In the woods, shattered pink clothes lay scattered on the ground, with no sign of anyone.
Lu Yanmo's pupils contracted sharply. Suddenly, a man in a ghost mask on horseback appeared before him.
"Ghost King Zongbu!"
He stared in shock at the man clad in skull-embroidered black, his face a painted demon with bared fangs, looking down upon everything from a high vantage point.
Ghost King Zongbu, three years ago, had been his father's partner. No one had ever seen his true face; he always wore the terrifying mask symbolizing the Ghost King, commanding nearly a thousand followers, a formidable force in the martial world.
However, for some reason, he had a falling out with his father and disappeared for a time. When he reappeared, it was to contend with his father for control of the grain transport routes. He had become more ruthless and decisive, overwhelming his father, whose influence was rooted in the imperial court and dared not engage in overt plunder.
From then on, Ghost King Zongbu and his father became sworn enemies. He suspected that this Ghost King might have pledged allegiance to the First Prince.
But why would he, who had been absent from the martial world for so long, appear in this remote area?
Sensing a terrifying killing intent, Zhusheng stepped in front of Lu Yanmo and shouted fearlessly, "Who are you! Stop playing these spooky games!"
The eyes beneath the Ghost King's mask were sinister and blood-red. From beneath his skull-embroidered black robe, a lock of dark hair was visible, and pink fabric fluttered down from his hand.
"This woman, this King desires her! In return, this King will not seize your father's territory in Jiangzhou!"
"Let her go!" Lu Yanmo's usually indifferent face showed veins bulging, his long, arrogant eyes fixed on the heaving beneath the black robe.
His deep eyes were filled with rage. "If you are a man, do not engage in such petty thievery!"
"Hmph!"
The Ghost King was provoked. His black robe billowed, and a powerful, sharp qi radiated from him. Lu Yanmo felt as if his body had been struck by an invisible steel, with no power to resist, falling to the ground like a leaf.
"Young Master!" Zhusheng cried out in anguish, rushing to his side. "If you must take her, then take her, but do not harm my Young Master!"
"Zhu... Pfft—" Lu Yanmo was about to reprimand Zhusheng when a dull pain struck his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
His heart trembled violently. How had the Ghost King's martial arts become so formidable? Three years ago, he could still spar with him. Now, he had no power to resist at all?
How had he achieved this?
"Tch—" The Ghost King let out a disdainful hiss. "For my woman's sake, I shall spare you this time! Tell your father to remain honestly in court; the affairs of the martial world are not for him to meddle in!"
A pair of fair, tender hands reached out to tug at his clothes. The Ghost King, as if enjoying it, stroked them with his hand and lowered his masked head. The wide robe obscured his vision, but anyone could imagine what was happening beneath it.
Lu Yanmo had never suffered such humiliation. His dignified and restrained face contorted. Wasn't she spirited? Why was she so compliant now!
She should have resisted, cursed, and used her hairpin to protect her chastity. She shouldn't have demeaned herself like this!
The Ghost King's blood-red eyes swept over Lu Yanmo's face, filled with hatred as if his wife had been stolen, his fists clenched with a "crackling" sound.
He really wanted to kill him!
"Hurry!"
Xue Niang, nestled in his embrace, tilted her head and silently mouthed these words. Her small hand reached into his clothes, pinching his flesh.
This guy was getting addicted to playing the Ghost King, wasn't he?
After pinching for a while, his flesh was too firm, and she couldn't move it. Mischievously, she went for his nipples.
Xiao Shan let out a soul-stirring sigh, his eyes beneath the mask narrowing.
Lu Yanmo's entire body trembled, his eyes turning red. Ignoring his injuries, he scrambled to his feet and lunged forward.
"Young Master, no! I beg you, Young Master, don't go!" Zhusheng desperately held onto his waist, crying out, "Young Master, snap out of it!"
"Let go! Let go! Let go of me! Pfft—"
He spat out another mouthful of blood. Lu Yanmo felt his head roar, and all he could see was the black robe spinning, the man laughing arrogantly, whipping his horse and kicking up dust as he galloped away.
"Stop! Stop! Ghost King Zongbu! Come back here—" he staggered in pursuit.
"Young Master, Young Master!"
Zhusheng had never seen his Young Master in such a frenzied state and cried out in fear.
"I will not let you go, I will not let you go... Let her go..."
His tall frame finally crashed to the ground. Lu Yanmo's face was ashen, and his vacant eyes slowly closed.
Xiao Shan, with Xue Niang, continued to gallop until they reached the next city.
"Aren't we going home?"
"We'll make a detour here before returning. Lu Yanmo isn't a fool; after suffering such a great loss, he won't let it go easily."
"Mmm, you're quite the clever one."
Xue Niang said this, and Xiao Shan looked at her face to gauge her meaning.
Well, it didn't seem like praise.
"Ghost King Zongbu, can you release this humble woman now?"
That hateful man was so annoying. What was wrong with his clothes? He insisted they looked displeasing. Now, how was she supposed to enter the city in just her underclothes?
Xiao Shan's Ghost King mask was still on, looking ferocious and terrifying. Xue Niang reached out to lift it, but he grabbed her wrist and covered her face with the black robe again.
"What are you doing?"
Xue Niang struggled, but before she could lift the robe, she heard a strange, hoarse male voice say, "Green Ghost pays respects to the Master."
"Mmm, make the arrangements. Ensure Lu Yanmo is lured away from here."
"Yes, Master."
The male voice disappeared. The black robe was lifted from her head, and Xiao Shan had already removed the Ghost King mask, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at the still stunned Xue Niang.
In his hand, he held a set of women's clothes, still ordinary cotton.
"Ghost King?" Xue Niang looked at him doubtfully.
Didn't he just impersonate him?
Who was that just now?
"Come, put on these clothes, and I'll explain."
Xue Niang felt a little uneasy. She had begun to suspect that Xiao Shan's identity was not as simple as it seemed.
"Why the frown? Are you afraid of me? If I were truly the Ghost King, would I no longer be the hunter Xiao Shan, no longer your man?"
Xiao Shan sighed helplessly, helped her put on the clothes, pinched her silent face, and explained, "Three years ago, Ghost King Zongbu tampered with military funds, and I killed him. Afterward, I purged his nearly thousand followers, and that force has now become mine. Nearly half of them are brothers retired from the army. I am the Ghost King, and I am also Xiao Shan of Bozi Village. If there were no other matters, I would barely inquire about things over there. I wanted to grow old with you in Bozi Village, but—"
But what? Xue Niang looked up at him.
"But this incident has made me afraid. I feel a deep unease, constantly worrying that you will leave me one day."
"I won't leave. You know, this time it wasn't my..." Xue Niang was eager to explain, but Xiao Shan covered her mouth.
"I know, I know. I'm not saying you'll leave on your own. I'm afraid that, like this time, you'll be unable to control your own fate."
Unable to control her own fate.
So, was the hunter Xiao Shan alone unable to protect her?