Chapter 285 Someone is coveting the Xiao family's property
A murderous glint flashed in Xiao Xuance's eyes. He lowered his body and kicked the black bear hard in the head. "Bang!"
The black bear slammed heavily to the ground with a loud "bang!"
He landed with a leap, a flash of sword light appeared with a flick of his wrist, and blood splattered onto a nearby banana leaf with a "smack!"
The black bear, clutching its bleeding eyes, let out a painful howl. Its lion's roar abruptly stopped, and it collapsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust. "Bang!"
The three people in the tree didn't hear any noise and ran over, only to find the black bear on the ground.
Xiao Mingshu was still shaken by the destructive power the black bear had just displayed.
If it weren't for Third Brother's intervention, Lu Tingzhi and I would have perished under the bear's paw long ago.
She hid behind Xiao Xuanwu, grabbed his arm, and secretly observed the black bear on the ground. "It's dead already? Third Brother, you didn't hurt the bear's gallbladder, did you? Third Sister-in-law said bear gallbladders are valuable."
Xiao Xuance shook his head, "He's not injured!"
Give me your knife.
"Oh, here you go."
Xiao Xuance used his black iron knife to cut open the black bear's abdomen, took out the bear's gall bladder, and cut off the bear's claws.
Upon smelling the strong stench of blood, Lu Tingzhi suddenly took two steps, leaned against a nearby tree, and began to vomit, "Ugh..."
Xiao Mingshu noticed and took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom. She placed the bottle under his nose and gently patted his back. "Young Master Lu, are you alright? This is an anti-nausea medicine that I made myself. First, smell it, then apply some under your nose and to your temples to relieve it a bit."
The porcelain bottle emitted a refreshing scent of herbs mixed with mint. The bloody smell on the tip of the nose gradually faded away. This scent seemed to be Xiao Mingshu's body fragrance. The two of them had accidentally smelled it when they fell together on the way up the mountain. After the danger was over, recalling that scene made her blush.
"Much better, thank you, Miss Fourth."
"No need to be polite. You accompanied me up the mountain; I should be thanking you."
"Fourth Miss, don't you feel any discomfort at all?"
Xiao Mingshu replied, "At first, I was a little excited, but when I thought about how much silver I could get from bear bile and bear paws, I felt happy."
Lu Tingzhi also contributed.
Xiao Xuance decided to give him a bear paw.
Yun Zhaoxue said there might be a heavy rainstorm and the area would be flooded, so they needed to hurry into the city. She didn't plan to keep the bear skin and bear meat.
Lu Tingzhi picked a few wild banana leaves and wrapped them around the bear's paw three or four times. He then tied it up with vines as a rope before carrying it down the mountain.
Just as they were about to descend the mountain, Zhao Jiu and Hu Feng suddenly arrived. Old Liao had sent them, worried that they might be in danger on the mountain.
When they came up, the bears were already dead; they saw two bear carcasses.
It would be a shame if someone picked up something valuable.
The two men cut down some wooden sticks, tied them together with vines, made two makeshift stretchers, and then used tree vines to tie the stretchers to the stretchers, dragging the two bear carcasses down the mountain.
The group agreed to split the profits 50/50 between those who killed the bear and those who participated in dragging it into the city to sell it.
Xiao Xuanwu and Xiao Mingshu also participated, and they also brought Lu Tingzhi along.
Xiao Xuance took the bear gall and bear paws and went down the mountain first.
Everyone in the countryside heard the earth-shattering roar of the black bear and hid behind the escorts in fright.
After the intense moment, there was silence again, and they assumed that the people on the mountain had been eaten by the bear.
The crowd was buzzing with discussion.
“Let’s go somewhere else. It’s not safe here. Black bears are much scarier than wolves. They’re big and powerful and can bite a person’s head off in one bite.”
"There's been no movement on the mountain, they must have been eaten."
"They're all dead? There are no men left in the Xiao family?"
The Xiao family was the one who ate the best among the exiled group, so they must be very rich. Even if they didn't have money, their people were still valuable...
With several widows and children, and given Yun Zhaoxue's beauty, she would surely fetch a good price if sold to a brothel.
Hearing this, the second and third branches of the Xiao family became even more eager to act.
The eldest son's family was so rich, always staying in top-class rooms and eating the best food. After Xiao Xuance and Xiao Xuanwu died, they were left with only an orphan and a widow, who were completely at their mercy.
Jun'er stepped forward, patted his chest, and said, "Who says the Xiao family has no men? I am a man of the Xiao family too."
Ming'er also said, "I am also a member of the Xiao family. My third and fifth uncles are very powerful, so they won't get into trouble."
Xian'er also said, "I am a daughter of the Xiao family."
Some people told her, "Why is a girl getting involved in this? Go away."
Xian'er said in a serious tone, "Mother said that young people are the hope of the family. My third aunt has two younger brothers and sisters. We are all the hope of the Xiao family."
Yun Zhaoxue slowly stood up, her cold gaze sweeping over the greedy faces of the crowd, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "My husband is not like some good-for-nothings. He is highly skilled in martial arts. Even when his legs were crippled, the Wolf King was no match for him. Now, put away your filthy thoughts. Anyone who dares to covet our Xiao family again should think twice."
Having said that, he raised his hand, and the dagger flew out and pierced into the tree trunk beside him, penetrating deep into the wood.
"Who wants to test the blade first? I can grant his request."
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Those who had been the most vocal in their protests dared not speak out.
Who are you trying to scare by being a heavily pregnant woman?
They wait for news of the Xiao family's death before rushing in to divide up their wealth.
Especially those families they have grudges against, the Duan family, the Shen family, the Yun family...
Yang was worried about her three children and wanted to go up the mountain to look for them, but Yun Zhaoxue stopped her.
She believed in Xiao Xuance; the clumsy bear was no match for him.
Before long, Xiao Xuance came down the mountain, holding two bear gallbladders in a banana leaf and three bear paws in his other hand.
"You're back. Judging by the bear gallbladder, the bear must have been quite large." Lin Zhaoxue noticed the fine sweat on his forehead and wiped it away with a handkerchief.
"Hmm, one is a large, muscular black bear, and the other is smaller." Xiao Xuance, worried that the smell of blood would bother her, threw the things into the basket, spread his legs slightly, bent over, and leaned forward to let him wipe them.
Some people were envious and jealous of the Xiao family's great success, and one even looked at her husband with a hint of dissatisfaction.
Why are other people's husbands so capable? They can kill two black bears in a short time on the mountain, earn several thousand taels of silver, enough to feed and clothe their wives and children, and still have plenty of money left over.
They and their children could only eat coarse food and wild vegetables because they followed useless and incompetent men.
Those who had designs on the Xiao family secretly hid in the shadows, wishing they could dig a hole and hide themselves, thinking that Yun Zhaoxue had complained to Xiao Xuance and was coming to settle scores with them.
Yun Zhaoxue didn't have time to deal with them right now, so she told them to pack their things and go into the city.
Old Liao has made arrangements: some will go into the city, while others can stay.
Zhao Jiu and Hu Feng wanted to go into the city to sell bears and split the profits. They led the Xiao family's group, while the remaining half of the group was led by Lao Liao.
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