Chapter 7: The Villain

Tang Yixiao set down the firewood and wiped his sweat with his sleeve.

“The firewood I gathered today is quite dry. It looks like a lot, but it’s actually not heavy.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Qin Huiyin, who was walking outside, and said with disgust, “Sis, did she bully you again?”

“No,” Tang Luwu waved her hand.

“Your eyes are red, and you still say no? From now on, stick with me. Don’t be alone with her.”

“Little brother, I think Yinyin has changed.” Tang Luwu recalled what she had overheard earlier and spoke up for Qin Huiyin. “Actually, she’s a year younger than me. I grew up without a mother; she grew up without a father. The villagers say she and her mother came here as refugees, suffering greatly along the way. She’s had a hard time too.”

Perhaps it was because she endured so much hardship that she became so sensitive.

She remembered the night Li Taohua first married her father, the night she and Qin Huiyin shared a room for the first time. Tang Luwu had wanted to get along, but before she could say anything, Qin Huiyin shoved her to the ground and spat harsh words: “My mother is mine. She will never be yours.”

Thinking back, she must have felt terribly insecure. Qin Huiyin and her mother depended solely on each other—not like Tang Luwu, who had brothers as well. To her, her mother was her whole world. If her mother ever loved another child more than her own daughter, it would feel as though the sky were collapsing. That’s probably why she was so afraid.

Tang Luwu wanted to tell Tang Yixiao what she had overheard, but remembering his deep-rooted prejudice against Qin Huiyin and her mother, she decided to wait until he saw the two women buying tonic with his own eyes before telling him. Once he saw it, he’d realize that the mother and daughter were not as malicious as he imagined.

Qin Huiyin headed up the mountain.

To her, the mountain was full of treasures. As the ancients said: “Live off the mountain if you’re near one, live off the water if you’re near water.” Heaven always leaves a path for everyone—it’s just that people lack the ability to explore.

Yet, as she climbed, gazing at the outskirts of the mountain, now stripped bare save for trees and wild grass, she realized she had overestimated herself and underestimated others.

Maybe she should venture deeper into the mountain?

A wolf’s howl halted her steps.

“I don’t have any weapons. What if I actually run into wild animals?”

Her body was only eleven years old; even if she wanted to run, she wouldn’t be fast.

Qin Huiyin hesitated.

But soon, as she spotted a pheasant darting through the grass, her hesitation vanished.

She wanted meat.

Chasing after the pheasant, she ran far. Panting and out of breath, she still failed to catch it—and only then realized she was lost.

The vegetation here was lusher, and she even discovered thriving wild scallions, ginger, and garlic.

How could she not be happy to find so many good things? Luckily, she’d brought a basket; otherwise, she’d have wasted such a golden opportunity.

“Singing girl picking mushrooms, carrying a big bamboo basket…” Qin Huiyin sang as she gathered wood ear fungus, walking farther and farther.

Suddenly, she smelled blood.

She stopped and listened, hearing strange sounds nearby.

She crept toward the source of the noise. There she saw a boy, bare-chested and clad in animal skins, pinning a wild boar beneath him. He plunged his dagger into the boar’s body, again and again. The boar’s cries grew weaker, until finally, it was still.

Exhausted, the boy collapsed, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.

Qin Huiyin finally got a clear look at him, and memories of him surged through her mind.

He was familiar to the original owner of this body; after all, they’d lived under the same roof for a year. He was none other than her first stepbrother, the only son of Hunter Song: Song Ruizhe.

Song Ruizhe…

The original novel’s antagonist.

This little village was truly fascinating—the protagonist was here, the villain too.

But compared to the protagonist Tang Yichen, still in his phase of endurance, this antagonist was notoriously difficult to deal with. Once, the original owner had touched something in his room, and he nearly crippled her arm. If Hunter Song hadn’t appeared in time and rescued her, she would’ve been a one-armed heroine upon arriving here.

Best not to provoke him. Time to flee.

Qin Huiyin was about to slip away when she suddenly heard Song Ruizhe cry out in pain. Turning back, she saw him stomp on a snake, slice off its head with his dagger, then toss it aside, staring emptily at the sky.

Was he bitten by the snake?

He was covered in blood, evidently having spent all his strength killing the wild boar and sustaining injuries in the process. If the snake was venomous, he’d lack the strength to seek an antidote.

Song Ruizhe closed his eyes.

He had never imagined that today would be his death.

So be it.

Perhaps death would be a release. He would no longer have to live alone, endure daily torment from his head injury, or struggle to survive.

“Are you… alright?” Qin Huiyin stood not far away, looking at him with concern.

Song Ruizhe heard her clear voice, opened his eyes, and upon seeing who it was, a murderous gleam flashed in his gaze.

Qin Huiyin caught the fleeting threat in his eyes.

She stepped back and said, “If you’re fine, I’ll leave.”

Song Ruizhe sneered and closed his eyes again.

He waited, but the expected sound of footsteps didn’t come. Opening his eyes, he saw her approaching, her gaze sharp and cold.

“I think your arm is injured—is it dislocated?” Qin Huiyin said. “I can set it for you.”

“Get lost!” Song Ruizhe said coldly.

“I will, but you need help right now. Let me set your arm, and I’ll leave right away. I won’t bother you.”

Song Ruizhe eyed Qin Huiyin with suspicion.

Could she really be so kind?

Was she after the wild boar, seeing him injured?

That must be it! Those two women were always opportunists. For profit, never mind kicking someone when they’re down—they’d probably dare to kill.

Qin Huiyin slowly approached Song Ruizhe, lifting his dislocated arm despite his murderous glare.

“Bear with me.”

Song Ruizhe’s eyes reddened further.

Even if he was a tiger brought low, he wouldn’t let himself be manipulated by a woman both foolish and vicious.

Qin Huiyin didn’t delay. She felt for the dislocation, located it, twisted and set it with a crack—the arm popped back in place.

Song Ruizhe grunted, stabbed by sharp pain, but his limp arm returned to normal.

His other hand gripped the dagger tightly. Should Qin Huiyin make any sudden move, the dagger would strike straight at her heart.

One more second, and he would have acted.

He never expected that Qin Huiyin hadn’t played any tricks this time, but genuinely set his bone.

“Were you bitten by a snake just now?” Qin Huiyin noticed his guard had eased and seized the chance to ask.