Ning Beichen had underestimated Li Haitang's influence as a Miao shaman. The small county town was almost entirely populated by people from her village. They used to live in the mountains, but with the changing times, many had moved down. Now, only a few families remained in the remote peaks. However, even though they no longer resided in the mountains, the people, their customs, and Miao traditions remained unchanged. The village had simply expanded from a small settlement in the mountains to a larger one in the county town.
"Haitang, didn't you say you don't live in the mountains anymore? Where are you taking me?" Ning Beichen asked, as Li Haitang led him further and further away from the county town. The surroundings were now pitch black, and the Miao men accompanying them had taken out flashlights, clearly preparing for a night journey.
"To bury you alive," Li Haitang retorted with a glare, teasing him.
"No, no, Haitang, Haitang! A night as husband and wife creates a hundred nights of obligation. We've been husband and wife many times, you can't be so heartless," Ning Beichen yelled.
"Shut up!" Li Haitang's face flushed as she pinched his waist. This man truly dared to say anything.
"Haitang, my dear Haitang, where are you taking me? I have something urgent to discuss with you," Ning Beichen said quickly.
"To my home," Haitang replied curtly.
"You don't live in the county town?" Ning Beichen asked, his mouth agape.
"No, I live in the mountains," Li Haitang answered.
"Is the housing price in the county town too high? You can't afford it? Haitang, how about I buy you a place in town?" Ning Beichen offered.
"Shut up! What do you know? Haitang is the Saint Aunt of our Miao people, she needs to reside in the sacred shrine in the mountains," one of the Miao men, dressed in traditional attire, said fiercely, glaring at Ning Beichen. To them, the Saint Aunt was a supreme being, an inviolable goddess in the hearts of many Miao men. If it weren't for Haitang's presence, they would have already fought Ning Beichen for his disrespectful treatment of her. This was no trivial matter; a single shout from them would mobilize the entire county town, men, women, old, and young, to attack him with sticks, brooms, bricks, and cleavers.
"Haitang, you're the Saint Aunt?" Ning Beichen's eyes widened. Although he wasn't very familiar with the Miao culture, he knew the status and position of a Saint Aunt. In ancient times, their authority surpassed that of a village chief. Matters that the village chief couldn't decide had to be approved by the Saint Aunt. Even though these old traditions were fading, the Saint Aunt's position remained paramount and incredibly noble within the Miao community.
"What's so strange about that?" Li Haitang said. She hadn't wanted to be the Saint Aunt; her identity had been decided by the previous Saint Aunt when she was just a child.
"Haitang, you're the Saint Aunt, how can you live in these mountains? No, no, I'll find you a big house outside to live in," Ning Beichen insisted.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the fierce gazes of the Miao men beside him fixed upon him.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked. "Isn't it true? You all live in the county town. Haitang is the Saint Aunt, a person of such noble status, how can you let her live in the mountains?" Ning Beichen said with a tone of concern.
"Ning Beichen, you shut up!" Li Haitang pinched him at the waist again. This man knew nothing and just spouted nonsense.
"Ouch." Ning Beichen yelped. Seeing Li Haitang's threatening look, he had no choice but to quiet down and follow her up the mountain in the dark.
The mountain path at night was difficult to navigate. Fortunately, they were familiar with it. If Ning Beichen had come alone, he would likely have gotten lost in the mountains. They walked for about an hour on the mountain trail before reaching their destination. If Ning Beichen hadn't been a martial artist, he wouldn't have been able to endure such hardship.
Li Haitang had only said she lived in the mountains, not that she lived at the very top, with cliffs on three sides. It was a place so dangerous that someone with poor eyesight might fall off a cliff just by stepping outside to relieve themselves. Ning Beichen found it hard to imagine that Li Haitang lived here, and alone at that.
The Miao men escorting, or rather, escorting Ning Beichen, stood like bronze statues at the entrance, staring intently at him.
"Asheng, you all can go back now," Li Haitang said to her clansmen, who stood like bronze statues at the door.
"Saint Aunt, we must stay to protect your safety," the Miao men said, their eyes never leaving Ning Beichen.
"No need, I am safe here. You all should go back and rest," Li Haitang instructed them. The Miao men dared not disobey Li Haitang's orders. As they left, they all glared fiercely at Ning Beichen, issuing a silent warning. Ning Beichen shrugged and muttered to himself, "Why are you threatening me? I'm not the one who told you to leave."
However, without these bronze statues hindering him, Ning Beichen felt liberated. He immediately went forward and scooped Li Haitang into his arms.
"What are you doing?" Li Haitang yelped, startled by Ning Beichen's sudden action.
"Haitang, it's been so long, have you missed me?" Ning Beichen said with a playful grin, becoming mischievous.
"You scoundrel! Let me go," Li Haitang said, hitting his chest a few times angrily, though without much force. Despite her words, she didn't struggle or try to get away.
"Are you still angry about me leaving Rome?" Ning Beichen asked.
"You scoundrel, you big scoundrel! Why did you leave without even telling me? I thought something had happened to you and searched for you for a long time," Li Haitang said, annoyed.
"Haitang, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. You said you were a Miao witch, and I was scared."
"I heard that those Miao witches put curses on men they like, controlling them so they can never leave their side." Ning Beichen explained.
"So you were afraid I would curse you, and that's why you ran away?" Ning Beichen nodded innocently. He had indeed had that thought.
"Did you think you could escape being cursed just because you ran away?" Li Haitang asked, looking at him as if he were too naive.