Chapter 013

"It's not bad this way. Those two families have land but lack labor. Taking them in could solve many problems. It just depends on whether those two want to settle down."

On the way home, Zhou Qing spoke softly about what had just happened.

Tong Gui snorted. "If they dare cause trouble, we'll catch them again and beat them to death."

Zhou Qing shook her head and said to her daughter and son-in-law, "Take advantage of the fact that there might still be few refugees coming over. Hurry back now. The sooner you get home, the sooner I can rest easy."

Xiao Zhen: "Mother is right. We won't delay any longer. We'll come back during the spring planting season to help."

Tong Youyu: "No need for you; we have less land..."

The father-in-law and son-in-law exchanged pleasantries while Tong Sui silently walked into their house and went to the west room to fetch her bundle.

Zhou Qing followed to help, noticing her daughter’s worried expression. She smiled and said, "Worried about home? Don’t worry. Your father and your second brother can handle things. Even Little Mountain can be considered half-grown now."

It was better not to say anything. Once she mentioned it, Tong Sui couldn’t hold back anymore. She put down her bundle and hugged her mother.

In the past, no matter how hard life was, the family stayed together. Now, with such distance between them, if something happened at home, she wouldn’t even receive news.

"Mother, please take care of yourselves."

"I know. You should do the same. Remember, no matter what happens, staying alive is most important. If you can run, run. If you can’t, endure. Don’t think about anything else."

The mother and daughter stayed in the room for a while before leaving with their bundles.

Xiao Zhen had already hitched up the donkey cart and came over to take the heavy bundles from them.

Zhou Qing was increasingly pleased. This son-in-law clearly knew how to take care of people; he wasn’t lazy or foolish.

When they entered the village yesterday, the villagers of Taohuagou were still unfamiliar with Xiao Zhen. Now, as they left the village, almost everyone greeted Xiao Zhen warmly, as if he were a familiar villager and Tong Sui an outsider.

Xiao Zhen handled the greetings calmly, while Tong Sui maintained a smile until Taohuagou was completely left behind.

Tong Sui sat facing backward, gazing longingly at the land she was leaving behind.

When she got married, she was in a sedan chair, her view obscured. The feeling of leaving was never as strong as it was now.

Xiao Zhen looked back and said, "Sit closer."

Last time he said these three words as a suggestion; this time, it was more like a command.

Tong Sui was filled with sadness and didn’t want him to see it, so she remained seated in the middle of the cart without moving.

Xiao Zhen explained, "The road may not be safe."

Tong Sui’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him.

Emotions affect one’s complexion, and to Xiao Zhen, his new wife appeared pale, not as rosy as before.

He said, "I’m just guessing. Hopefully, nothing will happen. But if it does, protect yourself first."

With that, he continued looking ahead.

Near Taohuagou, there were still some fields, but beyond that, both sides of the dirt road were covered with desolate mountains and forests. The vegetation was fresh and green, and when she visited home, everything seemed full of vibrant spring scenery. Now, as she looked again, she thought of all the places suitable for refugees to hide.

For a moment, Tong Sui wanted to jump off the cart and go back home, not leaving with Xiao Zhen.

But reason told her that if there was no danger, what would that make her? Not to mention how her family would react.

Calmly, Tong Sui took out the dagger hidden in her bundle and placed it in her sleeve pocket. She then put on the quiver with fifteen arrows and grabbed her bow, moving to sit next to Xiao Zhen, close enough to almost touch him.

One driving the cart, the other leaning against the railing, they faced opposite directions.

Xiao Zhen reached out with his left hand and patted her folded legs.

This comforting gesture made Tong Sui relax slightly. After all, she had a strong and capable husband by her side.

The donkey cart traveled steadily for about ten miles. After passing another hill, they would reach the plains.

Xiao Zhen kept a close eye on that hill. Since the vegetation hadn’t yet reached its lush summer growth, he easily spotted a gray figure darting from a bush to the nearby forest.

Maintaining his steady posture, he used the cover of the donkey to reach for a wooden board beside him.

Tong Sui noticed his movement and initially didn’t understand what Xiao Zhen was doing. Then, she saw him lift a long wooden board and pull out a three-foot iron sword from a hidden compartment beneath.

Tong Sui looked at the hill in shock. "Did you see refugees?"

Xiao Zhen: "Yes, I don’t know how many yet. If there are three or five, I can protect you. If there are more than five, you should run forward."

Tong Sui: "What about you?"

Xiao Zhen: "I can hold them off, but I fear they might use you to threaten me."

Tong Sui had seen how bandits surrounded people. If she hid behind Xiao Zhen, relying on his skills, she would only hinder him.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you ahead."

Having agreed on a plan, Tong Sui prepared her bow and arrows. Xiao Zhen acted as if nothing was happening, talking to her casually. As they approached where the refugees were hiding, he suddenly whipped the donkey, causing it to gallop madly.

The leader of the refugees gritted his teeth. "That man has sharp eyes. Move!"

Before the order was fully spoken, several men lifted a thick branch and threw it onto the middle of the dirt road.

The sudden “monstrous object” startled the donkey, which reared up and turned sharply toward the western wilderness, stopping soon after due to the lack of a path.

Twenty or so refugees split into three groups, surrounding the cart from the front, back, and east. Meanwhile, Tong Sui struggled to stabilize herself on the swaying cart.

Xiao Zhen jumped off the carriage, sword in hand, and his gaze swept over the scene, settling on the face of the burliest vagrant leader.

Without a word, he held his sword with practiced ease, exuding an imposing presence.

The vagrants, seasoned by experience, immediately recognized that Xiao Zhen was no mere farmer pretending to be tough; he was a man who had truly killed before.

A few of the more timid ones instinctively took a few steps back.

Meanwhile, Tong Sui readied her bow and arrow, leaping down to stand beside Xiao Zhen, aiming at a vagrant who had circled around to one side of the forest.

"Big Brother, what should we do?"

A henchman swallowed nervously and approached the vagrant leader.

The vagrant leader, his face covered in scars and eyes filled with menace, sized up Xiao Zhen and sneered, "Even if you have a sword and a bow, you can't scare us away just by yourselves."

Xiao Zhen: "Maybe I can't scare you away, but if it comes to a fight, I'll make sure to take a few of you down with me."

Several henchmen immediately counted themselves among those who might be taken down, their hands shaking as they gripped their clubs. They only wanted food, not to lose their lives.

The vagrant leader drew his large cleaver with a swift sound and glared at the hesitant henchmen. "If you've decided to live this life, don't be so cowardly. If we let them go, they'll inform the authorities, and tomorrow soldiers will come to wipe us out! Look at those two big bundles on the carriage, look at that big black mule that can feed us for days, and there's also a beautiful woman. Don't you want them?"

With the threat of the authorities and the allure of the mule and the woman, the henchmen's eyes turned red with desire.

Since they chose to become bandits, there was no turning back. Either they fought and feasted, or they continued to beg like stray dogs, enduring the scorn of others!

Seizing the moment, the vagrant leader shouted, "Kill!"

As he charged at Xiao Zhen, the other henchmen tightened their grip on their clubs and attacked.

In a life-or-death situation, Tong Sui steeled herself and shot an arrow at the fastest approaching vagrant.

But it was too close, and the vagrant anticipated her arrow, dodging it by stepping aside.

Tong Sui reached for another arrow, but Xiao Zhen, having kicked away the vagrant leader, stabbed another vagrant in the abdomen and pushed her forward. "Run!"

Tong Sui looked back, meeting his fierce gaze. In the next moment, he swung his sword to block the clubs of other vagrants, leaving no time for further words. More vagrants lunged at Tong Sui.

At such close range, her bow was nearly useless, and a dagger could not fend off multiple attackers. Recalling their prearranged plan, Tong Sui used her agility to dodge the grasping hands of the vagrants and ran south without looking back.

"That bitch is trying to run, chase her!"

Five or six vagrants pursued her, some throwing their clubs ahead, hoping to hit her.

Tong Sui heard the wind from the clubs and dodged while running.

"Damn, how can she run so fast!"

"I can't keep up, my lungs are about to burst!"

"Keep chasing, I'll be the first to have her!"

Some were too exhausted to continue, while others were driven by lust.

After running about three miles from the hill, only one vagrant remained behind her, and the distance between them began to widen.

Under the bright spring sun, the pursuing vagrant's clothes were soaked with sweat. He knew he couldn't go on, while the girl ahead still ran with vigor. Frustrated, he finally gave up, supporting himself with his hands on his knees, panting heavily.

As he panted, a thin shadow suddenly slithered across the ground.

Before he could react, a dull thud echoed as an arrow pierced through his ragged clothes and into his right abdomen.

The force of the arrow knocked him to the ground, and the excruciating pain made him roll on the ground, clutching his stomach. Remembering something, he struggled to lift his head and saw the young woman standing a short distance away, holding a bow with another arrow ready. Despite her disheveled appearance, her eyes were resolute and fierce.

The vagrant recognized that look well; it was the same determination they all had when they decided to become bandits—survive by taking others' lives!

Exhausted and in pain, the vagrant lay back on the ground, laughing and crying under the blue sky.

From a hundred steps away, Tong Sui could see the blood seeping from the wound in the vagrant's abdomen and the rapid rise and fall of his chest.

He had bent over, shielding his heart, forcing Tong Sui to aim for his abdomen, which would not kill him quickly.

Thus, Tong Sui stood cautiously, watching him vigilantly while scanning the road she had just run.

Four vagrants who hadn't chased her were sitting by the roadside, some walking back, and some stunned by her display of archery.

Tong Sui wasn't afraid of these few; if they came after her again, she could keep running.

What concerned her was Xiao Zhen's fate on the hill below.

—

Amidst a scream, a severed arm splattered blood as it fell to the ground.

The vagrant, now missing half an arm, screamed in agony, then realized the living devil was already standing before him. He immediately pleaded, "Spare me, spare me, I know I was wrong, I won't do it again..."

Xiao Zhen thrust his sword into the vagrant's chest, silencing his plea.

Without a second glance, Xiao Zhen pulled out his sword and turned to face the only remaining standing vagrant leader.

The vagrant leader's face was covered in blood, and his arm holding the cleaver was scarred and wounded.

Fifteen minutes ago, he had led twenty henchmen; now, apart from the five who chased the woman, the rest were dead.

The vagrant leader knew he had chosen the wrong prey, but at this point, he had to fight on for his pride! The opponent was also severely injured, and he might still have a chance!

Their blades clashed, sending birds flying from the nearby forest.

Xiao Zhen had just fought against multiple opponents and, although he won, it cost him considerable effort. In just one round, the leader of the bandits noticed that the resistance from his opponent had weakened significantly.

The bandit leader was overjoyed, fighting with increasing vigor. Finally, he seized on a flaw exposed by his opponent and swung his blade horizontally at his waist.

Xiao Zhen stepped back with his right foot and bent his body to avoid the sharp edge. The bandit leader's powerful strike missed, causing him to spin around due to the momentum. Behind him, Xiao Zhen, like a resilient bamboo bending in the wind, thrust his sword into the bandit leader's back.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The bandit leader stood stiffly for a long while before looking down in disbelief at his chest.

There, the sharp tip of the sword protruded, stained with blood, about a hand's length long.

Before the bandit leader could turn his head, the sword was swiftly withdrawn by its owner. He stumbled and fell straight to the ground, life leaving him almost instantly.

In the distance, footsteps approached. Xiao Zhen looked up and saw a returning bandit. The man, realizing even their leader was dead, turned and ran back to the hill where they had been hiding, as if pursued by a fierce beast.

Xiao Zhen did not chase after him. Instead, he casually wiped the bloodied sword on the bandit leader's body a couple of times, then led the mule cart back onto the road, urging it forward quickly.

Exiting the mountain path, the view ahead opened up. Xiao Zhen first saw the figure of a woman standing with a bow, then three fleeing bandits.

Seeing her unharmed, Xiao Zhen relaxed and then smiled, seemingly recalling something.

Tong Sui, however, could not bring herself to smile. Initially relieved to see Xiao Zhen alive, she grew anxious as she got closer and noticed the blood covering his body, with cuts on his arm and shoulder. She rushed toward the mule cart without caring whether the bandit lying on the ground was dead or alive.

Xiao Zhen: "Don't worry, I'm fine."

He stopped the mule cart and jumped down from the driver's seat.

Tong Sui looked at his torn sleeve and the bloody wound beneath it, asking anxiously: "This is called being fine?"

Xiao Zhen replied casually: "Just superficial wounds. Is he dead?"

Tong Sui shook her head: "Seems like he's still alive."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen walked over with his sword and directly stabbed the man in the chest.

Tong Sui thought he would check first but was startled by this sudden action.

Xiao Zhen turned back, noticing her pale face and eyes filled with fear, and explained indifferently: "You injured him so badly; if we leave him alive, he might seek revenge once he recovers."

Tong Sui: "...I, I understand. You're right."

She did not blame him for being ruthless; she was just shocked by how swift his action was.

After wiping his sword clean, Xiao Zhen moved the bandit's corpse to the back of the mule cart and then asked Tong Sui: "We need to go back and bury those bodies. Do you want to come with me, or wait here?"

Tong Sui, who had never killed anyone, began to feel afraid: "Are you worried the authorities will trace the bodies back to us?"

Xiao Zhen: "The authorities aren't that idle. I just don't want these bodies to spread disease, and we'll be coming back here. Out of sight, out of mind."

His words were firm, and Tong Sui instinctively believed him.

Xiao Zhen sat on the driver's seat, holding the whip, and looked at her with his narrow eyes, waiting for her decision.

Tong Sui clenched her sleeve, hesitated for a moment, and then walked around to the other side of the cart.

Digging alone would be too slow. If she helped, it would be faster.