“Why are you still standing there? Pick it up,” Xu Ying commanded.
At her words, several people scrambled toward the fallen pheasant. One of them triumphantly held it up and walked back to Xu Ying, his face alight with joy.
Xu Jing felt that today was truly a fortunate day. She and her cousin had chosen the perfect time and place.
But the surprises weren’t over yet. By the time they made their way down the mountain, their baskets were filled with mushrooms. And even then, there were still pheasants and eggs left behind—there simply wasn’t enough space to carry it all.
In the end, Xu Jing took a few of the children back home to unload their haul, while Xu Ying stayed behind on the mountain to guard their finds.
To avoid drawing attention to their bounty, Xu Ying discreetly stored several pheasants inside her space once everyone had left, leaving only two at her feet. She sat down on a stone, propping her chin on her palm, boredom settling in as she waited for the others to return.
“Hm…” Xu Ying suddenly let out a soft groan, her lower abdomen cramping painfully. A familiar warmth soon followed, and her face paled.
Could it be… that time of the month? She frowned. It had been over a month since she’d arrived here, and not once had it come.
Glancing around to make sure no one was near, Xu Ying tore open a packet of sanitary pads and swiftly slipped into her space to change.
When she emerged, her face was pale, her stomach still aching in waves.
It had been like this in her previous life, too. Ever since she’d fallen into the water, her cycles had been excruciating, leaving her doubled over in pain every month.
Sweat beaded on Xu Ying’s forehead from the stabbing aches. She braced herself against the stone, trying to steady her trembling body.
“System… what’s that sound?” she asked weakly.
Somewhere nearby, she could hear the thunderous pounding of hooves—or paws?—on the ground. The earth seemed to quiver faintly beneath the approaching steps.
Could it be… a bear?
Xu Ying’s face went deathly white. Surely not… I can’t be this unlucky.
Not only had her period decided to arrive at the worst possible moment, but now she might be facing something even more dangerous.
God, please… let Xu Jing and the others stay away. If they don’t come back, I can hide inside the space until it’s safe.
But fate wasn’t so merciful. Just as she finished the thought, she heard familiar voices drifting from the distance.
“Today really was thanks to your sister Yingying’s blessings,” Xu Jing was saying. “Aunt always said Yingying was blessed—and I finally believe it now.”
It had rained recently, and while mushrooms did grow on the mountain, it wasn’t every day that they’d find them so abundantly. Not to mention the pheasants. Though not as plump as domestic chickens, they were still meat—and meat meant celebration.
Xu Jing was already imagining a feast for dinner tonight.
Xu Ying had caught five pheasants in total, keeping one for each household. She planned to give the remaining bird to Lu Daya.
“Yingying! We’re here to pick you up!” Xu Jing’s cheerful voice called out.
Xu Ying grabbed the pheasant beside her and dashed toward them. “Quick! There’s a wild boar!”
At the mere mention of ‘wild boar,’ Xu Jing and Xu Xue turned as pale as sheets.
Without wasting a second, they turned and ran.
Xu Ying’s eyes darted toward the simulation map. Her expression darkened as she saw the approaching signals.
Not one… a whole group. Two large boars… and two piglets.
But even the piglets were formidable—thick around the waist and powerful.
In mere moments, the wild boars were upon them.
“W-wild boar!” Xu Jing’s voice trembled with terror, her legs giving out beneath her. She collapsed, too frightened to even stand, let alone flee.
Xu Ying tightened her grip on the machete, her pale face calm yet determined.
“Help our eldest cousin get to safety,” she instructed Xu Xue with a firm glance.
Surprisingly, Xu Xue—normally timid and fearful—showed remarkable courage today.
Though reluctant, Xu Xue obeyed. “Second Cousin… you can’t face them alone…”
“What can you do here if you stay?” Xu Ying countered softly.
Xu Xue bit her lip, then finally supported Xu Jing and staggered away.
The trees rustled in the breeze, their shadows dancing across the forest floor.
Xu Ying stood tall, machete in hand. The wind tousled her hair, framing her pale face with a wild, fragile beauty.
Her stomach twisted in sharper spasms. Her legs felt weak, but she couldn’t run. The boars were closing in fast.
Xu Jing and Xu Xue hadn’t made it down the mountain yet.
“Xu Ying!” a familiar voice rang out.
Relief washed over her. Her tense shoulders slumped slightly.
“Huo Chen…” Her voice was faint, laced with vulnerability.
Huo Chen’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. He strode toward her, taking the machete from her trembling hands.
He knew the strength of this blade—so he chose it over his own sword without hesitation.
“Stay here. Don’t move,” Huo Chen ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He could tell something was wrong with her.
Without delay, he summoned Lao Hui.
The boar herd charged forward.
Huo Chen gripped the machete with both hands and ran straight toward them. Lao Hui flanked him.
With a swift, clean strike, the machete sliced into a wild boar’s head, its sharp edge cutting deep through the thick hide.
The boar shrieked and thrashed wildly, slamming its head against the ground in pain.
Huo Chen deftly dodged, delivering blow after blow.
At that moment, Lao Hui lunged, jaws wide, clamping onto a boar piglet’s neck.
The piglet squealed, violently thrashing to shake the wolf off, ramming its body against a tree in desperation.
But Lao Hui wasn’t reckless. Sensing danger, he leapt away just in time.
In his youth, Lao Hui would’ve subdued such a piglet in mere seconds. But now, with age slowing his strength and speed, it was harder.
After Huo Chen took down one large boar, he turned and struck the piglet five or six times before it finally collapsed.
The last remaining large boar, seeing its kin slaughtered, panicked. It turned tail and fled into the forest, abandoning the piglet.
Together, Huo Chen and Lao Hui managed to capture the remaining piglet alive.
Xu Ying was sitting against a tree, her strength nearly spent.
Huo Chen approached, his brow furrowed in concern. “Do you need help?”
He could smell the faint tang of blood on her but couldn’t see a wound.
Xu Ying shook her head weakly. “Let’s bring the boars down first… or we might attract other animals.”
“My cousins are over there… can you help call them over?”
She doubted she could make it down the mountain on her own—she’d need their support.
If I’d known my period would come today, I wouldn’t have climbed up here… she thought bitterly.
Huo Chen glanced at Lao Hui. The old wolf snorted, turning his head away stubbornly, but eventually settled down obediently under Huo Chen’s gaze.
Once reassured, Huo Chen left to fetch the others.
Xu Ying watched Lao Hui quietly. After a moment, she pulled out a marrow-cleansing pill.
If it hadn’t been for Huo Chen and Lao Hui… today might have ended very differently.
She hesitated. Lao Hui wasn’t her pet. They weren’t familiar. What if he bit her?
Cautiously, she tossed the pill onto the ground before him.
Lao Hui recoiled slightly, suspicious.
Was this woman trying to poison him?
But nothing happened.
A gentle fragrance drifted from the pill, slowly drawing the old wolf closer. Sniffing cautiously, he eventually darted out his tongue, scooped it up, and swallowed.
Moments later, the medicine took effect.
Lao Hui groaned and writhed on the ground, overcome with sudden aches.
Huo Chen returned just in time to witness it. Alarmed, he rushed forward.
“What’s happening to Lao Hui?” he demanded, worry etched on his face as he turned to Xu Ying.