Chapter Eight: Heavenly Thunder Ignites Earthly Fire

This kiss was long and passionate, like thunder igniting fire, changing the color of the night sky itself...

No one knew how much time had passed. When the two finally parted, they gasped for air, both breathing heavily.

Lu Hu tapped Yana Li’s delicate, petite nose with his finger. "You little rascal, were you trying to scare me just now? Every month, you bleed a bit, so you should be used to it by now. Just a little blood this time and it’s too much for you?"

Yana Li’s face blushed furiously. Her small fist punched his arm. "Get lost, you’re terrible."

Lu Hu yelped in mock pain, then realized his left arm had been wounded by a knife, his sleeve already soaked in blood.

Yana Li was startled and quickly climbed out of his embrace, wanting to tear her clothes to bandage him.

But her clothes were made of sturdy deer leather—impossible to tear. Besides, ripping leather wasn’t something a pretty girl could manage.

Anxious, she reached over and tore a strip from Lu Hu’s shirt instead, wrapping it around his injured left arm.

"Why are you ripping my clothes? Trying to take advantage of me?" Lu Hu teased, striking a coy pose to make her laugh.

His shirt was now ragged and nearly exposing his skin. Though they sat by the fire, he couldn’t help shivering.

Yana Li rummaged through their packs, and at the third one, she cut it open with her knife—inside were tiger pelts.

She pulled one out and wrapped it around Lu Hu, swiftly fashioning a crude robe. It was snug and windproof, and warmth returned to him.

What nimble hands this girl had! If only he could spend his life with her—true happiness was assured.

A rumble came from Lu Hu’s stomach, signaling desperate hunger.

"Did you just fart?" Yana Li teased.

"Yeah, just like you! I let mine out down below, you let yours out up top," Lu Hu retorted.

"I’ll smack you!" Yana Li threatened, raising her fist.

"Wait till I’ve filled my belly, then I’ll take care of myself," he grinned.

Lu Hu led her to the fire. Above it, half a roasted roe deer hung. Yana Li drew her knife, cut off a piece, and fed it to him.

The two ate roast meat and added wood to the fire. Sated and full, Lu Hu wandered over to fetch his four horses and fed them grass.

Meanwhile, Yana Li had spread several tiger pelts on the ground, stacked their packs around them, and made a cozy little nest.

"My darling, you’ve already made the bridal chamber so quickly. Shall we begin our wedding night?" Lu Hu joked.

Yana Li’s cheeks flushed bright red. She cast him a coy glance and slipped into the nest to lie down.

Lu Hu yawned, sleepiness washing over him. He climbed in as well.

Covered in tiger pelts, the two nestled together and drifted off.

...

When Lu Hu awoke, daylight filled the tent.

Yana Li was gazing at him with clear, lovely eyes. She’d woken first, afraid to disturb him, and had lain quietly on her side.

"Big pig head, you’re awake. Now you look better than those wild boars with double eyelids," she teased, caressing his face gently.

Lu Hu could feel his face swollen, taut and aching. His lips—no need to mention—felt like two sausages pressed together. All from last night’s struggle.

This little girl had gotten used to him in just two days, already teasing him: "Pig head? Where? I don’t see any pig head."

"Go grab some snow and look for yourself, big pig head. Get up, we need to go home."

"Home? Your home or mine?"

"Of course, my home..." Yana Li’s cheeks flushed again. She lowered her head and stammered, "That, that, well, I mean, our home." Her voice grew softer, almost inaudible by the time she said "our home."

"Hey, say it louder. I didn’t catch who you said we’re going home to." Lu Hu cupped his hand to his ear, leaning close.

"To—our—home—" Yana Li suddenly found courage and shouted.

"Alright, alright, whatever you say, to our home, our home, my dear darling, mother of my children." Seeing she was a little annoyed, Lu Hu quickly hugged her and softened his tone.

After hastily filling their stomachs, they packed the cargo onto the horses. Lu Hu lifted Yana Li into the saddle of the strongest white horse, then vaulted up beside her, his left arm gently around her slender waist, his right hand gripping his sword. With a shout, he led the horses back the way they’d come.

After about two hours, tiger roars suddenly echoed ahead. More than one, it seemed. Lu Hu focused, ready for battle.

Soon, four tigers appeared, trotting toward them.

Damn, a gang? Tigers usually hunt alone—since when do they form groups?

He decided: take out the fattest one first with a slash; punish the leader, and if the followers dared to resist, they’d all be dealt with as well.

Tigers? Before my sword, they’re just mice...

He cheered himself inwardly, but his palms sweated from tension. Four tigers were no easy feat.

Strangely, the horses showed no fear, staying calm as ever.

Yana Li, too, remained serene, nestled in Lu Hu’s arms like a kitten.

"Damn, are these tigers your relatives?" Lu Hu whispered into her ear.

"Of course. More dear to me than you, and much more capable," Yana Li teased back.

The sound of chaotic hooves approached—a group of riders followed the tigers: the Oront people.

Kameda Rice Bucket Taro led the way, with King Dawo and Yakshi flanking him, followed by a troop of Oront hunters, armed with bows and weapons.

The cavalry stopped about twenty meters away.

In broad daylight, with all eyes watching, the pair embraced and whispered sweet nothings, sticking together as closely as possible.

Such a scene left King Dawo and his son at a loss! Silent and troubled, they wished for the earth to swallow them whole.

Kameda burned with jealousy, fury rising higher than the clouds. He shouted wildly, "Damn you, scum, you bastard, idiot, go die..."

He raved like a madman, drawing his narrow blade as if ready for a life-or-death fight.

Yet, wary of Lu Hu’s sword, Kameda Rice Bucket Taro merely howled, thunder without rain.

Lu Hu grinned, baiting him: "You turtle, if you’ve got the guts, bring it on. Cry for your wife, your son, it’s no use. Your brother and your wife can’t help you either. Go home, wash up, and sleep."

Seeing Kameda fume and puff like a toad, Lu Hu added fuel to the fire: "Your thirteen underlings, I’ve taken care of them all. Go join them in the underworld. These horses and goods now belong to my father-in-law and brother-in-law."

King Dawo and Yakshi glared at him, making Lu Hu nervous. He hurried to flatter them and offer gifts.

"Shut your mouth, you beast in human skin! Kameda-san is our money god. Who do you think you are?" King Dawo wasn’t swayed this time.

Good grief! Is Kameda really held in such high esteem by them? Even called Kameda-san—‘san’ means ‘sir’, doesn’t it? So sickening. My silly father-in-law must be missing a few screws. I need to enlighten him: "Father King, it’s just salt. You can trade these goods for it in Da Sheng. Without him, you can still eat hairy pigs. We don’t need Kameda-san; our food will taste even better."

"Stop your twisted nonsense! Da Sheng plucks feathers from passing geese and scrapes the earth three feet deep. Their conscience is eaten by dogs. With these goods, the salt you’d get in Da Sheng wouldn’t even amount to a third of what Kameda-san offers."

Da Sheng is that ruthless? It’s a bit much.

Lu Hu was stunned, at a loss for words.

Yakshi drew his bow: "Little sister, move aside, let me kill this beast."

"Brother, then kill me too," Yana Li replied resolutely.

"If you keep this up, I won’t recognize you as my daughter. Get off the horse and come to your father," King Dawo threatened.

Yana Li looked at her father, opened her mouth, but couldn’t utter a word. Her nose stung, and tears sparkled in her eyes.

"Yaji-ge-ge..." Kameda Rice Bucket, unable to get the grapes, didn’t complain about their sourness; instead, he was sour himself. Now the grapes shed tears for Lu Hu, making him feel even more bitter. He waved his sword and shouted for the Oront hunters to charge.

Behind Yakshi, a burly man eager to earn merit rushed forward, shield in his left hand, wolf-tooth mace in his right, charging on horseback.

Lu Hu swung his sword, a flash of blue light—man and horse were split in two, falling to the ground.

The remaining Oront hunters, eager to try, were so terrified they dared not move.

A flash of the sword, and both man and mount were severed.

The power of the stranger’s blade—its reputation was well deserved...