HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C24

Chapter 24: Fantasized Desecration, New Plans

The next day, Jiang Baiye, for once, lingered in bed instead of rising early. He felt the doctor had been right—his “energy” truly was a bit excessive.

Propping up one long leg, he leaned back against the headboard. After a long while of effort, he still found no satisfaction. Clearly, before, he could rely on himself without issue. After another stretch of time, he shifted positions, closed his eyes, and images began to appear in his mind.

Morning sunlight spilled across his bare, wheat-colored shoulders. Beneath the swell of vigorous muscles, veins thick with masculine force seemed almost alive, rising and tightening with his movements.

Sweat trickled along the sleek, sensual lines of his body. Then, a pale, translucent hand, as if one could see blood flowing beneath its surface, reached out lightly to stroke him…

Jiang Baiye let out a muffled groan. Only after a long while of chaotic release did he exhale deeply. When he opened his eyes again, the deep blackness of his gaze was nearly devoid of light, and guilt surged up in waves.

“Madness…”

He clutched at his chest, trying to suppress the violent thrum left by that fleeting vision. “It must be because of that book I saw the day before yesterday. Yes—that has to be it!”

Yet a lingering, indescribable sense of yearning coiled within him, unnoticed. Completely in denial, Jiang Baiye forced himself to banish the filthy thoughts from his mind. To even harbor such imaginings, he felt, was a desecration of that man—that lofty, unsullied Lu Lizhi.

Before he could sort out the tangle of his thoughts, his mother’s excited voice rang from outside. “Changshui, time to get up!”

It was time to go watch the spectacle.

This time, the action was initiated by a hunter named Li Dechang from Lijia Village, who even organized a grand ceremony to worship the mountain god, praying for safety and success.

Many people gathered to watch, for if this venture succeeded, it meant they might conquer the wild and perilous Daheng Mountains.

They would then gain limitless resources, all kinds of mountain delicacies and rare beasts, which fetched high prices in the city—unlike the overabundant fish and shrimp. The prefectural city lacked those most of all.

The altar had been set right at the entrance of the shortcut they had discovered—the very road Jiang Baiye had taken on his return, the second shortcut he had found.

This path avoided damp, cramped waterfalls, caves, and deep pools. Following the river and thickets of brambles, one could reach a mountain pass.

But without him having first hacked through the dense thorns, leaving traces and openings, they might never have found it in a lifetime.

Now the crowd was abuzz with discussion, but not one remembered his merit. All were busy showing off and praising their own magnanimity. “Didn’t I say, if I discovered a shortcut, I’d definitely share it with everyone so we could all prosper together?”

“Bah! You just didn’t dare go in alone.”

Uncle Luo couldn’t help grumbling, watching Li Dechang being surrounded with flattery, even faintly being treated as the leader of the operation. Anxiously, he craned his neck, looking behind him.

His brother was puzzled. “You really believe Jiang Baiye bought a mountain?”

“Why not? Just wait and see!”

“But this isn’t just the back hills. Didn’t the village headman say buying all of Daheng Mountain would cost at least a thousand taels?”

Uncle Luo hesitated, but quickly reaffirmed, “He must have some way!”

A strange man suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, “Hah! Someone here says he bought a mountain? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in my whole life!”

The crowd’s attention shifted instantly.

Li Dechang glanced over and laughed loftily. “From Qingshui Village, huh? No wonder. I didn’t include them, so now they’re bitter.”

“Bullshit!” Uncle Luo’s second brother flushed scarlet, though embarrassment tinged his anger. He himself was a hunter; once able to catch small game in the back hills, but when hunting was forbidden, he lost that income. Feeding five children was hard.

Li Dechang pressed further. “So, someone in your village knew the shortcut but didn’t share it with you? That’s truly pathetic!”

Uncle Luo quickly retorted, “That’s because the mountains are too dangerous! We don’t want blood money!”

“Oh, so you’re just cowards? I went in and came out just fine. How do you know Jiang Er isn’t lying to you?”

Madam Li, hiding at the back, listened to the jeers and scorn directed at Jiang Baiye, and felt unspeakably pleased. The resentment she had been holding onto these past days suddenly vanished.

But Li Dechang didn’t stop there. After belittling Jiang Baiye, he began to slander Village Head Wang. “I heard your headman took bribes from Jiang Er, helping him out of selfish gain. Obviously, in future he’ll side with him. You’d better be careful. With a headman like that, you’ll have no good days ahead!”

Headman Wang had just arrived and heard this, his face instantly sinking.

Beside him were headmen from other villages, gathered to discuss how to reasonably divide the mountain’s resources.

They pretended neutrality. “Well, it can’t be denied—Jiang Er has fists. Didn’t your village elder have a stroke from fright? Several others beaten bedridden? It isn’t easy for Headman Wang either!”

Headman Wang didn’t care what they said. But seeing how many villagers now eyed him with suspicion, he felt bitter.

He sighed, thinking of the unopened jar of wine. He would return it to Jiang Baiye. He had sided with him not for any gifts.

As he swallowed the sting of being misunderstood and prepared to discuss serious matters, Jiang Baiye arrived—unhurried, leisurely.

“My fists are hard?” he said. At once, many faces showed fear.

“I bribed the headman?” His smile was not a smile.

Madam Li sneered, “Isn’t it so? Otherwise, why would the headman punish us to reclaim twenty mu of wasteland? Did we kill someone or set a fire to deserve such harshness? At home, only an old man can work, yet now we can’t afford to send our grandson to take the scholar exam this year. If he fails because of this, wuu wuu…”

As she wept dramatically, headmen from other villages frowned. “Wang Da, did you truly do this, all for the sake of someone insignificant, at the cost of a future scholar’s family?”

“They broke the rules,” Headman Wang said sternly. “Whether scholar or top scholar, in my eyes all face the same punishment! Enough wailing. If you cause trouble again, I’ll punish you the same!”

Madam Li was instantly cowed to silence.

The others looked at him as if he were a fool. They thought, Still the same bull-headed temper. If not for that, he might have become town chief. At this rate, he’ll lose even the headman’s post.

“What are you all so proud of?” Jiang Baiye’s words redirected all eyes back to him.

“Setting up an altar?” He walked up to the carefully arranged platform, and without warning, sat right atop it!

A wave of gasps erupted. Calmly, he pulled a paper from his robe.

“Worship the mountain god? Better to worship me!”

Several men, charging in fury, froze when they saw the deed in his hand.

Some could not read, but knew the red seal. Others read it at a glance and cried, “Fake! It must be fake!”

The headmen rushed over. They could discern official seals. Passed from hand to hand, expressions grew uncertain. Finally, Headman Wang held it, and his face eased. “Congratulations. This mountain is yours.”

“No! It’s a forged deed!” Li Dechang, unwilling, lunged, trying to snatch and tear it while everyone was distracted.

But with a flick of Jiang Baiye’s wrist, it was out of reach.

“If you don’t believe me, go to the prefectural city and ask the officials. I wouldn’t lie in front of so many. After all, it’s only a few mountains.”

The nearly hundred people present all wore shocked expressions. This young man—wasn’t he too arrogant?

“So, will you worship me? Maybe then I’ll allow you to hunt on my mountains.” Jiang Baiye’s eyes gleamed, focusing on Li Dechang. “Just kneel here and kowtow a few times. Go on!”

Li Dechang said nothing, his rough, fierce face flushing red.

Though his body was massive, even larger than Jiang Baiye’s, it was bulk without bearing. Whereas Jiang Baiye, with one downward glance, radiated condescension and made him instinctively afraid.

Jiang Baiye then turned to the other headmen. He had seen them in his past life too. “If you have enough silver, you could buy the remaining peaks. Then perhaps you could divide the resources?”

Tradition dictated that mountains within a county belonged to its people. With Changlin County’s peaks now his, they’d have to buy elsewhere to gain resources.

“It’s just a few mountains. Don’t get so cocky!” they scoffed outwardly, though their hearts bled.

Like gold slipping through their fingers—they had been so close!

He had truly bought them, and so quickly!

Everyone was awed by Jiang Baiye’s boldness.

Headman Wang, however, felt relieved. He knew Jiang Baiye had done this high-handed act to defend him.

Uncle Luo and many from Qingshui Village also felt vindicated. Even grumpy Uncle Luo’s second brother broke into a smile, seeing Jiang Baiye in a new light.

But that was not the main point.

Jiang Baiye put away his mocking smile and announced solemnly, “These are my mountains. No one is permitted to enter. Otherwise, it is theft of private property, and I can report you at any time!”

Not a single person dared object. They remembered how he had once declared Daheng Mountain wasn’t theirs—and then made it his. He was a man whose word became truth. Who would challenge him now?

As they left, bitter and unwilling, Jiang Baiye spoke to the people of Qingshui Village. “I don’t go into the mountains to hunt. Even with my experience, I keep far from the beasts, or it would be risking life and death.”

Other villagers scoffed inwardly, shaking their heads. Not even a dog would believe that excuse.

But Headman Wang frowned in worry. “Then isn’t buying the mountain a loss, if not for hunting?”

“No. There are far more precious things in the mountains.” Jiang Baiye’s mysterious smile froze the steps of those eavesdropping.