Chapter 438: Chapter 436: A Fierce Hug_1
“Mom, I’m back.”

The young man returns home, pushes open the fence and rushes into his own yard, dropping his basket on the ground. His clear, handsome face is filled with a brilliant smile like sunlight.

“Yi’er, are you thirsty? Mom’s going to boil some water for you.”

From the low and dilapidated earthen house comes a woman in her forties with haggard features, deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, revealing her long illness and signs of being weathered by the elements.

“Mom, I’m not thirsty. You rest, stop fussing.”

The young man’s brows furrow slightly, and he takes a few quick steps toward his mother, helping her sit down on the stone bench in the yard.

“A wild rabbit? Haha, good brother, did you hunt it? Wow, my brother is so amazing, sister likes you best, Yi’er.”

Another lively and cheerful girl bursts out of the house, excitedly pounces on the young man, and gives him a vigorous bear hug.

“Sister, let me go! Cough, men and women are different, you’re not that young anymore, pay attention to your boundaries, always acting wild and uncivilized, no man will want you.”

The girl looks to be around fifteen or sixteen, tall and beautiful, nearly a head taller than the young man, the obvious height difference leaving him trapped in her arms and unable to move.

“Hahaha.”

The girl becomes even happier, rubbing his hair and laughing with a sarcastic expression: “Our little Yi’er has grown up and understands the difference between boys and girls now. When you were a kid, you were always chasing after me, running with a snotty nose, wanting to be held!”

“Cough, Mom, Sister is teasing me again.”

The young man’s saliva gets caught in his throat, leaving him gasping for air, jumping three feet high, and nearly coughing up blood.

“Alright, alright, Liu’er, don’t bully your brother, he’s tired from hunting, go cook dinner.”

The atmosphere in the courtyard is cheerful, and the haggard-looking woman reveals a long-lost smile.

“Alright, I’m off to cook. Tonight, we’ll have braised rabbit meat.”

When the mother speaks, the girl naturally follows. She happily lets the young man go, rolls up her sleeves, takes the wild rabbit out of the bamboo basket, and eagerly goes into the kitchen.

In no time, the kitchen is filled with the sound of a cleaver chopping meat, the rapid rhythm making one’s heart tremble.

“Ah, tomboy.”

The young man shakes his head helplessly, watching his sister’s valiant pose, then looks back at his mother, his expression suddenly darkening, and shows some gravitas.

“Mom, on my way back, I heard some fishermen talking about pirates being rampant lately. They’ve been raiding nearby fishing villages, looting everything. I’m worried…”

“What? Pirates?”

The woman’s face changes drastically, her body shaking in shock: “Are you sure about what they said?”

The young man’s eyes darken: “There’s no smoke without fire, besides, no one would joke about such things.”

“No, the village isn’t safe. Tell your sister, forget about stewing the meat, we’ll have a simple meal and then head to the town to avoid trouble. We’ll leave tonight.”

Without time to think, the woman pushes herself off the stone bench, takes a step towards the house, and starts packing up her things.

The young man quickly follows her, unable to hide his concern: “Mom, is there really such a hurry? What about your health?”

“I’m fine. You and your sister’s safety is more important, especially your sister. If she encounters pirates, I can’t even bear to think.”

The woman is worried sick, and as she approaches the house, her legs go weak, almost tripping over the doorstep.

With quick reactions, the young man supports her arm: “Mom, don’t worry, even if I have to risk my life, I’ll protect you and Sister.”

“I know you’re capable, you’ve been sensible since you were young and took care of your sister.”

The woman gently pats his hand, contented: “You are my heart, too, and nothing can happen to either of you.”

“Mom, let me help you inside.”

Pausing for a moment, the young man feels a warm current flow through his heart, and a glint flashes across his obsidian-like eyes.