HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C46

Chapter 46: Leaving a Backhand, Meeting Violence with Violence

The first to step forward was the old patriarch of the Jiang family. When Jiang Dazhu, nearly frantic and even wanting to sneak into the mountain to look for his son, was about to move, the old man clutched his waist, wailing with snot and tears streaming down.

“Foolish son, don’t be reckless! If he doesn’t come out, what can you possibly do? Don’t throw your own life away in vain. This heart of mine—it hurts unbearably!” At this moment, he borrowed the emotions he held for Jiang Yueming and played the part so well that others couldn’t tell whether he was sincere or not. They even thought he had suddenly come to his senses these past few days, realizing who truly treated him well.

Jiang Dazhu, swept up in his act, instantly reddened at the eyes. “I don’t believe it. Changshou must be fine. I’ll go find him. If I can’t, I’ll just die in there with him!”

Hearing this, the others quickly held him back. The old patriarch’s mind spun fast, and suddenly he slapped his chest, his voice resounding with fake righteousness: “Let me go! Let these old bones go in and search. To have lived this long—if I die, it will be worth it!”

Yet after saying this, not one person responded for a long while. His face grew stiff, and he suddenly began to cough violently. “I must bring Changshou back, I must make up for all the wrongs I did him before, I…”

The crowd only continued staring at him, their gazes making him choke inside. With no choice, he stiffened his neck and shuffled step by step toward the entrance. That short distance felt like walking upon knife edges.

“Enough, don’t make trouble.” Village Head Wang strode over. No one felt greater guilt or torment than he. He had already brought mountain tools from his house, prepared since last night. “I will go in to search.”

“Village head!”

“If I were not the head, I would not have let Baiye go in on such a dangerous errand, and even dragged Lizhi into it…” Wang’s throat clogged. He knew this was likely a one-way trip, yet he couldn’t do nothing, or he would live in lifelong torment.

“Uncle Luo, if anything happens to me, the affairs of the village will depend on you.” He looked at Uncle Luo, his words like a final testament, patting him heavily on the shoulder.

Uncle Luo wanted to protest, but Wang cut him off with a look, forbidding anyone to follow.

The authority of a village head, coupled with the fact that the matter indeed was linked to him, left the villagers flustered, spinning in helpless worry.

Meanwhile, people from Li Family Village and Jiang Yueming, watching this scene, smirked. Once the village head was gone, wouldn’t the two women left behind be theirs to control?

But just then, as Wang was about to step into the narrow entrance of Mount Da Heng, his body froze.

The crowd saw this and cried out, “Village head, come back! If we lose you, what will become of our village?”

“Baiye and Scholar Lu may already have met misfortune—we cannot lose you too!”

“No…” The crowd shouted desperately, some rushing to drag him back. But suddenly Wang retreated step by step.

Jiang Yueming narrowed his eyes, disappointment flashing. Yet what made his brows twitch was—

When Wang fully retreated, the face revealed to them was filled with joy and relief!

“They’re back!” His eyes grew moist.

The crowd fell silent in an instant, all holding their breath as from the thicket of cut thorns emerged two tall, upright figures.

One strode with a lifted brow and a smile, walking with easy strength, a large pack slung on his back. The other, in plain brown garments, carried an air of unworldly grace, like an exiled immortal stepping from the forest.

The two walked side by side, their eyes meeting unconsciously. In the short time apart, a new tacit understanding and emotion seemed to have formed, a confidence and strength unknown to the onlookers.

Seeing the disbelief in their faces, Jiang Baiye smiled meaningfully. “Sorry to keep everyone waiting. These past two days must have been hard for you.”

As he spoke, his gaze lightly brushed past the frozen old patriarch and Jiang Yueming, who had lost all composure, his fists clenched so tightly they nearly shattered.

At that same moment, Ding Yue and Master Qian were at the workshop gate, struggling to block a crowd of opportunists. These were people who, thinking Jiang Baiye dead, had grown restless and were eager to seize the workshop and its property. Among them were Jiang Dashan, Madam Li, Wang Zhi, the head of Li Family Village, and even representatives from Shanyi Hall, who had sent two stewards and Shopkeeper Tian and Doctor Hu, feigning concern but ready to strike.

At the Jiang household, Madam He, still unaware of the full truth, was also beset by several young and gaudy women.

For the past two days she had been distraught over her son kissing Lu Lizhi, so distracted she could neither eat nor sleep, and completely missed how Jiang Dazhu had concealed that assassins lurked in the mountain.

She had always held unshakable confidence in Jiang Baiye. After initial worry, she thought: with Da Huang and Lizhi by his side, he would be safe. And so she returned to fretting over his “preferences.”

So when the women appeared frequently before her, she wondered if perhaps introducing women might “correct” her son. At once she greeted them warmly.

“Ah, you don’t know yet?” One of them feigned sympathy, clutching her hand. “Better you don’t know.”

“What? What do you mean?” Seeing their strange, pitying expressions, Madam He grew uneasy. “What’s happened?”

“Your son, Jiang Baiye… he may already be gone!”

“Did Brother Dazhu not tell you? Heaven, such an important matter—”

“Miss Feng came back two nights ago, but your son hasn’t returned in two days. Surely…”

With a clang, the basin in her hands fell heavily to the ground. She nearly collapsed, then snapped furiously, “If you dare spout nonsense again, I’ll tear your mouths apart!”

“You! So fierce—no wonder they call you tigress! If it were me, I’d have no face left to live!”

“They say your body’s weak, and it was hard enough for you to bear one son. Now that he’s gone, your line is cut off.”

“Best to step aside, let another woman bear Brother Dazhu more sons. That way someone can manage the workshop.”

The women, one more brazen than the other, clearly no respectable sort, only deepened Madam He’s dread. She thought of how Dazhu had been returning home late, leaving early, of how grave Baiye and Lizhi had looked that day, of the anxious villagers gathered, of the hostile guests Baiye had expelled at the banquet.

Seeing tears fill her eyes, the women urged, “If you’re this worried, why not go search the mountain yourself? Your son—if you don’t hurry, even his bones may be devoured by beasts.”

Her response was a resounding slap, striking their faces!

Those slaps drained all her strength, and tears fell uncontrollably. Just as she, in turmoil, was about to rush toward Mount Da Heng, Jiang Baiye appeared before her, with a joyful crowd following behind.

“Mother, I’m back.” His voice turned dangerous as his gaze swept around. “Who bullied you?”

Madam He was dumbfounded. The women, still reeling from the slap and now seeing Baiye alive and vigorous, were horrified and tried to flee.

“Stop!” Madam He roared. “Called me tigress, did you?”

She yanked Jiang Dazhu from hiding, twisting his ear without mercy.

Yet Jiang Dazhu, far from resentful, fawned with devotion. “W-wife…”

“Tigress, am I?”

“No, you’re the gentlest, most virtuous! I love you this way! Pinch harder—it doesn’t hurt a bit!”

The crowd winced, feeling the pain for him, yet his eyes held only earnest affection.

Jiang Baiye seized the chance to declare, “I’m like my father—I listen to my wife.”

Lu Lizhi: “…”

The women’s faces burned crimson. Madam He, meanwhile, had no restraint left. She lashed at Baiye. “You lied to me! Such a great matter, and you dared hide it from me! And you, brat—always causing trouble! Who told you to risk your life saving others? They don’t even spare you a thought!”

Her fury spared no hand. Seeing her blow about to strike Baiye’s wound, Lu Lizhi instinctively blocked it with his body.

Madam He recoiled too late, still striking, her heart lurching as she glared at Baiye. “I’ll settle accounts with you later!”

Clearly, it was not just one kind of “account.” Lu Lizhi understood and felt heavy inside, his pain forgotten.

Baiye, however, only soothed him, rubbing gently and escorting him back. “Don’t worry. Read your books. I’ll deal with the aftermath.”

Lizhi wanted to follow, but Baiye kissed him. “I still expect you to vent my anger on Jiang Yueming for me.”

Lizhi understood, steadied his mind, and threw himself into study.

He was right. To make someone suffer most, strip from him what he most desires, even if he holds it in his grasp.

Baiye stepped out, his smile chilling. “Let’s go—to the workshop.”

Because their house lay midway, Baiye first dropped off mushrooms, fruit, and herbs before heading on. Slower-footed ones, like the old patriarch, had no time to send warnings.

So when Baiye arrived at the workshop gate, where tempers flared and fists nearly flew, he clicked his tongue, leisurely yet fiercely rolling up his sleeves. With a few strides he kicked Wang Zhi sprawling, seized Jiang Dashan by the throat, and with one hand lifted him up, sweeping the crowd with his gaze.

“I’m not dead.”

A collective gasp, and the crowd erupted, scattering backward.

Ding Yue and the others were overjoyed. They had known—their master, so skilled and versatile, would not fall!

Not only had he returned, but he crushed Wang Zhi beneath his foot, choking Jiang Dashan purple.

“Why is it some never learn? Uncle, was one crippled leg not enough?”

Jiang Dashan’s face twisted with terror.

“Stop!” Jiang Yueming came running, shouting.

Baiye smirked, flung Dashan to the ground. Just as people thought he’d let him off, he lifted his right foot and pressed down on Dashan’s other knee.

“No, no—ahhhhhh!”

The shrieks and struggles were like those of a dying insect underfoot.

Jiang Yueming arrived just in time to see it—his own father humiliated and tortured before him. Though he cared little, to be disgraced thus before his eyes was unbearable.

“Jiang Yueming, so this is all you are.” Baiye sneered. “If you have courage and blood, strike me back!”

Yueming clenched trembling fists in his sleeves. He could not retaliate. To strike back would be to forfeit his scholarly dignity, to stain his reputation before the imminent exams. He could not. And even if he could, he was no match for Baiye—only to be beaten down.

“Coward.” Baiye’s low laugh echoed, and all around looked at him the same.

Yueming’s eyes reddened, bloodshot with hatred. Baiye, however, dismissed him and instead grabbed Wang Zhi, who had tried to crawl away.

A stone roller lay nearby. Baiye slammed his head upon it again and again, like a bloodthirsty king of hell, terrifying the onlookers into shivering silence.

The village head of Li Family Village, Shopkeeper Tian, and the two stewards from Shanyi Hall stumbled, falling hard to the ground as if they were next.

Even Doctor Hu, proud of his status, hadn’t expected such audacity from a mere villager. With such ferocity, if he joined the army he could earn distinction. He only lacked opportunity. Now it seemed this workshop was his alone to command and sustain.

His face paled, a trace of regret surfacing. This move had been too rash.

Ding Yue, behind, thanked heaven he had chosen the right side.

Baiye wiped clean the blood on his hands, then straightened, his violence replaced with calm. He explained to those who supported him what had transpired in Mount Da Heng, what perils they had faced.

Baiye was never one to rely solely on force or wit. He wielded both. While intimidating his foes, he unraveled the schemes: plots of murder, theft, and greed.

“Outrageous!” Master Qian cried, realizing the rescue was tangled with interests. He turned sharply to Doctor Hu.

Shopkeeper Tian shook his head repeatedly, terrified. “Not us—I know nothing!”

The two stewards, somewhat informed, looked to Doctor Hu for support, only to be glared down.

Those fugitives he had arranged—where were they now? Dead by Baiye’s hand? He couldn’t know. But he was certain they would never betray him. Baiye had no proof. This was mere probing.

Yet the villagers of Xishui had found their suspects. They turned accusing eyes on the fainted Jiang Dashan, the lurking Yueming, the old patriarch, and Madam Li, who had already fled. Their faces twisted with disgust.

Their old fear of Baiye melted into understanding and reassurance.

They understood his hardships, his grievances. He was no brute—only driven to fury by their endless provocation and betrayal.

“Scheming murder, such villains should be sent to the dungeon and beheaded!”

“Yes! Catch them and punish them severely!”

“To trample human life and law alike—this must be reported to the magistrate, even the prefect. Otherwise, none of us are safe!”

“Report them! Catch them! These who came to stir trouble at the workshop must be culprits—don’t let them escape!”

Baiye stood calmly at the workshop gate, yet countless voices rose for him, surrounding and restraining the suspects, dragging back Madam Li, and even the hired women sent to sow chaos at his home.

Doctor Hu and the others hadn’t imagined things would turn out like this.

Even if Baiye had no proof, his composure made their hearts quail.

As for Yueming, his panic was worse. He treasured his reputation, yet here he was dragged into scandal after scandal. He was supposed to be the manipulator, never the one humiliated.

Today’s commanding presence on Baiye’s face—it should have been his.

Today’s terror and helplessness—it should have been Baiye’s nightmare.

The crowd’s uproar swelled, waiting for Baiye’s next move. Finally, he spoke: “They’re here.”

At once, the old patriarch and Yueming turned instinctively, and indeed figures approached.

A luxurious carriage rolled forward, its panels painted boldly with a surname. Such a carriage belonged only to a house of standing.

Doctor Hu’s heart sank as he saw the “He” character emblazoned upon it.

He realized he had forgotten something crucial, something now closing upon him.

When He Lin leapt down, dragging two vicious-looking men from the carriage, the truth struck him—

Baiye had left a backhand!

From the moment he offended them, perhaps even since Baiye had sought Doctor Meng of Huichun Hall, he had been preparing.

He befriended He Lin, showed his courage, knowing Hu would nurse a grudge. He had He Lin keep watch in secret.

With Baiye’s current strength insufficient, he leaned on Huichun Hall—and behind them, the He family’s power—to guard against Shanyi Hall’s schemes.

That explained why Hu had never received a reply—the two fugitives had been captured by He Lin!

Now, bloodied and broken from interrogation, they trembled and pointed. “It was them—he gave the order, he plotted. They told us to kill that Jiang!”

Seeing Baiye alive, their eyes widened.

“Lies! The truth cannot be dictated by your babbling!” Doctor Hu denied to the end, forcing calm.

“Then we shall report it to the authorities,” Baiye said evenly. “Not one of you will escape.”