"Brother Li Xiu, you... you’re still holding me..." Zhang Wenqin suddenly murmured in a voice so soft it was barely audible. Her face flushed a deep crimson, like a ripe apple, and the redness spread all the way down to her neck.
Only then did Li Xiu realize that he was clutching Zhang Wenqin tightly in his arms.
He hurriedly let go, scratching his hair in embarrassment. "I... I’m sorry. I was in such a rush, I didn't realize..."
Zhang Wenqin lowered her eyes, not daring to look him in the face, and could only offer a faint, shy, "Mhm."
Li Xiu stood up and his gaze fell upon her. Her clothes were soaked through by the river, clinging to her skin and revealing a pair of long, shapely legs.
Li Xiu quickly averted his eyes, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Zhang Wenqin noticed his look and became so mortified she didn't know where to hide. She bowed her head to smooth out her wet hair, turned, and ran toward the village.
Li Xiu watched her go, a strange glint in his eyes. Those long, beautiful legs were truly stunning.
What... what was this all about? He had already taken the sisters Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruiling, and Sister Chunhua was as good as his too; was he now going to take Zhang Wenqin as well? Was he supposed to just embrace being a scoundrel?
Li Xiu couldn't help but laugh at himself. He really did know how to stir up trouble! Still, taking in Zhang Wenqin wouldn't be a bad thing. After all, she was a beauty with a great figure, and those legs...
Li Xiu took a deep breath to steady his racing mind. He shook his head to clear away the stray thoughts; now was not the time for this. The most pressing issue was dealing with the Mountain Ghost. That was the top priority. The creature was already prowling the outskirts of the village, and any woman in the village could be snatched away at any moment. He had to find a way to ensure their safety and make sure such a thing never happened again.
Li Xiu turned and ran toward the village. He needed to talk to the village chief and figure out a plan together; not a single moment could be wasted.
Upon returning to the village, Li Xiu headed straight for the village chief's house.
"Chief, it's bad!" Li Xiu shouted as he entered the courtyard.
Li Daqing sat at the table, a pipe in his hand, his brows knitted tight. "What’s going on? What’s bad?"
Li Xiu recounted everything—how Zhang Wenqin had encountered the Mountain Ghost and jumped into the river to hide.
Hearing this, Li Daqing nearly dropped his pipe. He stood up with a start, his face turning grim. "This is outrageous! If that Mountain Ghost keeps acting like this, how are we supposed to live?"
Just as he finished, a white-bearded old man came rushing in, followed by a group of burly men. "Brother Daqing, it's bad!" the old man panted.
"Brother Wang? Did something happen in your village too?" Li Daqing instantly recognized Wang Yunlong from the neighboring Nanshan Village. Li Xiu recognized him as well; he was the ninety-year-old village chief of Nanshan Village, still surprisingly spry for his age.
Wang Yunlong didn't have time for pleasantries. "A woman in my village was snatched by the Mountain Ghost yesterday. We’ve come to propose that our villages join forces to wipe out this monster!"
Li Daqing nodded solemnly. "Agreed. Our two villages will combine our strength. Tomorrow morning, we'll take the men up the mountain and kill that beast!"
Wang Yunlong looked around and asked, "Brother Daqing, I heard your village has a man named Li Xiu who is skilled at hunting mountain bears. We must bring him along!"
"Very well. This is Li Xiu," Li Daqing said, pointing at him.
Wang Yunlong paused, peering at Li Xiu closely. He couldn't see a hint of martial prowess in him. Li Xiu looked more like a delicate scholar—could he really have hunted mountain bears? "He... he is that Li Xiu?"
Wang Yunlong remained skeptical. He had heard the name Li Xiu many times, almost as if the man were a legend, but the person before him...
Seeing the doubt in Wang Yunlong's eyes, Li Xiu said nothing, merely smiling slightly.
The crowd discussed the plans for a while before dispersing. Li Xiu went back home, where Sister Chunhua was also waiting. He explained the situation regarding the Mountain Ghost to Yang Ruixue, Yang Ruiling, and Sister Chunhua, warning them not to step outside.
"Husband, you must stay safe!" Yang Ruiling’s eyes welled up as she grabbed Li Xiu’s arm, trying to stop him from going. She had heard that the Mountain Ghost wasn't just an ordinary beast, but a monster.
"Husband, dealing with the Mountain Ghost is no joke, you..." Yang Ruiling was terrified. The Mountain Ghost was nightmarish; they said it could snap a human head off in one bite, that its gaze alone could shatter a soul, and that its hands were sharper than knives. One swipe could crush a person like a pancake, and its tail was like a steel whip that could kill a person with a single lash.
Sister Chunhua stood by, saying nothing, though her eyes were filled with worry.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Li Xiu comforted the three women. "Stay inside, don't wander off, and make sure the doors and windows are secure."
The next morning, all the young men of Xiaoshan Village arrived, armed with various tools—steel forks, shovels, and machetes. The elderly, women, and children came to see them off, their faces etched with anxiety as they whispered prayers.
Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruiling had red, swollen eyes as they stared at Li Xiu.
"Husband, you must come back safely," Yang Ruixue said, tugging at his clothes with a trembling voice.
"Husband, we'll be waiting for you at home," Yang Ruiling added softly.
Li Xiu nodded, offering a faint smile. He had brought his Divine Dart and a supply of regular Flying Darts just in case.
Sister Chunhua hesitated for a long time before walking up to Li Xiu. She took a scent pouch from her bodice and pressed it into his hand. "Li Xiu, take this. It will keep you safe."
"Thank you, Sister," Li Xiu said with a smile, taking the pouch—still warm from her skin—and tying it to his belt.
"Let’s go!"
Li Xiu led the two dozen sturdy men toward the deep mountains. There, they met up with the villagers from Nanshan Village. Together, the party of forty-some men made a formidable sight as they marched into the depths of the forest.
Wang Qi, the leader from Nanshan Village, spoke up: "This time, our two villages must work together. However, your Xiaoshan Village men must take orders from us. We have many hunters and are much more experienced. Also, if we kill this Mountain Ghost, eighty percent of the spoils will belong to Nanshan Village!"
The men of Xiaoshan Village were immediately disgruntled.
"On what grounds? We have plenty of men too!"
"Exactly, this is bullying!"
"Let's go home!"
"Forget it, let's break it off!"
The men from Xiaoshan Village were furious, many threatening to turn back.
Wang Qi gave a cold, mocking laugh. "What? Not satisfied? If you don't like it, then get lost!"