Lu Yunfei was startled by the sudden turn of events.
There was certainly more than one hunter in these mountains, but anyone with experience hunted wild boars by setting traps or targeting lone animals. No one in their right mind would attack an entire sounder head-on.
That was practically asking to die.
He had no idea who could be so reckless.
The wounded boar’s ferocity exploded the moment it was struck, and the entire herd scattered in panic. Without hesitation, Lu Yunfei swiftly climbed the nearest large tree.
On the opposite hillside stood a young man with his hair tied up in a topknot, holding a recurved bow. Several servants accompanied him, each armed with bows or hunting knives.
When they saw their young master hit the boar, they laughed and cheered. They loosed their own arrows as well, shooting at the wild boars fleeing in every direction.
Several boars were killed on the spot.
But three of them spotted the hunters and charged straight toward them.
Driven mad with rage, the boars sprinted at terrifying speed, dodging several arrows in succession. Even when struck by arrows, the pain only fueled their fury.
These people clearly had never witnessed just how terrifying an enraged wild boar could be.
At first they had been laughing and competing to see who could shoot the most.
Now they were frightened out of their wits, scrambling away in complete panic.
Though the boars looked bulky and clumsy, they ran astonishingly fast. Their eyes blazed with murderous intent as they thundered forward, sending dirt and dead leaves flying behind them like a whirlwind.
Each one bore long, razor-sharp tusks.
A single charge could send a grown man flying, leaving bloody holes torn through his body.
The young nobleman, however, showed real courage.
He drew the longsword at his waist and prepared to meet the charge.
Lu Yunfei was farther away, giving him more time to react.
After climbing into the tree, two wild boars ran in his direction, but neither noticed him. They rushed past beneath him and disappeared.
Only after the immediate danger had passed could he spare attention for the others.
The young man wasn’t entirely unprepared.
Although several servants had fled, a few remained, weapons in hand, surrounding their master. Even though they were terrified, they could still offer some assistance.
The hunting dogs they had brought barked furiously as they defended their master.
The young man wasn’t incompetent.
He had simply underestimated the danger.
Or, to put it another way—
He didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Wild boars had incredibly thick hides.
Even if a sword wounded one, it wouldn’t be enough to kill it.
Unless the blow was instantly fatal, the wounded animal would counterattack.
Hunting dogs could overwhelm a single boar through teamwork, but it usually took several dogs working together to bring one down.
And there were three charging toward them.
The young man was in grave danger.
Letting out a sharp whistle, Lu Yunfei signaled Black Panther to draw the boars’ attention.
Fast and agile, the dog could at least buy them some time.
The young nobleman also proved surprisingly skilled. He dodged several attacks with nimble footwork.
When he first spotted Black Panther, he mistook it for another wild boar.
Only after hearing the barking did he realize it was a hunting dog.
They themselves had brought several hunting dogs, which now joined Black Panther in surrounding the boars and distracting them.
Lu Yunfei reached into his quiver and withdrew a special arrow.
Unlike his ordinary arrows, its head had been forged from refined iron, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.
After his encounter with a tiger the previous year, he had commissioned a blacksmith to make several iron-tipped arrows.
No matter how thick an animal’s hide was, a hit to a vital point would kill it instantly.
He hadn’t encountered another tiger since then.
Today, at last, the arrows would prove their worth.
Lu Yunfei hurried into position while continuously whistling commands to Black Panther.
Usually fierce-looking even at rest, Black Panther now bared its fangs completely, growling as it led the attack alongside the other hunting dogs against the largest and most ferocious boar.
It had naturally become the leader of the pack.
Growling out different commands, it coordinated the other dogs, which attacked from multiple directions in perfect cooperation, gradually forcing the boar backward toward Lu Yunfei’s position.
Lu Yunfei nocked the iron arrow and took careful aim.
Unfortunately, the boar never stopped moving.
It was astonishingly fast, making it extremely difficult to find the perfect shot.
The boar’s weak point lay in the center of its forehead.
The forged iron arrowhead could penetrate its skull.
He only needed—
One arrow.
Han Xiuxiu had originally intended to stay at her parents’ house to spend more time with her younger sister.
But after witnessing the wedding fiasco, Madam Li was in an unusually good mood, gleefully mocking Li Xianglan’s parents.
“Serves them right! They’ve finally gotten their just deserts! Watching that was so satisfying!”
“Those expensive clothes looked ridiculous on them. If I’d worn them, I’d have looked a hundred times better.”
“Let’s see the Li family try to act superior in front of us now.”
“That Li girl thought she’d found a treasure. Now she knows it isn’t so easy. She even came to our house showing off. Bah!”
Listening to Madam Li’s smug remarks, Han Xiuxiu’s anger surged.
She abruptly stood up.
“What are you so pleased about?”
“If I’d been the one who married into the Zhang family, we’d have been the ones humiliating ourselves today! What right do you have to say those things?”
The original Han Xiuxiu had essentially been driven to her death by Madam Li.
And now this woman still had the nerve to gloat.
Han Xiuxiu couldn’t tolerate it any longer.
Madam Li had never before been scolded to her face by Han Xiuxiu.
She immediately jumped to her feet.
“You little bitch! Who are you talking to?”
“I’m talking about you!”
Han Xiuxiu didn’t back down in the slightest.
“The Li family got their retribution.”
“Yours will come too.”
“It’s not that retribution doesn’t exist—it’s simply waiting for the right time.”
“Don’t think you’ll escape it.”
Madam Li flew into a rage.
“So you’ve grown wings now, have you?”
“Don’t think I don’t know—that hunter was someone you seduced yourself!”
“Now that you’ve got a man backing you up, you think you can do whatever you want!”
“If I can’t deal with other people, I can certainly deal with you!”
She lunged at Han Xiuxiu, claws reaching straight for her face.
“Relying on that pretty face, thinking you’ve got a man protecting you, so you dare swagger back to your parents’ house?”
“I’ll scratch your face to pieces!”
Han Xiuxiu was quick on her feet and easily dodged.
Madam Li stumbled forward, missing completely.
Unable to hit Han Xiuxiu, her gaze fell upon Han Xiaoxiao standing nearby.
The two red plum blossom hair ornaments in the little girl’s hair caught her eye immediately.
Terrified by Madam Li’s vicious expression, Han Xiaoxiao was on the verge of tears.
She still tried to plead.
“Mother… don’t hit Big Sister…”
Madam Li, furious beyond reason, swung her hand and slapped Han Xiaoxiao across the face.
“You’re no better!”
“At such a young age you’re already dressing yourself up like this!”
“You want to learn from your sister and seduce men too?”
The slap sent Han Xiaoxiao stumbling to the ground with a cry of pain.
Han Daliang had drunk several bowls of wine earlier.
He had been resting in bed but was awakened by the shouting.
Still bleary-eyed from drink, he opened the door and came outside.
“Have you all got nothing better to do? What are you yelling about?”
Madam Li immediately began wailing.
“They’re hitting me! They’re hitting me!”
“Look at the wonderful daughters you’ve raised!”
“The two of them are ganging up to bully me!”
“What sin did I commit to deserve this?”
Han Daliang glared at Han Xiuxiu and barked,
“Get on your knees!”
“Apologize to your mother!”
Han Xiuxiu looked him straight in the eye.
“My mother died long ago.”
“Why should I kneel to this woman?”
Madam Li seized the opportunity, adding fuel to the fire.
“See? I told you she never respected me.”
“Now you’ve seen it with your own eyes.”
“She dares oppose me right in front of you.”
“Husband, you have to stand up for me!”
Already drunk and now thoroughly provoked, Han Daliang’s face turned red with fury.
Pointing at Han Xiuxiu, he shouted,
“You… you unfilial daughter!”
“If you won’t acknowledge her as your mother, then don’t acknowledge me as your father either!”
“Get out!”
“And don’t you ever come through this door again!”
Han Xiaoxiao burst into tears.
She threw herself around Han Daliang’s leg.
“Father… Father… don’t drive Big Sister away…”
His mind clouded by alcohol and Madam Li’s constant prodding, Han Daliang roared,
“You get out too!”
Han Xiuxiu immediately took Han Xiaoxiao’s hand.
“Father, you said it yourself.”
“Don’t regret it later.”
“From now on, Xiaoxiao will live with me.”
“You’ll never have to worry about either of us again.”