Chapter 80

Chapter 80

The cave.

The campfire.

The young man seemed like a knight protecting a princess.

He looked at his family, all asleep.

He gently moved his sister Little Jiang Yu aside, took off his jacket, and covered her with it.

Taking off his jacket made him feel a bit chilly.

He stood up and began practicing sword forms.

The same few moves—one swing, one chop, one slash, completely devoid of any profound technique.

Jiang Feng practiced meticulously.

The campfire illuminated the cave, casting the shadow of the young swordsman on the cave walls, as if witnessing an ancient immortal master performing a sword dance through the ages.

The more he practiced, the more fluid his movements became, the more at ease he felt, first finding the sword in his hand heavy, then just right, and finally forgetting he was holding a sword at all.

For all he saw were his loved ones, and he had become their protector, at peace.

Qin Luoxia fell asleep quickly, but soon woke up again. Seeing Jiang Feng practicing, and with her Husband and Mianmian by her side, she adjusted her posture to hold them both in her embrace, and went back to sleep.

She didn't bother with Jiang Yu, who was sleeping sprawled out against the cave wall, limbs akimbo, impossible to hold, as long as she didn't roll into the fire.

Before dozing off again, Qin Luoxia wondered if her second daughter would be able to get married, or if on her wedding night she might kick her Husband out, with that temper of hers. Maybe she would end up having to take in a son-in-law, making Qin Luoxia worry whoever's family he came from.

Jiang Changtian's sleep was light, unable to rest properly in an unfamiliar place. He thought he had slept, but it was only for a moment before Jiang Feng got up, waking him. He watched Jiang Feng practice for a while, then closed his eyes again.

He was going over his actions that day.

He had told the local Ming County mountain bandits not to attack the county office, as there was an ambush waiting, and lured them to attack Squire Liu instead.

He had told the villagers that bandits from Jǐ Mountain County would be coming, warning them to hide.

Squire Liu had received his message, but surely wouldn't believe it, since the Jǐ Mountain County bandits never came this way.

His actions were clumsy and didn't stand up to scrutiny.

Just like when he unintentionally told that merchant caravan that Wu Liu was his wife's lover, and carelessly mentioned where to buy poison and what toxins would be most lethal.

Instantly fatal.

He had been sloppy.

If anyone seriously investigated the case, they might trace it back to him.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

But when he saw Wu Liu's rotting corpse, he felt happy.

Genuinely happy.

He even felt that eating meat that day was no longer a disgusting act.

Meat that was usually hard to swallow became strangely appetizing when he pictured Wu Liu's corpse, as if he could taste the flavor instead of feeling nauseous.

He thought, his mother was right—he had a demon inside, a beautiful face but a demon's heart. That's the kind of person he was.

He had to hide that demonic side, not wanting Sister Xia to know. He craved her embrace, her care, her adoration.

This time, Sister Xia held him in her embrace, and he fell quickly into a deep slumber.

Once Jiang Changtian's breathing became even, Qin Luoxia opened her eyes.

Her gaze was sharp.

She gestured silently to Jiang Feng.

"You keep watch. I'm going out to look around," she mouthed soundlessly.

Jiang Feng wanted to go instead, but seeing the hung game in the cave and his mother's resolute eyes, he obediently nodded.

Qin Luoxia gently laid her Husband down, tucking Mianmian into his embrace.

Then she rose.

Taking up the long spear she had prepared, she left the cave.

Outside, the wind cut like a knife.

The cold air sharpened Qin Luoxia's senses.

Behind her in the cave were her loved ones.

Outside stretched the boundless darkness of the mountains.

The gentle wife and mother who had just held her Husband and child was now binding her sleeves and trousers, her face covered in cloth wrappings, her head hooded. Her tall, strong frame bound with strips of cloth across her chest and around her waist made her look like a sturdy man.

She had made up her mind. Whether the bandits came or not, Squire Liu would die tonight.

She had never killed before.

But lately, she had slain many fierce beasts.

She knew nothing of great justice or right and wrong.

She only knew that her mother had said her father died in battle, his remains never found, uncertain of whom or what he had fought and died for, leaving behind wife and children to wander begging for survival.

Her mother had brought her along that path of destitution until arriving here. She knew the hardships her mother had endured, the regrets her mother voiced on her deathbed about having no face to meet her father.

How she wished she had been grown then, able to protect her mother.

Now she would ensure her family all remained alive and intact. Anyone who tried to harm them, she could kill their entire clan.

She wasn't afraid to kill, truly.

From a young age fleeing famine, she had seen the dead.

Seen people kill.

At this moment, Qin Luoxia exuded none of the gentle warmth she showed cuddling her little daughter.

Her whole being radiated ferocity, like a predator calmly hunting prey in the deep forest.

She raced swiftly towards the village.

Melting into the night.

The cold wind howled.

The rustling leaves sang their mournful tune.