Chapter Nineteen: The Adorable Pet and the Clumsy Husband

The giant python hovered above the billowing dust, hurtling forward with the speed of a gale. A formidable aura pressed down, making hearts tremble in fear, as if in the next moment one would be swallowed whole. “Hide in the forest,” Yu Youwei leapt to the ground, scooped up Xiang Cunzhe, and dashed into the woods. Noticing Ning Mofei still atop the earthen slope, she called out again, “Mofei, hurry!”

Reluctantly, Ning Mofei slipped into the trees. Yu Youwei quickly hid Xiang Cunzhe inside a hollow tree, camouflaging the entrance with grass and vines, then dragged Ning Mofei into a patch of waist-high grass.

Soon, the squadron of cavalry thundered to the edge of the woods. A resonant voice barked, “Halt!” The cavalrymen stopped in perfect unison and swiftly formed a siege around the thicket. Each soldier raised a gleaming, black Godslayer crossbow, their bolts already nocked.

Having spent years traveling, Yu Youwei was not unfamiliar with the Yunhuang Army. She knew the Godcrossbow Battalion, famed as the army’s elite, could bring down even foundation cultivators with a barrage. Clearly, they had come for her and her companions. Waiting passively was not the way of the Poison Maiden. Lowering her voice beside Ning Mofei’s ear, she said, “I’ll distract them. Stay here and keep quiet.”

Ning Mofei opened his mouth to protest, but one sharp glance from her silenced him.

She darted out like a wraith. As she emerged from the woods, her jade wrist flicked; the Softsword Qingshuang snapped straight, flashing like a blue serpent. The leading cavalry officer raised his shield to block, but it was instantly pierced by the blade’s light. He spurred his horse back, narrowly escaping, but Yu Youwei had already flung a thunder talisman. With a thunderous boom, it exploded against his chest, shattering his armor. Though he survived, his mount was blown apart in a spray of blood.

“What vicious methods!” the officer roared, leaping from the headless horse and drawing the sword at his waist with a flourish. A fierce arc of sword energy shot skyward, multiplying into a dazzling net.

Yu Youwei avoided its sharpness, not daring to meet it head-on. Her movement art unfolded at full force, weaving through the trees like a thousand butterflies. Blue sword-light trailed in her wake, striking at the cavalrymen’s wrists. Most had no chance to fire—their crossbow hands, even clad in purple-gold bracers, were pierced at the pulse, and the heavy Godslayer crossbows fell from their grip.

At that moment, Ning Mofei suddenly rushed out, shouting, “Don’t hurt Youwei! She’s my wife!”

“I told you to stay hidden!” Yu Youwei shouted in anger, darting toward him, but the cavalry officer was faster, reaching Ning Mofei first. She stopped short, alarmed, and cried, “Don’t harm him! He knows nothing. If you kill him, you’ll die with him—I wouldn’t test the speed of my blade.”

The cavalry officer chuckled, then coughed, before asking, “With a volley of Godslayer crossbows trained on you, how could you possibly kill me before you’re brought down yourself?”

“Don’t bully Youwei! You’re a bad second brother!” Ning Mofei yelled, shaking his fist.

Yu Youwei was left speechless, staring as the officer removed his helmet, revealing a face that closely resembled Ning Mofei. His voice, gentle and warm, sounded, “My sister-in-law, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ning Zhongwu, Mofei’s second brother.”

Ning Mofei pushed past his brother, tugged at Yu Youwei’s sleeve, and asked timidly, “You’re angry because I didn’t stay hidden in the grass, aren’t you?”

Ning Zhongwu grumbled, “Fourth brother, I rushed here to save you, and you don’t even greet me. All you care about is whether your wife is angry. That’s too much!”

In Three Rivers City, the Treasure Pill Pavilion belonged to the Ning family. Though the night was late, the pavilion blazed with light. The third young master, Ning Baixia, swathed from head to toe like a rice dumpling, lounged in a grand chair by the window, looking every bit the beast ready to devour. The maids standing by held their breath, fearful of disturbing him.

At the head of the hall sat the eldest, Ning Bowen, face as refined as jade, worry etched between his brows, his fingers tapping absently on the chair back.

“Stop that tapping! It’s driving me mad!” Ning Baixia shouted irritably.

Ning Bowen ignored his brother’s impatience and said gently, “Calm yourself. Second brother has already led troops to pursue them and will send word soon. You’re badly injured—go and rest. I’ll keep watch.”

“I can’t sleep. I’m going to find Fourth Brother,” Ning Baixia leapt up, forgetting his broken right leg. The moment his foot touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through him and he cried out.

Ning Bowen darted over, pressing Ning Baixia back into the chair with a stern scold, “Sit still and behave!”

“It’s dark—Fourth Brother will be scared outside!” Ning Baixia wailed, his shout carrying outside to where Ning Mofei, just arriving with the cavalry at the Treasure Pill Pavilion, could hear.

“Who says I’m afraid of the dark!” Ning Mofei retorted, sneaking a glance at Yu Youwei riding beside him. Before he could further show off, Second Brother snickered, Third Brother dramatically leapt through the window, and the eldest, more reserved, stood at the broken window and exclaimed in delight, “Fourth Brother’s been found!”

As he dismounted, Ning Mofei dodged Third Brother’s reaching hand and complained, “I wasn’t lost. Why say I’ve been found?”

“Exactly! Who on earth spread the nonsense that our Fourth Brother is afraid of the dark? With his wife by his side, he could sleep soundly even camping in the wild,” Ning Zhongwu joked with a roguish grin.

Yu Youwei alighted gracefully, silent as ever. But Ning Baixia, apparently in a foul mood, rounded on her, “Why did you drag Fourth Brother into the river? Do you know how dangerous that was!” He eyed her up and down, noting her injuries, but she couldn’t be bothered to argue and remained silent.

Ning Bowen, ever the eldest, rebuked, “Third Brother, what are you raging about? In that situation, our sister-in-law made the right call. If they hadn’t jumped into the river, Fourth Brother would have become fish food before I even arrived.”

Ning Mofei’s eyes reddened. Grabbing Third Brother’s arm, he wailed, “You can’t scold my wife! Or I’ll hit you!” leaving Third Brother dumbfounded.

Seeing this, Ning Zhongwu burst out laughing. “Third Brother, Fourth Brother has a wife now. Bully his wife, and you’re bullying him. Watch yourself.”

Under the red lanterns hanging from the eaves, Yu Youwei’s tattered dress fluttered in the breeze, her disheveled hair lending her a newfound softness. She said nothing, only letting a gentle, silent smile play on her lips.

In that moment, the Ning brothers seemed to see a night lily quietly blooming in the wind—a stark contrast to the infamous Poison Maiden, Yu Xuanji, whose allure and solitary bearing inspired both awe and dread.

Not realizing Second Brother was teasing, Ning Mofei solemnly declared, “That’s right. None of you are allowed to bully my wife, or I’ll tell Father to tan your hides!”

[Author’s note: Collections, comments, and clicks—your support is the wellspring of Bing Yan’s inspiration to keep writing!]