Huiwan's Strange Encounter

A Bundle.

Scanning his surroundings, Cui Hao saw no immediate danger and slowly approached the bundle.

This was a river bend, and the cloth bundle had clearly been washed ashore. He crouched down and gently opened it. Inside were a set of women's linen clothes and a book. Nothing else.

The book was bound in animal hide and hadn't been damaged by the water. Four large characters were written on the cover: "Compendium of Herbs."

The first page was blank.

The second page was about Blood Essence Grass.

Blood Essence Grass had dark red leaves with golden veins, shaped like a palm. At night, the leaf tips would ooze a dew-like red sap. Its effect was to nourish qi and blood, making it the core ingredient for refining 'Qi and Blood Powder'. It could also be chewed directly for a slight boost in stamina.

The third page was about Dewdrop Flower.

Its petals were pure white, and its pistils a pale blue. Its effect was to calm the mind and harmonize medicinal properties, serving as a key auxiliary ingredient for Qi and Blood Powder and the Soothing Incense, able to neutralize the harshness of Blood Essence Grass.

As he flipped through the pages, Cui Hao felt a chill.

He quickly shed his clothes, which were starting to freeze, and performed three rounds of Broken Fist to invigorate his blood. He gathered dry firewood and pine needles, then used his wood-chopping knife to strike stones, starting a fire.

The mountains were dangerous at night, and Cui Hao dared not linger. He hastily dried his clothes and shoes halfway, quickly identified his direction, and left the riverbank.

At Cui Hao's home in Willow Tree Village, Su Yun had just finished preparing dinner. She heard someone knocking at the courtyard gate and asking, "Has Cui Hao returned?"

The accent was from out of town. Su Yun ignored the question and went to the main hall to do needlework.

As the sun set, Su Yun began to frequently glance towards the courtyard gate, hoping her husband would return soon.

When the moonlight was bright, and Cui Hao had not returned as usual, Su Yun instinctively grew anxious. She put down her needlework and went out to wait in the courtyard.

Within the Mad Wolf Gang, three key members knew their leader had gone to kill Cui Hao today.

They had departed at the hour of the Ox in the morning and still hadn't returned by nightfall. This was abnormal. They went to Cui Hao's house and, losing patience, banged on the door, "Open up! Open up quickly!"

Su Yun, startled in the courtyard, ran back to the main hall, closed the door, and braced it with two sturdy wooden poles.

The next moment, the small courtyard's wooden gate was forcefully kicked open. Three members of the Mad Wolf Gang entered the yard and shouted towards the main hall, "Get out, whoever is inside!"

Someone had knocked before, but this was the first time someone had kicked the door open. Su Yun tightly covered her mouth, preventing herself from making a sound.

Receiving no response, just as the Mad Wolf Gang members were about to kick down the main hall door, Lin Da burst into the courtyard, wielding a shoulder pole.

Whack! One person was knocked unconscious from behind with a shoulder pole.

The other two turned, creating a safe distance from Lin Da, and simultaneously drew short knives from their chests, adopting a defensive stance. "Lin Da? Don't meddle in our business!"

"This is not a place for you to run wild!" Having practiced martial arts for some time, Lin Da's physique and courage had improved. "Get lost!"

"We're looking for Cui Hao. Make him come out!"

Cui Hao hadn't gone to the martial arts school all day, so Lin Da had come to check on him. Fortunately, he had. Brother Hao was clearly not home, and Sister Yun was almost bullied.

Remembering a senior disciple saying that practical combat led to faster progress, Lin Da gripped his shoulder pole and thrust forward, shouting as he charged.

Boom! Argh! Whack!

Thump!

In three moves, he defeated the last two thugs.

Looking at the men lying on the ground, then at the ordinary-looking shoulder pole in his hand, Lin Da thought of Cui Hao's words to him: "You are a once-in-a-million martial arts prodigy."

It wasn't just comfort; he really was a martial arts prodigy!

Gleeful, Lin Da called into the house, "Sister Yun, I've taken down three thugs."

Su Yun opened the main hall door and walked out. "Lin Da, did you see Brother Hao today?"

"He didn't go to the martial arts school, so I came to check."

Su Yun's heart sank to the bottom. Her adoptive father had also gone hunting and never returned.

The next day, the sky was clear.

"Cui Hao went hunting yesterday morning and hasn't returned for a day and a night," Aunt Wang, whose news was as reliable as Aunt Li's, chatted with four or five village women at the village well. "I'm afraid he's like his father, lost in Second Mountain."

A village woman chimed in with a soft sigh, "If the man is gone, what will Su Yun do?"

"What else can she do?" a plain-looking village woman said sourly. "She'll have to become a concubine."

"If she can't lay eggs, no one will want her as a concubine."

Aunt Hua, who lived a hard life, was also by the well. She sighed inwardly and then went to Cui Hao's house, where she found Su Yun.

"Sister Yun, I have a way that might allow Brother Hao to return safely."

Su Yun's eyes were red and swollen. She looked up at Aunt Hua. "What way?"

"Donate all your money to the Wusheng Sect. Old Ancestor Wusheng will protect Brother Hao's safety."

Su Yun knew of the Wusheng Sect, which had spread from the west along with the refugees. "Aunt Hua, Hao'er doesn't believe in these things."

"Sister Yun," Aunt Hua stomped her foot, "Don't be stingy with money, money should be spent where it's needed most."

"..."

"Sister Yun!" Cui Hao appeared in the yard, carrying a Hog Badger, "I'm back."

"Ah!" Aunt Hua jumped, then her face broke into a smile, "Brother Hao, you're back! That's great!"

Su Yun rushed into her husband's arms.

Patting his wife's back, Cui Hao explained, "I got lost in the mountains and hid in a cave for a night. I made you worry."

"It's good that you're alright," Su Yun felt incredibly relieved at that moment, "We won't hunt anymore."

"We can't not hunt," he held Su Yun's shoulders, pushing her an arm's length away, "I'm hungry, let's eat quickly."

"It's been kept warm in the pot. Wash your face, and we'll eat right away."

Cui Hao understood the implication. Yesterday's dinner had been kept warm in the pot. He asked with concern, "You haven't eaten?"

Su Yun nodded, tears falling, "If you don't come back, my life has no meaning."

Cui Hao held Su Yun in his arms for the second time.

Aunt Hua looked enviously at the Hog Badger on the ground, her eyes full of longing. But she still owed Cui Hao's family half a tael of silver. Reluctantly, she shifted her gaze and walked out of the yard.

"Aunt Hua," Cui Hao called out before the courtyard gate closed, "Don't believe any cults, they're all scams."

Aunt Hua didn't listen and left quickly.

Soon, Cui Hao was eating rice.

The rice had a thick crust after being baked all night. He soaked it in Snake Soup, which was very fresh and delicious!

Su Yun was also extremely hungry and finished her meal in a flash.

"Brother Hao..." Su Yun put down her chopsticks and recounted everything that had happened from yesterday afternoon to this morning.

Even Zhou Menglong had died by her hand. As for the rest of the rabble, tonight... no, she had to give the authorities some face.

Zhou Menglong, at Mortal Martial Perfection, didn't dare to kill him openly.

Wait a few more days, then eliminate them one by one. Or lure them into the mountains and kill them all together.

Just as he was thinking, members of the Mad Wolf Gang came knocking. "Cui Hao! Come out! Don't be a coward, we know you're in there!"

"Sister Yun, don't be afraid," Cui Hao reached out and patted Su Yun's head, "Sit and rest, I'll go out for a bit."

Knowing her husband's abilities, Su Yun wasn't afraid at all.

With a creak, Cui Hao opened the small courtyard's wood gate, which Lin Da had repaired. Three injured members of the Mad Wolf Gang stood there, each holding a woodcutter's axe.

"Cui Hao, where is our leader!"

"Where is your leader?" Cui Hao retorted, "How would I know?"

The three exchanged glances. They believed him. Their leader was at Mortal Martial Perfection and could crush Cui Hao with one finger, so Cui Hao wouldn't have seen their leader.

"Hand over three taels of silver!" One pointed to his own head, "We were injured by Lin Da in your house, you have to pay for our medicine!"

"That's right!" The other two chimed in, "If you don't pay, we'll block your door every day!"

"Come in," Cui Hao moved aside, "I'll go inside to get the money for you."

Knowing that Lin Da had gone to the martial arts school that morning, the three were not afraid and strode into the small courtyard.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The moment the courtyard gate closed, Cui Hao suddenly attacked, taking down the three with a few punches and kicks. He skillfully took less than two hundred copper coins from them.

And... three woodcutter's axes, three sets of clothes and shoes.