The next day, bright and early, Li Xiu went to the home of the hunter Li Mingda. He was not there to collect the three taels of silver Li Mingda owed him, but rather to see if he could find any suitable weapons for self-defense.
When Li Xiu arrived, he explained his intentions.
"Oh? Brother Li Xiu is interested in hunting, too?" Li Mingda remarked. "However, hunting is quite dangerous. You need to know how to use weapons, and it requires skill and strength—not something you can master in a day or two."
Seeing that Li Xiu had the air of a scholar, Li Mingda couldn't help but think that going hunting would be like a sheep walking into a tiger’s den. Li Xiu just smiled and said he simply had a fondness for weapons. In his modern life, he had been not only a brilliant young physician but also a master of martial arts, though he couldn't very well explain that.
Li Mingda led Li Xiu to a room containing various hunting implements: throwing weapons, slingshots, polearms, bows and arrows, and Flying Darts. After examining the selection, Li Xiu settled on the Flying Darts. They were convenient to carry, easy to use, and not easily detected.
Li Mingda agreed to exchange the three taels of debt for three hundred Flying Darts and even gifted him a dart holster. Li Xiu loaded one hundred darts into the holster, strapped it to his waist, said his goodbyes, and headed home, feeling quite satisfied.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, a rich, savory aroma of meat wafted toward him.
"Husband, you're back!" Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruiling emerged from the kitchen.
Inside the room, a lavish meal was laid out on the table: white rice, roasted meat, and a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
"It smells wonderful. You both have a real talent for cooking," Li Xiu praised.
Yang Ruixue grabbed Li Xiu's hand and guided him to a chair. "Husband, come and eat, quickly." She then turned to her sister with a smile. "Sister, you should eat too."
"Mm," Yang Ruiling nodded, smiling happily.
The three of them sat around the wooden table and began to eat, the atmosphere filled with joy.
"This is delicious!" Yang Ruixue said between bites. "Husband, it’s been a long time since we’ve had food this good."
"It’s true," Yang Ruiling agreed. "If only things could always be like this."
"That’s a small matter," Li Xiu said with a grin. "From now on, we’ll have meat every day. Life is only going to get better!"
He was full of confidence. Since transmigrating into this ancient world and gaining two beautiful young wives, he was determined to cherish them. With his skills, he was certain that their future would be bright.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, the front door was kicked open.
"Who’s there?"
Li Xiu rose from his chair in an instant and turned toward the door. A group of men brandishing blades marched in, looking aggressive. At the head of the pack was a burly, broad-shouldered man followed by four or five subordinates, each with a menacing look on their face. Strangely, Li the Scoundrel was trailing behind them.
At the sight of them, Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruiling turned deathly pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Li Xiu frowned slightly. He recognized the man: it was Boss Long, a bandit chieftain who terrorized the area. He frequently led his gang through nearby villages, burning, killing, and looting—there was no evil deed he wouldn't commit. In the past, Li Xiu's predecessor had constantly groveled before Boss Long, hoping to become one of his lackeys, but Boss Long had always looked down on him, regarding him as a useless good-for-nothing.
Why would Boss Long be barging into his home now with a gang of thieves?
Li Xiu narrowed his eyes, remaining on high alert. In truth, Li the Scoundrel had only recently managed to cozy up to Boss Long, seeking him out as a protector. Boss Long had accepted Li the Scoundrel only because he had his eye on Li the Scoundrel’s beautiful wife, Sister Chunhua, whom he intended to take as his own. Li the Scoundrel had been placed in a difficult position, especially since, just last night, his wife, Sister Chunhua, had gone to see Li Xiu to ask for a child.Following Sister Chunhua's fabricated story, Li the Scoundrel became convinced that his wife had been "planted" with a child by Li Xiu, and would soon give birth to a chubby baby boy.
If word got out that such a dainty young wife of his had been planted by Li Xiu, what would people say?
After a quick turn of his crafty mind, Li the Scoundrel hatched a plan.
Heh!
Li Xiu's two concubines were young and gorgeous, far prettier than his own wife. Why not offer them to Boss Long as mountain-bandit brides? Then, he could use a borrowed knife to kill Li Xiu and eliminate him. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds? It would save his own wife's face, silence the victim, and ensure that no one would ever find out about his wife being planted by Li Xiu.
Therefore, Li the Scoundrel tipped off Boss Long, claiming that Li Xiu's two concubines were as exquisite as flowers and jade, comparable to fairies descending to earth.
Upon hearing this, Boss Long grew deeply interested and led a band of lackeys charging down the mountain.Boss Long sauntered over, his gaze sweeping over Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruiling with a lecherous expression.
"Tsk tsk, Li Xiu, your two concubines really are born beauties!"
The corners of Boss Long's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a row of yellow teeth that looked utterly revolting, while drool dripped from his lips.
Then, his eyes were drawn to a fragrant basin of roasted meat on the table.
"Yo, meat to eat? Not bad!" Without standing on ceremony, Boss Long picked up a piece of roasted meat, shoved it straight into his mouth, and chewed a few times with loud crunches. "Mmm, so good!"
With that, Boss Long shifted his gaze back to Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruixue.
"Li Xiu, I've come for only one thing today: I've taken a fancy to your two concubines. I'm taking them up the mountain to be my bandit brides. Do you want your people or your life? Choose one!"
Without any pretense, Boss Long finished speaking and glared at Li Xiu with fierce, bulging eyes, waiting for an answer.
Hearing this, Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruixue trembled with fear, tears streaming down their faces. Their husband had only recently changed for the better and started cherishing them. Good times had just begun, and now they had escaped the wolf's den only to enter the tiger's lair. Cruel fate!
Seeing the two women looking so terrified, Boss Long couldn't help laughing. "My two little maidens, don't be afraid. Follow me, and you'll eat well, drink well, and enjoy passionate nights that will keep you happy!"
Seeing that Li Xiu was slow to reply, Boss Long lost his patience and asked again, "Li Xiu, which path do you choose?"
Standing to the side, Li the Scoundrel was gleeful inside. No matter which path Li Xiu chose, he was a dead man!
Unfazed, Li Xiu replied with a calm expression, "Boss Long, I wonder if I might use a treasure to trade for my two concubines?"
"A treasure? What treasure?" Boss Long was a miser at heart, and upon hearing this, he was instantly tempted.
He figured that even if he got the treasure, Li Xiu's two pretty concubines would still become his bandit brides anyway. In this world, killing was the ultimate rule.
"The night before last, when I went up the mountain to gather herbs, I found a thousand-year-old wild ginseng growing on a cliff. It's just a pity I didn't bring any ropes with me at the time, so I couldn't dig it up..." Li Xiu fabricated.
Hearing this, Boss Long rolled his crafty eyes. He could get the thousand-year-old wild ginseng first, push Li Xiu off the cliff to feed the wild dogs, and then come back to snatch the two little beauties—it wouldn't be too late.
Having made up his mind, Boss Long nodded, signaling his agreement to Li Xiu's request.
And so, Li Xiu headed out, leading Boss Long toward the mountain to dig up the wild ginseng.
Looking at Li Xiu with tear-streaked faces, Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruixue knew the ruthless ways of the bandits; they feared their husband would more likely than not meet his death.
"We sisters will wait for you to come home, Husband!" Yang Ruixue choked out, looking at Li Xiu.
They had already secretly made up their minds: once their husband was harmed, they would rather shatter like jade than remain whole like tile.
Li Xiu patted Yang Ruixue and Yang Ruixue on their delicate shoulders, offered a word of comfort, and stepped out the door...