The Japanese pirates arrived faster than people had imagined. Before both sides could engage, the pirates had already approached, holding gleaming Japanese swords in their hands.

The townspeople were scared stiff.

“Heroes, don’t rush to fight, don’t rush to fight.” The town magistrate went forward on trembling legs, pointing at Qiao Zhao and the others: “Heroes, look—this time the girls are very beautiful, they’ll satisfy you.”

Shao Mingyuan flew into a rage, lifting his foot to kick the town magistrate. He landed right on top of a Japanese pirate, knocking the pirate off his horse. Both men let out miserable screams together.

Shao Mingyuan drew his long blade and slashed toward the leading Japanese pirate.

Yang Houcheng roared: “What are you all standing around for? Attack! Kill these conscienceless bastards!”

This group of Japanese pirates numbered only about twenty. Just these twenty-odd people had made an entire town’s population willingly offer up their young women. The people of Sea Gate Crossing were truly cowards!

When Yang Houcheng engaged with the Japanese pirates, he realized he was wrong—these pirates were surprisingly fierce. When their weapons clashed, his long blade was nearly shaken from his hands.

This was Yang Houcheng’s first encounter with Japanese pirates, and he couldn’t help but be shocked.

If the Japanese pirates were this formidable, no wonder the townspeople let themselves be slaughtered. These twenty-odd people really could massacre this small town.

Yang Houcheng’s expression changed at this thought.

Terrible! Though his martial arts still couldn’t match Tingquan’s guards, that was obviously because Tingquan was a freak, and his guards were freaks too.

His martial arts were still among the best in their circle in the Capital. If even he found it so difficult to deal with the Japanese pirates, what about those Imperial Guards?

Yang Houcheng seized an opportunity to quickly look around.

Sure enough, an Imperial Guard was being forced to the ground by a Japanese pirate, who raised his gleaming blade to stab the fallen guard.

“Zhang San!” Yang Houcheng shouted.

Unfortunately, it was too late. The Japanese sword stabbed straight toward the man’s abdomen.

With a clang, the blade was deflected by something flying through the air, slashing diagonally across the man’s body.

Yang Houcheng hurried to help him up, then heard another scream. This sight made his eyes nearly split with rage.

He saw an Imperial Guard stabbed in the abdomen by a Japanese pirate’s blade. The guard held the blade with both hands, staggered back a few steps, fell to the ground, and died.

“I’ll fight you to the death!” Yang Houcheng charged forward with his blade raised.

Just then, the town magistrate got up and shouted: “Help quickly!”

Yang Houcheng’s heart warmed: No matter how detestable the town magistrate’s attitude had been earlier, at the crucial moment, he still understood clearly—after all, they were all people of Great Liang.

But no sooner had this thought flashed through his mind than he was tripped by two locals.

The instant he hit the ground, Yang Houcheng cursed inwardly: Damn it, if I can still survive this, the first thing I’ll do is chop up that murderous town magistrate and feed him to the dogs!

“Help quickly, or when the Japanese finish off these outsiders, it’ll be our turn!” the town magistrate shouted.

Shao Mingyuan’s face was cold as ice. His figure flashed as he picked up Yang Houcheng and threw him to Chen Guang, calling out loudly: “You all retreat into the tavern. Ye Luo, keep Miss Li safe for me!”

Ye Luo protected Qiao Zhao as they retreated toward the tavern: “Miss Li, come with me!”

Qiao Zhao didn’t hesitate. She only glanced at Shao Mingyuan once before immediately following Ye Luo into the tavern.

Since she couldn’t help, she wouldn’t cause him trouble.

Everyone retreated into the tavern. Ye Luo stayed close by Qiao Zhao’s side, while Chen Guang stood at the tavern entrance, guarding against any Japanese pirates who might break through, as well as against those townspeople.

“Does General Shao have confidence in dealing with those Japanese pirates?” Qiao Zhao asked Ye Luo.

She didn’t suggest that Ye Luo go out to help, because she knew that since Shao Mingyuan had ordered Ye Luo to protect her, he wouldn’t leave her side for even a moment.

Miss Qiao sighed quietly in her heart: So she could become a burden too. This feeling was truly depressing.

“Please don’t worry, Miss Li.” Ye Luo said only this.

Those Japanese pirates weren’t easy to deal with. Swords were merciless—who could guarantee complete confidence?

He worried about the general, but since the general had ordered him to protect Miss Li, no matter what happened outside, he would carry out the general’s command well.

Qiao Zhao was perceptive. Hearing Ye Luo say this, she naturally understood, and her heart couldn’t help but tighten.

She had already seen how formidable those Japanese were. Could Shao Mingyuan handle so many people alone?

Chen Guang glared at Ye Luo and smiled: “Third Miss, please put your mind completely at ease. What great storms hasn’t our general seen? Dealing with these few Japanese pirates is nothing. Besides, with you here, our general definitely wouldn’t bear to get injured.”

That blockhead Ye Luo didn’t know how to talk—too damaging to the general’s image.

Just then, groaning sounds came.

The Imperial Guard, who had been slashed, awoke from unconsciousness, moaning in pain.

Qiao Zhao immediately went over, crouched down, and quickly applied acupuncture to stop his bleeding.

Since worrying was useless, she would do what she could.

She only hoped he would be safe.

She admitted Chen Guang was right—if that person were injured, she would be sad.

People weren’t plants or trees. After spending so much time together day and night, how could she remain unmoved?

Shao Mingyuan, you must preserve your heroic and mighty image. Don’t disappoint me.

Qiao Zhao quickly treated that person’s injuries, then finished helping several Imperial Guards who had minor wounds. Yang Houcheng reminded her: “Miss Li, Shixi is also injured.”

Qiao Zhao was slightly startled, then walked toward Chi Can, who was sitting silently by the window, looking outside. She asked directly: “Big Brother Chi, where are you injured? Let me take a look.”

Chi Can turned around and said indifferently, “Don’t listen to Yang Er’s nonsense. It’s just some scraped skin on my arm. Just give me a box of wound medicine to apply.”

Qiao Zhao was somewhat surprised that Chi Can spoke so casually about it and didn’t move for a moment.

Chi Can chuckled: “What are you standing there, stupidly for? Would I not speak up if I were seriously injured? Am I the type to wrong myself?”

Only then did Qiao Zhao smile and hand over a white porcelain bottle, asking: “Do you need help?”

“No need.” Chi Can took the white porcelain bottle and looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, uttering a few words: “Men and women shouldn’t touch.”

Before, when he had decided she would ultimately be his wife, anything was acceptable. Now that she was destined to be his friend’s wife, why should he add to his troubles?

Thinking this, Chi Can turned his gaze toward the window, taking advantage of his position to observe Shao Mingyuan fighting the Japanese pirates.

Watching his friend move easily among the pirates, his blade rising and falling as pirates collapsed, Chi Can couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Shao Mingyuan was right—if they followed him, they would only be a burden.

After returning to the Capital from this southern journey, he would work hard to find a suitable path for himself.

Both Qiao Zhao and Yang Houcheng came over to look outside through the window.

Yang Houcheng cursed angrily: “The people in this town are fucking bastards!”

Those sons of bitches were still helping those Japanese pirates even at this point!

Suddenly, a rock was thrown from the crowd. Shao Mingyuan was too busy fighting the pirates to pay attention elsewhere and was hit directly in the head by that rock.

Qiao Zhao’s expression immediately changed.