Chapter 356- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (22)
At that moment, Mu Xiong saw Mu Xuan standing very close to another man, their interactions seeming intimate. They appeared affectionate, and Mu Xuan was smiling brightly. Although Mu Xiong felt a pang of sadness, he consoled himself with the thought that at least Mu Xuan was safe. Now that he was crippled, he didn’t want to cling to the past.
Unexpectedly, his unsteady movements caused a noise, and Mu Xuan noticed him. What shocked him most was her reaction—she looked flustered and unwilling to face him.
The man beside her noticed something was off and asked Mu Xuan who Mu Xiong was. To Mu Xiong’s dismay, Mu Xuan denied knowing him, pretending he was a stranger. This deeply hurt him.
In truth, Mu Xiong had always suspected the truth. Mu Xuan never truly liked him. She had only been using him to escape the Plains Tribe. His current predicament was entirely of his own doing.
With a bitter smile, Mu Xiong reflected on the irony of it all. He had risked his life for Mu Xuan, only to end up crippled and abandoned, his efforts amounting to nothing.
Mu Jin, observing Mu Xiong’s dejected demeanor, could guess most of what had happened. After all, he had overheard some gossip from the Plains Tribe members about the scene back then, though none of them knew the full story between Mu Xiong and Mu Xuan.
In the original storyline, the female protagonist also encountered Mu Xiong after he became crippled. However, her attitude toward him was drastically different. In the original narrative, she not only showed great sympathy for Mu Xiong but also went out of her way to help him in daily life, further deepening his infatuation with her.
Mu Xuan’s change in attitude wasn’t surprising to Mu Jin. After all, in the original plot, by the time the female protagonist met Mu Xiong again, her life was going smoothly, and she already had several outstanding men devoted to her.
Through her skills in farming and livestock raising, Mu Xuan had quickly gained fame in the Pingshan Tribe. Naturally, she didn’t mind adding a handsome, albeit crippled, man to her list of admirers. After all, even with a limp, Mu Xiong’s face remained exceptionally handsome.
But now, Mu Xuan was just an unremarkable woman. As Mu Jin and Wu Po’s reputations soared, her followers began to see beyond her pretty face, realizing there wasn’t much else to admire.
Gradually, as people came to understand Mu Xuan’s arrogant and entitled nature, many of her admirers abandoned her.
Currently, not only had the number of people around her dwindled, but the quality of her remaining followers had also plummeted. Under such circumstances, the last thing she wanted was to have the crippled Mu Xiong entangling himself with her.
Mu Jin didn’t have a strong impression of Mu Xiong, except for knowing he was once quite skilled and had always been fond of Mu Xuan. However, it seemed that Mu Xiong had now realized Mu Xuan’s true nature, so Mu Jin didn’t mind lending him a helping hand.
Noticing that Mu Shan was happily conversing with the Pingshan Tribe leader, Mu Jin walked over to Mu Xiong with Wu Po and asked him softly, “What happened to your leg?”
It had been a long time since Mu Xiong had last seen Mu Jin. He had heard others speak of Mu Jin’s transformation, but he hadn’t expected the changes to be so profound.
Having taken Mu Xuan away, Mu Xiong had always felt guilty toward Mu Jin. However, seeing Mu Jin now with such an excellent partner, he felt slightly less burdened.
When he saw Mu Jin, he forced a smile and replied, “I got injured, and now I’ve ended up like this.”
Mu Jin nodded and asked, “Do you want to get your leg fixed?”
“What did you say?” Mu Xiong was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief at Mu Jin’s casual tone. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. But knowing Mu Jin, he realized he wouldn’t ask such a thing without reason. Immediately, he became excited and responded, “Of course I want to! But how? Please, help me! Whatever it takes, I’ll do anything you ask!”
Mu Jin’s lips curled into a faint smile as he shook his head. “It’s not that serious. We’re brothers from the Pingyuan Tribe who once hunted and fought together—no need for such formal words. Your leg has healed now, but if you want to recover fully, it’ll take some effort.”
Hearing Mu Jin refer to him as a brother who had fought alongside him, Mu Xiong felt an overwhelming mix of emotions. After all, he had betrayed him by taking away his promised partner.
Mu Xiong thought Mu Jin was far too forgiving. His magnanimity only made Mu Xiong feel even more ashamed of himself. Hearing that recovery would require hardship didn’t faze him at all—if it meant fixing his crippled leg, he would endure any amount of pain.
Mu Jin noticed the gratitude in Mu Xiong’s eyes and smiled warmly. Together with Wu Po, he took Mu Xiong to a secluded area. Mu Jin instructed Mu Xiong to bite down on a piece of wood and then asked Wu Po to rebreak the injured leg so it could be reset properly.
After Wu Po secured the leg with splints, Mu Jin provided some medicinal herbs and reminded Mu Xiong to take them on time and get plenty of rest.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead caused by the excruciating pain, Mu Xiong nodded gratefully at Mu Jin. Seeing his leg now straightened and braced, Mu Xiong felt a surge of hope. The thought of being able to walk normally again filled him with excitement.
Grateful beyond words, Mu Xiong resolved to repay Mu Jin’s kindness, even if it meant working tirelessly for him. Though not eloquent, Mu Xiong silently vowed to serve Mu Jin faithfully when the young leader returned to the tribe. He would do his utmost to prove his loyalty.
Meanwhile, Mu Xuan’s recent experiences had been marked by constant setbacks. Her restless meddling within the Pingshan Tribe had diminished her appeal to potential suitors, leaving her anxious.
The tribal gathering offered a chance to mingle with representatives from many major tribes. After much effort, she managed to secure permission to attend. Upon arriving, she quickly set her sights on Lang Wei, a formidable warrior from the Mountain Peak Tribe.
Lang Wei’s strength was undeniable; he frequently claimed victory in the warriors’ contests at such gatherings. Mu Xuan saw his power as a ticket to a better life. If Lang Wei liked her and brought her to the Gaoshan Tribe, it would be a significant improvement over her current situation in the Pingshan Tribe.
However, Mu Xuan was unaware of Lang Wei’s reputation. Despite his strength, he was notorious for being a philanderer with a poor reputation in his own tribe. Nonetheless, Mu Xuan deliberately showcased her gentler side to capture his interest. Her striking appearance caught Lang Wei’s eye, and he quickly reciprocated her advances. The two struck up a connection with ease.
The exchanges between Lang Wei and Mu Xuan appeared tender and affectionate on the surface. From the female protagonist’s perspective, she believed she had all but won Lang Wei’s heart. However, at this critical moment, Mu Xiong’s sudden reappearance left Mu Xuan feeling deeply uneasy. To avoid complications, she decided to feign ignorance of Mu Xiong.
Unbeknownst to her, her panicked demeanor did not escape Lang Wei’s sharp observation. Even the other Ping Mountain Tribe members nearby noticed Mu Xuan’s unusual reaction.
Lately, Mu Xuan had been lingering conspicuously near the larger tribes, clearly seeking opportunities. While the people in primitive tribes typically had simple thoughts, Mu Xuan’s brazen actions were too blatant, making her intentions easy to discern. Gossip naturally spread, eventually reaching Mu Jin’s ears.
Yet Mu Xuan paid no heed to these rumors. After seemingly winning over Lang Wei, her confidence soared. As for the situation with Mu Xiong, she believed she had concealed it well and dismissed it as irrelevant.
However, after a sweet rendezvous with Lang Wei, she returned to the Ping Mountain Tribe’s territory only to witness an unexpected scene: Wu Peng and Wu He together.
Wu Peng was gazing at Wu He with a look of utmost tenderness. In his hand, he held a piece of roasted meat that he was trying to feed to Wu He. Wu He, busy handling some herbs at the stall, naturally opened his mouth to accept the bite.
The intimacy between them was palpable. Mu Xuan could even see the overflowing affection in Wu Peng’s eyes as he looked at Wu He. This sight completely blindsided her. She had assumed that Wu Peng, who had previously pursued her ardently, would never be interested in someone else, let alone Wu He.
To Mu Xuan, Wu He was merely an ordinary man of the tribe—decent-looking but lacking in strength. He was nowhere near her level, or so she thought.
Mu Xuan had completely overlooked her own negligence in maintaining her relationship with Wu Peng. She had been preoccupied for so long with scheming against Mu Jin and Wu Po that she hadn’t noticed how much time had passed since Wu Peng had stopped showing her any attention.
At this moment, seeing the interaction between Wu Peng and Wu He, the female protagonist felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Without thinking, she rushed to stand before Wu He and Wu Peng, exclaiming in disbelief, “Wu Peng, what’s going on? Are you and Wu He…?”
Before finishing her sentence, Mu Xuan turned angrily toward Wu He, glaring as she accused, “It’s you! You must have seduced Wu Peng!”
Wu Peng’s expression immediately turned icy upon hearing Mu Xuan’s words. He understood that she had noticed the bond between him and Wu He.
Irritated, Wu Peng found Mu Xuan’s behavior infuriating. Wu He was a bit slow on the uptake and likely hadn’t realized Wu Peng’s feelings yet. Mu Xuan’s outburst might now make Wu He overthink the situation and even push him away. Worse still, Mu Xuan had the audacity to speak so rudely about the person he cherished. Wu Peng was thoroughly displeased.
Originally, Wu Peng had simply found Wu He to be a kind and pleasant person. But over time, he discovered that being with Wu He brought him immense joy. Wu He’s character was pure, kind, and full of positivity. No matter the situation, he always tried to see the bright side.
Spending time with Wu He was lighthearted and relaxing for Wu Peng. Although he hadn’t yet confessed his feelings, he enjoyed their slow-brewing connection and believed this gradual development would lead to something meaningful.
After so much effort and patience, Wu Peng had finally succeeded in making Wu He accustomed to his presence. Now, Mu Xuan’s sudden interference felt like a rude disruption to everything he had worked toward.
Wu He, on the other hand, was taken aback by Mu Xuan’s sudden accusations. Recently, Wu Peng had been helping him often and had become a good friend. Wu He initially admired Wu Peng for his strength and now valued him even more for his kind and considerate nature.
To Wu He, their relationship was purely one of friendship. Earlier, when Wu He struggled to handle his herbs and eat simultaneously, Wu Peng had offered to assist, feeding him out of thoughtfulness.