15
Liu Qingyang and Liu Qingzhu Injured
Everyone heard Liu Tie’s warning, but before they could react, the wolves had already charged forward.
Some people’s legs went weak at the sight of the wolves, making escape impossible. Lin Jiang swiftly climbed up a tree and called out to Lu Beiyan below, “Quick, come up! I’ll pull you.”
Lu Beiyan rapidly grasped Lin Jiang’s hand.
At the same time.
“What are you staring at? Run!” A young man in blue clothes dragged Wang Yuan, whose legs had gone weak from fear. Wang Yuan stumbled along as he was pulled, with wolves close behind them.
But when they looked back, the wolves had vanished. Without a moment to think, they shakily helped each other climb a tree.
“Ahhh, don’t come closer!” A pockmarked youth in the team watched as a wolf appeared before him. A large tree stood behind him, but it was too late for escape.
Terrified, he shut his eyes, flailed his arms wildly, and scrambled backward.
After what felt like an eternity, nothing happened. Nervously, he cracked open one eye and saw no wolf. Peering behind the tree, he noticed the wolves were heading straight for Liu Qing Zhu and the others.
He didn’t dare overthink it, quickly got up, and scrambled up the tree.
Two people remained on the ground.
To everyone’s astonishment, the wolves didn’t seem to be targeting them; otherwise, they would have been dead before they could react.
Were the wolves targeting the brothers Liu Qing Yang and Liu Qing Zhu?
“We mean no offense. We can leave immediately,” Liu Tie said helplessly to the Wolf King, but the Wolf King and the other wolves attacked him directly.
He kept dodging and weaving among the wolves, unaware that he had drifted far from the group.
“Don’t… don’t come any closer! Ah!” Liu Qing Yang and Liu Qing Zhu were cornered with no way out. Wolves in front, a mountain behind.
One wolf immediately raised its paw and slashed at Liu Qing Zhu, leaving three bloody gashes. Other wolves pounced and bit Liu Qing Yang’s thigh.
“Ahhh!!!” The two screamed in agony.
Each wolf bit for a moment before releasing, then rammed into their stomachs, knocking both unconscious.
The lead wolf assessed the situation—this should suffice. They were unconscious, and it hadn’t bitten to the bone. But it couldn’t resist taking another nip at one of their thighs, ensuring it wouldn’t cause permanent damage.
“Awooo~.” The lead wolf howled, and all the wolves gradually retreated.
The Wolf King heard it too, eyeing the hunter before it. If only it could kill him. It had only intended to drive the hunter away, not to harm anyone.
“Awooo~.” Let’s go.
Liu Tie watched as the Wolf King slowly withdrew, not daring to make a move. He simply stood still, observing. Then, he gradually made his way back, wondering how the others were faring.
Once everyone confirmed the wolves had left, they rushed to find Liu Qing Zhu and Liu Qing Yang.
They found Liu Qing Zhu and Liu Qing Yang lying on the ground, unconscious and covered in blood. Their clothes were torn to shreds, leaving only their Underpants intact.
Their bodies were covered in bites and scratches from the wolves.
The Village Chief immediately instructed four people to take turns carrying them back to the village while the rest retrieved the game.
After the four carried Liu Qing Yang and Liu Qing Zhu back, the others returned to the scene to collect the game and encountered Liu Tie, who appeared unharmed.
Everyone quickly shouldered what they could and carried what was needed.
They descended the mountain efficiently.
The group was unusually quiet on the way down, puzzled by why the wolves had relentlessly pursued Liu Qing Yang and Liu Qing Zhu, yet hadn’t harmed even the hunter.
Could Liu Yan’s sons have hidden wolf cubs? Otherwise, why would the wolf pack fixate on them? Or perhaps they had stumbled upon and mistreated the cubs, provoking the parents’ revenge.
They had hoped to enjoy a happy meal of meat, but who could have expected such a thing to happen? Even the hunters were injured. They should have returned to the village the day before yesterday—would they have encountered this otherwise?
Everyone felt aggrieved, thinking they had brought along two burdens. When encountering prey, these two only watched from a distance, offering no help and only causing trouble.
Indeed, that family was crooked from top to bottom—only Liu Qing Lin was raised properly, yet he was constantly mistreated. When he went to the county to earn silver, he had to hand it all over. Others said they wouldn’t provide meals, but no one saw them giving Liu Qing Lin silver to buy food either.
Yet their grandson was quite scholarly.
How pitiful! They had seen Liu Qing Lin’s Ge’er, so frail and thin. Like Liu Qing Lin, he was kind and filial, yet received no good in return.
They also knew that Liu Qing Zhu and Liu Qing Yang’s sons always bullied Liu Shuhuai, but that was their family affair, and they couldn’t interfere.
It was said that Liu Shuhuai had fallen into the water not long ago, pushed by their sons and daughters. They all knew the truth, but who dared to speak up?
No one wanted to stir up trouble, and Liu Yao Zong was famously scholarly. What if he passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai, or even a higher official? Who would dare offend him?
If not for this, the village gossip would have already spawned several versions.
“Grandpa Liu, Grandma Liu, hurry and call the Doctor! Your two sons are seriously injured, bitten by wolves.”
Grandpa Liu and Grandma Liu nearly fainted upon hearing this.
It was Liu Yao Zong who sent Liu Quan to fetch the doctor while he helped carry his father and second uncle to their respective beds. Liu Yao Zong quickly expressed his gratitude and invited everyone to stay for a meal.
The four declined—they had to go check on the wild boar they had killed.
“Oh, Qing Yang, don’t leave me and our child behind,” Song Xiao Lan cried, nearly fainting at the sight of her blood-covered husband as she entered the room.
Grandma Liu scolded her sharply, “What are you wailing for? My son isn’t dead yet.”
Song Xiao Lan could only sob softly, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Liu Yao Zong watched his mother crying hysterically with disdain.
Grandma Liu checked on Liu Qing Yang and then Liu Qing Zhu. The second daughter-in-law was calmer, unlike the eldest, who cried and made a scene.
No one dared to move the two injured men, not even knowing whose clothes they were wearing.
“Doctors, please hurry,” Liu Quan’s voice trembled with tears. He was terrified of what would happen if he lost his father.
“Right here, go in quickly.”
Grandma Liu saw the doctors arrive and hurriedly ushered them inside. Liu Quan led the other doctor to see his father.
They watched as the doctors felt the pulses and shook their heads gently.
Could it be… that Liu Qing Yang was beyond help?
After examining the patients, the doctor said, “Fortunately, the bones weren’t injured. The bites just went deep into the flesh, causing a lot of blood loss, which looks frightening. A chunk of flesh was bitten off his thigh, and he has internal bleeding in the stomach. I’ll prescribe some medicine, but the cost…”
Seeing the doctor hesitate, Grandma Liu asked, “How much silver?”
The doctor stroked his beard and replied, “The medicine is in two batches: one for external application and one for internal use. I prescribe a month’s supply at a time, costing two taels of silver per month. Let’s try it for three months first to see the effect.”
“That… that’s so much,” Song Xiao Lan exclaimed in surprise.
“Whether you buy the medicine is up to you. The wolf bites are deep, and without medication, the wounds will slowly fester. The internal bleeding in the stomach also needs to be treated gradually with medicine.”
“Grandma…” Liu Quan entered, looking troubled.
Grandma Liu turned and asked, “How much silver?”
Liu Quan quickly replied, “Two taels of silver per month.”
Grandma Liu slumped to the floor, gazing at Grandpa Liu with pleading eyes.
Grandpa Liu nodded gently while smoking his pipe.
“Prescribe all the medicines.”
Upon hearing the response, Liu Quan stumbled out of the room.