The sharp pain in her wrist made Lin Wan frown deeply.
This man’s grip was unbelievably strong.
If it had been the original owner of this body, her wrist would have been crushed on the spot.
But Lin Wan neither cried out nor struggled.
She simply remained where she was, staring coldly into the man’s wolf-like eyes.
“Let go.”
Her voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable command.
“Or I’ll kill you right now.”
The moment she finished speaking—
A slender silver needle appeared between the fingers of her previously empty left hand.
The needle flashed with a cold gleam in the morning light.
Its tip rested precisely against the fatal pressure point on the side of the man’s neck.
If he dared apply even the slightest bit more force, the needle would pierce him without hesitation.
Xiao Junmo’s pupils suddenly contracted.
What incredible speed!
He hadn’t even seen how this girl had made her move.
Yet the silver needle pressed against his vital point radiated unmistakable killing intent.
He tilted his head slightly and quickly surveyed his surroundings.
A dilapidated temple.
A roof full of holes.
A pile of dry straw.
Finally, his gaze settled on the young village girl standing before him in coarse homespun clothes.
Then he looked at the neatly bandaged wound on his chest, covered with a layer of fragrant herbal paste.
The tension in his body suddenly eased.
The murderous aura surrounding him receded like the tide.
“You saved me?”
His voice remained hoarse, but most of the suspicion in his eyes had disappeared.
“Who else? Were you expecting the Mountain God to perform a miracle?”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes impatiently.
The silver needle, however, never moved away from his neck.
“Let go first.”
Xiao Junmo looked at the needle against his throat, and the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
Slowly, he released her wrist.
Just as Lin Wan was about to pull away—
His entire demeanor suddenly changed completely.
“Cough… cough… cough…”
He suddenly clutched his chest and began coughing violently.
His already pale face became even whiter.
Leaning weakly against the wall, he gasped for breath as though he might die at any second.
“Miss… I will never forget your life-saving kindness…”
He spoke in broken sentences, his eyes filled with helplessness and misery.
“I was ambushed… and lost all my money. Now… I have nowhere to go…”
Watching his pitiful act, Lin Wan’s mouth twitched.
Wasn’t this acting a little too fake?
A moment ago, he had nearly crushed her wrist with his grip.
And now he was pretending to be as fragile as a sickly nobleman.
“Nowhere to go?”
Lin Wan put away the silver needle, crossed her arms, and looked down at him.
“With your fine skin and expensive silk clothes, you don’t exactly look like a homeless beggar.”
She exposed his lie without mercy.
“Besides, this broken temple is so drafty that even rats don’t want to stay here. It definitely can’t accommodate someone as important as you.”
“Your wounds have already been treated. You won’t die.”
“The door’s over there.”
“See yourself out.”
Lin Wan bluntly threw him out.
She had no intention of keeping a ticking time bomb beside her.
But Xiao Junmo acted as though he hadn’t heard a word.
Still clutching his chest, he continued groaning dramatically.
“Miss, you’ve misunderstood me.”
“I bought these clothes… back when my family was still well off.”
He lied without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
“Now my family has fallen, and my enemies are hunting me.”
“If you drive me out now…”
“I’m afraid this half-dead body of mine won’t survive another hour.”
He lifted his eyes slightly, looking at Lin Wan with those deep, captivating eyes, wearing the most pitiful expression he could manage.
“Since you’ve already saved my life…”
“As the saying goes, save a person to the very end.”
“Why not… let me stay for a few days?”
“I don’t eat much.”
“When my injuries heal… I can work to repay you for the food.”
Seeing how shameless he was being, Lin Wan took a deep breath, barely suppressing the urge to kick him out of the temple.
She had met shameless people before.
But never one this shameless.
A battle-hardened man covered in scars, who was very likely a general, was actually pretending to be helpless in front of her?
“Work?”
Lin Wan looked him up and down before letting out a cold laugh.
“What exactly can you do in your current condition?”
“Chop firewood? Carry water?”
“Your wounds will probably split open, and then I’ll have to waste more medicine on you.”
“I can!”
Xiao Junmo’s eyes lit up.
Afraid she might change her mind, he hurriedly promised,
“As long as you’re willing to let me stay, I’ll take care of all the firewood and water!”
“I won’t complain at all!”
“Sis…”
At that moment, Lin Yulong, who had been sleeping behind the makeshift door, woke up.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he walked over and looked first at Xiao Junmo, then at Lin Wan.
“Sis, this big brother is awake?”
“He has nowhere to go. That’s so sad…”
Lin Yulong’s kind-hearted nature surfaced again.
He tugged gently on Lin Wan’s sleeve.
“Sis, why don’t we let him stay?”
“The temple is big enough anyway. Having one more person will make it livelier.”
Lin Wan rubbed her forehead helplessly.
This foolish little brother…
He would probably help count the money after someone sold him.
This wasn’t some pitiful big brother.
He was clearly a wolf that could bite at any moment.
But seeing the sincere pleading in Lin Yulong’s innocent eyes, the words of refusal caught in her throat.
Then she looked at the man in the corner, who was still pretending to be pitiful with all his might.
She knew that if he truly insisted on staying, she really couldn’t drive him away right now.
If they actually fought, her current physical condition gave her little chance of winning.
“Fine.”
Lin Wan sighed in resignation before fixing Xiao Junmo with a cold stare.
“My place is small.”
“I don’t feed freeloaders.”
“The moment your injuries heal, you get out.”
“And if you bring me any trouble while you’re here…”
“I’ll be the first to kill you.”
A trace of satisfaction flashed through Xiao Junmo’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, Miss.”
“I won’t cause you any trouble.”
“My name is Xiao Junmo.”
“May I know your name?”
He introduced himself naturally.
“Lin Wan.”
She answered with only two indifferent words.
Having an adult man of unknown origin living with them was indeed a huge problem.
But right now, making money was the priority.
The vegetables she had planted yesterday should have grown even more today.
She needed to visit the town and figure out how to sell them.
“Yulong, keep an eye on him.”
Lin Wan picked up an empty bamboo basket and instructed her brother.
“Don’t let him wander around.”
“And don’t give him any of our dried food.”
“He won’t starve.”
Hearing that, Xiao Junmo’s mouth twitched.
This woman truly had a ruthless heart.
Ignoring his reaction, Lin Wan slung the bamboo basket over her back and strode out of the ruined temple.
The morning sunlight spread across the wasteland.
The lush green vegetable patch looked even healthier than before.
Satisfied, Lin Wan selected several fresh, tender cabbages and pulled up two huge radishes, placing them into the basket.
Not only were the vegetables enormous, but after being nourished by the Spirit Spring water, they carried a naturally sweet fragrance.
They would definitely fetch a good price in town.
She hoisted the heavy basket onto her back and was just about to leave.
Suddenly—
From the path outside the ruined temple that led toward the village came a shrill, arrogant shout.
“Lin Wan! You shameless little slut! Get out here!”
The harsh voice grated like fingernails scraping glass.
Lin Wan immediately stopped.
She didn’t even need to look to know who it was.
Who else could have such a broken gong of a voice besides Old Madam Lin?
“That old hag really never learns.”
Lin Wan sneered, set down her basket, and her eyes instantly turned icy.
Although the temple gate was broken, Lin Yulong had used several broken door panels to block it the previous night.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The boards shook violently as someone pounded on them from outside.
Wood chips rained down continuously.
“Open the door!”
“I know you’re in there!”
Even through the door, Old Madam Lin’s voice remained loud and full of energy.
“You little jinx!”
“You killed your mother, and now you’re using the family’s stolen silver to enjoy yourself here!”
“Hurry up and hand over the money!”
“Otherwise, I’ll smash this broken temple today!”
Old Madam Lin cursed excitedly outside.
Yesterday, Zhang Shi and Lin Daqiang had returned empty-handed and injured.
The more she thought about it after getting home, the angrier she became.
Five taels of silver used to buy land.
And all that meat hanging in the courtyard.
That wretched girl definitely still had money!
That money should have belonged to the Lin family!
Today, she had deliberately brought along several old women from the village who were on good terms with her to support and back her up.
“That’s right!”
“How dare a junior lay hands on an elder?”
“Open the door immediately!”
“Hand over everything, kneel to your grandmother, admit your mistake, and we’ll let this matter go!”
The other old women outside eagerly joined in.
Inside the ruined temple—
Hearing that familiar and terrifying voice, Lin Yulong’s face turned deathly pale.
Like a frightened rabbit, he hid behind Lin Wan.
“Sis…”
“Grandma’s here…”
“What do we do?”
Even though he knew his sister had become very powerful, years of being bullied by Old Madam Lin still left him instinctively terrified.
Lying on the pile of straw, Xiao Junmo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Although he was seriously injured, he had heard every word outside.
“Do you need my help?”
His voice was low.
Despite his weakened state, it still carried unquestionable authority.
“No.”
Lin Wan didn’t even turn around.
She picked up the solid wooden club she had used the day before and weighed it in her hand.
“They’re just a few old dogs that know how to bark.”
She strode toward the courtyard gate.
Since they insisted on coming here to court death—
Today, she would settle every old score and every new one all at once.