“Again?”
Qiao Wan had just exhausted her strength saving her eldest brother, her hands trembling like a sieve!
The kitchen door was slammed open with a loud crash.
Qiao Fugeng dragged Qiao Wan out, but directed all his fury at Qiao Qing: “I told you to persuade her, how did you end up persuading her into the river!”
“I was just pouring water…”
Qiao Qing was also shaken. She had clearly managed to calm He Chunliu, but in the blink of an eye, the woman had rushed out and jumped into the river.
Fortunately, the river was shallow, and she had rescued her in time, preventing a major incident.
Qiao Wan couldn’t help but ask the crucial question: “How is she? Is she alive?”
“Alive!”
Qiao Fugeng slapped Qiao Wan on the back: “Are you wishing for her death? Heartless! Hurry to the He family and kneel to beg for forgiveness, or that Living King of Hell will throw you into the wolf den!”
“Uh…”
Caught off guard by the slap, Qiao Wan felt a breath stuck in her chest, unable to cough it out or swallow it. She could only desperately pound her chest, her face turning purplish.
“Dad, you’re scaring little sister!Qiao Qing gently patted her younger sister’s back to help her breathe, whispering comfortingly: “Don’t be afraid, little sister.” When we get to the He family, I’ll kneel and kowtow to her for you.”
Qiao Wan finally saw through it – this family spoiled the original owner unconditionally.
If she made mistakes, someone would take responsibility; if she caused trouble, someone would bear it. Even when Old Man Qiao roared loud enough to shake the heavens, he only gave two slaps – which she had to endure for the original owner!
With this kind of treatment, it was hard not to become domineering.
Qiao Er was left to care for Qiao Dahe, while the father and two daughters hurried to the He family.
Just as they entered the courtyard, a large broom came swinging at them.
“Qiao Wan, you motherless brat, how dare you lay hands on my daughter! I’ll beat you to death!”
Qin Shi’s eyes were bloodshot as she swung the broom fiercely at Qiao Wan.
Today was supposed to be the day the He family took Huo Yan to the county to purchase wedding items. But when they returned, they found Chunliu sitting in the courtyard, soaked and disheveled.
Qin Shi’s heart immediately sank. Before she could pull her daughter inside to find out what happened, He Chunliu blurted out everything – how Qiao Wan had knocked her out and thrown her onto Qiao Dahe’s bed.
Right in front of Huo Yan, she actually declared that her virtue had been compromised and she could no longer marry him.
Qin Shi was so angry she nearly fainted.
She was just about to take the broom and settle scores with the Qiao family when they showed up.
“Chunliu’s mother, let’s talk this through properly…”
Qiao Fugeng turned and shielded Qiao Wan in his arms, taking the hit for her.
“Bah! Qiao Fugeng, if you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll go to the village chief and have this troublemaker Qiao Wan driven out!”
“Chunliu’s mother, it’s true that Qiao Wan was wrong, but this concerns Chunliu’s reputation… let’s discuss this behind closed doors!”
“Discuss what behind closed doors?”
A low, hoarse voice coldly interrupted.
Only then did Qiao Wan notice someone sitting in the corner of the courtyard.
The man had broad shoulders and a burly build, with well-developed muscles. A beard covered his face, and a scar cut across his eyebrow, making him look ferocious and terrifying, exuding a powerful killing aura.
“Hu… Huo Yan?”
Qiao Fugeng’s voice tightened as he firmly shielded Qiao Wan behind him.
Huo Yan, eldest grandson of the Huo family, twenty-three years old, had served in the army for eight years.
The Huo family had thought he died in battle, but two years ago when Bei Yue achieved great victory and reclaimed territory,
Huo Yan returned with a disfigured face and full of killing aura.
His father died early, his mother returned to her brother’s family, and he was the only one left in the main branch of the Huo family, with no place for him at home.
Without a word, he moved to a broken thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain to live alone.
Xiahe Village often had a simple-minded, sweet-talking peddler who came to sell goods in the village.
One day, the villagers still asleep were awakened by the peddler’s shrill, inhuman screams.
Someone went out to check on the commotion and witnessed Huo Yan cleanly slicing off the peddler’s tongue at the root, blood splattering across his face.
Without even blinking, Huo Yan swung his blade twice more, dislocating the peddler’s limbs with brutal efficiency.
Finally, he severed the peddler’s head and stuffed it into the very carrying pole the man used for his daily sales.
The village erupted in chaos. No one understood why Huo Yan had killed the man. When the village chief arrived with elders to confront him, Huo Yan was in the courtyard, sharpening his knife with his head bowed. Without looking up, he replied coldly:
“He deserved it!”
From that day on, the infamous title “Living King of Hell” spread throughout the village.
“Young Huo, my Qiao family is at fault in this matter. What compensation do you want? Even if it costs me my old life, I’ll make it right!”
Qiao’s Father spoke in a low voice, his back straight, projecting an air of righteous solemnity.
Had Qiao Wan not noticed his soaked outer robe and trembling hands, she might have believed he was as calm as he appeared.
“Your life?”
Huo Yan’s gaze swept over Qiao Fugeng, his lips curling into a faint, chilling smile:
“How much is your life worth?”
The color drained from Qiao Fugeng’s face. His lips quivered, but no sound emerged.
Qiao Wan knew the original host of this body was despicable, but she couldn’t help defending the two innocent parties:
“My elder brother didn’t do anything to Sister Chunliu…”
“Yes, yes! Son-in-law, rest assured—nothing happened. I’ve checked, her clothes are intact.” Chunliu’s mother chimed in eagerly, adding, “It won’t delay the wedding ceremony!”
Without waiting for Huo Yan’s response, she dashed into the room like a gust of wind, dragged He Chunliu out, and began tearing at her clothes.
He Chunliu was mortified, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her collar, pleading softly:
“Mother… please don’t…”
“Let go now! Let Huo Yan see clearly.” Qin Shi slapped He Chunliu twice across the face.
Stunned by the blows, He Chunliu loosened her grip. Her collar was torn open, revealing the green undergarment beneath.
“Enough!” Huo Yan’s voice, thick with suppressed fury, rang above Qin Shi:
“I take a wife to build a life, not to make enemies. Since she is unwilling to marry, the engagement between our families is hereby canceled.”
Huo Yan couldn’t care less about some absurd notion of purity. He simply couldn’t bear to see He Chunliu’s helpless weeping—it reminded him too much of a woman from his childhood memories.
But he needed to marry. If this bride wouldn’t do, he would find another.
Huo Yan suddenly took a step forward, his shadow engulfing Qiao Wan completely.
He said coldly, “You lost my bride—you owe me a replacement!”
His eyes raked over Qiao Wan inch by inch: “I think you’ll do!”
“In your dreams!”
Qiao Wan’s cheeks flushed crimson. She had only ever heard of compensating for broken objects—never for a lost person.
This Huo Yan… he truly saw the original host as less than human.
Terrified, both Qiao Fugeng and his daughter dropped to their knees, clutching Huo Yan’s legs:
“Wanwan is still young—please spare her!”
Huo Yan snorted coldly: “Fine! Then I’ll go to the magistrate and ask what the penalty is for defiling a maiden’s virtue and destroying a marriage. Let’s see which of the Qiao family’s children will be left standing then!”
“You… you…”
Qiao Fugeng trembled with rage, unable to form a retort.
But Qiao Wan’s heart clenched in fear. Huo Yan had killed a man before and faced no consequences—he must have ties to the authorities! If this truly went before the magistrate, the original host would deserve her fate, but her elder brother… he was completely innocent!
“I’ll marry!” Qiao Wan cut in sharply. “I’ll marry you!”