Chapter 7

Afraid of worrying his father and dad, Zhou Jinian said nothing about the pool cavern. He fetched a long, thick hemp rope and a fire starter, then hurried back into the mountain woods.

His son had grown steady and mature lately, and Lin Jin thought he had grown up. So seeing Zhou Jinian in such a rush worried him a little. He followed him to the courtyard gate, intending to ask a few more questions.

"Third son's husband, hurry up and take lunch to the fields! How long does it take to hang up some clothes?" Grandmother Zhou shouted from the main room's doorway.

Lin Jin could only draw back the leg he had stepped outside with. On an empty stomach, he picked up the bamboo basket full of steamed buns and wild greens and went to deliver lunch to the fields.

Going uphill was nothing like coming down. Zhou Jinian took long, quick strides, sweat rolling down his forehead and over his face. He could not spare a moment to wipe it away, worried about Ninglang in the pool cavern.

The cave entrance was easy enough to find; he only had to follow the traces he had left.

But once inside, without Xie Ning to guide him, Zhou Jinian made his way through the darkness, unable to find the path. Too anxious, he could only call out tentatively, "Ninglang."

His voice sounded hollow in the cave, but there was none of the echo he had heard in the pool cavern, and of course, no answer from Xie Ning either.

"Xie Ning!" Zhou Jinian called as he walked.

It seemed that wherever there was an echo, he was closer to the pool cavern. Having worked out the pattern, Zhou Jinian kept calling as he went.

Xie Ning finally heard Zhou Jinian calling. At that moment, he was overjoyed! Zhou Jinian, who had still been a stranger before last night, now ranked in his heart just below his father and eldest brother.

Zhou Jinian's promise last night must have been real. Zhou Jinian had welcomed him into his household because he truly wanted to cure his poisoning!

"Over here!" Xie Ning cupped both hands around his cheeks like a trumpet and shouted, "I'm over here! Jinian!"

With Xie Ning's voice answering from the pool cavern, Zhou Jinian soon heard dripping water and found the opening where light shone through without trouble. He broke into a run toward it.

When Zhou Jinian reached the light, he saw Xie Ning soaking quietly in the water. Behind him was the great rock that formed the bank, and on it...

"There's a snake! Ninglang, swim away!" Seeing a black snake as thick as a baby's arm on the rock, Zhou Jinian's heart leaped into his throat, and he stopped breathing for a moment.

"Where?" Xie Ning asked, his voice full of delighted surprise.

Unfortunately, Zhou Jinian was too worried to notice. "On the big rock behind you! Swim over here, quick!"

Following Zhou Jinian's gaze, Xie Ning turned and saw the black snake lying motionless on the rock. He grinned, climbed onto the rock, and picked up the black snake he had already battered to death.

Xie Ning's actions nearly left Zhou Jinian unable to catch his breath.

"It's already dead! I killed it by smashing it!" Xie Ning declared smugly, his voice brimming with pride.

Zhou Jinian finally released the breath he had been holding and looked at the youth on the rock with mixed feelings. What sort of husband had I married? Isn't he a little tough guy instead?

Xie Ning grinned and even swung the dead snake in his hand. Earlier, he had been terribly frightened and tormented by the fish poison in his body, which had somehow stirred his courage. He had dived into the water, swum over, and grabbed the snake at its vital spot, seven inches down its body. Clamping down hard on the black snake, he had climbed ashore and battered it against the rock...

Snake gallbladders were valuable, and medicine shops paid handsomely for them. Jinian could trade it for silver.

Zhou Jinian lowered the hemp rope, tying one end around his waist and having Xie Ning tie the other around himself. At last, he pulled his newlywed husband up.

Zhou Jinian took off his outer robe and offered it to Ninglang. "Wet clothes are uncomfortable. Change out of them."

"No, they're comfortable." Xie Ning took off his soaking outer robe, wrapped the dead snake in it, and carried it in his hand, refusing to change.

Zhou Jinian frowned at what he was carrying. "You're still not throwing it away?"

"No. Take it to town and sell it." Xie Ning lifted the bundle of clothing.

Zhou Jinian rubbed between his brows and sighed. It seemed this "little tough guy" of a husband was also a money-grubber.

When they had entered the cave, Zhou Jinian had carried Xie Ning in his arms, and Xie Ning had kept his eyes closed the whole time. Now, looking at the pitch-black cave ahead, he was a little afraid to step forward.

Glancing at Zhou Jinian, Xie Ning pouted and called, "Husband, carry me on your back!"

Zhou Jinian paused and looked back, a question in his eyes. Was Ninglang, who had killed a snake bare-handed, acting spoiled with him?

Author's note: Thank you to all the little angels who sent me Overlord Tickets or watered me with nutrient solution between 2020-09-12 22:07:08 and 2020-09-13 18:00:46~

Thank you to the little angels who watered me with nutrient solution: sgz1221, 30 bottles; Kong Meng Yi Shang, 5 bottles;

Thank you so much for all your support. I'll keep working hard!

Chapter 7

"Keep that bundle behind your back." Carrying his little husband, Zhou Jinian tested each step, proceeding steadily and carefully.

Xie Ning pressed his lips together and chuckled secretly in the darkness. Such a tall, strong man as Zhou Jinian was actually afraid of snakes.

Obediently, he wrapped one arm around Zhou Jinian's neck and held the bundle of clothing behind his own back with the other. He rested loosely against Zhou Jinian's back, his lower legs swinging back and forth.

The husbands made their way through the darkness, and Xie Ning thought, So getting married means living with someone else who makes you feel safe?

Although Zhou Jinian was not as talkative as his eldest brother, he always showed consideration for him through his actions despite being poor with words. Being married seemed quite nice, too.

Once they left the cave, everything before them was bright. The green of the woods refreshed the mind and lifted the spirits. Xie Ning kicked his legs. "I'll walk."

Zhou Jinian took the opportunity to set him down. Going up and down the mountain without stopping had indeed left his legs rather sore. His body was young, after all, and had not had enough exercise.

Still, the wild mountain paths were difficult to walk, so he naturally took Ninglang's hand and led him toward where he had left the bamboo basket.

The two sat leaning against the roots of an old tree, gnawing on dry, hard flatbread. Only after Zhou Jinian had recovered his strength and rested enough did they head down the mountain for home.

At the foot of the mountain, Zhou Jinian took off his outer robe for Xie Ning to put on. Dressed as they were, they inevitably drew furtive looks from the villagers.

As soon as they entered the Zhou family courtyard, someone came over. It was Zhou Jinian's eldest uncle, Zhou Dafeng. "Jinian? What medicinal herbs did you gather?"

Looking at Zhou Dafeng, who had nearly become his "father-in-law," Xie Ning pressed his lips together and reached for Zhou Jinian's hand.

Zhou Dafeng rummaged through their entire bamboo basket and took an akebia fruit, preparing to leave. Then he noticed his nephew's husband, Xie Ning, carrying a bundle of clothing that sagged as though something heavy was inside.