Chapter 216: A-Xi, You Did Very Well
Nan Xun’s experiences today could fill an entire adventure tale.
First she ran into a giant python, her whole body tense. Though the python eventually left, she then encountered A Bao, who tried to molest her. The nerve-wracking fight drained much of her strength and energy. And now, she was fleeing for her life, running until she completely lost her sense of direction.
Nan Xun was hungry, thirsty, exhausted, and sleepy. There had truly never been a more pathetic moment in her life.
She swore she’d only meant to close her eyes for a moment, but she was so tired that she couldn’t even keep them open. In the end, she actually fell asleep.
She didn’t know how long had passed when the sudden sound of footsteps startled her awake. She saw a tall, broad shadow appear at the mouth of the cave.
Nan Xun’s gaze sharpened as she immediately pulled the small stone knife from her satchel.
Before the shadow could come any closer, she raised the knife and slashed toward the person’s chest.
She didn’t want to kill anyone—but if she didn’t kill, she would be caught and burned alive.
Since she couldn’t die, the other person would have to.
Nan Xun felt her strike was fast, but the newcomer caught her wrist effortlessly, knocking the stone knife from her hand.
The next instant, the man pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, as if he had just recovered a priceless treasure thought long lost.
Nan Xun froze for a moment, then burst into wild joy. “A Mang!”
In the darkness, she couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel the oppressive aura around him.
This man was on the verge of fury.
“A-Xi…” he called softly, tightening his arms around her.
Having waited for A Mang, Nan Xun instantly felt neither tired nor sleepy anymore. Her back straightened as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, sniffling as she complained, “A Mang, your people want to burn me to death. I couldn’t beat them, so I ran away.”
“I know…” A Mang’s voice was hoarse, trembling slightly in the wind.
How happy he had been originally—he had hunted another large saber-toothed tiger, and its beautiful pelt would make a perfect blanket for A-Xi. But when he joyfully carried the tiger back to the tribe, A-Xi was nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere in the tribe was tense, and everyone’s expressions were grim.
That woman called A Xiang cried and said that A-Xi had made a giant python swallow A Bao, that A-Xi was a shaman envoy sent by the witch-demon. They wanted to burn A-Xi to avenge A Bao, but A-Xi had escaped.
When A Xiang wailed and clutched his leg, begging him to stand up for her, A Mang kicked her away and dashed into the forest.
The forest was full of poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. How dangerous it would be for A-Xi, a woman, to be alone!
At that moment, there was no shaman envoy, no A Bao in his mind—only A-Xi.
She was his woman. If he couldn’t even protect his own woman, what kind of warrior was he?
Once his pounding heart finally calmed, A Mang loosened his hold on A-Xi and took her hand, leading her back slowly.
As they left the cave, the view suddenly brightened. The stars were less brilliant than usual, likely because the full moon had stolen their light. The moon hung high in the sky, large and luminous, its silver glow filtering through layers of branches, draping the surrounding rocks and trees in a thin veil, far less dark than before.
A Mang walked ahead in silence. The hand holding Nan Xun’s was large, strong, and burning hot.
Nan Xun felt worried. “A Mang, are we going back to the tribe? But everyone wants to burn me.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” A Mang said, tightening his grip slightly.
“A Mang, I’m not some shaman envoy. A Bao really was swallowed by that giant python, but I didn’t command it.”
“A-Xi, even if you are a shaman envoy, I still want you,” A Mang said solemnly.
Nan Xun’s lips curved into a small smile, but she still wanted to explain clearly. “When you weren’t around, A Bao tried to hug me, kiss me, and even wanted to force himself on me. If that python hadn’t suddenly appeared, I might have—”
A Mang suddenly stopped walking, and Nan Xun immediately fell silent.
She thought he was about to say something, but after a brief pause, he simply continued pulling her along.
Under the moonlight, the man’s face was dark, his gaze deep, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
Nan Xun coughed lightly, steering away from the topic as she continued explaining, “During the struggle, I stabbed him in the chest with a spear. He got furious and wanted to kill me. That was when the python appeared. It didn’t attack me—it chose A Bao instead. Maybe the smell of blood on him provoked it.”
A Mang gave a low hum. His hand shifted, fingers interlacing with Nan Xun’s. After a long while, he finally said, “A-Xi, you did very well.”
The tribe was brightly lit with firelight. Bonfires were already burning, wooden stakes set up, firewood piled high, all waiting for their chief to bring back the shaman envoy so they could burn her alive.
They were utterly certain that when it came to something as crucial as the tribe’s safety, the chief would choose the tribe and burn that woman.
When the tribespeople saw that A Mang had indeed brought the woman back, they raised their spears and shouted in unison, “Burn this woman! Burn this woman!”
Nan Xun curled her lips, genuinely feeling that these ancient people were far too brutal—always jumping straight to burning people alive.
A Mang suddenly raised his spear, signaling everyone to be quiet.
“Why are you so certain that A-Xi is a shaman envoy sent by the witch-demon?” he asked.
A Xiang spoke up, her voice sharp and piercing. “This woman commanded the giant python to swallow my man, A Bao! This vicious woman is a shaman envoy sent by the witch-demon. Only a shaman envoy can command fierce beasts to kill! A shaman envoy will kill our people one by one until none of the tribe is left!”
A Mang shot A Xiang a cold glare, then swept his eyes over the rest of the tribe, his expression blank as he questioned them. “If A-Xi were a shaman envoy, would she have taught you how to weave bamboo packs, make pottery, and led you to find food and salt stones?”
The tribespeople fell silent, but their stance remained firm.
A Mang let out a short laugh and suddenly walked to the kiln.
Beside it were rows of newly made pottery, large and small, the result of much hard work by the tribe. Without a word, he raised the spear in his hand and swung it down hard.
Clang after clang rang out as the pottery shattered all over the ground.
The women froze for a moment, then screamed in breakdown, “A Mang, what are you doing?!”
Not content with smashing the pottery, A Mang also threw all the tribe’s bamboo packs, baskets, and other bamboo goods into the fire.
He went into one stone cave after another, smashing every salt jar inside onto the ground.
The tribespeople were completely stunned. Nan Xun was dumbfounded too.
Holy—well, this might be a bit improper, but Nan Xun felt that the current A Mang was simply… insanely handsome.
After destroying everything he wanted to destroy, A Mang lifted the corner of his mouth, smiling wickedly. “All of these things were taught to you by the shaman envoy. Since the shaman envoy wants to destroy our tribe, then these things must be cursed by the witch-demon as well. Better to destroy them all.”
