Chapter 40 The Childhood Betrothal of a Miao Girl (Part 10)

"Without father or mother, aren't they called orphans?" "They're our little orphans from Qingfeng Village..."

"Without father or mother, aren't they called orphans?"

"He's a little orphan from our Qingfeng Village, so pitiful."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Why aren't you speaking? Are you mute?

Several boys surrounded a thin girl, trying to get her to speak. When she refused, they started pushing and shoving her.

The girl's stubborn eyes were filled with anger. After being pushed back a step, she swung her fist and smashed it into the head of the boy in the lead.

Immediately, a large bump swelled up on the boy's head.

"You actually dared to lay a hand on me?"

"I'll show you what's what!"

Just as the boys were about to punch and kick her, Jiang Yiqing quickly cleared her throat, drawing their attention.

The girl turned around and saw two beautiful girls who looked like immortals. One of them had exquisite features and an ethereal beauty. Her lively, deer-like eyes were unusually filled with anger. The other was elegant and dignified, with a natural charm. Her phoenix eyes held an undeniable brightness and majesty.

The girl's eyes widened, because she had also secretly seen the two of them on the day of the Gu-fighting Tournament. The chieftain already knew about it; the other person was the chieftain's fiancée.

Shui Mingsheng shouted, "Whose family are you? How can you be so ill-mannered?"

As soon as her reprimand reached her ears, the boys disappeared in a flash, causing Shui Mingsheng to frown again.

The two were just out patrolling and walking around the village as usual when they unexpectedly encountered this.

Jiang Yiqing walked over, took the girl's hand, and asked, "Little friend, what's your name?"

"My name is Xiaozhi," the girl said.

“Those people went too far. Shall we tell your parents and ask them to go to Xiaozhi’s house to demand an explanation?” Jiang Yiqing asked, “Where does Xiaozhi live? We’ll take you home.”

Xiao Zhi said, "I have no family anymore."

Shui Mingsheng's face was somewhat grim. She remembered this matter. Not long ago, an elder had reported to her that a family in Qingfeng Village had become obsessed with making Gu poison, and in the end, the couple lost their lives, leaving behind a child who was all alone.

According to the custom of Qingfeng Village, the child was to be adopted by a relative. The elders did not report what happened after that. Judging from the current situation, the child probably cannot find an adoptive family and has ended up being bullied by a group of peers.

Jiang Yiqing felt a pang of sympathy and said softly, "Xiaozhi, don't worry, we'll figure something out together."

I initially thought that a young child couldn't possibly have her own opinions, but to my surprise, Xiaozhi said clearly, "I want to stay in my old home. I can take care of myself."

Jiang Yiqing and Shui Mingsheng were both astonished by these words. They were only eighteen years old, and this child was only half their age, yet he said such mature things.

It's because the parents are irresponsible that the child is so sensible.

"You seem pretty smart, why don't you come and work for us?" Shui Mingsheng had this thought.

She had seen everything that had just happened. When Xiaozhi became strong enough, she could take revenge on those who bullied her, and that would be true help for her.

"Water Village Chief? Really?" Xiao Zhi said in a clear voice, seemingly pleased.

"I want to train someone to work for me, but I don't know if you're so young and can do it."

Jiang Yiqing hadn't expected Shui Mingsheng to have such thoughts, and Xiao Zhi loudly declared, "I can!"

"Alright, then go report to the Elders' Council. Someone will assign you tasks. Once you're capable of handling things on your own, I'll arrange for you to do something else. As for your accommodation, you can stay at my house."

"Won't this be too much trouble for you two sisters?" Xiao Zhi asked.

Jiang Yiqing said, "Xiaozhi is so young, it's too worrying for her to live alone outside. She said, 'She should come home with us, so we can take care of her.'"

"Thank you, sister." Xiaozhi lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes, holding back her tears.

The two of them each held one of Xiaozhi's hands and walked back. Jiang Yiqing suddenly felt that they looked like a family.

In that instant, she realized that her relationship with Shui Mingsheng was truly ambiguous. How could she just come and have fun and then leave? Wasn't her decision to come also because of a special feeling she had for Shui Mingsheng?

The thought struck her unexpectedly, making her blush with embarrassment.

Shui Mingsheng had been watching her and Xiao Zhi, and noticing her change, he asked, "Yi Qing, why are you blushing?"

"I didn't, don't talk nonsense." Jiang Yiqing looked away.

Shui Mingsheng shared the same thought, especially after Jiang Yiqing said "let's go home together," she knew that she wasn't just wishful thinking.

Holding their hands, Xiaozhi gradually smiled and said, "Xiaozhi wants to find a partner with a relationship as good as yours in the future!"

Jiang Yiqing glanced at Shui Mingsheng furtively, only to be caught red-handed by Shui Mingsheng, who asked, "What are you looking at, Yiqing?"

"I'm looking at a beautiful woman like you, okay?" Jiang Yiqing said.

“Just looking isn’t enough,” Shui Mingsheng said.

"So what do you want?" Jiang Yiqing raised an eyebrow provocatively.

Shui Mingsheng took this as an invitation. After all, it was quite painful and agonizing to always be so close yet unable to reach her own moon.

Shui Mingsheng leaned closer, her lips brushing against Jiang Yiqing's cheek. The fair skin was as alluring as she had seen in the car that day. Shui Mingsheng couldn't always resist, and she softly said, "Like this."

His lips brushed against her cheek intimately. Although he wanted to kiss those soft lips that were so close, he knew that being too hasty wouldn't be good.

Shui Mingsheng swept one hand around Jiang Yiqing's slender waist, and Jiang Yiqing's fragrance wafted over her, almost driving her crazy. Jiang Yiqing's breathing became noticeably rapid, and she stared at her in disbelief, her eyes red, as if she had been bullied.

"Yi Qing, don't look at me like that," Shui Mingsheng said.

The two of them could be heard breathing.

"Why...why?" Jiang Yiqing was flustered, but she tried to remain calm.

"Because...some ideas are not suitable for children."

Jiang Yiqing only then noticed that Xiaozhi's face was completely red, and stared blankly at the two of them.

Jiang Yiqing's face turned bright red, realizing that this was really inappropriate.

Shui Mingsheng burst into laughter.

"Sister, don't worry about me," Xiao Zhi said hurriedly, her clear eyes filled with longing for a beautiful scene.

"You little rascal, you're really clever." Shui Mingsheng tapped Xiao Zhi's head, thinking that the child really looked a bit like her when she was a child.

"Not suitable for children," what does that mean? Jiang Yiqing seemed to know the meaning of the phrase, yet also seemed not to.

"And my little Qing, so unguarded, be careful I might really make a move." Shui Mingsheng still had his arm around Jiang Yiqing's waist, while Jiang Yiqing remained oblivious to anything amiss.

Jiang Yiqing looked at her reproachfully and said, "You really are a bad person."

*

When dealing with matters concerning a village, there are often many unpleasant things that happen.

That day, the three villages had another conflict over the distribution of resources in Zhuji Mountain.

Qingfeng Village, Ningjiang Village, and Lianye Village are the three villages closest to Qingjiang in southern Xinjiang. The surrounding mountains are rich in Gu insect resources, but because of this, they are always arguing over the ownership of a mountain.

It has never been clear which village Zhuji Mountain belongs to. The people of Qingfeng Village obtained the Gu worm there, which angered the people of Ningjiang Village, leading to a fight. Eventually, even the people of Ye Village joined in, claiming the item as theirs.

The Miao people are known for their bravery and fighting spirit. In this conflict, both of them were seriously injured. Then someone suggested that the chieftains of the three villages should have a duel, and the loser would have to relinquish ownership of the ten mountain peaks behind the village forever.

Due to the death of the old chieftain and the decline in the power of the Spirit Serpent Gu, Qingfeng Village has always been in a state of instability. When the chieftains of other villages noticed that Shui Mingsheng was still going up the mountain to collect herbs and make money under such circumstances, they were even more dissatisfied with her. They took this opportunity to try to dampen her spirits.

Meanwhile, the challenge letters from other villages have already arrived at the elders' meeting of Qingfeng Village in the past two days.

Jiang Yiqing was also troubled by this situation and asked, "Mingsheng, what should we do? Is the only option to fight back?"

"It seems so."

"Those people have gone too far."

“Ningjiang Village is actually alright; we know their strength inside and out. It’s just that the chief of Lianye Village is said to have increased his strength a lot recently.” Shui Mingsheng frowned slightly and said, “If all else fails, we can combine the King Gu and the Spirit Snake Gu. Yiqing, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. With the boost from the King Gu, I’m sure I can defeat those two chiefs.”

Jiang Yiqing and Shui Mingsheng have been feeding the King Gu with the best resources they can find. They have watched it grow from a larva into a healthy and strong worm and have developed feelings for it. They would feel it would be a pity if it were to be combined into another Gu without being able to unleash its full potential.

It was the height of summer, and to keep Jiang Yiqing from getting too hot, Shui Mingsheng had installed air conditioning in Qingyu Tower. Seeing her wearing a long, off-the-shoulder dress and sitting within easy reach of him, Shui Mingsheng worried that he might have too much internal heat, so he lowered the temperature by two degrees.

"What's wrong? It's cold." Jiang Yiqing shrugged and said.

The bamboo house was already well-ventilated and cool, and Jiang Yiqing hadn't gotten used to the machine yet, so she couldn't help but question it.

“Really? I feel hot,” Shui Mingsheng said.

"It's hot, my foot," Jiang Yiqing said, heading to find an open-shoulder top to put on.

Shui Mingsheng watched her walk barefoot on the mat, her skirt lifting unintentionally with each movement, and felt even hotter. He quickly pulled her back and said, "No need, I'll turn it up a bit."

"You're so strange," Jiang Yiqing said, continuing to read her medical book.

Shui Mingsheng opened the refrigerator, took out an ice cream and ate it, but she didn't dare let Jiang Yiqing eat it. Once, after Jiang Yiqing took a bite, her voice became nasal. She was too delicate and was practically a pampered young lady.