Chapter 75: Encountering Danger

Xiao Chai wasn’t at all embarrassed by having his thoughts exposed.

He scratched his head and smiled, “Looks like Sister-in-law saw right through me.”

To his surprise, Ye Xin Ran actually gave him a bamboo tube of rice: “Here, try it.”

“Sister-in-law, really for me?”

Xiao Chai looked at Ye Xin Ran in disbelief, just as she handed another bamboo tube of rice to Old Li. “This one is for you.”

“Th-this is too much!”

Old Li was overwhelmed, but the allure of the bamboo tube rice was too great, and in the end, he accepted it reluctantly.

“It’s fine, fate brought us together. I happened to make some rice today, so I’ll let you try it.”

Seeing that Ye Xin Ran was genuinely willing to share, the two men carefully opened the bamboo tube and began eating the rice.

Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an each ate one as well.

The rice, soaked and mixed with soy sauce, had a slightly reddish color, with bits of meat and bamboo shoots that added a unique fragrance to the dish.

Ye Xin Ran had just eaten half of hers when Xiao Chai had already finished his completely, and he began licking the bamboo tube.

Old Li, though trying to control himself, still carefully cleaned out every grain of rice.

Ye Xin Ran knew everyone was going through hardships, but she had never seen anyone eat so earnestly in front of her.

She felt a little heartache and pulled out two more bamboo tubes from the basket, handing them to the two men: “Here, these are for you as well.”

“No, no, no, we really can’t take them!”

Now, both Old Li and Xiao Chai were shocked.

Sister-in-law was so kind, so beautiful and so kind-hearted.

Xiao Chai couldn’t help but sigh: “Brother Xiao, did you marry a fairy?”

Xiao Huai’an gave him a glance but didn’t say anything. However, a barely noticeable trace of pride flashed across his face.

As for Ye Xin Ran giving bamboo tube rice to the two men, Xiao Huai’an didn’t stop her. He simply said, “If she’s giving it to you, take it,” and then reminded Ye Xin Ran that it was time to leave.

“Just hold on a little longer today, we’ll be there soon.”

Xiao Huai’an said.

Ye Xin Ran nodded. “I’m fine.”

Xiao Chai was reluctant to see them go.

He wasn’t sure why he felt so attached, even though they weren’t family.

If only they could stay a few more days… “slurp!”

Old Li saw his greedy look and couldn’t help but smack his head again. “Stop staring! They’re already out of sight, and you’ve lost your soul over a good meal!”

“But it really was delicious!” Xiao Chai defended himself.

Old Li couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “It’s indeed good. This skill is even better than the average restaurant owner’s! That Xiao family member is truly lucky!”

Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an continued their journey, just like yesterday, looking for herbs along the way.

Today, their luck wasn’t as good as yesterday. They only dug up a small piece of “He Shou Wu” (Polygonum multiflorum), which was also discovered by Xiao Huai’an.

“I think I remember, there was some “He Shou Wu” near the trap I dug. When we get there, let’s go have a look,” Xiao Huai’an said.

“Mm!” Ye Xin Ran nodded in agreement.

By mid day, they were getting closer to their destination.

However, Xiao Huai’an felt a sense of danger.

He stopped and listened attentively.

Ye Xin Ran noticed and quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It feels like something’s not right,” Xiao Huai’an said softly.

Sensing the danger, he felt the urge to go ahead by himself and check things out. But thinking about leaving Ye Xin Ran alone here made it even less safe, so he finally decided that they should go together.

“Stay close to me,” Xiao Huai’an told her.

No longer allowing Ye Xin Ran to wander off to search for herbs on her own, his actions created a sense of pressure for her as well.

They walked for another two miles, and Xiao Huai’an finally noticed something unusual.

Lying by the side of the road was the carcass of a fox. Its internal organs had been removed, but the meat wasn’t completely eaten.

Ordinary animals wouldn’t hunt like this.

The only animal in the mountains that hunted this way was the jackal.

When jackals appeared, they always traveled in groups.

They would hunt prey smaller than themselves, but would not hesitate to attack larger animals either.

Because they were vicious, cunning, and would often launch surprise attacks or encircle their prey.

They usually targeted the soft areas of their prey’s abdomen and anus. Once they bit down, they wouldn’t let go.

Even tigers and leopards could easily fall victim to jackals.

Xiao Huai’an examined the fox’s body and the surrounding footprints. It didn’t take long for him to reach a conclusion:

This group of jackals likely had at least seven or eight members. It would be difficult to deal with them.

He didn’t move forward.

Instead, he took two steps back and walked over to Ye Xin Ran’s side. “There’s danger here. Let’s retreat to the wooden house and look for another opportunity to move forward.”

“Okay!” Ye Xin Ran didn’t ask why. Instead, she obediently followed Xiao Huai’an’s steps down the mountain.

After walking just a few steps, Xiao Huai’an stopped.

Ye Xin Ran also sensed an ominous presence.

She looked around and saw at least four or five reddish-brown animals glaring at them with intense focus.

“What are these?” Ye Xin Ran asked, her voice tinged with fear.

Xiao Huai’an had already drawn his machete from his waist and assumed a defensive stance. “They’re jackals, the most disgusting animals.”

Seeing Xiao Huai’an’s movement, Ye Xin Ran also took out her baseball bat from her space.

She had learned baseball for a while during her school years. Although she didn’t continue with it, she kept the bat because it was useful for self-defense.

She never expected she would need to use it here.

In addition to the baseball bat, she also pulled two sharp surgical knives from her space, handing one to Xiao Huai’an. “Here, take this. For self-defense.”

Xiao Huai’an was used to Ye Xin Ran’s spontaneous actions. He took the surgical knife, holding his machete in one hand and the surgical knife in the other, keeping his eyes fixed on the movements of the jackals ahead.

It seemed the jackals had noticed they were preparing.

Suddenly, one of the jackals lunged forward.

It aimed for Xiao Huai’an’s face, its sharp teeth targeting the artery in his neck.

Without moving his body, Xiao Huai’an swung his right hand. The machete slashed deep into the jackal’s belly.

Blood sprayed out immediately, staining the grass with a deep red.

With a howl, the jackal collapsed to the ground, motionless.

But the scent of blood triggered the wild beasts’ aggression.

More jackals emerged from behind the bushes.

Xiao Huai’an quickly counted, there were more than ten.

“Be careful!” He warned Ye Xin Ran, who was behind him.

Now, Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an had their backs to each other, each acting as the other’s rear guard.

“You be careful too!” Ye Xin Ran said, focusing on the jackals ahead and trying to suppress the fear rising in her heart.

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out.

The dozen or so jackals lunged from all directions toward the two of them.

Xiao Huai’an swung his long knife, each strike landing with precision on the jackals’ bodies.

But these creatures seemed to have no fear of death. Even if one of them lost a leg, it kept charging forward!