When her eyes opened again, daylight had fully arrived.
By the time Qiao Wan dressed and stepped outside, Qiao Fugeng had long since left to borrow money. Qiao Qing brought the prepared meal to the table.
“Wanwan, you must be hungry? Wash your hands quickly and eat. I steamed egg custard for you.”
The Qiao family only had two hens, making eggs the household’s sole source of meat. The original owner of this body had eaten eggs daily for so long that Qiao Qing had developed the habit of preparing a bowl of steamed egg custard every morning.
But looking at Qiao Qing’s sunken cheeks and brittle, yellowish hair, Qiao Wan found herself unable to swallow the custard.
She took another bowl, divided the custard into two portions, and pushed one toward Qiao Qing.
“Sister, you eat too!”
“I’m already grown, you should…”
Before she could finish, Qiao Wan directly scooped a spoonful into her mouth.
The smooth, tender custard was still warm, sliding over her tongue and down her throat into Qiao Qing’s stomach.
Having gone so long without eating it, Qiao Qing had forgotten the taste of egg custard, now savoring its rich creaminess.
“Alright, such good food is wasted on me. You finish the rest quickly. I’m going to the mountains to look for our brothers.”
Only with Qiao Qing’s reminder did Qiao Wan realize she hadn’t seen Qiao Dahe and Qiao Erchuan since waking up yesterday.
Curious, she asked: “Where did Big Brother and Second Brother go?”
“They only said they were going to the mountains to find food yesterday, but there’s been no sign of them all night. I’m getting worried.”
“Sister, I’ll go with you!”
Qiao Wan had thought long into the night – although she now possessed the Dimension and spiritual spring, neither could be immediately converted to cash. To earn money quickly, she needed to explore the mountains.
She had been worrying about finding an excuse, and now one had presented itself.
“The mountain paths are difficult. You should rest at home.”
Qiao Qing, genuinely concerned about her brothers and wanting to search quickly, tried to persuade her: “I’ll return as soon as I find them. Finish eating and go lie down.”
Before Qiao Qing could finish speaking, she saw Qiao Wan hurriedly scrape clean the egg custard from her bowl and take two gulps of wild vegetable soup.
The soup was too hot, making her eyes water.
Qiao Wan promised: “Sister, don’t worry, I won’t slow you down. Let’s go now.”
Seeing Qiao Wan’s determination, Qiao Qing had no choice but to help her tie her trouser legs securely before they set out together.
Reaching the mountain’s base and gazing at the towering, continuous peaks, Qiao Wan swallowed hard before turning to Qiao Qing:
“Sister, where should we search?”
“Wild Boar Gully!”
Learning that their sister had been forced to marry Huo Yan, the Qiao brothers had left with red-rimmed eyes yesterday. Qiao Qing suspected they had gone to the mountains to gather wild goods for sale.
Just days ago, villagers had found ginseng in Wild Boar Gully, making it Qiao Qing’s first thought.
Hearing this explanation, a spark of hope instantly ignited in Qiao Wan’s heart.
Ginseng! That was valuable stuff!
Unable to wait, Qiao Wan pulled Qiao Qing toward Wild Boar Gully.
The mountain slope was steep. Qiao Qing led the way, using a wooden stick to beat the grass and drive away snakes and insects while breaking obstructing branches to prevent them from scratching Qiao Wan behind her.
Although the original body had been lazy around the Qiao family, she had secretly worked hard for the Huo family to curry favor with Huo Yaoxian, making these mountain paths manageable for this body.
They moved quickly, neither speaking along the way.
Qiao Wan’s mind was completely occupied with finding ginseng for money, failing to notice when Qiao Qing stopped ahead.
She bumped directly into her. Rubbing her forehead, Qiao Wan asked in confusion: “Why did you stop?”
Qiao Wan raised her hand to point ahead, her voice slightly hesitant: “Look, is that person up ahead Huo Yan?”
Following Qiao Qing’s pointing finger, Qiao Wan saw a man ahead whose build was as sturdy as a mountain. Even while carrying prey on his shoulder, he moved with swift, powerful strides.
In the entire Xiahe Village, no one but Huo Yan could accomplish this.
“It really is him!”
Qiao Qing let out a disapproving “tsk,” her eyes filled with disgust as if she had seen something filthy. She grabbed Qiao Wan, wanting to take another path.
“Wait, sister, look—isn’t that Second Brother following behind Huo Yan?”
“Second Brother?”
Hearing this, Qiao Qing took two steps closer to get a clearer look, and it really was him!
Not only was the person following Huo Yan Qiao Erchuan, but the one he was carrying on his shoulder also looked like Qiao Dahe.
“Oh my god, Big Brother…”
Amid Qiao Qing’s exclamation, Qiao Wan was abruptly dragged forward at a run.
Huo Yan also heard the commotion. He didn’t stop walking, but when Qiao Qing blocked his path, his gaze swept over Qiao Wan standing behind her.
Qiao Dahe was unconscious, his face covered in blood, looking as though his life hung in the balance.
Qiao Erchuan wasn’t much better off either—his clothes were torn to shreds, only one pant leg remained intact, and the cloth wrapped around his exposed calf was stained with blood.
“Second Brother, what happened to you?”
Qiao Qing’s voice trembled; she already had an idea in her mind. Without waiting for Qiao Erchuan’s reply, she picked up a stone and charged straight at Huo Yan’s head.
“I’ll kill you, you Living King of Hell! You forced my sister into marriage and hurt my brothers—I’ll fight you to the death!”
“Third Sister, don’t—”
“Third Sister!”
Qiao Qing moved too quickly; before Qiao Wan could stop her, she had already rushed forward. But Huo Yan was even faster—he drew his blade in an instant.
He struck the back of the blade downward onto Qiao Qing’s wrist.
Qiao Qing cried out in pain, the stone falling from her hand as she clutched her wrist and spun in place.
“Third Sister!”
Afraid Qiao Qing might do something even more reckless, Qiao Erchuan hurried forward, stepping between her and Huo Yan to explain:
“Big Brother and I ran into a wild boar herd. If it weren’t for Huo Yan, we would have been done for!”
“So… he saved you and Big Brother?”
Qiao Wan exclaimed in surprise. It was no wonder Qiao Qing had misunderstood—even she had thought Huo Yan was the one who had beaten the Qiao brothers into this state.
She turned to look at Huo Yan and saw his expression was indifferent, as if he were an uninvolved bystander.
“Why didn’t you explain?” Qiao Wan couldn’t help but ask.
“Would you have believed me if I had?” Huo Yan had no intention of getting entangled with the Qiao siblings. He shifted his shoulder slightly: “If your big brother dares to vomit on me, I’ll throw him down.”
Huo Yan’s meaning was clear: if they kept talking nonsense, they could carry Qiao Dahe back themselves.
Qiao Wan quickly understood. With Qiao Erchuan in no condition to help, she and Qiao Qing alone would never be able to carry him back.
She had always been pragmatic from a young age, so she quickly pulled Qiao Qing aside, stepping back to clear the path.
“I’m sorry, we misunderstood you.”
As Huo Yan passed by Qiao Wan, she whispered her apology.
Huo Yan seemed not to notice, striding ahead without a word. Qiao Wan followed behind him, while Qiao Qing supported Qiao Erchuan a step behind.
They entered the village and were nearly at the Qiao residence when Huo Yan suddenly paused.
A crowd had gathered at the Qiao family’s gate, and Qiao’s Father’s voice could be heard rising from within the group.
Qiao Wan, close behind, naturally heard it too. She quickened her pace, pushing through the crowd.
Qiao Fugeng was pinned beneath two young men, unable to move.
His left cheek pressed against the ground, covered in scrapes and bloody wounds.
Yet he seemed oblivious, straining desperately to break free from the two men restraining him, reaching for the money pouch dangling just before his eyes.