It seems that the three rules of Ji Sang’s agreement have had an effect. At least in the past few days, Wen Jian has been particularly calm. During the day, he helped her cut bamboo strips and grind them into pulp. In the evenings, after finishing dinner, he would sit at the desk and study poetry and books diligently. It seems like the man who used to bother her days ago has disappeared.

Ji Sang had a feeling that this cold and serious Wen Jian was the way he should be according to the books.

In the dim candlelight, Ji Sang couldn’t help but prop up her head and look in the direction of the man through the thin translucent curtain. Her mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.

“Are you done looking, Sang Sang?”

The man suddenly spoke, startling Ji sang. She quickly withdrew her hand from supporting her head and lay back down, saying, “Who… who was looking at you? I… I want to sleep.”

Ji Sang closed her eyes and heard a clear laughter emanating from the other side, a laughter that seemed to originate from the depths of his chest. Her small face inadvertently flushed.

The room quickly returned to silence.

After a while, there was a gentle sound of bamboo slips being flipped. Ji Sang listened attentively, holding her breath. For the first time, she found the sound of flipping bamboo slips surprisingly pleasant. It had a heavy and ancient feeling that inexplicably brought her peace of mind.

Just as Ji Sang was about to fall into a drowsy state, she felt movement by the side of the bed. Just as she was about to open her eyes, she realized she had fallen into a warm embrace. The man’s large palm reached inside her clothes, and his five fingers grasped one of her breasts, squeezing it forcefully. Ji Sang was awakened by the squeeze, and her hazy eyes met Wen Jian’s deep and dark gaze. “Wen Jian, what are you doing? It’s not time yet…”

She pushed him away with her small hand, her voice sounding soft and tender due to just waking up.

As Wen Jian listened to the sound she unconsciously made, his desire surged, instantly becoming aroused. He swiftly hardened and held her face, leaning in to kiss her mouth, prying open her teeth, and his tongue entered her mouth, entangling with her lilac tongue, passionately kissing until Ji Sang moaned softly before he stopped, breathing heavily. He held her tightly, patting her back and hoarsely said, “Go to sleep…”

Ji Sang was kissed until she was dazed for a moment before she remembered that she should argue with him. He had broken the rules, but when his legs squeezed hers forcefully, they coincidentally touched the scorching area between his legs. In an instant, she timidly shrunk her shoulders and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Forget it, she was afraid that arguing wouldn’t work anyway. She might as well directly engage in some practical “practice.” Who would she complain to about her grievances?

After all, there were still many tasks to be done tomorrow.

And so, two more days passed in this peaceful and contented life.

The weather is getting colder, and winters in ancient times were particularly difficult. These days, Wen Zheng has been going to the mountains more frequently to chop firewood. He uses some of it to exchange for wheat flour and meat for the winter, and stores the rest at home. Besides helping Ji Sang pound grain and dry paper, Wen Jian has also been going to the mountains twice in the late afternoons, returning only when it’s dark. No one knows exactly what he’s been busy with.

However, every time he goes out, he tells Ji Sang roughly when he’ll be back. But tonight, he hasn’t returned even after more than an hour. Ji Sang, who was patient at first, grew more and more anxious as time passed. From waiting by the stove to pacing at the courtyard gate, the villagers were poor and couldn’t afford candles at night, and Ji Sang looked outside to see nothing but darkness.

The temperature difference between day and night was significant, and Ji Sang’s hands and feet grew icy after standing outside for a while.

Wen Lishi stood at the door of the stove and shouted to Ji Sang, “Ji Sang, come inside quickly. It’s too cold outside, come inside and wait.”

Ji Sang responded with an “oh” but remained motionless.

Wen Zheng stood beside Wen Lishi and glanced outside. “I’ll go to the mountains.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Lishi worriedly said, “No… Wen Jian hasn’t come back yet. If you go to the mountains now, won’t you make Ji Sang and me anxious?”

Wen Zheng patted Wen Lishi’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring look. “It’s fine. I’m familiar with the road to the mountains, and I’ll be back quickly.”

Although Wen Zheng said so, Wen Lishi still couldn’t help but feel worried.

Besides firewood, there are wild beasts deeper in the mountains! Wen Zheng had been injured twice during hunting trips in the past, just to ensure Wen Jian could attend school. It was always after getting hurt that he returned. It’s when it’s pitch dark like this that wild beasts roam. If something happens to Wen Zheng, how can she go on living?!

Wen Zheng went to the room to gather his belongings, while Wen Lishi tried to persuade him. When the two of them reached the courtyard, they realized Ji Sang was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Ji Sang?”

The courtyard gate was empty, and a gust of cold wind blew, stirring up dust.

“Ji Sang—”

“Ji Sang—”

Wen Lishi and Wen Zheng grew anxious, and they both hurriedly searched in the direction of the mountains.

Wen Zheng reassured Wen Lishi, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Ji Sang has gone to the mountains with me several times before and knows the way.”

Wen Lishi said, “How can I not be afraid? What if something goes wrong?”

The couple supported each other as they walked quickly towards the mountains.

…

Ji Sang knew the way to the back mountain. The cold wind blew on her face like knives, giving her a headache. She sniffed and took a few more steps forward.

Originally, she had intended to go to the entrance of the back mountain to take a look, but unexpectedly, she found herself deep in the mountains.

Thinking that she knew the way anyway, she thought it wouldn’t hurt to explore the mountains. But before she had walked far, she heard a roar from inside the mountain, shaking the entire ground.

Ji Sang shivered in fear.

Were there ferocious beasts in these mountains?

Just as she was thinking, she heard something crashing around and followed by the sound of running footsteps…

Ji Sang furrowed her eyebrows, showing no signs of backing down. She surveyed her surroundings, quickly found a handy tree branch, and swiftly ran in the direction of the noise. She ran fast, and in the quiet moonlit night, her breath felt particularly clear in her ears. Her heart was pounding fiercely along with her running.

Ji Sang ran deeper into the woods, and finally realized that she had entered a small grove. The crashing sound grew closer and closer. She abruptly stopped in her tracks and saw a robust wild boar dashing frantically through the grove. And chasing after the wild boar was none other than Wen Jian, with agile steps…

Ji Sang was so frightened that her first instinct was to scream. The scream almost escaped her throat, but she quickly covered her mouth and trembled as she hid behind a large tree nearby.

She shouldn’t distract Wen Jian at this moment!

Although she hid quickly, the man with hawk-like eyes still noticed her. Ji Sang peered out and met the man’s dark gaze.

She understood the message conveyed by his dark eyes.

“Why did you come here?!”

Just because of this distraction, the wild boar abruptly changed its heavy body and charged straight towards Wen Jian. Ji Sang couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. The wild boar seemed to have heard the commotion from her direction and abruptly turned towards Ji Sang…

“Sang Sang, run!” Wen Jian urgently shouted, his face changed drastically, his expression becoming as dark as ink about to drip. He leaped up suddenly, wielding the sharp knife in his hand like a cheetah, and pounced towards the wild boar…