121 Live is my pig

The crowd erupted in a chorus of gasps, with the timid ones even shutting their eyes, fearing the gruesome spectacle of a wild boar trampling someone. Yet, some individuals, caught up in the excitement, rose to their feet, urging the sturdy man forward, shouting, "Lili, tear it apart!"

"Lili, go!"

"Kill it, kill it!"

The tall and robust man remained resolute and focused, his facial muscles taut with determination as he entered a state of vigilance. He disregarded the screams and cheers of the crowd, his gaze fixed solely on the ferocious boar charging towards him.

Following this, a teeth-gritting "thud" reverberated through the air. The crowd watched in awe as the robust black boar, full-bodied and fierce, collided head-on with the man, yet there was no expected flying or trampling. Instead, in that moment of impact, the sturdy man, with hands seemingly larger than palm-leaf fans, lightning-fast, firmly grasped the boar's forelimbs as if with iron clamps, steadfastly anchoring himself. Despite the tremendous force of the impact, he merely retreated a small step!

While the man remained unfazed, the black boar sensed an imminent and perilous danger. Emitting a fearful and desperate roar from its throat, it thrashed wildly, attempting to break free from the man's grip. As it struggled, it found its hind legs unable to reach the ground.

It had been lifted by the man's hands.

Witnessing this spectacle, the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles. Encouraged by these sounds of support, the robust man exerted force and flung the two-hundred-plus-pound black boar away. The boar landed heavily on the ground a meter away, whimpering in pain.

Strangely, it did not angrily charge back.

The robust man was prepared to face another onslaught from the boar, but to his surprise, it climbed to its feet, and with a forceful push of its short, stout hind legs, it darted towards Shen Tang. In a flash, it slipped behind her, close to Zhai Le's position.

It emitted pitiful squeals, as if bullied and seeking refuge, resembling a pitiful child reporting to its parents after being bullied outside.

Shen Tang: "...??"

Zhai Le: "...??"

The crowd: "..."

The robust man: "..."

Zhai Le, sitting on the pig's back, burst into laughter, breaking down his defenses. He teasingly remarked, "Shen, my friend, this black boar of yours seems quite clever. Being bullied, it knows to come back seeking shelter... It just might have forgotten that it nudged you earlier."

Shen Tang's expression darkened.

Rubbing her sore buttocks, she glared fiercely at the black boar hiding behind her, her fair face flushed with anger. With a kick, she gritted her teeth and said, "There's an old saying, 'Dogs rely on people's power.' I never expected this pig to know it too. It dared to nudge me, to offend me?"

Shen Tang's kick lacked strength, but the clever boar retreated further, its pitiful pleas growing even more plaintive. Shen Tang couldn't help but feel like she was being seen as a cruel animal abuser! She rubbed her sore buttocks, grimacing in pain, cursing internally—who was actually being mistreated here?

The pain in her buttocks throbbed faintly, and she wondered if that blow had injured her coccyx. The more she thought about it, the more discontented she became.

She wished she could just grab the wild boar and take it back!

To wash, to kill, and to add scallions, ginger, and garlic.

It would be the greatest respect and dignity for its life as a pig!

Feeling disgruntled, she suddenly noticed the sunlight overhead being blocked by the shadow of the tall, sturdy man. He had approached without her noticing, and upon closer inspection, she realized he was even taller than she had imagined.

Shen Tang tilted her head back to address the man, "What do you want?"

The robust man spoke succinctly, "Catch the pig."

Shen Tang replied, "This pig is mine."

Despite the fact that it had nudged her and caused her buttocks to ache, it was hers alive and the meat on her plate when dead.

How could it be taken by someone else to be cooked?

The robust man looked down at the petite Shen Tang, slender and delicate, excessively feminine in appearance. Even three of her bound together couldn't compare to him alone. He could easily restrain her with one hand and still have room to spare.

Yet, it was this person who had managed to block him.

"You say it's yours? Do you have proof?" he asked.

Shen Tang chuckled, "Proof for this?"

The robust man brushed aside Shen Tang's obstruction with his hand, arrogantly insisting, "Of course, evidence is necessary. Without proof, this is just an ownerless wild boar. If I catch it, it's mine! This wild boar nearly collided with people!"

Stepping back two paces and steadying herself, Shen Tang retorted, "..."

Goodness gracious.

It seemed she wasn't the only one eyeing this pig's body with desire.

To appear more imposing, Shen Tang lowered her hand from her sore buttocks, struggling to conceal the pain on her face. With one hand, she grasped the man's hand reaching towards the pig. Compared to the man's weathered, dark-skinned palm, Shen Tang's hand was delicate and fair.

Her wrist was not even half as wide as his, yet it was this slender hand that prevented the man's hand from moving an inch.

Shen Tang smiled cryptically, "This brave sir, not paying attention to the fact that it's indeed my pig is your problem. But it truly is a pig with an owner. There's one thing you need to know—alive, it's my pig!"

Shen Tang enunciated each word, asserting ownership in a domineering manner.

"Dead, it'll be the meat in my bowl!"

The robust man's lips twitched slightly, secretly exerting force to fling Shen Tang away. However, she seemed to have taken root on the ground. Despite her seemingly frail hand, it emitted a force that collided head-on with his own, surprising him greatly.

"Are you going to let go?" the man asked.

Shen Tang replied, "No."

"Let go!"

"You're not allowed to touch my meat!"

Zhai Le burst into laughter, and with that, the previously solemn and grave atmosphere was instantly shattered. It was then that the man noticed Zhai Le, who was riding on the back of another black-faced boar. Compared to Shen Tang's refined femininity, Zhai Le seemed more like a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

Zhai Le laughed as he dismounted the boar and approached the robust man, clasping his hands together with a playful twinkle in his eyes. "This valiant sir, please give us some face. We're willing to compensate you for the fright you've experienced. However, this black-faced boar is actually Brother Shen's 'beloved pet' and he is unwilling to part with it."

As Zhai Le made his move, the military token at his waist collided with various other small trinkets, emitting crisp sounds.

Hearing this commotion, the robust man instinctively swept his gaze towards Zhai Le's waist and noticed the ink-jade military token. A martial expert! Although the man himself was ordinary, having worked as a day laborer in wealthy households, he understood the significance of such an item—someone who wore this at their waist was not to be trifled with by ordinary folks.

Yet, he was not afraid, purely because he had once single-handedly killed two so-called third-tier bandits. Ha, martial experts were nothing to fear, certainly not as legendary as rumors made them out to be.

He narrowed his eyes and grunted.

Reluctantly, he released his grip.