Marrying the Soft-hearted Villain

“One of the tokens to enter the forbidden area in the back mountain?” Ruan Qiuqiu murmured, echoing Clan Leader Grandpa’s words, numerous thoughts flashing through her mind.

“Yes.” Xiong Jiankang replied, his gaze distant as he looked at the row of wooden plaques on the wall. “Little Qiu, aren’t you curious why our tribe’s back mountain has so much spiritual energy?”

Grandpa Panda sighed, a trace of sorrow still lingering in his eyes, but he had recovered from his previous agitated state, his expression gradually softening.

He looked at Ruan Qiuqiu and Yuan Jue with a kind gaze, a hint of reminiscence on his face. “Our Winter Bear Tribe has existed for generations to protect the back mountain.”

“To be precise, the back mountain shouldn't be called the back mountain, but rather the Forbidden Treasure Mountain.”

“The reason it's called Forbidden Treasure Mountain is because deep within the back mountain, there's a forbidden area barrier. This barrier connects to a mysterious treasure mountain filled with demonic creatures, but also brimming with opportunities and treasures.”

As Grandpa Panda spoke, he glanced at Mr. Big Bad Wolf, who didn’t seem particularly surprised, and smiled knowingly. “Judging by your expression, Wolf Cub, you must have explored the back mountain two days ago, right?”

Mr. Big Bad Wolf's expression turned slightly subtle at being called Wolf Cub by Grandpa Panda, but he still pursed his lips and nodded. “Mm.”

Ruan Qiuqiu could sense the muscles in Mr. Big Bad Wolf’s body tense unnaturally as he spoke with Clan Leader Grandpa.

His pale lips were pressed together, and the depths of his eyes, hidden beneath his long lashes, seemed to reveal a coldness and a quickly vanishing tension.

He’s like this, she thought. He appears cold, but his heart is actually very soft. Knowing this, Ruan Qiuqiu slid her hand down Mr. Big Bad Wolf’s sleeve and gently grasped his large hand, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand in encouragement.

In reality, Yuan Jue wasn’t so fragile. He was merely caught off guard by being called Wolf Cub, finding it so cheesy that he almost shuddered.

Yuan Jue lowered his narrow eyes, a strange feeling welling up in his heart.

He curled his lips slightly, thoughtfully not revealing that he wasn’t nervous, and warmly accepted his little wife’s well-intentioned comfort.

As for the small interaction between the two, the oblivious Grandpa Panda didn't notice.

Ruan Qiuqiu felt a little embarrassed. Looking at Grandpa Panda, who seemed to be waiting for her and Mr. Big Bad Wolf to ask questions, she cooperatively asked, “Clan Leader Grandpa, is the mysterious treasure mountain you mentioned in the Abyss?”

She and Mr. Big Bad Wolf were currently on the Demon Beast Continent. At the edge of the Demon Beast Continent was the Abyss, also the territory of the demonic creatures.

Grandpa Panda shook his head. “I’m not too sure about the location of this treasure mountain, but it shouldn’t be in the Abyss.”

“Even if it is in the Abyss, it should be in a very remote location. As far as I know, this treasure mountain has existed for a very long time and has never been discovered by the Demon King. Legend has it that before the Winter Bear Mountain Guard Clan, it was the Star Moon Wolf Clan, who had a Demon King, that guarded the Forbidden Treasure Mountain.”

Ruan Qiuqiu was shocked. “Star Moon Wolf Demon King?”

Demon Kings and Demon Beasts were of the same rank, powerhouses close to the eighth rank, or those who had already broken through to the eighth rank.

“Yes.” Xiong Jiankang’s voice held an indescribable emotion. “But hundreds of years ago, the Demon King of the Star Moon Wolf Clan suddenly disappeared. It wasn’t like death, but more like leaving the Demon Beast Continent.”

“The Star Moon Wolf Clan has difficulty producing offspring, and gradually declined, leaving only a few remaining. At that time, my Bear Clan was very strong and lacked territory, so we were entrusted with the task of guarding the Forbidden Treasure Mountain.”

Clan Leader Grandpa continued, “Our Bear Clan ancestors were much stronger than we are now. The most powerful Panda Demon at that time even reached the seventh rank, only one step away from becoming a Demon King. The territory of the Winter Bear Tribe was also much larger than it is now. The vast expanse of third-rank bamboo forest that is now included in the Flame Wolf Tribe’s territory originally belonged to us.”

“At that time, there were many demons in the clan, more than a thousand giant pandas!” Xiong Jiankang said longingly.

Listening to Grandpa Panda, Ruan Qiuqiu could almost see the scene of thousands of black and white pandas crawling all over the valley, eating, sleeping, or picking their feet. A trace of yearning appeared in her eyes.

So many fluffy balls! The Winter Bear Tribe must have been a paradise in the past.

“But, if one doesn’t break through to the Demon King level, their lifespan is limited. Gradually, our Winter Bear Clan also declined.” Clan Leader Grandpa said, “But there are two things that have been passed down from generation to generation by the clan leaders of the Winter Bear Tribe.”

“One is the wooden plaque that opens the ancestral hall.” Clan Leader Grandpa took out the small red wooden piece and placed it on the stone table for Ruan Qiuqiu and Yuan Jue to see.

“The other is the Soul Wood you brought back.” Xiong Jiankang said, placing the small black piece of wood on the stone table as well.

Ruan Qiuqiu frowned slightly. She remembered Clan Leader Grandpa saying that the Soul Wood was only one of the tokens to enter the forbidden area barrier. So, what was the other token?

Grandpa Panda also saw her confusion and, without keeping her in suspense, said directly, “The other token is the blood of the Mountain Guard Demon Clan. As long as the blood of the Mountain Guard Demon Clan is dripped onto the Soul Wood, and then the blood-soaked Soul Wood is held, one can enter the barrier without being attacked by those demonic creatures, and even repair the barrier from the inside.”

Xiong Jiankang clutched the Soul Wood, tears welling up in his eyes. “Unfortunately, the Soul Wood has a limited number of uses. After too many uses, it becomes ineffective.”

“Twenty years ago, if our Winter Bear Tribe had this Soul Wood, then Father, Uncle, and the others… how could they…” Clan Leader Grandpa’s emotions surged again, filled with endless regret and guilt.

Clan Leader Grandpa continued to speak, and Ruan Qiuqiu finally understood what he meant—

It turned out that the back mountain of the Winter Bear Tribe was also called Forbidden Treasure Mountain, a mysterious treasure land guarded by many powerful demonic creatures.

The Winter Bear Tribe was the Mountain Guard Demon Clan, responsible for guarding this treasure land. If there was a problem with the barrier, they could use the Soul Wood to disguise their aura, enter, and repair the barrier from the inside, preventing the demonic creatures within Forbidden Treasure Mountain from coming out to attack.

If there was no danger to the barrier, they could also use the Soul Wood to enter and search for treasures.

But the Soul Wood had a limited number of uses. Twenty years ago, the Winter Bear Tribe’s Soul Wood was used up, and the barrier happened to be damaged, directly leading to heavy losses for the Winter Bear Tribe. The ancestors and bear demons sacrificed many lives to barely patch up the hole in the barrier, allowing the Winter Bear Tribe a brief period of peace.

Therefore, when he saw that they had actually obtained a piece of Soul Wood from the old Black Python, Clan Leader Grandpa was so excited.

First, he regretted that the Winter Bear Tribe didn’t have this small piece of wood during the crisis, and second, he was excited that the crisis in the back mountain of the Winter Bear Tribe could finally be resolved.

“This Soul Wood looks like it can be used twice more, estimated to last for about twenty days.” Clan Leader Grandpa looked at the two in front of him, his tone serious and earnest. “Two chances, one to repair the barrier, which will take at most three days. The remaining one can be used to search for treasures.”

Xiong Jiankang looked earnestly at Yuan Jue. “So, I want to ask you and your wife to temporarily take charge of our Winter Bear Tribe while I go to repair the barrier in the back mountain.”

Ruan Qiuqiu was taken aback and subconsciously glanced at Mr. Big Bad Wolf.

Yuan Jue clearly hadn’t expected Grandpa Panda to say such a thing. He tightened his grip on Ruan Qiuqiu’s hand and remained silent.

“Haha.” Xiong Jiankang chuckled. “It will only take me three days, four at the most, to go back and forth. You two just need to help look after things for these few days.”

Clan Leader Grandpa continued, “I know you’re going to the Demon Beast Market in a few days. You can go right on the day I return.”

Ruan Qiuqiu looked at Clan Leader Grandpa’s kind smile and hesitated for a long time. After exchanging glances with Mr. Big Bad Wolf, she said, “Clan Leader Grandpa, actually, my husband and I have some trouble…”

Before she could finish, Xiong Jiankang waved his hand, interrupting her. “Are you talking about Qing Ruyi’s master who’s about to become a Demon King?”

Ruan Qiuqiu: “…”

“You know?” Ruan Qiuqiu was surprised. She thought Grandma Ruyi wouldn’t tell anyone.

“Yes.” Xiong Jiankang’s eyes softened. “If I didn’t know, how could Qing Ruyi have moved in so easily?”

Ruan Qiuqiu: “…………” That makes sense. She was momentarily speechless.

Indeed, Clan Leader Grandpa was, after all, at the peak of the fourth rank. The difference in strength between him and Grandma Ruyi wasn’t that great. Moreover, Grandma Ruyi still had the demonic Gu in her body. If they really fought, she might not be Grandpa Panda's opponent.

“…Why… do you want us to move in?” Mr. Big Bad Wolf’s low and hoarse voice echoed in the air. His slightly flustered gaze fell on Clan Leader Grandpa, his voice laced with incredibly complex emotions.

Ruan Qiuqiu could feel the moisture of sweat in Yuan Jue’s palm.

He gripped her hand tightly, yet carefully controlled his strength, not hurting her.

Complex emotions surged in her heart, and Ruan Qiuqiu couldn't help but look at Clan Leader Grandpa.

—She and Mr. Big Bad Wolf, one treated as a tool by her original tribe, the other abandoned, could be said to have received almost no kindness from any tribe. Now, hearing Clan Leader Grandpa say this, they also wanted an answer.

“Because your Grandma Ruyi said you wanted to move in.”

Clan Leader Grandpa smiled and continued, “I was thinking that if our tribe’s bears still have no way out, eighty percent of them will probably starve to death this winter. Since that’s the case, it’s better to let you move in. Before that demon discovers you, they can at least live for a while, well-fed and clothed, without illness or disaster.”

“Besides,” a hint of madness flashed in Clan Leader Grandpa’s eyes, “back then, without the Soul Wood, I thought the back mountain barrier wouldn’t last a few months. If that demon dared to come, I would just destroy the barrier myself, and we’d all die together.”

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