Murong Yanran’s punch cut through the air, heading straight for Xu Lang’s face.
Xu Lang did not dodge.
He did not even blink. He casually reached out and grabbed her pale wrist.
The force was not great.
But Murong Yanran’s fierce punch froze instantly in midair, unable to move forward even a fraction.
“You!”
Her face flushed red in an instant, a mix of embarrassment and anger.
She tried to pull her hand back with force, but Xu Lang’s grip was like iron, completely unmoving.
“Let go of me!”
“Not letting go.”
Xu Lang chuckled. His other arm wrapped naturally around her slender waist. With a slight pull, he drew her entire body into his embrace.
Boom.
Murong Yanran’s mind went blank.
A dignified daughter of a military family, yet she had been subdued so easily by this rogue and even pulled into his arms!
“Xu Lang! You’re asking to die!”
Overwhelmed with shame and anger, she swung her other fist at him.
Xu Lang caught it just as casually, then crossed both her wrists behind her back.
In that posture, her upright chest pressed even more tightly against his.
She could clearly feel his strong heartbeat and his scorching body heat.
“My dear wife is so lively, throwing herself into my arms early in the morning. If I don’t respond, wouldn’t that be too unromantic?” Xu Lang lowered his head and whispered teasingly into her ear.
“W-Who threw themselves into your arms! Let go of me!”
Murong Yanran struggled fiercely.
But her strength, in front of Xu Lang’s eightfold physique, was no more than a kitten scratching.
Xu Lang did not bother arguing. He lifted her by the waist and directly picked her up.
“Ah!” Murong Yanran let out a startled cry. The sudden weightlessness made her instinctively wrap her arms around his neck.
By the time she reacted, she had already been carried into the main bedroom and thrown onto the oversized bed.
Before she could get up, a tall figure pressed down over her.
“Y-You… what are you trying to do… Zhiruo, she…”
“She’s tired. Now it’s your turn, my Yanran.”
…
The bed began to creak rhythmically once again.
This time, there were no cries or struggles, only suppressed breathing tinged with a trace of humiliation and something even she herself did not notice.
…
After an unknown amount of time—
[Ding! Murong Yanran favorability +15! Current favorability: 110 (tsundere but sincere)]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden mission “Conquer the Tiger Daughter of a Military Family.” Reward: one gift pack!]
Xu Lang felt refreshed from head to toe, completely at ease.
The tiger daughter of a military family truly lived up to her reputation.
He glanced at Murong Yanran beside him. She had already fallen asleep, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, yet a faint blush of satisfaction lingered on her face. Find the original chapter at NovelPing.
A sense of pride rose in his heart.
“Open the gift pack.”
[Congratulations to the host: 50 kilograms of premium pork belly, 50 kilograms of Northeastern refined rice, Gale Blade Technique (Beginner)!]
In the next instant, countless pieces of knowledge about blade techniques, forms, and methods of exerting force surged into Xu Lang’s mind.
From basic chops, slashes, lifts, and thrusts, to various intricate variations, it felt as if he had trained for over a decade. All techniques became instinct.
Good stuff.
Now his weakness of having brute strength without any technique was finally compensated.
In the future, he would not have to rely solely on bows and fists.
Xu Lang moved his wrist slightly, feeling that he could now pick up a blade and execute a smooth, flowing set of techniques at any moment.
He glanced outside the window. The sun had already climbed to its highest point.
It was already noon.
He got up, dressed, and walked out of the main bedroom.
In the main room, Hua Yourong, Xia Zhiruo, and Li Xiuzhi were seated around the table. The dishes were still steaming, but none of them had started eating.
“Husband!”
As soon as Xia Zhiruo saw him, she immediately stood up, her face full of concern.
She had recovered somewhat, though her walking posture was still slightly unnatural.
“Why didn’t you eat first?” Xu Lang asked.
“We were waiting for Husband and Sister Yanran,” Hua Yourong answered gently.
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the main bedroom opened.
Murong Yanran walked out slowly, supporting her waist.
She had changed into clean clothes, but the flush on her face and her disheveled hair could not be hidden.
When she saw the three pairs of eyes fixed on her, carrying both understanding and teasing, her face instantly turned crimson.
Especially after hearing Hua Yourong say “waiting for Husband and Sister Yanran,” she wished she could disappear into the ground.
“Hmph!”
She snorted heavily, sat down at the table, buried her head, and began eating without looking at anyone.
The meal was filled with both warmth and awkwardness.
Just then—
Knock. Knock knock.
A hurried knocking sound came from outside.
Xu Lang put down his chopsticks and went to open the door.
Outside, a ragged, sallow-faced woman dropped to her knees with a thud and began kowtowing desperately.
It was Widow Wang from the village.
“Master Xu! Please, have mercy, give me something to eat! My child hasn’t eaten for three days…”
Her forehead struck the gravel-covered ground until it bled. Her voice was desperate and broken.
Not far away, some villagers peeked over, their faces carrying the same hunger and numbness, along with a faint, hidden expectation.
Xu Lang’s face turned cold instantly.
“No.” You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
He uttered the single word without hesitation and slammed the door shut.
Back at the table, Xia Zhiruo bit her chopsticks, speaking softly with reluctance, “Husband… that Widow Wang… she’s quite pitiful. We still have food at home, don’t we? Maybe… just give her a little?”
Before Xu Lang could answer, Murong Yanran spoke coldly.
Though she was still embarrassed and irritated, her mind was perfectly clear.
“Silly girl, if you give her one bowl of rice today, tomorrow the entire village will kneel at our door.”
“When that happens, will you give or not?”
Xia Zhiruo froze.
She looked at Xu Lang’s calm yet firm face, then at Murong Yanran, and instantly understood.
Save one, and a hundred will come.
At that point, their whole family would be dragged down.
Husband was not heartless. He was protecting this home.
Thinking of this, the admiration and affection in her gaze toward Xu Lang deepened.
This man was not only strong but also far-sighted.
After the meal, Hua Yourong cleaned up the dishes and spoke with concern, “Husband, the rice and meat at home are running low.”
The storage jars were nearly empty.
Xu Lang nodded.
One of yesterday’s wild chickens had been given to Li Si, and one had been eaten at noon.
Although there was still plenty of food in his storage space, he could not keep “producing” it out of nowhere. His wives were not fools. They would grow suspicious.
“I’ll go to the mountains again.”
He stood up, preparing to take his bow and arrows.
“Husband, be careful.”
The four women spoke in unison, their faces full of worry.
In their hearts, Xu Lang was no longer the frail man he once was. His shoulders had grown broad, his figure tall and steady. He was the pillar of this family.
Xu Lang pushed open the door and prepared to leave.
Outside, Widow Wang was still kneeling there.
She was no longer kowtowing or crying. She simply knelt stiffly like a lifeless statue, her eyes empty and filled with despair.
Xu Lang stopped and looked down at her.
Her body trembled slightly. She slowly raised her head and looked at him with desperate eyes.
“If you want to eat, you can.”
Xu Lang spoke, breaking the silence.
A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.
“Follow me into the mountains to hunt.”
Xu Lang’s words made her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
“If you make it back alive, you’ll have food. If you don’t dare, then get lost.”
After saying that, he did not look at her again and strode toward the deep mountains.