After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

Steam rose from behind the curtain.

Song Weihe lathered the palm-sized bar of soap in her hand, grimaced in disgust, and then couldn't resist rubbing it on her body.

The soap smelled pungent, with a cheap floral scent, nothing like the imported soaps she used at home. But the moment the hot water poured over her, she still sighed with relief.

Even if it's outdoors, even if there's a straw curtain that might fall down at any moment, it's good to be able to wash away the mud and musty smell.

"Splash—"

A ladle of hot water was poured down his shoulder, scalding his fair skin until it turned pink.

Song Weihe felt a little better and started humming a song.

Just then, the old locust tree outside the courtyard wall moved slightly.

Li Ergou hadn't gone far at all. He'd been scared by Gu Qiangying for a while, and it wasn't until he'd run two miles that he realized what had happened. That guy with glasses was definitely bluffing him.

Once lust takes hold, not even nine oxen could pull you back.

He sneaked back along the wall, just in time to hear the alluring singing and the sound of water.

That's that young lady from the city taking a bath!

Li Ergou felt all the blood rush to his head, and the fear he had felt earlier was completely burned away by the fire in his crotch.

He climbed up the pile of dry firewood that was used to start a fire, following the base of the wall.

From that spot, you could see a slit above the straw curtain.

Li Ergou held his breath, pressed his face against the rough earthen wall, and stared so hard his eyes almost popped out.

Through the narrow gap, a blindingly white figure was faintly visible. Water droplets slid down that back, flowing over the dimples of the waist…

Li Ergou swallowed hard, his voice a little loud.

"Who?"

Song Weihe is quite vigilant.

During her years studying abroad, she had encountered thugs before. She turned around abruptly and met a pair of cloudy, bloodshot eyes filled with greed.

The eye was pressed against the gap in the straw curtain, with more white than black, exuding a nauseatingly lewd aura.

"ah--!!"

The screams instantly pierced through Qingshan Village.

Without thinking, Song Weihe grabbed the wooden ladle in her hand and smashed it with all her might at the eye.

"Bang!"

The water ladle hit the straw mat, bounced, and fell to the ground, breaking in two.

"Damn!" Li Ergou was startled, slipped, and tumbled off the woodpile.

That scream sent the men in the yard flying.

Mu Wenbin moved quickly and headed straight outside, where Qin Lie also came out at that moment.

"What's wrong?!"

Li Ergou had just gotten up from the ground and hadn't even had a chance to run when he felt his collar tighten.

A tremendous force lifted him up, his feet off the ground.

Mu Wenbin's usually cold and restrained face was now so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

"What...what are you doing! Let go of me!" Li Ergou was still struggling, grabbing Mu Wenbin's wrists with both hands.

Mu Wenbin flipped his wrist, grabbed Li Ergou's arm with his other hand, and pressed him down.

"Ah—!!" Li Ergou let out a pig-like scream, his entire arm twisted at a bizarre angle.

Then Mu Wenbin kicked Li Ergou in the back of the knee. Li Ergou fell to his knees with a thud, and Mu Wenbin grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the millstone next to him.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

After a few impacts, blood instantly covered Li Ergou's face.

Mu Wenbin's movements were too fast and too ruthless; they were all aimed at crippling the person. His face remained expressionless, only his eyes, dark and deep, surged with a brutal killing intent.

"Stop...stop hitting me...I'm going to die..." Li Ergou could no longer make a sound, and lay convulsing on the ground like a dead dog.

Just as Mu Wenbin was about to kick Li Ergou in the head, Qin Lie rushed over and grabbed Mu Wenbin around the waist, shouting, "Mu Wenbin!"

"Enough! If you hit me again, I'll really die!"

Mu Wenbin tried to break free from Qin Lie's arm twice, but failed. He then patted Qin Lie's forearm and said calmly, "If he's dead, bury him."

"This is a remote mountain village." Qin Lie gripped his shoulders tightly. "We can't risk anyone's life. You don't understand the ways of the mountain village. If things get out of hand, it won't do you any good."

"Let go." Mu Wenbin turned and glanced at Qin Lie.

Even Qin Lie was startled by that look in his eyes.

Li Dongye and Jiang He also ran over. Seeing Li Ergou's mangled body on the ground, Li Dongye was shocked. "Wow, that was ruthless."

"Serves him right." Jiang He spat. "Dare to peek? Gouging out his eyes would be too lenient."

Seeing that there were more people, Qin Lie finally let go of her hand. From behind the straw curtain, Song Weihe, wrapped in a bath towel and clutching her wet coat, also ran out.

Her hair was still dripping wet, and her face showed fear, but even more so, anger.

Seeing that Mu Wenbin was about to make a move, she disregarded everything else and rushed over to pat Mu Wenbin's arm.

"Mu Wenbin! Stop!"

Mu Wenbin's tense muscles stiffened for a moment when he touched that warm, soft, and moist touch.

He looked down and saw that Song Weihe was only wrapped in a bath towel, with her shoulders and collarbone exposed, and water droplets still clinging to it.

The ferocity in his eyes intensified. He ripped off his shirt and draped it over Song Weihe's head, covering her completely.

"Go in." His voice was hoarse, filled with suppressed anger.

"I'm not going in!" Song Weihe gripped his hand tightly, preventing him from moving. "Are you crazy? Are you going to beat him to death here?"

"So what if he's dead?" Mu Wenbin stared at Li Ergou on the ground. If his eyes could kill, Li Ergou would have been torn to shreds long ago.

"He deserves to die, but he's not worth you getting your hands dirty!" Song Weihe rebuked in a deep voice. "Mu Wenbin, wake up! You still have disciplinary records on your hands! Are you tired of sitting in your position? Are you going to ruin your future for such a scoundrel?"

Although Song Weihe was spoiled, she grew up in a compound.

She knew all too well the intricacies involved.

Mu Wenbin was not supposed to leave J City at this time, and coming to see Li Dongye was already a violation of regulations. If he were to commit another murder, even a scoundrel like Li Ergou could be used by his political enemies to destroy him.

"I don't care," Mu Wenbin said coldly. "Didn't you ask me to be your bodyguard? Perfect, if there's another disciplinary action, I'll just submit my application."

"Are you crazy?!" Song Weihe was so angry she wanted to hit someone. "Stop talking nonsense!"

Seeing that Song Weihe was truly angry, Mu Wenbin's chest heaved violently twice. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the bloodshot in his eyes had finally faded somewhat.

He took Song Weihe's hand in his own; her hand was cold and trembling slightly.

"Who let you out?" His tone was still harsh, but anyone could see that he was trying to restrain himself.

"If I don't come out and watch over you, you'll kill someone." Song Weihe sniffed. "You scared me to death."