Volume 1, Chapter 23: Ominous Warning Signs!

Finally, all the deer were secured.

The four of them gazed at their achievement. Li Chen was quite satisfied, while Liu Chenxu and the others looked at him as if he were a deity rather than a mere mortal.

"Extract the arrows from the wounded deer, dress their wounds, and fashion some litters to carry them. For the rest, untie their hind legs, keep their necks tethered in a line, and lead them down. Da Shi, you take charge of the stag; drag the herd along to save us some effort. If the stag dares to resist, strike it—just don't maim or kill it," Li Chen commanded.

The group moved quickly, and before long, they had assembled several litters and secured the wounded deer. As for the large stag, Zhao Dashi, having let go of his usual restraint, gave it such a thrashing that it likely wouldn't even recognize its own does. Under Zhao Dashi’s lead, the stag became obedient, going wherever it was directed. The other deer, strung together by ropes and unable to break free, had no choice but to follow.

By the end of the Hour of the Rooster, they finally emerged from the mountains. When they arrived at the foot of the slope, the entire village erupted in a frenzy.

"Good heavens! A herd of deer! Li Chen has actually captured an entire herd alive!"

"One, two, three, four, five... thirteen big and small... Is that Li Chen the reincarnation of a mountain god? How is he so formidable?"

"A ready-made herd like this—if raised well and allowed to breed, the number could double in less than two years!"

"That Li Chen is truly destined for greatness..."

"Hey, Old Liu, where are you going?"

"I’m going to find a matchmaker to propose to Li Chen on behalf of my daughter. Even if she only becomes his concubine, it’s worth it! Then my family could have venison at every meal!"

"Your daughter is nowhere near as good as mine; Li Chen would have to be blind to choose yours."

"How dare you talk about my daughter like that!"

"So what if I did? She’s ugly and still wants to snatch up Li Chen, am I not allowed to speak the truth?"

"I'll kill you!"

As a result, while the villagers watched Li Chen lead the herd into the village, they simultaneously had to break up a brawl between two brawny men. The scene was chaotic. Meanwhile, Liu Chenxu and his friends held their heads high, their youthful vanity thoroughly satisfied. After all, they had helped catch these deer with Brother Chen. Just thinking about it made them incredibly excited.

When the group arrived with the herd, the young maid-wife was stunned. Yesterday he killed wild boars, hunted leopards, and found a tiger cub; today he captured an entire herd of deer. Would he be bringing home a dragon the day after tomorrow?

"No more mountain trips tomorrow. We’ll build a deer pen under the cliff and prepare for long-term farming," Li Chen stated.

"No problem, Brother Chen," the group agreed in unison.

"I’ll make something delicious for you all tomorrow," Yu Qingwan said, her eyes gentle as she examined the wound of a small deer. Hearing Li Chen, she chimed in with graceful sweetness.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law," the young men laughed. Her cooking was truly exceptional, leaving them fully satisfied at every meal.

"Come, let's divide today's game," Li Chen called out to Liu Chenxu and the others.

"Brother Chen, there's no need. We didn't really do much, and besides, you've taught us so much already..." They all waved their hands, firmly refusing.

"Are we still brothers?" Li Chen asked, his face darkening.

At his slight show of anger, their hearts skipped a beat—Brother Chen was terrifying when he frowned.

"Since Brother Chen is being generous, let’s not be coy. We’ll do as he says!" Liu Chenxu took the lead.

The spoils were divided. There were eight grouse, four rabbits, and nearly twenty large birds. The boys each took a grouse and a rabbit, but they refused the birds, insisting that was more than enough. Even when Li Chen pretended to be stern, they refused to take more, feeling overwhelmed by what they had already received.

"As for those deer, each of you take one. If you want to sell them for money, take them home. If not, leave them here to be raised, and we can decide later," Li Chen said, gesturing to the deer secured outside. However, the animals had a pungent, musky odor that made the young maid-wife cover her nose repeatedly. Li Chen mused that he would need to find a better spot for the herd by nightfall.

"Taking them home would just mean a one-time profit. If they stay here, they can keep breeding, so we won't take them," they replied in unison. In truth, they didn't really want them. Li Chen understood their thoughts, but he had his own plans for later.

Dinner was served: a stewed grouse seasoned with delicious refined salt, accompanied by fragrant brown rice. The young men ate until they were drenched in sweat, their tunics soaked through.

After the meal, Li Chen had them help drive the deer to the cliff behind the house and tether them to the trees. They cut plenty of fresh grass and tender branches and provided water. By the time they finished, it was pitch black.

"My husband, this little tiger is naughty. It soiled my clothes, can I spank it?" Yu Qingwan asked, holding the cub and pouting at Li Chen. She had become much more outgoing lately, daring to speak to Li Chen and even act spoiled. She could feel that he was much gentler than before and sincere in his affection. It was just that when he frowned, he was still terrifying.

"If it needs a spanking, give it one. It will learn the rules in time," Li Chen laughed, pleased by her transformation. He didn't want a household where one party was always walking on eggshells; that would be a joyless life.

"Alright then. Little Jin, watch as your mother punishes you!" Yu Qingwan puffed onto her middle finger and gave the tiger cub a light flick on its forehead. The cub, eyes still closed, let out a protest, squeaking and swatting at its own head with tiny paws. It was so adorable that Yu Qingwan burst into giggles.

Watching this warm, happy scene, Li Chen felt a glow in his heart, as if he had been drinking fine wine. Gazing at his young maid-wife, his eyes grew intense, like a wolf eyeing its prey. She knew what he was thinking; she simply stroked the tiger cub, her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head. A beauty under the lamplight, delicate as a willow and precious as jade.

Li Chen rose to secure the perimeter before returning to close the door. After a quick wash and blowing out the lamp, he scooped up his young wife and carried her to the kang. Amidst her soft, lip-biting whimpers, their passionate nightlife began.

Long after their intimacy concluded, the two drifted into a deep sleep. Yet, less than two hours later, an instinctive alarm flared in Li Chen’s heart, jolting him wide awake. The moment he regained consciousness, he faintly heard the sound of neighing from the foot of the mountain. Then, everything returned to silence.

However, the sense of impending danger only grew more intense—it was the intuition honed by years of life as a mercenary. He sat up with a sharp motion.