Chapter 84 The two tested each other.
He was just a 15-year-old boy. How did he develop such outstanding skills, and when?
This is something that really makes one rack their brains and still can't figure out.
After treating her wounds, Xu Zhili stood up and looked around at the battlefield, which resembled a living hell. Her gaze swept over the wolf corpses and finally landed on the disheveled but exceptionally resolute young man beside her.
She reached out, not to help him up, but with a sense of camaraderie and approval, and gently patted Xie Yunce's uninjured shoulder, her voice low but clear.
"Well done, kid. Now, we need to hurry up and collect the spoils."
She paused, her gaze drifting towards the direction of the house at the foot of the mountain, a faint yet genuine warmth flickering in the depths of her eyes, and added, "Then... go home, An'an must be getting impatient."
The afternoon sun struggled to penetrate the thick foliage, landing on the two blood-stained figures standing side by side, casting long, long shadows.
The stench of blood and the atmosphere of slaughter still lingered in the air, but the word "home" was like a candle flame in the darkness, faint yet incredibly clear, illuminating the path of survival and quietly transforming all the heart-stopping moments into a profound sense of warmth and "everyday life" after sharing life and death.
The last wolf, trailing a mournful howl, gradually disappeared into the deep, dense forest. The heavy, tangible stench of blood lingered in the air.
Xu Zhili leaned on her sword and gasped for breath for a moment before immediately sheathing her Tang sword. Ignoring the bloodstains all over her body, she rushed to Xie Yunce's side.
The boy was leaning against a large tree, barely able to stand. His face was as white as paper, cold sweat soaked his forehead, and his tightly pursed lips were bloodless.
The wound on the outside of his calf was grotesquely twisted, and blood had soaked through most of his trouser leg, leaving a small patch of dark red on the ground.
"You silly boy!"
Xu Zhili's voice was hoarse with the shock and fear of surviving a disaster. She squatted down and gently lifted his torn trouser leg.
Seeing the deep, bone-revealing claw marks, she gasped, her brows furrowing tightly.
She quickly retrieved a package from her spatial storage with her mind; to onlookers, it appeared as if she pulled an oiled paper packet from her bosom. Inside were a highly effective wound medicine powder she was accustomed to using in the apocalypse and a roll of clean cloth.
"Hiss..." When the cold powder touched the wound, Xie Yunze couldn't help but groan in pain, his body trembled violently, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Bear with it, we need to stop the bleeding and disinfect the area. There are a lot of dirty things in this forest."
Xu Zhili said in a low voice, her hands moving quickly but with extreme care.
She first covered the wound thickly with medicinal powder, then tightly wrapped it with cloth strips to compress and stop the bleeding.
Her fingertips inevitably touched the skin of his calf, which was calloused and a little cold, yet gave Xie Yunze a strange sense of security.
"I...I'm fine." Xie Yunze endured the pain and forced a weak smile. His gaze fell on Xu Zhili's focused profile. Her eyelashes, stained with blood and sweat, drooped, and her expression was more serious than ever before.
"How could I... just stand by and watch you be in danger?" His voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable stubbornness.
Xu Zhili paused in her bandaging, looked up at him with a reproach in her eyes, but even deeper was her undisguised concern and a touch of emotion: "If you rush forward like this again next time, I'll break your legs. If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to your parents?" Her tone was fierce, but she tied a knot even more gently with her hands.
"elder sister……"
Xie Yunze suddenly leaned closer, his breath hot against her nose, a mixture of sweat, blood, and a hint of grass, a scent unique to young men. His clear eyes shone brightly, staring directly into hers. "Are you... concerned about me?"
Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat, feeling somewhat uncomfortable from the sudden closeness and direct gaze.
She instinctively raised her hand and gently pushed his head away from her face, which was too close, with the back of her hand, which was stained with blood and dirt: "Stop talking nonsense! Sit still and don't move around, or I won't be responsible if you move again and reopen your wound!"
She turned her face away, but a faint blush crept onto her ears.
After treating his wound, Xu Zhili tried to help him stand up.
Xie Yunze used the momentum to get up, but grabbed Xu Zhili's wrist that was supporting him.
The girl's wrists were slender, and her skin appeared exceptionally fair and delicate in the sunlight, contrasting sharply with his rough palms covered in tiny scars.
The soft, warm touch, transmitted through the thin fabric, felt like a faint electric current, causing Xie Yunze's heart to skip a beat.
He snapped back to his senses, quickly releasing his grip as if he'd been burned. His ear tips instantly turned bright red, though thankfully his face was covered by blood and dust.
He clenched his fist to his lips as a cover-up, coughed twice, and glanced erratically at the mountain of spoils piled on the ground.
“Ahem… Sister,” he cleared his throat, trying to change the subject, his gaze sweeping over the wolf carcasses, “Aren’t you going to take these to the black market to sell for money? I heard wolf pelts are quite valuable.”
His tone was curious, but also a little tentative.
He wasn't completely ignorant of the ways of the world; he knew about the existence of the black market and the enormous profits it generated.
Xu Zhili was bending down to gather the scattered short knives when she heard this, and her movements paused almost imperceptibly.
She straightened up, her face regaining its usual calm and aloofness. Meeting Xie Yunze's probing gaze, she gently shook her head, her voice clear and steady.
"The black market? The risk is too great."
She glanced around at the deep, dark forest, as if wary of eavesdroppers.
“If we are targeted or reported, it’s not just a matter of losing some money; the whole village could be implicated.”
“Captain Xie has always taken good care of us, and the villagers are all kind. Sharing these game with everyone so that we can all have a taste of the game and be happy is much more valuable than the money on the black market. In the future, if everyone helps each other in the village, life will be better.”
This kid is clever; he knows about the black market.
However, we absolutely cannot go to him in front of him now. He is too naive and honest, and if he accidentally lets something slip or disagrees, it will only cause more trouble.
Wolf pelts are indeed valuable. Once the storm has passed, I'll find an opportunity to sneak over there; maybe I can trade them for some rare medicines or seeds.
Her smile remained gentle, carrying a selfless consideration for the collective: "Besides, we fought our way through this wolf pack together. Wouldn't it be better to let everyone have a taste and share in the joy?" She emphasized "we two".
Xie Yunce stared at her intently, a hint of understanding and a deeper probing flashed quickly in the depths of his clear eyes.
The sister's words were impeccable, and she had considered all the social niceties. But behind that overly perfect reason, was there also a hint of distrust towards him?
Do you think he's too young to keep a secret?
His eyes darkened almost imperceptibly, but then he seemed relieved.
My sister is indeed extraordinary.
She has her own considerations, and may even have other plans.
But it's okay, she's right, it's definitely safer to distribute it to the village now.
There is ample time……
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