Strange Tales from the Deep Mountains (Part 4)
The man, who had been leaning towards Doctor Qi, slowly pulled his head back and said awkwardly, "Doctor Qi is right."
Li Su listened to their conversation with curiosity and asked the system: "This Qi witch doctor seems to have a very high status in the village."
System: [Yes.]
Li Su tilted her head: Why? Why is everyone so afraid of him?
System: [Please explore on your own.]
Li Su pouted: "Tch, so stingy."
system:【......】
After everyone left, Doctor Qi carried Li Su to a wooden house that stood alone by the stream in the village.
The wooden house is entirely made of wood, and the intricately carved windows are covered with a thin layer of paper, making it a rustic yet exquisite wooden house.
The dark wooden door in front of me gave me an eerie feeling that I was about to enter the mouth of a monster.
Qi the witch doctor pulled out one hand that was supporting Li Su's leg and pushed open the wooden door.
Upon entering the room, the scent was instantly amplified several times over, seeping into the skin from every corner, creating a strange sense of invasion.
The smell in the wooden house was exactly the same as that on Doctor Qi, a faint herbal scent. If he wasn't mistaken, this should be Doctor Qi's home.
Every breath she took smelled of Doctor Qi, and Li Su shifted uncomfortably.
The next second he was placed by the bedside. Doctor Qi's gaze fell on Li Su's fair ankle, where white medicinal powder was still stuck. The original red marks had turned bluish. The marks left by the ferocious beast were nakedly displayed on the boy's leg, maliciously showing off its existence, like a demonstration to other wild beasts.
"Does your ankle still hurt?" Doctor Qi asked, his eyes lowered.
The black snake hidden under his sleeve began to stir again. Doctor Qi subtly pressed down on the snake's head, his fingertips increasing the pressure with a threatening tone. With just a little more force, the snake's head would be crushed instantly.
Sensing its master's threat, the black snake obediently retreated to its original spot, but its bright red forked tongue would occasionally peek out from its mouth, expressing its resentment.
"Huh?" Li Su belatedly realized that Doctor Qi was asking him, looked down at his ankle, shook his head and said, "It doesn't hurt, your medicine is very effective."
Doctor Qi squatted down and carefully examined the injured foot.
His hands were icy cold, but they actually relieved Li Su's discomfort. The skin around the snake bite wound was now faintly warm after the medicine was applied, and there was a strange burning sensation at the wound. Just the touch of Doctor Qi's hands on his skin made him feel much better.
However, the hand that made him feel comfortable quickly left his skin. Li Su suppressed the urge to hold his hand, but still couldn't control her gaze lingering on Doctor Qi's hand.
Qi the witch doctor turned around and opened the long wooden cabinet in the room. Feeling a tangible gaze behind him, a subtle smile appeared in his eyes.
The hands reached into the cabinet and disappeared from Li Su's sight. Li Su felt inexplicably anxious and just stared intently at the cabinet. Unfortunately, from his angle, the inside of the cabinet was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything.
When Doctor Qi turned around again, Li Su saw a bright red silk band on his well-defined palm.
A bright red ribbon was casually draped over his overly pale palm, weaving and wrapping between his fingers, then hanging loosely in mid-air, swaying slightly as he moved.
The man looked at Li Su, who was staring at him intently, and a slight smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
“I’ll wrap the wound with ribbon for you, otherwise the exposed wound will attract more insects and snakes.”
The witch doctor, Qi, held up a bright red ribbon about half the width of his palm and asked Li Su, "Is this alright?"
Li Su nodded quickly, then cautiously met Qi Wuyi's dark green eyes and asked, "Could you wrap it a few more times...?"
Who knew this wound would attract those terrifying animals...
Li Su couldn't bear to think about it; he was afraid of those things, they were terrifying.
Seeing Li Su's appearance, Doctor Qi couldn't help but smile, his voice even carrying a hint of amusement: "Of course."
The smooth, comfortable fabric wrapped around Li Su's fair legs, completely covering the wound on his ankle. Li Su felt that the remaining ribbons were wrapped around his calves haphazardly, and the marks of the black snakes were not completely covered. The fair skin and the bright red ribbons intertwined, and the bluish-purple marks of the snakes were faintly visible under the bright red ribbons, making it look particularly captivating.
Doctor Qi's gaze lingered on Li Su's calves, unable to look away. His movements slowed involuntarily, and his fingertips couldn't help but gently caress the soft flesh of her calves before finally tying a perfect bow near her knees.
He paused for a moment before putting Li Su's feet down and sitting down next to him: "Are you hungry?"
The words subtly whetted Li Su's appetite, but she dared not give a reply easily.
Is the food that the Qi witch doctor gave him edible?
"Um?"
Doctor Qi raised an eyebrow at him, not in a hurry to urge him.
Unable to make up her mind, Li Su pitifully turned to the system for help: System...
System: [...If he wanted to kill you, he wouldn't have saved you after you were bitten by the poisonous snake; he would have just eaten you when he was hungry.]
Upon receiving the system's reply, Li Su immediately perked up and nodded repeatedly, "Hungry."
Doctor Qi then stood up. "Then you rest here for now, I'll go get you some food."
Seeing his figure disappear, Li Su hurriedly asked the system: Is Doctor Qi the biggest boss in this dungeon? But he seems perfectly normal.
Li Su didn't understand. At least compared to the first instance, Doctor Qi was a normal person. He didn't have those stiff movements and stammering speech. He had been quietly observing Doctor Qi and the other NPCs in the instance, but he didn't notice that they had the same strange behavior as the NPCs in the first instance.
Is it because it's the second instance? The NPCs also level up?
Even now, he hasn't received any urgent missions like the first instance; it's as if everything is happening in the normal world.
The system only gave a perfunctory reply: "[...Please explore on your own.]"
This was an answer Li Su had expected, so he didn't delve into it further. He simply frowned and continued to ask the system: Where are the other five players? Are they all women?
System: [They are in another room.]
The system selectively answered one of Li Su's questions. He thought the system hadn't heard the second question clearly, so he repeated it: Are the other five players all female?
System: [...Please explore on your own.]
Li Su puffed out her cheeks angrily: What use are you to me then?
System: [...Please explore on your own.]
Li Su: "..."
He shouldn't have had any expectations of this system.
Li Su hung her head listlessly, staring blankly at the wooden octagonal table.
In this scenario, he not only has to pretend to be a woman, but also seems to have to marry someone he doesn't know.
This is absolutely insane.
Who exactly is the person he's going to marry?
The clear sound of silver bells grew louder as they approached, and Li Su immediately sat up straight and looked warily toward the gate.
The dark wooden door was pushed open, and the overly beautiful face entered the room along with the sound of silver bells. Li Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Qi the witch doctor held the bowl in one hand and used chopsticks to pick up the clear soup vegetable noodles in the bowl with the other. After blowing on it to cool it down, he handed it to Li Su's mouth: "Try it and see if it's good."
The man's movements were so natural that Li Su subconsciously leaned back as she looked at the chopsticks being offered to her mouth.
"You fed her so naturally? Anyone who didn't know better would think you two had known each other for a long time..."
"No, handsome, although you are very beautiful, please don't covet my Su Bao'er, okay?"
"??? Dude, get your act together!"
"What kind of nice guy would start by getting close to you and feeding you? He's definitely not a decent person..."
"Hiss, hiss, I love watching beautiful women cuddling!"
"I...I'll do it myself..." Li Su pursed her lips awkwardly, raised her hand to take the chopsticks from Doctor Qi's hand, but the man did not intend to let go.
Their fingers touched.
Li Su inexplicably felt that the temperature around him had dropped a few degrees, and he felt a little cold.
Meeting those dark green eyes, Li Su still gave in, silently withdrawing her hand and obediently lowering her head to bite the noodles on her chopsticks.
Why are you being so fierce? Just feed him, he doesn't want to move anyway, might as well take advantage of the free service.
With a hint of annoyance, Li Su took a big bite of the noodles in her mouth.
Surprisingly, although this bowl of noodles looked ordinary, the noodles were springy and chewy, and the taste was refreshing.
Li Su obediently finished eating the noodles on her chopsticks, and only then did the surrounding temperature slowly rise.
"Is it tasty?"
Li Su nodded, her cheeks puffed out. "Delicious."
Just as she swallowed the noodles in her mouth, the man held the chopsticks to Li Su's lips again.
Li Su: "..."
After a moment of silent confrontation, Li Su resignedly enjoyed being fed by Doctor Qi, bite by bite. The initial strange feeling of being fed gradually dissipated, and the two became more and more skilled at cooperating.
Li Su finished most of the large bowl of noodles, while the man in front of him seemed oblivious, happily feeding him.
When she could no longer eat, Li Su turned her head halfway to look at Doctor Qi and said, "I really can't eat anymore, I'm so full..."
Li Su subconsciously rubbed her slightly swollen belly and softly refused to be fed any more.
Qi Wuyi lowered her eyelashes slightly, her gaze falling on the slightly bulging belly hidden under the white dress, her eyes deep and unfathomable.
The air suddenly became still, and Li Su keenly sensed that something was wrong.
Oh no, his stomach is starting to look like he's pregnant.
Since Doctor Qi is the village doctor, he must be the one who handles the deliveries. Could it be that he wouldn't...?
Li Su knew something was wrong. Just as she was about to quietly bend down and hunch over to cover her bulging belly, a slender hand appeared in her line of sight.
Even through the skirt, Li Su could feel the chill from his hand slowly seeping into his stomach, and the hand was even gradually sliding down.
"We can't go any further. If we go any further, Doctor Qi will find out that he's not a woman at all." Li Su swallowed silently and placed her hands on the man's cold palms.
"I...I am 'His' bride..."
Li Su tried her best to remain calm, but her voice still trembled slightly as she spoke, "The clan leader said I have to marry 'He' on the sixth day..."
Although he didn't know what Qi the witch doctor was going to do to him, Li Su had a bad feeling, like prey being bitten on the back of the neck by its predator.
In his panic, he could only invoke the name of "He". Although Li Su did not know what "He" was, the villagers showed reverence and even fear for "He", and he would become "He's" bride in six days.
Li Su is gambling, gambling that they are all afraid of "He".
Sure enough, the cold hand stopped moving.
Li Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her back was already soaked with cold sweat from fright, making it sticky.
He will be safe at least until he becomes "His" bride.
Although invoking "His" name was indeed effective, and Doctor Qi dared not do anything to him, Li Su did not dare to look at Doctor Qi's expression at all, and just kept her head down, thus missing the man's eyes that had turned hot and dark red.
"Um."
After a long while, Doctor Qi finally spoke, but for some reason his voice had become hoarse and trembling.
What exactly is "He"? Why is everyone so afraid of "He"?
Li Su was somewhat confused, yet inexplicably panicked. It seemed he had said something inappropriate, and becoming "His" bride seemed even more dangerous.
Li Su was lost in her own thoughts, completely ignoring the excitement in Qi Wuyi's voice, which he couldn't quite suppress due to excessive agitation.
"Baby! Look up! He's not scared, he's excited!"
"If you don't understand, just ask: Su Bao'er became 'His' bride, Doctor Qi, why are you so excited???"
"Hiss... Could Doctor Qi have some kind of cuckold fetish? Otherwise, it's hard to explain..."
"??? How could you tell that Doctor Qi was excited? I didn't see it at all?"
"Hey upstairs, go home and think about it slowly at home."
"The child can sit at another table."
The large hand on her stomach finally moved away. Li Su quietly raised her eyes and saw Qi Wuyi sitting next to her with the bowl that Li Su had not finished eating, picking up the remaining noodles with chopsticks.
Li Su stared wide-eyed at his movements.
Is Doctor Qi going to eat his leftovers?
Sure enough, the next moment, he saw the man bite the chopsticks he had just used without any hesitation.
"??? No, how can you eat leftovers so naturally?"
"You've been craving this for a long time, buddy."
"Is it really because he's good-looking? Watching him eat leftovers is actually somewhat pleasing to the eye. If only he had a different face..."
Seemingly noticing Li Su's gaze, the dark green vertical pupils glanced towards the bedside, and Li Su, feeling guilty, quickly lowered her head.
Within seconds, the sound of bells became more pronounced and gradually moved closer to the bedside.
The leather boots stopped in front of Li Su.
"Change your clothes."
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