Chapter 226: The Wild Husband

The lone wolf shook his head, "They are reveling in celebrating the harvest and probably don't know; if they knew, given Ying's temperament they would certainly set out to campaign and subjugate."

The words made Rongdi squint slightly; he reached out and brushed his newly sprouted stubble, which was a little prickly yet comfortable.

"I don't know how to do it; send someone to spread the word, saying that in a few days the sacrificial altar there will be finished and Ying Tribe's people will blood‑stain the altar. His tribe is now strong, and I know he will go to contest it, and then…"

Rongdi's eyes were dark; he intended to have Ying die there. As long as Ying dies, the rest of the Ying Tribe will not be a match. Once Ying is dead, the Ying Tribe will be a piece of fat meat in his mouth.

Everything belonging to the Ying Tribe is his!

He deliberately drew out his tone, "Go ahead, this time we'll aid the Dog Rong, annihilate Ying."

"Annihilate me?"

Within the Ying Tribe's forest, when Ying heard Dashan's report, he scoffed, "Rongdi's goal is to have me battle the Dog Rong; he's waiting for me to fail."

Yao, Ashu and the others also naturally heard Rongdi's words. Indeed, the people they had sent out returned. This Rongdi said he would annihilate Ying; Rongdi plans to wait for Ying to try to retake the land, then use the terrain there to kill him.

In that way, the Ying Tribe would be without a leader.

Ashu was somewhat worried, and after a moment said, "Ying, since you know it's a trap, you should stay away. That land was seized by the Dog Rong long ago and now does not belong to the Ying Tribe."

Ashu, being timid, wanted Ying not to go. The tribe has just begun to improve, and it is the time to nurture the people; sending them to battle would harm the tribe too much.

He does not approve of Ying's seizure.

Those lands are far away, and even if reclaimed they're of little use—who would live there? Yao also stood up and glanced at Ying; he knows Ying cannot bear such threats. They are merely some clan members who were taken many years ago, and there's no need to risk for them.

"Ying, I also agree with Ashu's words; since Rongdi is pursuing this plan, we'll hold back, give him a false sense of triumph. What do you think?"

Everyone urged Ying not to involve himself in that matter; after all, that land was the one the former Old Clan Leader had abandoned. Though Ying has been clan leader for many years without campaigning against others, he has never lost a single inch of land, because his bravery makes other tribes hesitate to bully his people.

In short, everyone feels the Ying Tribe is now flourishing, and there's no need to launch further campaigns.

To campaign would only bring death.

Beneath the night sky the bonfire burned brightly, and dawn was near.

A cool breeze brushed his face, and Ying's drunken vigor had already cleared. He looked at the others, "I know what to do; you all rest first. Tomorrow the tribe must harvest the rice and attend to other tasks."

He said "you all," not "him."

Those words made Ashu and Yao exchange a glance; they said little, and after the others departed, only the couple remained in the woods.

For a moment, the quiet was broken only by the crackle of the bonfire.

Nan Qinghuan finally raised her gaze to him, murmuring, "When did you wake up?"

She thought he was terribly drunk, not realizing he had already awakened and had heard their talk with Yao.

Ying sat beside her and simply smiled, "No one can get me drunk."

"Then just now…"

"Tired."

Tired; Ying had never told her he was tired before.

Also true, in recent days he has done many things—dug ditches, built houses, cultivated farmland; he truly works hard to live a good life.

She didn't know whether Ying would blame her; it was her arrival that caused them to change the tribe, and that transformation was arduous, and they all endured great hardship.

Misunderstanding, dispute, change, step by step arriving at the present.

Though the tribe is much better now, a modest achievement, all of this is thanks to Ying and the clan members; she cannot lift her shoulders nor do much work, everything depends on what they have created.

She felt heartache; the rugged man actually said he was tired.

She reached out and gently embraced him, like coaxing a child, "If you're tired, just get a good sleep, think of nothing. I'll take you back to rest, okay?"

Ying inhaled deeply the scent on her, said nothing, and only stared at her.

It was the first time she saw Ying so vulnerable, and it made her feel a little heart‑ache.

"What's wrong?"

Ying did not go back; his eyes burned as he stared at her, and in the night his eyes glittered like diamonds, radiating a brilliant sheen.

"Qinghuan, it's truly wonderful to have you."

Nan Qinghuan didn't know why he suddenly said those words, but something must be on his mind—whether it was the contested land or the captured clan members about to be killed. She gave a faint, charming smile, "You're hungry, aren't you? I'll go roast a sweet potato for you."

Nan Qinghuan hurried to the bonfire, took out a sweet potato and began roasting it. Fortunately, she had placed mugwort here, and she had applied flower dew water on herself, so the mosquitoes stayed away, making it comfortable to stay.

The two sat quietly in the forest, and the surrounding woods echoed with the roars of wild beasts, but now she was unafraid, because those beasts dared not come near; they were smart enough to know this was human activity ground.

If they came, they would be shot.

Ying also quietly watched her roast the sweet potato, and the feeling satisfied him greatly.

If being content with the present days were possible, but… thinking of the suffering clan members and that land, he… cannot stay calm!

Soon the sweet potato was done, and she quickly handed it to him, "Ying, eat something; you haven't eaten much today, you've only been drinking."

This time she unusually kept silent, offering no opinion, because she was not adept at warfare, and Rongdi had calculated that Ying could not endure leading people into a campaign; if he went, it would be a perfect trap. So she stayed quiet, hoping Ashu and Yao would persuade him; both men are tribe leaders who know what's best for the tribe, so sometimes she still does not interfere too much.

She wanted Ying to make the decision himself.

The wind blew, rustling.

The forest was very quiet, and even the beasts' sounds gradually faded, leaving only the chirping of cicadas.

Ying saw she gave little input, and his gaze fixed on her every movement; the blazing bonfire highlighted Nan Qinghuan's face, making it especially crimson.

Like a ripe fruit that makes one want to bite it.

"Qinghuan, why didn't you speak just now?"

Nan Qinghuan's smile gradually stiffened as she peeled the sweet potato for him, doing it slowly as if it were a piece of art.

She peeled it meticulously.

Finally she finished peeling, and the bright, glistening flesh was very appetizing, "Want some?"

Ying slightly frowned then shook his head, and then seized her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Nan Qinghuan let out an "ah," and he quickly opened his mouth, took a bite of the sweet potato in her hand, and found it fragrant, soft, and delicious.

"Qinghuan, the one you roasted is sweet."

Nan Qinghuan giggled at his words, "If you like it, eat it all."

"Mm."

He was very obedient, eating every last bit of the sweet potatoes she had peeled for him.

After finishing, he stood up and gazed at her small face, a strange look flickering in his eyes. "Qinghuan, I'll take you somewhere."

Before she could even ask where, Ying scooped her up and strode deep into the forest. When he stopped, Nan Qinghuan was stunned by the sight before her!

Behind that bamboo grove, many small wooden plaques were stuck into the ground. So many of them planted in the earth, they looked like...