Master Hu was a man of his word.

Naturally, he wouldn’t go back on it.

He said, “Rest assured, I will definitely repay the favor I owe you.”

“That’s good!” Yao Niang’s lips curved in a smile, but seeing Master Hu’s worried expression, she consoled him, “However, you don’t need to worry too much. That black-clothed man was struck by my sword. Even if he rode away on horseback, he may not be able to hold out, especially in this desert! I think that young lady is a capable person, and very clever too. She’ll naturally think of a way to survive and then ride the horse back.”

“I hope so.”

“Master Hu, you’re going to Qujiang to deliver goods. You can’t delay the schedule. How about this—you depart first thing tomorrow morning. When day breaks, I’ll also send people out to search for that young lady. If we find her, I’ll immediately arrange for her to catch up with your caravan. If we can’t find her, you can’t just wait here forever, can you?”

“That young lady saved me after all. I must ensure her safety before I can leave.” Master Hu didn’t adopt this suggestion.

“What a man of loyalty and righteousness.” Yao Niang smiled charmingly, placing her hand on Master Hu’s shoulder and saying near his ear, “That young lady clearly saved him deliberately. Can’t you… see that?”

“…Eh?”

“If I’m not mistaken, the person she chased out to find last night was precisely that masked man. Clearly, she knows that man. So once she’s gone, she won’t come back at all, and she absolutely won’t be in danger! That being the case, why must you delay your journey for her sake?”

Master Hu’s deep wrinkles furrowed tightly together.

He wasn’t stupid!

Of course he could see that Ji Yunshu had clearly intentionally saved that person!

After Yao Niang finished speaking, she turned and left with her people!

Master Hu gazed at the distant yellow sand, his expression grave.

Then he instructed his people, “Depart tomorrow morning.”

…

By now, Wen Yu’s sedative had worn off.

After waking up, he walked around the pitch-black room and could only feel bundles and bundles of firewood.

Besides that, there was nothing!

He shouted a few times toward the outside.

Until Yao Niang brought people in.

“Oh my, you woke up so quickly. I thought you’d sleep for two days and nights.” Yao Niang leaned sideways, her waist so soft it seemed about to break.

Wen Yu still didn’t know what had happened outside!

He looked warily at the person before him, covering his wound and asking, “What exactly do you intend to do?”

Yao Niang approached him, deliberately bumping his chest with her arm, saying coquettishly, “Do what? Of course, help you, young master!”

“…”

“Young master, I saved your life! Not only that, I also helped you kill those people who wanted to kill you. Right now that room is still full of blood everywhere, all corpses—terribly frightening!”

Wen Yu was shocked, “They’re all dead?”

“Well then, this favor isn’t small, is it?”

Wen Yu understood.

He had been the bait.

But he was also relieved that those people were dead—he was safe now!

Now he just needed to find a way out of this desert.

He looked at Yao Niang and bowed, “Thank you, Yao Niang, for saving my life.”

“You owe me quite a lot.” Yao Niang laughed sinisterly.

Then she glanced at the worker behind her.

That worker understood immediately and quickly pulled out a small abacus from his pocket.

Yao Niang took the abacus, her eyes rolling, her slender fingers clicking away on the abacus.

Clicking and clacking loudly!

While saying, “Because I saved your life, it brought quite a lot of losses to my inn. Tables, chairs, benches, beams, doors—all damaged! And the fee for helping you kill people must all be tallied up! In total… three thousand taels of silver, not a cent less.”

Three thousand taels!

This could be called an astronomical price!

Even those workers were startled.

They knew Yao Niang would demand payment, but didn’t know she’d demand such a high price!

An exorbitant demand!

But unexpectedly—

After hearing this figure, Wen Yu didn’t even blink an eye!

He even had a feeling that “his life was this cheap”!

He looked at the many pairs of eyes staring at him, unhurriedly took out a jade pendant from his person, and handed it over.

It was a round blood jade, carved with extremely exquisite patterns.

At a glance, it was no ordinary object.

Wen Yu said, “This jade pendant’s value should be five thousand taels. The extra two thousand taels can be considered thanks for your help.”

Yao Niang’s eyes widened. Half-believing, she took the jade pendant.

She rubbed it in her hands, then held it up to the oil lamp in the worker’s hand several times.

It really was top-quality jade!

Looking at this deep color, it was worth far more than five thousand taels—at least eight thousand taels!

Although Yao Niang was a person of temperament, she had never had any resistance to silver. She was secretly delighted and quickly tucked the jade pendant into her sleeve, saying, “Young master is indeed generous! Since I’ve received this silver, young master can rest assured and stay here. Wait until your injuries heal before leaving—that won’t be too late. From now on, good food and drink, nothing will be lacking for you.”

“Thank you.”

Yao Niang instructed people, “Quick, take the young master to the upper room to rest.”

“Yes.”

The worker then led Wen Yu out of the woodshed.

To go rest in a room!

Yao Niang was still pleased in her heart, but she didn’t forget to instruct people, “Quickly dispose of all those corpses properly. Don’t disturb the other guests.”

“Understood.”

Everyone efficiently went to handle it!

Luo Yang learned of Master Hu’s order to depart tomorrow morning.

He went to make a big fuss, “Leaving tomorrow morning—what about Miss Ji? Just abandoning her?”

“It’s not abandoning her. Miss Ji simply won’t be in any danger.”

“Won’t be in danger? The person was abducted! In Zhuxin City, she saved you. Now you’re disregarding her life—what’s the difference between you and an ungrateful wretch?”

“Bang!” Master Hu slammed the table, furious, “If you don’t behave yourself, I’ll cut out your tongue. Previously, it was only for Miss Ji’s sake that I agreed to take you to Qujiang. Now that Miss Ji has already left, you can just go by yourself.”

“You…”

“Still not getting out?”

Luo Yang was also so angry his face turned completely red.

But more than that, he was anxious!

Master Hu’s men directly threw him out of the room and slammed the door shut with a “bang.”

Xiao Ba quickly rushed over and asked, “How is it? Are we going to search or not?”

Luo Yang shouted loudly at the door, “All ungrateful wretches!”

So infuriating!

“Brother, if Miss Ji left and something happens to her, then what do I do? There’ll be no one to cure my poison.”

“Don’t worry, brother will definitely not let anything happen to you.”

Xiao Ba nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something, “By the way, I just overheard something.”

“What?”

He leaned close to Luo Yang’s ear and spoke softly.

A short while later…

Not long after Wen Yu returned to his room, two figures suddenly barged in.

Both Luo Yang and Xiao Ba had the appearance of bandits breaking in to rob.

Seeing the two people who suddenly entered, Wen Yu was startled.

He didn’t recognize the people before him. But he was very wary, “Who are you?”