Chapter 1 ☆ The Hunter and the Beauty

The rain poured down, and the towering ancient trees, hundreds of years old, stood tall, their canopies blocking out the sun and making the forest even darker. The rain dripped through the leaves and vines, carrying the earthy scent of humus and plants.

Such a forest is rare in the 21st century. Cheng Yaoyao stumbled through the dense greenery, each step sinking deep into the sticky, wet mud. Water and mud seeped into her shoes.

Powerful footsteps pounded behind her, and a man’s voice, cruel and commanding, called out, “Stop! Don’t run!”

Hearing this, Cheng Yaoyao’s heart raced in fear, and she pushed herself to run faster. One of her shoes got stuck in the mud and refused to budge. In a panic, she kicked it off and looked back over her shoulder.

The man pursuing her was tall, wearing an old-fashioned jacket and blue cloth pants, with a scimitar^[1]is a type of curved, single-edged sword with a blade that broadens towards the point. in hand. He was about seven or eight meters behind her, the blade gleaming ominously in the flashes of lightning.

Just last night, Cheng Yaoyao had celebrated her 22nd birthday in grand style, surrounded by celebrities and basking in the spotlight. But today, she found herself in this strange forest, being chased by a terrifying man!

*Did her stepmother and stepsister sell her to some remote mountain area? Or was this some kind of twisted reality show?* Cheng Yaoyao’s mind raced with chaotic thoughts, but her survival instinct kept her legs moving swiftly.

Her slender figure gave her an advantage in the rain-soaked forest. Even with one bare foot, she ran faster than the tall man, like a frightened rabbit. Ahead, a narrow path appeared between the bushes, and Cheng Yaoyao instinctively darted towards it.

The man behind her shouted, “Stop! That’s—”

*What is it?* Suddenly, the ground beneath Cheng Yaoyao gave way, and she tumbled heavily down a slope.

The bushes, thick with fallen leaves, had concealed a natural trap. Cheng Yaoyao rolled down, her head spinning. The thick layer of leaves and mud cushioned her fall, saving her life. After rolling more than ten times, she finally lay still on the ground, her vision filled with stars.

A strange noise came from ahead, and Cheng Yaoyao looked up.

*Gulp.* Amidst the sound of the rain, she could hear herself swallowing hard.

Just three or four meters in front of her stood a wild boar!

This was no ordinary pig—it was nothing like the domesticated, white, and tender pigs she was used to. Its fur was a rough mix of brown and black, and its tusks gleamed menacingly. It drooled from the corners of its mouth, glaring at her with angry eyes, snorting continuously.

Cheng Yaoyao’s head buzzed, and her scalp tingled with fear.

The wild boar bared its fangs and pawed at the ground with its front hooves. There was a menacing hostility in its eyes, and suddenly, it charged towards Cheng Yaoyao.

Behind her, there was a rustling sound. Cheng Yaoyao looked back and saw the tall figure of the man sliding down the slope, as agile as a cheetah. He stood up straight, holding the curved knife, his eyes cold and calculating.

He looked at Cheng Yaoyao first. She lay in the mud, gazing up at him, her expression a mixture of desperation and hope, as if she wanted to cry but didn’t dare to make a sound.

The man’s expression froze momentarily before his gaze shifted to the wild boar just a few meters away. His eyes grew even colder as he slowly tightened his grip on the knife.

The wild boar seemed to sense the danger and let out a low growl, preparing to charge.

Cheng Yaoyao whimpered, “Help…”

The man raised his hand and made a simple gesture: *silence.*

Cheng Yaoyao bit her tongue, trying desperately to suppress the fear bubbling up inside her. She lifted her wet bangs, revealing a face that looked like a delicate crabapple blossom in the rain, with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye.

She looked at the man with sorrowful eyes. He was standing in the shadows, and she couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could tell he was very tall, his muscles tense, exuding the alertness of a predator.

He held the machete steadily, ready for action.

Cheng Yaoyao didn’t know if this man was willing to save her. But in a place like this, just knowing she wasn’t alone brought her a small measure of relief.

She lay on the ground, hoping desperately that the wild boar and the man would forget she existed.

But to her dismay, neither the wild boar nor the man seemed inclined to back down. They stood off, locked in a tense standoff, the atmosphere growing increasingly dangerous.

The wild boar, with its thick hide and strong body, could survive the encounter. But Cheng Yaoyao, lying helpless on the ground, was in a pitiful state.

She had been a pampered young lady for twenty years, never having suffered such hardships. Soaked through with rain and caked in mud, the cold seeped into her bones. She shivered uncontrollably, an itchy sensation building in her lungs.

“Ah…A-choo!”

Her sudden, sharp sneeze startled the wild boar, causing it to raise its front hoof abruptly.

Enraged, the wild boar charged forward, and Cheng Yaoyao was right in its path!

A wild boar weighing hundreds of pounds charged forward, the ground shaking beneath it. Mud, water, and dead leaves splashed high into the air, and in the blink of an eye, a hoof was hovering over Cheng Yaoyao’s head!

Cheng Yaoyao’s scalp tingled with fear, and she froze, unable to move. She could only close her eyes tightly, bracing for impact.

The foul wind blew toward her, but the expected pain never came. Instead, the massive boar was struck by something and flew past Cheng Yaoyao. Its rough fur scraped against her arm, leaving her in pain, and half of her body went numb.

The boar landed heavily on the ground, splashing mud and water everywhere. Despite its thick skin and muscular frame, the boar rolled over and quickly jumped back up, its hooves digging into the ground. It glared ahead, its irritation evident, and let out a furious roar.

Cheng Yaoyao’s eyes stung from the muddy water, but she could make out a tall figure standing in front of her, holding a scimitar. The blade dripped with dark liquid.

The scent of blood mingled with the rain.

The boar’s roars grew deeper, a mix of fear and anger.

At that moment, the man stood between her and the wild boar, and Cheng Yaoyao’s senses slowly returned. With him blocking the boar, she could make her escape…

In extreme danger, survival instincts take over. Cheng Yaoyao slowly got up, trying to retreat.

“Don’t move!” The man tilted his head, as if he had eyes in the back of it. His voice was muffled by the rain, but his tone was cold.

“I… I’m scared!” Cheng Yaoyao kept backing away, desperate to distance herself from the danger. The heavy rain soaked her, her eyes wide with fear, her lips bright red—like a small animal with beautiful fur, now drenched.

The man turned his head, pointing the machete at her. “Stop!”

As he turned, Cheng Yaoyao saw his face clearly for the first time—half of it was bloody, his fierce eyes peering out from his messy hair. Terrified, she stepped back further. “Don’t come near me!”

The man gritted his teeth, but as he moved, the wild boar charged toward him like a tank.

Cheng Yaoyao screamed and pointed behind him. “Wild boar!”

The man reacted instantly, his figure moving so fast that it seemed to blur. He flipped over and appeared behind the wild boar.

The boar, losing its target, rushed straight toward Cheng Yaoyao, its fangs flashing ominously in the light.

But suddenly, a blade sliced through the rain and crossed the wild boar’s neck.

A sharp squeal pierced the air as boiling liquid splashed all over Cheng Yaoyao’s head and face, the strong smell of blood overwhelming her senses.

Cheng Yaoyao opened her eyes wide, watching as the boar collapsed, twitching silently. A large pool of dark liquid slowly spread out from under its body.

The man bent down to inspect the wild boar, muttering a curse under his breath. He kicked the boar and then slashed its neck with the knife, ensuring it was completely still.

Slowly, the man rose to his feet. Half of his face and body were stained with blood, and the rain traced over his handsome, cold features. His eyes, narrow and sinister, were filled with a murderous aura.

He still held the scimitar, walking up to Cheng Yaoyao and towering over her, casting her in his shadow.

Blood dripped from the tip of the knife, the blade gleaming coldly.

His voice, sharp like metal against stone, cut through the rain. “Are you still running?”

Cheng Yaoyao shook her head frantically and stammered, “No, no, no… I won’t run… Don’t kill me!”

Another thunderclap exploded overhead, lightning flashing to illuminate the man’s bloody face and the scimitar in his hand, making him look like a demon.

Instinctively, Cheng Yaoyao scooted backward.

The rain continued to pour, hitting her face like tiny needles. The girl on the ground was wearing a soaked pink blouse that clung to her body, revealing her slender curves. Her face was full of fear, the teardrop mole under her almond-shaped eyes vividly highlighting her vulnerability, stripped of her usual arrogance.

The man suddenly averted his gaze, wiped the blood from his face, and threw his coat at Cheng Yaoyao. “Put it on!”

Though the man appeared thin, without his coat, his physique was clearly defined—broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with taut, strong muscles, very different from the sculpted bodies achieved in modern gyms.

Cheng Yaoyao hesitated as she held the coat in her hands. It was stained with blood and very dirty.

The man noticed her hesitation. A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Don’t want to wear it? Then get up and go!”

“Where are we going?” Cheng Yaoyao asked tentatively.

“Back to the village.” The man spoke sparingly, focusing on tying up the wild boar.

Cheng Yaoyao watched as he untied a bundle of hemp rope from his waist and skillfully tied the boar’s hooves together. His muscles flexed with each movement, revealing his immense strength.

With his back turned to her, Cheng Yaoyao slowly stood up and tried to move away.

A small, dead branch snapped under her shoe. Despite the rumbling rain, the man turned around immediately, his eyes locking onto Cheng Yaoyao like a hawk’s!

Cheng Yaoyao frantically waved her hands. “I’m not running, I’m not running! Ah! What are you doing? Don’t touch me! Help—”

The man reached out with strong arms, and the smell of blood mixed with his body heat overwhelmed her senses, enclosing Cheng Yaoyao in it.

Instinctively, Cheng Yaoyao raised her hands to scratch at his face, her nails digging into his flesh. The man hissed in pain but didn’t retaliate. Instead, he simply tied a piece of hemp rope around her waist, securing it with two knots.

The rope was so loose around her that there was plenty left over, a clear sign of how thin she was. A stray thought flashed through the man’s mind, but his left cheek throbbed, snapping him back to reality.

Cheng Yaoyao was furious. This man had tied her up with the same rope as the pig?! She found this more humiliating than any other treatment she could have imagined!

Her temper flared, and she momentarily forgot her fear. She raised her hand and slapped the man across the face. “Why did you tie me up? Let me go! I’m going to call the police! Woo…”

Her wrist ached as the man’s strong, hot hand grabbed her and pulled her close, like a chick in his grip. Caught off guard, Cheng Yaoyao stumbled into his solid chest.

“Let me go—” As she collided with him, countless images flooded Cheng Yaoyao’s mind, stunning her into silence.

The girl’s body was soft, and the sweet fragrance of May peach blossoms filled the man’s senses. He flinched, dodging to the side, holding the rope in his hand. His voice grew colder and harsher. “I’ll let you go once we’re out of the forest.”

There were several scratches on the man’s face, one of which fell at the corner of his eye. His eyebrows were narrow and sharp, and the scar made him look even more frightening.

Cheng Yaoyao knelt on the ground, with countless memories in her mind that she could not sort out. One thing was certain: this man had no ill will towards her.

Cheng Yaoyao grabbed the rope around her waist, assessed the situation, and finally lowered her head reluctantly: “You said so!”

The man didn’t answer. He looked down at her and said, “Then get up.”

“I…my legs are weak, and I can’t stand up,” Cheng Yaoyao said, looking at him eagerly.

Cheng Yaoyao had a very beautiful face, relying on which she had been successful in everything she did since she was a child. Now, with a teardrop mole under her eye, she looked even more charming and coquettish when she gazed at people.

“…” The man’s eyes looked strange, and he raised one sharp eyebrow, “You want me to carry you?”

“Thank you.” Cheng Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief and stretched out her hand to the man with a happy expression.

The man: “…”