Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

Qing Ruyi abruptly halted all her movements. The willow branch, raised high and brimming with force, about to lash down, fell limply, stirring only a few icy raindrops in the air.

Ruan Qiuqiu, her brow tightly furrowed, seized the moment of the "person's" daze. With swift movements, she rolled twice across the slippery snow, snatched up the discarded spear, scrambled to her feet, and ran.

She glanced back warily, intending to monitor the actions of the "person" who had attacked her. But when Ruan Qiuqiu saw the "person's" expression clearly, her heart trembled slightly—

Was that older-sister-like "person" crying?

Ruan Qiuqiu couldn't understand why the monster would suddenly act this way. Was it because it heard Xiaoyu and Grandpa Mo's voices? Was it truly frightened by Grandpa Mo's threatening words about "taking it out"?

These thoughts flashed through her mind, but Ruan Qiuqiu didn't stop running. Escaping death was fortunate; she mustn't let her guard down.

Blood trickled down her chin from her cheek. The rain and snow stung the unhealed wound like a tear. Clutching her injured cheek, Ruan Qiuqiu cried, "Don't come near me! It's dangerous!!"

"No…" Hearing Ruan Qiuqiu's words, Qing Ruyi instinctively called out. Her bloodless lips trembling, she lowered her head in fear and helplessness. Her light brown eyes held a hint of pleading. "…Not dangerous… I… I'm not dangerous."

Ruan Qiuqiu looked back in astonishment. In that startled, wary glance, she saw the monster, just moments ago filled with murderous intent and formidable power, suddenly crumble into a panicked mess.

Qing Ruyi's eyes were brimming with tears. She frantically tried to retract all her willow branches, like a child who had done something wrong, lost and bewildered. But she was too panicked. The powerful willow branches, which she usually wielded with ease, became tangled and scattered, as if suddenly beyond her control.

Ruan Qiuqiu's heart was filled with surprise. Before she could process it, she ran into Mo Yu, his small face serious, and… Grandpa Mo?

Looking at the man standing beside Xiaoyu, holding a stone axe and wearing a light brown hide garment, Ruan Qiuqiu was stunned.

Grandpa Mo gripped the long-unused stone axe tightly. His silver-black hair was ruffled by the wind. The age spots on his face had vanished, and while the wrinkles remained, they had lessened considerably. His voice was still gentle. "Qiuqiu? Where's the danger? Grandpa is stronger now. I can still beat some wolf cubs."

Thanks to the children's filial piety, he had unexpectedly absorbed a considerable amount of spiritual energy, prolonging his life and restoring some of his youthful appearance. Mo Bugui was much more lucid.

Although he still had less than a year to live, at his actual age of only forty, he finally looked younger. While he hadn't fully regained the appearance of a middle-aged man, he no longer resembled a frail old man on the verge of death.

Hearing him call himself Grandpa Mo, Ruan Qiuqiu recognized a trace of Grandpa Mo in his somewhat familiar features.

She was curious about why Grandpa Mo had become younger, but she knew this wasn't the time to ask. She shielded the two behind her and said quickly, anxiously, "…It's a monster, Xiaoyu! Run quickly! I'll lure the monster to the Flame Wolf Tribe…"

Before she could finish the word "Tribe," Ruan Qiuqiu heard a loud thud beside her. Looking down, she saw that Grandpa Mo had dropped the stone axe he'd been holding onto.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?" Xiaoyu, holding a bone club and shielding Ruan Qiuqiu with his small arm, looked up at his grandfather, who had become younger after drinking the "treasure" from Qiuqiu's husband's cave and absorbing a lot of spirit stones. He asked in a trembling voice, filled with both confusion and fear, "Is the monster too scary? Can't you beat it?"

Following Mo Yu's gaze, Ruan Qiuqiu looked at Grandpa Mo.

She saw the silver-haired man's expression shift in a fleeting instant from shock, disbelief, and astonishment, to ecstatic excitement and joy, then swiftly transition to confusion, pain, hesitation, and finally, dimness.

Mo Bugui's tightly furrowed brows gradually smoothed out. In the end, all emotions faded, and a gentle smile spread across his wrinkled face, even reaching his crinkled eyes. Yet, this smile filled Ruan Qiuqiu with a profound sense of sorrow.

The "person" standing a few meters away, upon seeing Grandpa Mo's expression, seemed to forget everything around her. Her previously cold eyes lit up like a blazing fire.

Unlike the complex emotional changes Ruan Qiuqiu saw in Grandpa Mo, she quickly shifted from initial panic and helplessness to intense joy, her expression fervent, like a river suddenly thawing from winter to summer.

At this point, even the oblivious Ruan Qiuqiu realized—

The monster that had attacked her and Grandpa Mo, who had arrived so opportunely, knew each other. That was why she hadn't been attacked further.

But how could Grandpa Mo know such a powerful monster?

Ruan Qiuqiu pulled the wary Xiaoyu back two steps. Her senses were sharp. Although she could no longer detect the icy, piercing killing intent from the monster, she still discreetly used her spiritual power to maintain a three-meter alert perimeter.

Ruan Qiuqiu took two steps back, and Grandpa Mo, seemingly belatedly aware of something, also reacted.

His expression was somewhat helpless. He bent down to pick up the stone axe from the snow, averting his gaze as if trying to escape.

"Mo Gege…" Seeing Grandpa Mo seemingly about to retreat, Qing Ruyi could no longer contain the complex mix of regret and the joy of rediscovery welling up within her.

She rushed forward. A fifth-rank powerhouse, she tripped clumsily over her own willow branches, which were like extensions of her limbs, and fell to the ground.

Rain soaked her clothes, but Qing Ruyi didn't care.

Perhaps because she had broken the silence, once the first call escaped her lips, Qing Ruyi abandoned all restraint, calling out again and again, "Mo Gege."

"…Are you calling me?"

Tears streamed down Qing Ruyi's cheeks. Her trembling voice was thick with joy. "You're still alive, you're still alive…"

"That's wonderful…"

She scrambled to her feet, barely managing to retract her willow branches. Her hands shaking, she tried to run towards Grandpa Mo.

But before she could finish, he interrupted her.

"…Are you talking to me?"

Grandpa Mo still wore a gentle smile. He took two steps forward, shielding Ruan Qiuqiu and Mo Yu. His voice was hoarse and raspy. "But young lady, are you mistaken?"

"I…"

"Me?"

"I'm very old."

A slight tremor crept into Grandpa Mo's voice. Ruan Qiuqiu noticed that his hand gripping the stone axe was white-knuckled.

Mo Bugui's expression remained benevolent. He smiled, his voice strained. "I'm an old man. I'm not the Mo Gege you're looking for."

Qing Ruyi froze for a moment, but she seemed to accept whatever he said with good humor.

Seeing that he seemed reluctant for her to approach, she stood still, not daring to move, not at all like the fifth-rank monster who had just aggressively attacked Ruan Qiuqiu.

Qing Ruyi said cautiously, "Bugui Gege, are you angry?"

"I'm sorry, it was all my fault. It was all my fault back then." Qing Ruyi explained frantically. "I lost control. When I woke up, I couldn't find you anymore. They all said you were gone… Our Fate Lamp also went out, so I…" so I thought you had left me.

"Young lady, you're joking. I told you, I'm not your Mo Gege." Grandpa Mo turned around, his fists trembling slightly.

Meeting Ruan Qiuqiu's gaze, Grandpa Mo took a deep breath and patted her shoulder. "Qiuqiu, take Xiaoyu and run. Grandpa will catch up soon."

Ruan Qiuqiu "…" Not only was there a strangely behaving monster in front of them, but even if there were no danger, she couldn't possibly just take Xiaoyu and run.

Moreover, she felt that Grandpa Mo was avoiding the issue.

Although Ruan Qiuqiu hadn't interacted much with Grandpa Mo, every encounter had yielded valuable information: 'Calling his name summons monsters,' 'Demonic energy can also be sweet.' Coupled with Grandpa Mo's sudden youthful appearance and the monster's words, Ruan Qiuqiu was almost certain of one thing:

Grandpa Mo and this beautiful, high-ranking monster not only knew each other, but they had once been deeply in love.

"Mo Bugui!"

Hearing the word "Grandpa" from her Mo Gege's mouth again, Qing Ruyi could no longer hold back. As if suddenly realizing the implications of his words, she snapped out of the joy of rediscovery and noticed that her Mo Gege was now a grandfather.

Qing Ruyi's voice was filled with anger, resentment, and grievance, so heartbroken she could barely stand. "…You're married?"

"…You even have grandchildren?"

Qing Ruyi's voice trembled, utterly heartbroken. Her nails dug into her palms. "Only twenty-three years…"

Grandpa Mo lowered his eyes, his silver-black hair covering the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He continued in the same vein, his voice filled with palpable sadness, yet still trying to deflect. "You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm old, and my name isn't Mo Bugui."

Qing Ruyi took a deep breath, her eyes red. "Then what's your name?"

"…" Mo Bugui sighed softly. "Mo Gui."

Gui, as in the Gui of tortoise.

"Mo Gege, are you joking? But this joke isn't funny at all." Qing Ruyi's heart ached, but she still forced a smile. With curved eyes, she seemed to muster all her courage to ask, "…Where's your wife?"

Ruan Qiuqiu "…………" The atmosphere grew increasingly strange. Seeing that Grandpa Mo seemed ready to admit it just like that, Ruan Qiuqiu was nearly frantic. She wanted to explain for Grandpa Mo, but worried that speaking out of turn would make things worse.

Fortunately, there was someone present even more impatient than her: Xiaoyu.

"Grandpa, why aren't you being honest?" Mo Yu tugged on Grandpa Mo's sleeve, angry for the first time. He said clearly, "You don't have a wife right now."

"Didn't you say that Gege was picked up by you, and we were picked up by Gege? Didn't you say that we must always be honest? You also said you couldn't forget a grandma named Ruyi."

Mo Bugui "…"

Xiaoyu gripped his bone club tightly, standing in front of his grandfather and Ruan Qiuqiu. He shouted at Qing Ruyi, "Hey, monster! Don't think you can call my grandpa 'Gege' just because you look pretty. You just tried to hit someone! I won't forgive you!"

Ruan Qiuqiu "…" Although she was touched by Xiaoyu's words, this clearly wasn't the time for provocation!

Qing Ruyi was also stunned, but she quickly seemed amused by him, tears sparkling in her eyes. She appeared to realize that, despite her formidable power, she had been blinded by joy and excitement.

She smiled, her eyes curving. Looking at the now-wary Ruan Qiuqiu, she curled her lips into a smile. The willow branches behind her rose, this time without any killing intent.

"You're Ruan Qiuqiu, right? I'm sorry about earlier." A willow branch, faster than before and before Ruan Qiuqiu could react, extended towards her injured cheek. This time, it carried no demonic energy, gentle as a drifting willow catkin.

Ruan Qiuqiu felt a slight tickle on her cheek. When the willow branch retracted, the wound on her face had mostly healed.

Ruan Qiuqiu watched as the willow branch left her cheek. Another branch tightly wrapped itself around Grandpa Mo's hand, affectionately rubbing against his palm, seemingly oblivious to the marks of time on him, as if forgetting the slender, elegant hands of the young man she once loved.

Qing Ruyi smiled at everyone, her eyes filled with love. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Qing Ruyi. From today onwards, I'm your grandma."

With that, she ignored Mo Bugui's stunned gaze and paid no mind to Mo Mao and Mo Bohe, who, alerted by the commotion, had rushed out with bone knives and stone knives to help.

She simply retracted her willow branches, her eyes flashing with the excited red glow of a monster, a rather frightening sight. "Mo Gege, wait for me. All of you, wait for me. Grandma's going hunting. You're all too thin!"

After saying this, Qing Ruyi swiftly ran towards the forest, even faster than before, like a gust of wind, quickly disappearing from sight.

Ruan Qiuqiu "…"

She stood there, watching the increasingly emotional Grandpa Mo face three pairs of curious eyes, feeling utterly bewildered.

So she decided to join Xiaobohe and the others. Three pairs of curious eyes became four, all fixed on Mo Bugui.

Mo Bugui "…………"

Grandpa Mo's eyes were red. His wrinkled hands hung by his sides. He was speechless for a long while, only lowering his head and letting out a bitter chuckle. "…I."

He had endured for twenty-three years, waited for twenty-three years, searched for twenty-three years. He had already given up hope, but fate played a cruel trick, allowing him to see her again at the end of his life.

But he didn't have much time left.

He had already seen the end of his life, but she was still young and beautiful, no longer needing his aging flesh and blood.

—Sensing Grandpa Mo's deep dejection, Ruan Qiuqiu sighed. Vaguely aware of the complexity of the situation, she stopped pressing him with her inquisitive gaze. She brought her slightly damaged backpack forward.

"Xiaoyu, Xiaobohe, come here." Ruan Qiuqiu called the two younger children. Meeting the gaze of the half-cat demon youth, she smiled at him. "I'm Ruan Qiuqiu. Are you Xiaoyu and Xiaobohe's older brother?"

Mo Mao nodded. The fifteen-year-old boy looked no older than twelve or thirteen. He obediently called her, "Sister Qiuqiu."

Ruan Qiuqiu smiled, stuffed the heaviest piece of fresh beef from her backpack into Mo Mao's arms, then took out cooked salt and a small wooden cup filled with healing water droplets, handing them to Xiaoyu and Xiaobohe respectively.

Fortunately, her fight with Qing Ruyi hadn't lasted long. Some things had spilled from her backpack, but thankfully, nothing was damaged.

"Sister Qiuqiu, why are you giving us things again?" This time, it was Xiaoyu who was reluctant. "The things you gave us last time were already more than enough."

Ruan Qiuqiu patted his head, changing the subject. "Don't mention it. Grandpa Mo seems unwell, and it's snowing so heavily outside. Quickly help him back to the cave to rest. My injury is fine…"

She initially wanted to say she would stay with the children, but thinking of Mr. Big Gray Wolf, whom she had instructed to guard the house, she felt a vague unease for some reason. Looking at Xiaoyu and the others, a hint of apology flickered in her eyes.

Judging from the exchange between Qing Ruyi and Grandpa Mo, Xiaoyu and the others shouldn't be in danger.

"I've been out for a long time and need to hurry back to the cave. I'll come see you tomorrow." Ruan Qiuqiu finished quickly, not giving them a chance to persuade her to stay. She quickly shouldered her backpack and turned around.

"Sister Qiuqiu!" Xiaobohe still wanted to call out to her, but Mo Mao stopped him.

Ruan Qiuqiu waved back at them, clutching her newly scabbed cheek, and ran quickly towards the cave.

The rain slanted against her face. The sky gradually darkened, and the more Ruan Qiuqiu thought, the more she felt something was amiss—

Qing Ruyi was clearly a high-ranking monster, yet she had appeared in the form of a demon. Moreover, her fifth-rank strength was only slightly weaker than Mr. Evil Wolf's before he was injured. She had suddenly appeared at the Flame Wolf Tribe and immediately attacked her.

Not only that, but Qing Ruyi also knew her name, knew she was called Ruan Qiuqiu.

Could Qing Ruyi's target be her and Mr. Big Gray Wolf? Was she an old enemy of Yuan Jue?

Ruan Qiuqiu couldn't figure it out, but her unease grew.

If it hadn't been for Qing Ruyi's connection with Grandpa Mo, and her own coincidental decision to deliver food to them, would Qing Ruyi have directly attacked the cave?

If Qing Ruyi had truly come to kill them, even if her killing intent towards her had subsided due to Grandpa Mo, it didn't mean she wouldn't attack Yuan Jue.

She remembered Qing Ruyi telling her to wait while she went hunting. Could it be that she planned to take advantage of this opportunity to attack Yuan Jue?

Ruan Qiuqiu wanted to refute and even scold herself for such a dark thought. But before Grandpa Mo appeared, Qing Ruyi's initial, intense killing intent wasn't an illusion either.

And what if Qing Ruyi wasn't the only monster who came to kill them?

Her heart tightened abruptly, a wave of palpitations washing over her. Ruan Qiuqiu ran back to the vicinity of the cave in one breath.

The surroundings were quiet, with no signs of any monster's presence.

Her heart pounded frantically. There was no smell of blood in the air.

Ruan Qiuqiu pushed open the door with trembling hands. She heard the sound of a wooden bowl falling from the "master bedroom." Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried inside, her knuckles white as she called out the wolf's name in worry, "…Yuan Jue?"

The wolf, who had woken up shortly after his little wife left and had secretly put on the big red wedding clothes she made for him to write in his diary on their wedding bed, hadn't expected her to return so soon.

In his panic to change clothes, he accidentally knocked over his wooden bowl and, even more "accidentally," crushed it with his spiritual power.

Now, they only had one wooden bowl left.

He hadn't had time to take off the wedding clothes, the leather belt only half undone. When his Qiuqiu lifted the leather curtain and entered, Mr. Big Gray Wolf only had time to assume a profound and unfathomable pose, reclining on the wedding bed.

His dark hair was disheveled, falling onto the fur of his half-open, bright red wedding garment. He twitched his pointed wolf ears, waiting for her.

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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