Chapter 26: Taking My Wife Hunting in the Mountains

The next day, just as the first light of dawn touched the horizon, Xu Feng woke up.

He rose quietly and saw that Lin Xue was already awake, her clear eyes fixed on him. Though her eyelids were still slightly red and swollen, the terror of the previous night had vanished, replaced by a sense of calm and stability.

"Awake?" Xu Feng’s voice was hoarse.

"Mmhmm." Lin Xue sat up and folded her quilt.

Neither spoke of what had happened the night before, but both understood that something between them had fundamentally changed. Xu Feng walked to the water vat and splashed his face; the icy well water cleared his mind completely.

"Life must go on," he said while drying his face, speaking as much to himself as to her. "If we want to get that thing out of here safely, we must first survive, and we must live like ordinary people."

Lin Xue nodded. She understood his point: the more dangerous their situation, the more normal they needed to appear.

"To survive, we need money and food." Xu Feng draped the towel over his shoulder and sat at the table. "I can hunt, so getting food and coin isn't a problem, but relying solely on me is inefficient, and it makes me too obvious a target."

He looked at Lin Xue. "Your medical skills—they shouldn't be wasted."

Lin Xue’s eyes brightened.

"It’s cold now, and with the country in turmoil, common ailments like fever and colds are rampant. The village lacks medicine, and the apothecaries in town are prohibitively expensive. If you can gather some herbs to treat these minor illnesses and sell them in town, it will surely work."

This was not just about making money; it was about establishing a persona for Lin Xue in the village. A woman who could heal was far easier for people to accept and respect than a mute stranger with no known background.

Lin Xue grasped his underlying meaning, and a warmth surged through her. This man was terrifyingly meticulous, yet he was considering everything for her sake.

"I know more than just Western medicine," Lin Xue said softly, a hint of confidence on her face. "My father was well-versed in Chinese classics and had me study traditional medicine from a young age. I know prescriptions for colds and fevers. Furthermore... I can also prepare medicine for trauma, wounds, and blood stasis."

"Oh?" Xu Feng was genuinely surprised. He looked her up and down as if seeing her for the first time, then couldn't help but laugh. "Well, look at you, Doctor Lin—a master of both East and West."

The title "Doctor Lin" made her cheeks flush slightly, but it felt sweet in her heart.

"That’s even better!" Xu Feng slapped his thigh. "The mountains are full of herbs. Once we’ve eaten, we’ll head in. I’ll hunt, you forage—it won't interfere with each other."

"Is the mountain... safe?" Lin Xue asked, a touch of concern in her voice.

"You have me," Xu Feng said, his tone light and airy, yet filled with a reassuring strength. "Besides, you showed them a glimpse of your skills yesterday. The villagers know you aren't one to be trifled with. If we really run into trouble, it’s hard to say who would come out on top."

His words were half-comfort, half-tease. Lin Xue thought of how she had grabbed the fire poker to strike Wang Erhu the day before and couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.

After a simple breakfast, Xu Feng slung his newly acquired hunting bow over his shoulder and tucked his sharpened wood-chopping knife into his waistband. Lin Xue carried a makeshift cloth bag she had stitched from rags, ready to hold her herbs.

The two left the house one after the other, pushing open the gate. The morning village was quiet, filled with rising wisps of cooking smoke and the sounds of chickens and dogs. As they reached the village entrance, they encountered several villagers setting out for the fields.

"Hey, Feng, are you heading up the mountain?" a familiar villager called out.

"Yes, Uncle Zhang, just going to poke around and see if I can bag some game," Xu Feng responded with a smile.

The villager’s gaze fell on Lin Xue trailing behind him, and his brows furrowed. "You... why are you taking your wife up the mountain? That Black Bear Gully is no place for games. It’s risky enough for a grown man; taking a woman... isn't that just reckless?"

Another villager chimed in, lowering his voice to persuade him: "Feng, don't be a fool. The mountain is full of wild beasts and traps. Your wife is a delicate woman; if she gets hurt or something happens, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

"Exactly, you've finally started living a decent life, don't throw it away."

The villagers chattered on, their words filled with concern but also a deep sense of distrust. In their eyes, a woman belonged at home, cooking, washing, and raising children. Following a man into the deep, old forests was unheard of.

Xu Feng just smiled, offering no explanation. "Thank you all for your concern, but I know what I'm doing."

With that, he stopped paying attention to their comments and led Lin Xue straight toward the mountain forest. Watching their retreating figures, the villagers' gossip grew louder.

"That Xu Feng, he's truly gone strange."

"I think he's been bewitched by that pretty wife of his!"

"Just wait and see, he'll be crying soon enough."

These discussions naturally reached the ears of Wang Erhu at the east end of the village. Wang Erhu was lying on his kang, groaning; his face was swollen like a fermented bun, and even drinking water was a struggle. A henchman close to him was excitedly recounting the news from the village entrance.

"Brother Tiger, you should have seen it! That Xu Feng really took that little lady up the mountain! Everyone in the village says he's lost his mind!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Erhu struggled to sit up. In his pig-like face, his small eyes flashed with a vicious light.

"Lost his mind?" He sneered, his voice slurred. "You idiots don't know a thing! That brat is as cunning as a monkey; would he do something he wasn't sure of?"

"That woman... she can fight better than he can!" Wang Erhu touched his still-throbbing cheek, grinding his teeth. He had experienced Lin Xue's skills firsthand; those moves were fast, accurate, and ruthless—she was definitely a trained professional.

He was now one hundred percent certain that the woman was a trained Japanese agent! But what good was his certainty alone? Yesterday, in front of the whole village, he had been outmaneuvered by that dog Xu Feng, humiliated by his twisted logic, and had even lost his father's bow in the process.

A total disgrace!

Relying on these fickle villagers to expose Xu Feng was unrealistic. Those fools only listened to whoever had the hardest fists.

"Brother Tiger, so... do we just let it go?" the henchman asked, unwilling to give up.

"Let it go?" Wang Erhu’s eyes turned even more malevolent. "How could I ever let it go?"

After thinking for a long time, a malicious idea took shape in his mind. *If the village can't deal with you, I'll go outside the village! You aren't afraid of the villagers, but are you afraid of the authorities?*

A look of determination flashed in his eyes. "Help me up, we're going to town!"

"Why go to town? To see a doctor?"

"To hell with the doctor!" Wang Erhu spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged phlegm. "I'm going to report them to the officials!"

In the early morning, the mountain forest air was crisp, carrying the scent of vegetation and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled light and shadows. The woods were silent, save for the occasional bird call and the rustle of their footsteps on fallen leaves.

Lin Xue followed behind Xu Feng, curiously observing everything around her. This was her first time venturing this deep into the primeval forest that sustained the village below. Everything felt novel to her.

Xu Feng walked slowly in front, carefully observing the ground and the surrounding trees. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's; no unusual trace escaped his notice.

"Look here," Xu Feng suddenly stopped, pointing to the trunk of a pine tree.

Lin Xue leaned in and saw several clear claw marks on the rough bark, with a few black hairs stuck nearby.

"These are marks left by a black bear," Xu Feng said, lowering his voice. There was no tension on his face; instead, he wore the excitement of a hunter spotting his prey. "It was scratching an itch here, and telling other beasts that this territory is his. Judging by how fresh these marks are, they were left yesterday or this morning."

Lin Xue’s heart tightened, and she subconsciously moved closer behind Xu Feng. A black bear—a beast capable of crushing a human skull with a single blow.

Xu Feng looked back at her and curled his lips. "Scared?"

Lin Xue nodded honestly.

"Good, that means you're alert." Xu Feng unslung his bow and notched an arrow, though he didn't draw it. "Follow me and don't wander off. These big guys usually don't provoke people unless you stumble into their den or they're starving."

He led Lin Xue carefully around that area, deeper into the woods.