32 - Little Peasant Wife

The manager at the gambling hall refused to be swayed by him, and even the bouncers there wouldn't heed his calls. This left him grinding his teeth in frustration. Yet, an idea struck him: Jīng Ào Xuè was known for her restless nature and would inevitably visit the town sooner or later. So, he spent some silver to hire local thugs to stake out the town's gates. Their task was to report her sightings immediately and then gather some street allies to teach her a lesson. With luck, he might even seize the two thousand silver bills from her. Little did he know, Jīng Ào Xuè was a big spender and had already used up most of the money. Now, watching Jīng Ào Xuè with a fierce gaze, he saw her still wearing that infuriatingly carefree smile. Just as he was about to signal for his men to rough her up, Shěn Lǜ Màn stepped forward, pulling Jīng Ào Xuè behind her and confronting Liáng Shēng Róng directly. Liáng Shēng Róng felt a sudden surge of warmth at the sight of Shěn Lǜ Màn’s calm and chilly demeanor. He harbored an obsession with her; she was the first person to show him kindness, albeit in the simple form of a bun when he was penniless and destitute. That singular act of generosity had kindled hope within him. Later, he tracked down Shěn Lǜ Màn through town gossip, learning about her and her spouse’s recent arrival and plans to settle down in the town. This drove him to create opportunities to meet her spouse. That spouse was Jīng Ào Xuè, who, despite having such a gentle and beautiful wife, never seemed to appreciate her. He longed to take Jīng Ào Xuè’s place! In his mind, a brilliant plan formed, aiming to strip Jīng Ào Xuè of everything and have Shěn Lǜ Màn willingly choose him instead. This obsession had taken root in his mind for years. It seemed success was near, but then Jīng Ào Xuè, that vile woman, had once again ruined everything! His hopes, his love for Shěn Lǜ Màn, never stirred even a ripple in her heart, yet a mere glance or action from Jīng Ào Xuè could capture all her attention. This drove Liáng Shēng Róng to the brink of madness with jealousy! Now, seeing Shěn Lǜ Màn shielding Jīng Ào Xuè, he coldly ordered, "Shěn Lǜ Màn, step aside. This doesn’t concern you!" Shěn Lǜ Màn responded impassively, "She is my spouse!" Jīng Ào Xuè narrowed her eyes, detecting the covetous gleam in Liáng Shēng Róng’s eyes. A surge of icy murder intent welled up within her. It had been ages since she had such a strong urge to kill someone! Her wood-based powers had already formed tangible needles, poised to pierce out and kill like they would a zombie, ready to strike with just a flick of her finger. But then Shěn Lǜ Màn added, "If you want to harm her, you’ll have to ask me first!" Jīng Ào Xuè was taken aback, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt that there was no cooler woman in the world than Shěn Lǜ Màn! So impressive! Unconsciously, Jīng Ào Xuè broke into a wide, sunny smile. Liáng Shēng Róng was trembling with rage, glaring malevolently at Jīng Ào Xuè. Yet Jīng Ào Xuè basked in delight, thinking: No matter how much he covets her, Shěn Lǜ Màn’s heart will always belong to me. Shěn Lǜ Màn was hers and hers alone, untouchable by anyone else! With that thought, she quickly put on a pitiful expression, stepped forward, and embraced Shěn Lǜ Màn tightly from behind. Standing taller, she leaned her head over Shěn Lǜ Màn’s shoulder, appearing as though she was draped completely over her. Jīng Ào Xuè woefully pleaded, “Wife, he’s bullying me!” Being hugged so tightly in public left Shěn Lǜ Màn feeling a little awkward. Hearing those words, she internally sighed. She turned her head slightly, gazing at Jīng Ào Xuè’s puffed cheeks, responding flatly, “And what do you want me to do?” Jīng Ào Xuè gleefully exclaimed, “Rescue your damsel in distress, of course! Give him a good beating for me, and if there’s trouble, I’ll take responsibility!” “You said it…” Shěn Lǜ Màn replied, playing along. Turning her gaze back to Liáng Shēng Róng, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, flashing with a ruthless intent. She coldly declared, “Then I won’t hold back!” Chapter 26: A Kiss Liáng Shēng Róng was frozen under her piercing gaze, breaking into a cold sweat—it was like being prey to a ravenous wolf. He instinctively swallowed hard, unable to fathom that Shěn Lǜ Màn, who appeared so gentle and virtuous, could suddenly be so fierce and terrifying. No! It must be an illusion! Shěn Lǜ Màn was supposedly a timid woman, who wouldn't even flinch when Jīng Ào Xuè, a so-called weakling, threw punches and kicks. How could such a person pose any threat to him? He refused to believe it! Yet when Shěn Lǜ Màn moved with a speed that the naked eye couldn’t track and delivered a kick that sent him flying, reality struck. He realized she truly was a formidable woman beyond imagination. Though he didn't want to believe it, he was forced to accept the truth. The dull ache in his stomach swiftly transformed into excruciating pain, spreading until he felt as if his bones were on the verge of breaking. He lay sprawled on the ground several meters away, struggling to breathe like a malfunctioning bellows. He futilely widened his eyes, barely able to catch fleeting images of the scuffle. The street thugs he hired, once notorious brawlers, were as helpless as toddlers before Shěn Lǜ Màn; they couldn’t even raise a defense. The cries of the men rang out incessantly as Shěn Lǜ Màn took them down one by one. She moved with such speed that anyone she targeted would be left bruised and battered, down on their knees. The thugs' fake grins faded into expressions of terror. Some even screamed aloud, regretting their decision to take Liáng Shēng Róng’s money, all to suffer a beating from a woman that left them wailing for mercy. In less than fifteen minutes, the dozen men were no match for Shěn Lǜ Màn. A few had genuine fighting skills, but Shěn Lǜ Màn was no ordinary person; she had vast experience in combat since childhood. She could tackle mountain wolves and brown bears, let alone a few untrained thugs with nothing more than brute strength. Her every move was too fast for most to follow, with only Jīng Ào Xuè managing to catch glimpses of her actions. Jīng Ào Xuè’s eyes slightly narrowed in excitement, a trace of bloodlust flashing across her eyes as she watched. Living through the apocalypse had taught her that everyone may seem normal, but only those who endured ten years in that world were truly exceptional. Jīng Ào Xuè was a top survivor, for whom killing and bloodshed were routine. Compared to the mundane life of another world, the savage reality of the apocalypse suited her. Not that she preferred the apocalypse; the sheer variety of food in the other world easily surpassed the bleak offerings of a post-apocalyptic reality. Yet, she had been changed by the apocalypse—her psyche partially dominated by violence and bloodshed. She relished such battles and yearned for occasional skirmishes, though this world's laws barred killing, and ordinary people were just too feeble to pose any real challenge. After being restrained by a monotonous life for so long, she craved the thrill of a fight to hone her instincts. Shěn Lǜ Màn’s prior kindness had moved her, even stirring desires for a kiss or an embrace. But watching Shěn Lǜ Màn’s fierce side, her blood surged, cheeks blazing like lanterns at a night market. Clutching her chest, she eagerly watched from the sidelines, thinking: This time, there was no doubt she was completely smitten. Shěn Lǜ Màn was just too dazzling! Her cold, dismissive eyes treating human life like dirt, her swift moves treating people like punching bags, her ability to take on ten men at once... And that blood-spattered, expressionless brutality! Each trait hit her right in the heart, bending her straight inclinations completely. After wrapping things up, Shěn Lǜ Màn noticed the fear and avoidance in the eyes of the thugs and Liáng Shēng Róng, remembering belatedly how ruthless she had been in front of Jīng Ào Xuè. She had always maintained a silent and placid demeanor around Jīng Ào Xuè, playing the role of the obedient wife. But she had been ruthless with those who endangered Jīng Ào Xuè, forgetting her usual restraint. Would Jīng Ào Xuè see her actions as too vicious and cruel? In the past, she wouldn't have concerned herself with Jīng Ào Xuè's feelings much. She’d simply offer lukewarm advice, hoping for improvement, but wouldn’t dwell on it even if Jīng Ào Xuè continued being reckless. Now things were different; the last thing she wanted was for Jīng Ào Xuè to drift back to the apathetic and even abusive behavior of old. Turning towards Jīng Ào Xuè apprehensively, she was surprised to find the latter bearing an expression far from what she’d expected. Instead of repulsion, Jīng Ào Xuè stood at the roadside with a blush, bouncing like an excited rabbit. That can’t be right, Shěn Lǜ Màn thought, squinting at the scene. Was it her imagination, or were those flowers blooming beside her? Jīng Ào Xuè's cheeks flushed, her radiant smile brimmed with enthusiasm, giving the impression of... shyness? Maybe she was mistaken… Shěn Lǜ Màn mused, uncertainty etched on her face. Noticing her gaze, Jīng Ào Xuè seemed to confirm Shěn Lǜ Màn’s suspicion, advancing coyly. Before Shěn Lǜ Màn could question her own aggressive display earlier, Jīng Ào Xuè grabbed her wrist. Puzzled, Shěn Lǜ Màn found herself pulled to a corner, with Jīng Ào Xuè placing one hand on the wall behind her, the other gently tipping Shěn Lǜ Màn’s chin to the side, shifting her focus slightly. What is Jīng Ào Xuè doing? Before she could fathom it, she felt a warmth spread across her lips. A kiss? She blinked, stunned, as Jīng Ào Xuè’s beautiful face hovered close. Watching Jīng Ào Xuè's closed eyes, with lashes fluttering like small fans, her own heart began to flutter as if mirroring them. Seemingly recognizing Shěn Lǜ Màn’s distraction, Jīng Ào Xuè applied more pressure to her chin. With a muffled sound, Shěn Lǜ Màn felt Jīng Ào Xuè’s lips shifting over hers, adjusting to press firmly against her fragile skin. A flush crept up her cheeks as her heart raced. But… Both their lips were dry, and this parched kiss caused their mouths to ache slightly. Confused, Jīng Ào Xuè pulled back a little, blinking as she pondered: Wasn’t kissing supposed to feel wonderful? It did feel great, but it also made her lips sore. Feeling a bit aggrieved, her distress was apparent in her gaze.