stunned, as Zang Liujiang continued.
“My wife is shy, and measuring for clothes requires taking measurements. I think your figures aren’t too different, so go on.”
Cuicui was so angry her face turned red. She stomped her foot, stammered for a while, then turned and ran, unable to save face.
“Hey!” Zang Liujiang, holding the food box, was about to go back inside when he remembered something and called after her.
Cuicui, thinking there was a chance, turned back with a face full of grievance.
Zang Liujiang looked her up and down again, gesturing a few inches with his hand.
“You need to be sturdier, waist two inches smaller, and I think you’re probably running a fever, go drink a bowl of ginger soup, off you go.”
Cuicui couldn’t hold it in any longer, throwing the basin and running off crying, leaving Zang Liujiang standing there, puzzled.
Yu Huishui, hearing the commotion, poked his head out of the room, just in time to see Cuicui’s retreating figure, curiously asking, “What’s going on?”
“No idea.” Zang Liujiang, holding the food box, nudged Yu Huishui back inside.
“Maybe she was too moved, crying tears of joy.”