Xiao Shan made a small wooden bed in the yard and moved it into the cramped bedroom. He instructed Qu Linglong about the bedding in the cabinet and glanced at Xue Niang.
Xue Niang had taken her medicine and fallen asleep again, lying quietly. Her small face looked peaceful, as docile as a kitten.
"Don't forget to apply the medicine to her, and also the wound in her mouth."
"Then I'll have to do more than just look, I'll have to touch it too!"
Unwittingly, Qu Linglong blurted out, earning a stern glare from Xiao Shan.
Xiao Shan shouldered his bow and arrows, several machetes, and a bag of biscuits, and headed up the mountain.
Sun rose and set, day turned into night.
He descended the mountain again five days later, dragging a straw raft. A colossal creature lay upon it.
Some villagers saw him again. This time, they weren't scared away but stopped to watch for a while.
When they saw it was a black bear weighing several hundred pounds, their mouths gaped wider than eggs.
How much money would this fetch?
Soon, someone chimed in.
"Brother Xiao, are you going to sell it in town now? I have an ox cart. How about 10 wen for the transport?"
This was the village cart driver. He usually took people to town for two wen per person. Ten wen for a black bear wasn't too expensive.
Xiao Shan nodded and said in a deep voice, "Stop by my house! I'll go after I prepare it."
The cart driver, named Lai Cai, was very happy. The villagers were afraid to deal with this hunter. He had only asked casually, but he didn't expect this brother to be so agreeable.
He acknowledged with a sound and went home to fetch his cart, leaving only a few villagers whispering amongst themselves.
Xiao Shan stopped the straw raft at his doorstep and carried the pheasants and rabbits from on top into the yard.
The people inside the house had heard the commotion and came out to see.
Xiao Shan's gaze fell on Xue Niang, who had come out behind Qu Linglong.
She could walk already? Her complexion seemed fine.
Wearing the clothes he bought, she stood tall and graceful. In the sunlight, she was like a radiant being, out of place in this dilapidated yard.
The yard gate was open, and Qu Linglong saw the large black bear lying outside.
She couldn't help but let out a gasp.
"Brother Xiao! You're amazing!"
Xue Niang had been looking at Xiao Shan. His clothes were torn in many places, with bloodstains and disheveled hair. His face was unkempt, but his tiger-like eyes were as sharp as a falcon's, seeming to pierce through the air and time, shooting directly at her. Even from a distance, she could feel that burning intensity.
Just as Xue Niang felt flustered, she heard Linglong's call and looked curiously towards the door.
What a huge black bear!
So, were his clothes torn during the fight with the black bear?
Then, was he injured?
Xue Niang dared not think about it, fearing she would be even more indebted.
"This will sell for so much money!" Qu Linglong exclaimed, circling the black bear in amazement.
Xiao Shan went to the black bear with his knife and swiftly chopped off both bear paws.
"Wow! Just these two bear paws can sell for over 100 taels in the restaurants in the capital."
Xue Niang, listening to Qu Linglong's words, also looked at the dark bear paws. Were these things so expensive?
But they didn't taste that good!
Wait, how did she know they didn't taste good?
With a slight furrow of her delicate willow brows, Xiao Shan glanced at her, thinking she was scared. He wrapped the bear paws in cloth strips.
Qu Linglong was right. In the capital, this was indeed a rare delicacy. But in this impoverished backwater, after years of war and heavy taxes, even the wealthy families were reluctant to spend much money on it. Selling it for a few dozen taels would be good.
At this moment, Lai Cai arrived with his cart.
"Brother Xiao, are you ready?"
He hadn't expected anyone else to be here. Didn't they say this hunter Xiao lived alone?
He glanced at Qu Linglong and Xue Niang, and was immediately startled by Xue Niang's face, almost crying out in shock.
What was growing on her face? It was truly frightening.
Xiao Shan's face immediately darkened.
Xue Niang, however, maintained a calm expression, lifting her head openly and standing with dignity. Her eyes were bright, possessing an air of looking down upon the world.
Xiao Shan was momentarily captivated.
"This, do we need to find two more people to carry it?"
Lai Cai eyed the bulky carcass. It would take at least four people. With a woman and a frail-looking youth present, it probably wouldn't work.
"No need!" Xiao Shan came back to his senses, squatted down, and before Lai Cai could offer help, he exerted all his strength. With a "whoosh," he hoisted it up and threw it onto the cart.
Dust flew, and the ox's back bent significantly, showing how heavy it was.
"Brother Xiao is truly my Brother Xiao!" Qu Linglong gave a thumbs-up.
This was the divine general who had defeated the Turkic barbarians, the one described as having the strength to uproot mountains and the aura to cover the world!
Xue Niang's small mouth parted slightly, her surprise evident.
She had never seen such a strong man. His thick arms were as solid as iron. When he lifted the large bear, even through his clothes, she could see a bulge of muscle on his shoulders and back. His body didn't even sway.
Moreover, she knew that he possessed immense strength, yet he wasn't a brute, but someone with genuine martial prowess.
Could this be an ordinary hunter?
Lai Cai rubbed his hands, utterly impressed, making clicking sounds with his mouth as he got onto the cart.
"Don't stand around too long. Go back and rest. I'll be back after I sell it."
Xiao Shan said to Xue Niang, but he didn't get on the cart. Instead, he followed behind.
Indeed, the ox was already struggling to pull a bear.
But hadn't he dragged the bear down from the mountain himself?
Was he not aware of fatigue?
Qu Linglong chuckled slyly, "That sounds like an old married couple."
Having spent these past few days together, Xue Niang and Linglong had become quite familiar. Hearing her say that, she couldn't help but feel that the words just spoken did indeed have that tone.
"Linglong, how did you two meet before?"
"In the army—"
Qu Linglong shut her mouth, almost blurting it out again.
"Army what, the barracks? Is he a soldier?"
She hadn't expected Xue Niang to be so sharp and guess immediately. Qu Linglong found it difficult to weave more lies to deceive her.
"He was, but now he's living in seclusion, so naturally, he's just a regular hunter. Xue Niang, please don't tell anyone, or Brother Xiao will be in trouble."
"I won't tell anyone."
He was indeed not an ordinary hunter. If he were a soldier, his status should not be low. With such excellent martial arts and that imposing presence, how could he be subordinate to others?
Having been dragged around by human traffickers to many places, she had seen too much human suffering. In recent years, with continuous warfare, the nation had weakened, and the people were destitute. If he was a soldier, why did he leave the army and come to this remote mountain village to live in seclusion?
Or perhaps, he was forced to leave? There was great resentment among the populace towards the royal family. The ruler was inactive, weak, and incompetent, with treacherous officials in power. This was the most likely scenario.
"In any case, living a peaceful life here is not bad. Brother Xiao never had a woman before, and now that he's finally taken a liking to you, he will surely treat you well."
"I'm not..."
"Xue Niang, this world is too difficult for us women, and I think you understand that deeply! Someone like Brother Xiao, who is capable and treats you well, with him around, no one will dare to bully you. How wonderful is that! I wish I could find a man like that too, but alas, sigh!"
Her fate was bitter!
Her stomach was feeling uncomfortable again, making her want to vomit!
Xue Niang's gaze became desolate, and she fell silent.