As expected, his premonition came true. She turned and flashed him a bright smile before saying.
"Take care of the kids. I will lure the lion away from here. I will be back"
With that she took out a piece of meat from her space and waved it at the lion. It was immediately attracted to the allure of the meat and went after her. Su Xiao bolted off into the woods taking the lion with her.
Everyone was still trying to process the sudden event. Mu Wei was stunned before he heard the cries of the kids who had also witnessed the event.
"Wahh.... Mother.....
Their heart wrenching cries made people feel sympathetic for them. Mu Wei comforted them in a low voice.
"Your mum will be fine"
"Really, father?"
"Hm"
She promised she would be back so she surely would. He hated his legs which made him unable to help her in any way. Once a glorious general now a cripple. The darkness in his eyes surged, he had only one thought.
She better come back.
Since she had come then she shouldn't think of leaving. He gazed at the direction she ran off and waited patiently.
The exiles looked at them and muttered in low voices.
"She is probably dead"
"Leaving such children and an injured man"
"It will be hard on the little kids"
"She is a fearless lady"
"The children are truly pitiful"
Despite the sympathetic words, none made a move to help them. This was how fickle human heart was. Deep within them, they still felt it was only right she saved them.
Mu Wei glanced at the ungrateful people and they shut up. His gaze was cold and piercing that they had the feeling of being submerged in icy water.
'So scary'
The ballifs after recovering from the shock began carrying the dead bodies away. The injured ones were treated by the local doctor who came with them. The head of the ballifs looked at the father and son duo and shook his head slightly. The probability of that woman surviving was very low. She had inadvertently saved his life too which he was grateful for. The father and son duo would probably not fare well so he would take extra care of them throughout the journey.
He ordered the other ballifs to coordinate the group to prepare for the next journey tomorrow. The children were still sobbing and Mu Wei felt helpless. He couldn't only mutter in his heart.
Su Xiao come back.
The cause of the emotional ups and down was still running in the woods. She climbed a tree and hid. Throwing the meat back into the space she got a tranquilizer and a silencer gun. She quickly aimed for the neck and shot it. The lion growled in pain, trying to shake off the dart.
As it stumbled from the effect of the shot, she released the trigger and silenced it forever. Seeing no movement from it, she jumped down and approached it. Not wasting time, she took out a sharp knife and skillfully began skinning the lion. She took out the parts she needed and left the remaining. Taking advantage of where she was, she took out some pig trotters and an apple juice and ate. She drank some spring water and felt satisfied.
She knew it was time to head back. She tied the lion with a rope and threw it into her space then walked back the same way she came. Reaching some meter away from the camp, she took out the lion carcass. The ballifs heard the sound of approaching footsteps and became alert. They stood in defense in case it was another animal coming to attack.
Seeing it was Su Xiao they were dumbfounded. She wasn't dead? And looking at the dead lion it was obvious she killed it. Their world view was shattered. As they stared dumbly at her, she bypassed them. She walked up to the leader whose name she remembered as Lu Dan and dropped the lion at his feet.
"Leader Lu. I want you to find some people to cook this meat. The skin is mine and I hate double what others get. Do we have a deal?"
She was so straightforward that he was rendered speechless. This woman was not to be underestimated seeing how she came out unscathed and even brought back the lion's carcass. Her deal was good except giving her double what others got. Even though she was the one that killed it, the people wouldn't agree to it.
Su Xiao understood his thoughts and made a compromise. He was still their leader, so she had to be in his good terms for now.
"How about you give me the skin intact and I get the same share as others but you have to give me a pot that I can use as mine?"
"Deal"
The matter was settled so she made her way back to the cart. As she walked,they subconsciously made way for her to pass through. They looked at her with horror and envy and some gratitude. She naturally didn't care about those looks. She was just trying to make life easier for the kids till they arrived at the wilderness.
Arriving at the cart she got in. The children were staring at her in disbelief while Mu Wei appeared much calmer except his eyes that had suppressed emotions in them. He looked at her and nodded. She smiled at him and nodded too.
No words but they understood each other.
She reached out to touch the kids but noticed it was dirty so she retracted her hands. The children immediately pounced on her making almost lose her balance. The she felt hot tears soaking her cloth and her heart aches. They were crying so hard that their small body was trembling.
"I thought you had left us"
"Mother please don't abandon us again"
They were hiccuping to form a coherent sentence but she still understood them. Hugging them tighter she comforted them.
"Mother promises she won't ever leave or abandon any of you. Don't cry anymore".
She continued soothing them till they calmed down then slept off in her arms. She laid them on the cart and covered them well. Even in their sleep they were still hiccuping and holding her tightly. She sighed gently. Seemed they were really frightened by her actions.
"The kids were truly frightened by what you did today"
"I'm sorry. I didn't think it through"
"I know. Just don't let it repeat itself"
Although his tone came out harsh he still meant good so she didn't argue with him. After the children left her cloth, she went back to the ballifs to collect the lion skin and pot. After that she came back to the cart and prepared to cook.