Chapter 8

Times were unsettled. To guard the stockade, able men trained daily at the drill ground unless urgent business called.
When Xixi returned, father and third brother had gone. Nine-year-old Yuanhe, feeling himself a man, went too. Only her mother remained in the yard sorting things.
“You girl—where so early?” Feng Yunxiang came curious. “What’s that?”
“Man’s wedding robe. Took it from Ge Qingsong. He won’t wear it—let Xie Feng wear it. Saves a trip down the mountain.”
Feng Yunxiang blinked—then laughed.
Her daughter knew how to provoke. If Ge Jinchai heard, another beating for his son.
“I’ll see if he’s awake—try it on. If it doesn’t fit, Mother, alter it.” Xixi was hopeless at needlework. Smiling she added: “And rally everyone for the feast and ceremony. Must be lively. Vegetables, meat, wine from the other day—we needn’t buy again.”
Feng Yunxiang: “……Win your groom first. If he won’t marry, my fussing is useless.”
“Willing or not—bind him and bow if I must. Today I marry, period.”
So she said—but one look at Feng’s face and she could not bear to force him.
“You’re awake? Better? Rest helped?” She softened her voice, smiling as she approached.
Feng had just washed with Sui He’s help and sat up for breakfast Feng Yunxiang brought.
Seeing Xixi he was ice—no reply.
Xixi did not mind. She showed the red robe: “Your wedding dress. Try later—Mother will alter if needed.”
“Wait—why wedding robes?” Sui He panicked before Feng spoke. “You’re really forcing my master to marry you?!”
“Yes—I said so long ago.” Xixi set the robe on the bed and sat beside Feng, eyes curved: “Good day. Get ready—we marry soon.”
Feng: “……”
At last he lifted his lids: “I said I will not marry you.”
Xixi smiled: “I said—you have no choice.”
Feng stared. Then he leaned close, lips faintly curved: “Is that so?”
That smile—winter snow melting, flowers blooming—Xixi froze, eyes glazed.
Then cold scissors pressed her throat.
Xixi: “……”
Sui He had fetched them per Feng’s order when heating water. Feng hid them in wide sleeves. He rose slowly—one hand on her shoulder, scissors tight at the weakest place on her neck.
“Take me down the mountain.” Soft voice at her ear. “I’ll release you once we’re down.”
Xixi: “……”
Beauty ruins judgment. A trained fighter—held by an injured scholar in bed!
Humiliating. Everyone would laugh.
She struggled to speak—neck stung, burned—clearly cut.
“My hand shakes. Don’t move.”
He said that—but his hand was steady and skilled. Pain on her neck—no anger; instead thrill of a worthy opponent: “Didn’t know you had skill. Fine, I surrender—let go, it hurts—”
Feng ignored her, glanced at Sui He: “Fetch someone in charge.”
Sui He gaped. He had guessed the scissors were for defense—not that injured Feng could pin this fierce woman.
No wonder the master used drugs on him!
Dazed, silent—Feng frowned: “Deaf?”
Sui He ran: “Yes yes—going!”
Wait—then the master’s orders could not be fulfilled—
Steps hesitated—but to avoid Xixi’s suspicion he kept running.
“You studied martial arts? Sui He said you were a scholar at academy. Who taught you—how many years?” Xixi was not afraid. She leaned into him, curious.
Feng watched her tricks coldly, silent.
She was too loud—chatter like a demon. His ears and temples throbbed. At last: “Shut up.”
“Fine, I won’t ask. Why are you so cold—too few clothes? Hold me—I’ll warm you.”
Flirting—then the hand at her side shot like lightning toward his lower belly.
Feng had not expected such shamelessness—started, dodged, grip loosened a breath.
Now!
Xixi twisted his arm, reversed, pinned him under her.
Feng: “……”
He gathered strength to fight back—newly recovered, leg still broken—could not hold her. She groped him several times and kissed his cheek.
“You!” Face green, true rage: “Rustic woman—no shame!”
Pinning him was hard. Breathless on top of him she laughed: “You cut me—I bleed. One kiss is fair compensation—not too much?”
Feng: “……”
He had known many humiliations—none like this.
Did this woman know the word shame?
Eyes blazing, chest heaving—cold brows lit by anger, devastating—Xixi could not look away. She liked him too much.
She almost said: “Once isn’t enough—kiss me again—”
Feng turned his head sharply: “Get out!”
Maybe she was ill—why did she love his anger? She had meant a proper life together.
Guilty yet unable to stop staring at his angry red lips—torn between decency and sin.
“Xixi!”
Sui He ran in with Feng Yunxiang.
Daughter pinning Feng on the bed like molesting him—mother startled: “What are you doing! Let go of Master Xie!”
Sui He panicked too: “Let go of my master!”
He tried to pull her off. Regretfully she seized the scissors, released Feng, sat up.
“Master, are you—” Feng’s killing gaze made Sui He shrink: “……all right?”
Feng Yunxiang saw the wound on her daughter’s neck, face changed, hurried over: “Your neck—”
“Nothing—small scratch.” Afraid mother would blame Feng, Xixi stood, pushed her out: “Minor. Mother, go on with your work. Nothing here.”
Feng Yunxiang: “……”
Scissors in daughter’s hand—Feng on the bed, clothes disordered, face stormy—she understood. Headache—glare at daughter: “Let me see the wound.”
Xixi obediently lifted her chin.
Careful look—not serious—color eased. Glance at Feng. She pulled daughter outside: “Still marrying him?”
“Of course.” Xixi wiped blood carelessly. “I dragged him here and forced marriage—of course he fights back. Let him vent—he’ll calm down.”
Feng Yunxiang: “……You’re open-minded. If he calms and still refuses?”
“Coax slowly. Hearts are flesh. Treat him well—one day he’ll accept.” Xixi only wanted the name fixed first—no long delay. On his attitude she was not urgent. Married, they had time.
Seeing her set, mother asked helplessly: “Truly marry him today?”
Xixi nodded: “I’ll talk again. If he won’t cooperate—I knock him out, third brother carries him to the altar. Bow to heaven and earth—we’re husband and wife whether he admits it or not.”
Feng Yunxiang: “……”
Mountain bandit manners.
Her own daughter—what could she do but indulge: “Go treat the wound. Inside—I’ll talk to him.”
Xixi uneasy: “No need—I can talk myself.”
Mother’s face hardened: “Go.”
Xixi: “……Fine. Small wound—but don’t scold or hit him or I’ll ache for him.”
Feng Yunxiang: “……”
She looked at this hopeless girl: “I know.”