Running around and playing minor roles

The Horned Chapter 1: Little Barbarian (Part 1)

When Xiaoman was ten years old, her biological mother died.

She had been making a scene for over three years, and even on her deathbed, she was filled with resentment and bitterness, clutching Xiaoman's thin wrist as she said, "Your father and that bitch... I'll haunt them even as a ghost! Xiaoman, just remember that your father was a beast!"

She died with her eyes wide open, her expression twisted in horror, as she was buried in the ground. That day, it was both thundering and raining. Experienced elders said that this kind of weather was the most likely to cause a corpse to turn into a zombie, so Xiaoman's father took out another ten taels of silver, frowned, and had someone use copper chains to lock the coffin again and again before stuffing it into the pit.

A few days later, Father, who hadn't been home for a long time, returned with Stepmother. Stepmother wasn't the vixen Mother had described; on the contrary, she arrived wearing a white shirt, with a bright red beauty mark beside her nose, and a sweet smile.

She was over eight months pregnant, clutching her belly, looking at Xiaoman with a mixture of apprehension and uncertainty.

Father said calmly, "Xiaoman, come and greet your second mother. Your mother is dead, so from now on, your second mother is your biological mother. You must be filial to her, understand?"

He said it so casually, as if he were ordering pumpkin instead of cucumber for dinner. Pumpkin and cucumber can be substituted for each other, but can one's own mother be substituted for another?

"Yes," Xiaoman said to herself.

Then she walked over with a grin, like a little dove drenched in the rain, and nestled gently into her second aunt's arms, softly calling out, "Mother, you are so beautiful."

The moment she cried out "Mother!" her stepmother's heart trembled. She quickly bent down and hugged her tightly, her love overflowing. Her father, surprised by how smoothly things went, couldn't help but smile. He lovingly patted her little head and said softly, "Your mother had a tragic fate, Xiaoman, don't blame your father."

Her bright, clear eyes looked over innocently, and she said softly, "Mother is fierce... and not as pretty as this mother... Xiaoman likes this mother... Father, you won't leave in the future, right? Xiaoman likes Father very much too."

Children's words are innocent and uninhibited, and sure enough, they made the two adults laugh out loud.

Isn't this much easier? Xiaoman lowered her eyelashes and hugged her second aunt tightly, as if she couldn't bear to let go.

Why be so principled? It's too tiring. It's so easy to please others; just say seemingly sincere compliments, and everyone is happy.

****

When Xiaoman woke up, it started raining again outside, a light drizzle that soaked a large area of the windowsill. Every time it rained, she would dream of events from six years ago. Her mother's bulging eyes as she died, her stepmother's gentle beauty mark beside her nose, her father's contented smile—everything was vividly clear, as if etched into her mind, and she couldn't forget it.

She lazily got up to close the window when the door was suddenly pushed open forcefully. Footsteps rushed in, followed by a small, fleshy ball bumping into her back. A child's soft voice called out to her, "Little Man, sister! Let me dodge! Mom is so annoying, forcing me to eat fish."

Xiao Man closed the window, slowly turned around and squatted down, gently tapping the little guy on the head, and scolded, "Don't be picky about food! Didn't you say you'd marry me when you grow up? If you don't grow tall, I won't want you."

The handsome little boy looked at her with teary eyes, like a wronged puppy. This was Erniang's son, Dami. Strangely, this boy wasn't attached to his mother; he was actually most attached to Xiaoman.

Second Aunt carried her rice bowl upstairs, yelling, "Dami! Finish your rice! You're not allowed to go to the martial arts gym today if you don't!"

Dami was so frightened that she hid behind Xiaoman, clutching her clothes tightly. Xiaoman smiled and took the bowl of rice from her, saying softly, "Mom, I'll feed my little brother. Don't worry about him! You still have a cold from the past few days. Go and rest, don't catch a chill."

Second Aunt sighed, "I'm fine, Xiaoman, but don't spoil him too much. That brat is always clinging to your sister!"

Xiao Man laughed and said, "My cute little brother is clinging to me, isn't he? Da Mi? Come on, let's eat first, and then I'll take you to the martial arts gym."

Rice pouted and said, "I don't like fish! There are so many bones!"

Xiaoman scooped up a spoonful of fish meat, carefully removed all the bones, wrapped it with some rice, and put it in his mouth, saying softly, "Here, you've removed the bones—how is it? Is it delicious?"

Dami nodded obediently. He always indulged Xiaoman's every whim; perhaps he even found the stones she fed him more delicious than the delicacies his mother fed him. After finally feeding this little tyrant, Xiaoman took the bowl to wash it. Her stepmother, looking at the gloomy sky, said, "I don't think this rain will stop anytime soon. Let's not take Dami to the martial arts school today. Be careful he doesn't twist his ankle on the way. That child is always so mischievous; don't always give in to him."

Xiao Man smiled and said, "It's alright, Mother, don't worry. I also want to go to the martial arts school. I've finished making the knotted cord I promised to make for the martial arts master a few days ago, and I need to send it to them."

Second Auntie exclaimed "Oh!" and was about to say something more when she suddenly heard that guests had arrived outside. She quickly wiped her hands and went out to greet them, saying, "Remember to come back for dinner tonight! Don't be late. We have your favorite eel today."

Xiao Man's father was originally a pedantic scholar, but unfortunately, he failed the imperial examinations repeatedly. Helpless, he had no choice but to abandon his studies and go into business, opening a small restaurant. In this remote border region, there were often travelers from afar, so the business was surprisingly good, and he no longer had to worry about making a living; he had more than enough to eat and wear.

Xiaoman grabbed her umbrella and a small package, about to leave, when she turned back and saw Dami peeking into the restaurant's main hall from behind the curtain. She went over and gently patted him, whispering, "Is it right for you to spy on customers like that?"

Da Mi waved to her and whispered, "Look, the guests who have come these past few days have all been dressed so strangely."

Xiao Man curiously peeked through the gap in the curtain and saw several people sitting in the main hall. Sure enough, they were dressed strangely and in fine clothes, but they looked travel-worn. Each of them wore a wet black hat and had their heads down, with the hats covering most of their faces. Unlike the other guests who chatted freely, they sat there quietly without saying a word.

Xiao Man's eyes darted around them, finally landing on the weapons they wore at their waists. She said, "These must be the chivalrous heroes they're talking about. How strange."

Seeing her interest, Da Mi eagerly showed off, saying, "It wasn't just them! A few days ago, a lot of people carrying knives and guns came to our shop, scaring my mother half to death."

Xiaoman lowered the curtain, turned around and left: "Are you still going to the martial arts school? If not, I'm going alone." Dami quickly chased after her and grabbed her sleeve, and the two went out together.

The rain showed no signs of stopping; instead, it intensified and was on the verge of becoming a downpour.

Xiaoman tried to huddle under the umbrella with Dami, but it was no use. The wind and rain soaked them from head to toe. She couldn't help but regret that she should have brought a raincoat and a straw hat. In the storm, the oil-paper umbrella was not only useless but also a burden.

Suddenly, she heard the loud sound of galloping hooves ahead. Looking up, she saw a person riding a tall, magnificent horse charging towards them from behind the white curtain of rain. Instinctively, she quickly dodged to the side, but before the horse even reached her, the person on it was thrown off hard, landing face-first on the ground and unable to get up for a long time.

The horse neighed and stopped by the roadside. Seeing the man lying motionless on the ground, Da Mi was frightened: "Sister... he's not dead, is he?"

Xiao Man hummed in agreement and casually said, "So what if he's dead? It has nothing to do with us. Let's ignore him."

Dami was dumbfounded, probably never expecting his usually gentle and kind sister to say such a thing. He looked at the man in black, wanting to go and see, but afraid that he was dead. He hesitated, but seeing that Xiaoman had gone far away, he quickly chased after her and grabbed her wet clothes.

As the two walked past the man in black, they suddenly saw him move, as if he had risen from the dead, his upper body trembling violently. Da Mi screamed in fright and burrowed into Xiao Man's arms like a monkey.

"Help...help me..." the man said tremblingly, his body covered in blood.

Xiao Man pretended not to hear and quickly walked forward with the r

……