Chapter Forty-Three: A Swift Departure

The tiger, though not entirely satisfied with a plump rabbit, was at least content to have a fresh meal. The meat was tender and laced with fat, unlike wild boar, which always reeked of pungent weeds that killed one’s appetite at first whiff.

Only after the tiger had carried the rabbit away and silence returned did Gu Xiaoyao finally sink to the ground, easing her numbed legs.

“Sister-in-law, are you alright?” Dahua asked, feeling rather embarrassed; she had almost let the tiger discover them. Thankfully, her sister-in-law had reacted swiftly, throwing a stone to the other side and diverting the beast. Otherwise, the two of them might have ended up in the tiger’s jaws today.

“I’m fine. Get up, let’s move quickly,” Gu Xiaoyao said. She had been through harder trials; such danger could no longer disturb her composure.

They emerged from the stinking grass, both reeking of the foul odor, but neither cared. After clearing the wild boar of its covering weeds, they quickly rolled it onto the path and, this time, made it out of the deep mountains without incident.

As soon as they reached familiar ground, Dahua took a deep breath, feeling as if they had just clawed their way back to life.

“Sister-in-law, please wait here. I’ll fetch some help. If we try to drag this back on our own, it will take forever,” Dahua said. “Rest here for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

She remembered her family was nearby, chopping firewood, so she dashed off, leaving Gu Xiaoyao to rest. Gu Xiaoyao found a stone to sit on; its chill seeped into her bones, making her sharply aware of the cold. She flexed her wrist and opened her palm—a blister had burst, the handle of the hatchet having rubbed her skin raw when she struck the wild boar. Still, seeing the lifeless beast at her feet, she felt the day’s efforts had not been in vain.

Dahua soon reached her family and, without explanation, dragged them along. “Dahua, what are you doing? At least tell us what’s going on! Stop pulling, you’ll rip my arm off,” her elder brother protested, but Dahua’s strength prevailed, and he could only follow, resigned.

Her parents hurried after them, and when the four of them arrived at the spot where Gu Xiaoyao waited, their eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of the wild boar.

“A wild boar! Little sister, did you kill this with one punch? You really are something. I always knew your strength would come in handy!” her brother exclaimed.

“What are you thinking? It was sister-in-law who hunted it. I brought you here to help; there’s no way the two of us could carry it back to the village,” Dahua retorted with a roll of her eyes, shattering his hopeful fantasy.

Only then did Dahua’s family notice Gu Xiaoyao, seated on the stone. Surprise flickered across their faces—wasn’t this Cheng Jin’s wife? She’d managed to bring down a wild boar? That was truly impressive.

“Thank you all. Dahua and I worked together to kill the boar. Once we return to the village, I’ll divide the meat right away,” Gu Xiaoyao said. No matter who had contributed more, she intended to share the spoils with Dahua, whose strength had indeed been invaluable.

Spurred by the promise of fresh meat, the group found their burden surprisingly light. The five of them carried the wild boar back to Lotus Village without much effort.