Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Deep Affection, Obsession, and Sincerity

Watching the departing figure of Song Wanlin, Xu Qinghuan’s eyes were icy cold.

“Child, what are you saying? Where did you hear such words?” Zhang Meifeng asked softly.

Xu Qinghuan clung to Zhang Meifeng’s arm, playfully saying, “I heard that Lu Ranglian’s ex-wife discovered his affair with Song Wanlin. When she confronted Lu Ranglian, she became so agitated that it affected her pregnancy.

Because of a premature birth and a breech position, the Lu Family chose to save the child and lose the mother, which is why his ex-wife didn’t survive.”

This was a plot point in a book.

Just now, looking at Song Wanlin’s expression, the events of that year seemed to follow the book’s storyline, and Song Wanlin must be eager to know where Xu Qinghuan learned this information.

Li Shouzhi squinted his eyes. He vaguely remembered that the last time Xu Jing’an returned home to visit his family, he made a special stop on the way back to the barracks to find him for a drink, looking quite troubled.

When Li Shouzhi asked him about it, Xu Jing’an didn’t say a word, and not long after, news of his sacrifice came.

If what Xu Qinghuan said is true, then Xu Jing’an might have already discovered the affair between Song Wanlin and Lu Ranglian during his family visit.

Could it be that he went to the battlefield with a death wish, to fulfill the desires of these immoral people by sacrificing himself?

Thinking this way feels like desecrating Xu Jing’an’s heroic spirit.

Xu Qinghuan also thought of her father. The book only mentioned that Xu Jing’an died on the battlefield, and his body was never found. What remains in the martyrs’ cemetery is only his grave marker, without much additional detail.

After the engagement party ended, the Jiang Family members began cleaning up the venue, returning the borrowed tables, chairs, and cooking utensils, dismantling the stove, cleaning up the ground, and distributing the leftover food to the villagers, including those who came to help.

If Song Wanlin hadn’t caused trouble, today’s engagement party would have been perfect.

Jiang Xingye helped clean up and then walked home with Xu Qinghuan.

Not far away, the mountains stretched endlessly, dense forests flourished, and the wind blowing from the hills gently caressed their cheeks.

Xu Qinghuan was still a bit agitated, occasionally turning her head to look at the person beside her, only to see him unsmiling, his brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line.

Once they passed the back of the educated youth spot, he grabbed Xu Qinghuan’s hand and headed straight into the mountains.

“Xingye, where are we going? Are we going to gather mountain goods? I haven’t changed my clothes or taken my basket.”

“No!”

Jiang Xingye’s footsteps paused slightly, his gaze directed toward the deep mountains. The mountains, which no ordinary person dared to enter recklessly, were the only place that made him feel safe. He had lived there for nearly four years, and everything important to him was hidden within.

Song Wanlin came to take Xu Qinghuan away.

Although Xu Qinghuan repeatedly denied it, he knew this person was her mother.

Jiang Xingye looked deeply at Xu Qinghuan, then picked her up and walked into the woods.

Suddenly lifted into the air, Xu Qinghuan was startled, tightly wrapping her arms around his neck.

Even though he said nothing, Xu Qinghuan understood his intent, “Xingye, how many days are we staying in the mountains?”

Jiang Xingye remained silent.

“Xingye, I haven’t told you about my family, have I? My father died when I was three, and the person today, although she gave birth to me, never raised me. She wasn’t kind to me at all, and I don’t want to acknowledge her as my mother.”

In the forest, Jiang Xingye moved like a nimble monkey. Even while holding her, he was quick on his feet, though he slowed down now.

“Xingye, harvest starts tomorrow. Shouldn’t we tell Uncle Captain we’re living in the mountains?”

Jiang Xingye pressed her head against his shoulder, afraid that the branches and thorns would scratch her.

Lying on his shoulder, though there was no visible path beneath them, he walked as if creating a new one.

Suddenly, Xu Qinghuan sensed him tense up, sending a chill throughout her body.

BANG!

The sound of a gunshot made Xu Qinghuan’s heart skip a beat.

Jiang Xingye had already quickly held Xu Qinghuan and rolled on the ground. A bullet skimmed his back and hit a tree ahead.

With his back against the tree, Jiang Xingye tightly clutched Xu Qinghuan in his arms.

Xu Qinghuan was shocked and confused, while he vigilantly observed their surroundings. Another roll, and a bullet flew past the tree trunk, knocking down a large piece of bark.

Someone was trying to kill them, but why? Xu Qinghuan was incredibly shocked.

Jiang Xingye felt for a short knife on his leg, the knife Xu Qinghuan had given him last time, which he kept close to him. He held the blade against his thumb’s base, waited a moment, then threw it forcefully. Holding Xu Qinghuan, he rolled again, hiding behind a thorn bush.

Ow!

Xu Qinghuan heard a cry of pain, and a cold murderous intent surged in her heart.

At this moment, she was like a piece of seaweed, tightly entwined around Jiang Xingye, trying to minimize her presence and avoid disrupting his actions.

Jiang Xingye placed her on the ground and snuck out. The opponent had been stabbed in the right leg with a short knife and was crawling on the ground. Upon hearing a slight sound, he fired another shot.

Jiang Xingye rolled on the ground, dodging the bullet again. He leaped and kicked toward the opponent, who was hit on the wrist. The gun flew into the air, and the bullet was deflected.

Jiang Xingye stepped on the opponent’s wrist and pulled out the short blade.

A sound of something slicing through the air was heard. He quickly grabbed the opponent and tossed him forward, hearing another piercing scream, then hurriedly rolled back on the ground, diving into the brambles.

A tall man emerged from behind a large tree, holding a gun that was emitting blue smoke. He looked around but saw no one. He fired a few bullets into the brambles, shooting aimlessly, then turned around upon hearing a sound behind him.

At this critical moment, Jiang Xingye lunged forward like a beast. The tall man turned his head and met Jiang Xingye’s fierce eyes. He raised the gun to smash Jiang Xingye’s head, but the sound of a short blade slicing into flesh was heard as his right shoulder was pierced.

The gun fell to the ground. Jiang Xingye kicked the opponent away, gathered the weapons from both of them, and left without looking back.

With Xu Qinghuan present, he didn’t personally take the lives of the two, but after they were wounded, the scent of blood would soon spread. With many beasts around and no strong external aid, the two would never be able to leave the forest alive.

Jiang Xingye let out a long howl, like a wolf, and soon rustling sounds could be heard nearby.

Xu Qinghuan rose from behind the brambles. Jiang Xingye approached, gazed deeply at her, raised his hand, and tried to caress her cheek, hesitating and not daring to touch.

“Are the wolves coming?”

The number is quite large, Xu Qinghuan was a bit scared. She moved closer to Jiang Xingye, looking at him anxiously.

Up until now, she hadn’t asked what Jiang Xingye intended to do by bringing her into the mountains.

Jiang Xingye noticed her fear, hugged her tightly, held her head against his chest, and said softly, “Don’t be afraid!”

With him there, he would not allow any danger to come near Xu Qinghuan.

The wolf pack followed far behind them, obscuring Jiang Xingye’s tracks.

Jiang Xingye took Xu Qinghuan to his base in the mountains. The wheat had already matured, and golden waves of wheat rolled in the mountain breeze, the plump grains shining with golden light.

After entering the cave, he closed the stone door, proceeded to the cave used as a bedroom, placed Xu Qinghuan on the stone bed, and stood there, looking at her intently.

Xu Qinghuan let out a sigh of relief.

Today’s shooting incident, she intuitively felt, was deeply connected to Song Wanlin.

The opponent had targeted Jiang Xingye. Song Wanlin wanted him dead!

Angry emotions churned in her chest. She was also deeply frightened. If Jiang Xingye weren’t so skilled, today’s fatal disaster would have been unavoidable.

He would die in the forest, leaving behind no trace, just like those two people today.

“I’m fine!”

Jiang Xingye crouched down, grasped Xu Qinghuan’s hand, gently prying open her tightly clenched fingers, “I won’t be harmed; nothing in the mountain can hurt me!”

Xu Qinghuan looked at him, her eyes a bit warm. He wasn’t unaware that this assassination attempt was brought upon him by her, yet after surviving near-death, he only thought to comfort her, rather than blame her.

“What if they were sent by Song Wanlin? Maybe she wants to kill you because you and I got engaged. She can’t do anything to me, so she wants your life!”

Xu Qinghuan hesitantly asked, “I almost cost you your life!”

She was too inexperienced. She had imagined Song Wanlin would use tactics to sabotage her wedding, but she never expected Song Wanlin to be so deranged as to take someone’s life directly.

Jiang Xingye insisted, “It’s not you; it’s unrelated to you!”

Even if today, the one who wanted his life was Xu Qinghuan, he wouldn’t blame her.

If she wanted his life, he would offer it up with both hands.

As long as Huanhuan needed him, he would live well, firmly holding the position of fiancé for her, preventing that lunatic Song Wanlin from selling her off.

Xu Qinghuan took a deep breath, unable to calm her emotions.

In Jiang Xingye’s eyes, she saw deep affection, obsession, and sincerity, but not a trace of resentment.

Xu Qinghuan embraced Jiang Xingye’s shoulders, buried her head in his chest, deeply inhaling the pine scent from him, and felt her heart had never been so calm.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep