As they traveled south, the weather grew increasingly warm. The gray donkey galloped along, running for a full hour. At high noon, with the sun blazing overhead, the mountain path twisted and turned. After crossing another ridge, the donkey, which had been moving swiftly before, suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud and refused to get up again.

Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing tumbled forward. Chu Qiao, nimble as she was, executed a forward roll and stabilized herself. Liang Shaoqing, however, fared much worse, rolling several times before coming to a stop. Before he could stand up, he vomited violently, the smell overwhelming, his entire appearance disheveled.

“Are you alright?” Chu Qiao approached with concern in her voice.

The young scholar finally managed to stand, hands on his hips, gasping for breath as he spoke haltingly: “You… you unreasonable woman! I… I kindly saved you, yet you… you threw away all my luggage. This is simply, simply outrageous!”

“Here,” Chu Qiao handed him a white handkerchief. “Wipe your mouth.”

“Just… just my bad luck.”

Liang Shaoqing approached the gray donkey, still breathing heavily. He tried to pull the donkey up, but the animal was exhausted and refused to move despite his efforts. The young scholar grew red-faced with anger and exclaimed, “Great! Now even you’re against me!”

“It ran too quickly and needs time to recover,” Chu Qiao said. “What are you trying to do?”

Liang Shaoqing flew into a rage, shouting, “What am I trying to do? I need to go back for my belongings!”

“Going back now would be suicide.”

“Not going back is suicide! Without transit documents or travel permits, how can I reach Tang Capital?” Liang Shaoqing grumbled angrily. “Besides, I do not quarrel with them. I’ve always been law-abiding, so why would they give me trouble?”

Chu Qiao picked up her sword, not even glancing at him, and crouched beside the fallen donkey. With indifference, she said, “If you don’t value your life, go back. See if you’ll still have a chance to reach Tang Capital after retrieving your transit documents and travel permits.”

“Hey, you just saved me and carried me this far. Thank you!” The girl smiled brightly, her eyes curving like crescent moons, two small dimples on her cheeks, looking lovely and sweet, very different from her usual serious demeanor.

The scholar, intimidated by Chu Qiao, hesitated for a long time without daring to return. Hearing her words, he couldn’t help but interject, “Miss, if you want to express gratitude, shouldn’t you be thanking me? I’m the one who saved you. How can you thank a beast?”

“You saved me?” Chu Qiao frowned in confusion, slowly turning to look at this foolish scholar, and asked with a faint smile, “When? I don’t recall that.”

“What? How can you be like this? You can’t distinguish right from wrong or recognize gratitude. Is this how you treat someone who saved your life? Not even a word of thanks but instead mockery?”

“Did you kill those soldiers? Or did you carry me through the encirclement? You did nothing, so why claim you saved me?”

“You… you…” Liang Shaoqing stammered for a while before finally stuttering, “I went in to reason with them, enlighten them with righteousness, and then…”

“And then they laid down their weapons, instantly reformed, and let us go obediently?”

Liang Shaoqing was stunned, immediately at a loss for words. Chu Qiao shook her head, stood up, and walked in front of him. Though her small frame didn’t even reach his shoulder, she reached out and patted it, saying, “Having a sense of justice is good, but you need brains too. If you don’t have the ability, mind your own business in the future. If it weren’t for this good beast, we both would have died today.”

The girl smiled faintly, pulled out two Daxia bank notes from her pocket, placed them in his hand, and said, “Your belongings are certainly lost. Here’s some money to compensate for your loss. I apologize for delaying you. It’s still not safe here. I can escort you to the town below if you’d like?”

“Hmph!” Liang Shaoqing knocked the bank notes from Chu Qiao’s hand, saying angrily, “I am a man of dignity, upright and honest. What have I to fear? Being with you seems more dangerous. At such a young age, you’re hunted and pursued by authorities. If not a notorious bandit, you must be a habitual thief.”

The scholar went to the gray donkey, used all his strength to pull it up, and then staggered away down the mountain, leading the donkey.

Chu Qiao stood in place, smiling as she watched the scholar leave. She picked up the bank notes from the ground and called out loudly, “Bookworm! Are you sure you don’t want this money?”

Liang Shaoqing, without looking back, waved his hand dismissively: “I’d rather die than take it!”

His words still echoed when, two hours later, at the East Guo Town’s slave market, Chu Qiao couldn’t help but laugh out loud upon seeing the man again.

“Miss, looking to buy a slave? This one is good—strong and capable, worth three or four ordinary ones. This one was once a martial arts instructor, enslaved after committing a crime. He’s skilled in combat and literate too. Ah! You have a good eye! This handsome-looking one, though young, would make a perfect page or attendant, most suitable for a young lady of your status.”

The slave trader enthusiastically recommended Chu Qiao. The girl’s eyes swept over the slaves with an amused gaze, then pointed at the red-faced Liang Shaoqing in the corner and asked, “Sir, how much for that one?”

“That one?” The shrewd owner’s eyes darted about. Drawing Chu Qiao aside, he said, “He was just captured by the city guard. No transit documents or travel permits, yet he claimed to be a scholar. Just brought here to be sold. He has no slave registration or formal indenture papers, so, miss, make an offer. If it’s reasonable, I’ll sell him to you.”

After some haggling, Chu Qiao led the newly-named “A-Qi” (Liang Shaoqing) through the bustling street. She was pretty and charming; he, though somewhat disheveled, still had a handsome bearing. They attracted many stares, especially when people noticed the grass tag on his back and his bound hands, prompting much discussion.

“Hey! Untie me!”

Chu Qiao lazily turned around, smiling as she asked, “Is that how you speak to your master?”

“What master? I’m a dignified scholar, yet you buy and sell me like a common object! It’s an insult to scholarly dignity! I’m in this situation because of you…”

“Wrong!” Chu Qiao interrupted him. “First, I didn’t ask you to meddle. Second, you didn’t save my life; rather, I saved you, a bookworm who doesn’t know his limits. Third, I offered you money earlier, but you said you’d rather die than take it. If you had money to pay the city guard’s entry fee, you wouldn’t have been checked for travel permits or captured and sold as a slave. So, your situation is entirely self-inflicted and has nothing to do with me.”

“You, you ungrateful woman, I, I…”

With a swish, the rope fell to the ground. Chu Qiao smiled and handed him two bank notes: “Let’s part ways here. Don’t get caught again.”

“A man of honor lives by principles. I’d rather die than take your money!”

Watching Liang Shaoqing’s figure quickly disappear down the long street, Chu Qiao smiled and shook her head. If she weren’t pressed for time and struggling to fend for herself, she would have tried to recover his belongings. Forced by circumstances, now he could only rely on his luck.

This risky venture into town to buy a horse had already broken the taboo; it was unwise to cause more trouble.

Having exposed her whereabouts at Tang Ma Ridge, the entire southeast was now filled with imperial agents and spies. What should have been a two-day journey had taken five days of dodging and hiding. After five days, Chu Qiao finally arrived at Xianyang City, just fifty li from Baizhi Pass.

There were only two routes to enter Bian Tang through Baizhi Pass. One was by land, entering the first major city of Baizhi inside Bian Tang territory. This route required documents signed by both countries—the transit documents—and substantial bribes to gain entry. As the largest and strongest northern gateway to Bian Tang, Baizhi Pass’s tight security was beyond question. Chu Qiao certainly didn’t have proper transit documents, nor did she plan to risk forcing her way through, so this option was practically off the table.

The second route was by water, via the Chishui River. With no ongoing war, the water routes weren’t as heavily guarded as the land passes. Chu Qiao knew many black ships secretly conducted this business, transporting people without transit documents into Bian Tang at a premium. Therefore, she had to risk entering the city again to discreetly inquire about such merchants.

After two days of searching the black market, she finally arranged a time—tomorrow at the third watch of the night, boarding at Qianshui Ditch, thirty li away.

Night had fallen. Chu Qiao hurried along the main street. To disguise herself, she wore men’s clothing, appearing like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy—red lips, white teeth, handsome features. Xianyang City, being Daxia’s border gateway, was vast. Merchants and travelers from all regions passed through, making it as bustling and prosperous as the imperial capital of Zhen Huang. Even in the deep night, the streets remained crowded with merchants calling out their wares, creating a lively atmosphere.

Since she would be traveling by water from now on, she sold her newly purchased horse at a low price in the horse market, then bought some dried food and provisions. As she prepared to leave, she was drawn to a large group of slave traders. Chu Qiao watched with furrowed brows as a massive iron cage stood in an open space, containing eighty or ninety young slaves, both male and female. Among them, a man dressed in Confucian scholar’s robes particularly stood out. Several middle-aged wealthy matrons were already eyeing him, smilingly inquiring about his price.

“Hey!”

Chu Qiao leaned casually against the cage, holding a handful of melon seeds. She called out to the man inside, then spat out a seed shell with a “pah” sound, smiling mischievously, very much like a spoiled rich young master.

The man raised his head, looked at her once, frowned with disgust, and without responding, lowered his head dejectedly.

“Forgotten me so quickly? Your luck isn’t bad. Just a few days, and you have a new master!”

Upon hearing this, Liang Shaoqing was startled. He quickly raised his head, looked her up and down, recognized her, and exclaimed with joy, “Ah! It’s you? Why are you dressed like this?”

“You already know why,” the girl chuckled, “I’m a notorious bandit, remember?”

“Oh, right.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Liang Shaoqing immediately changed his tune, shaking his head, “No, no, how could you be a bandit? The authorities must have misjudged, wronging a good person.”

“Haha.” Chu Qiao laughed out loud, teasing him, “What wind has blown your way? Our upright, dignified man of honor now speaks with such dishonesty. What is it? Need my help?”

“Miss, please save me.” Liang Shaoqing’s face fell. “You can’t watch me be humiliated as a slave. They don’t believe anything I say. I’m a stranger here; only you can save me now.”

“Save you?” The girl threw her melon seeds to the ground with a “pa” sound, her eyes wide. “How?”

“By buying me out, of course!”

“That won’t do!”

“Why not?”

Chu Qiao shook her head hastily, “You, a dignified scholar, to be bought and sold with common money? It would be an insult to your scholarly dignity, tarnishing your status. How could I do such a thing?”

Liang Shaoqing was dumbfounded, his face flushed red. After thinking for a while, he stammered, “Time is pressing, the situation urgent. This… this scholarly dignity, can be… be temporarily set aside.”

Hearing this, Chu Qiao burst into laughter. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw a fifty-something, plump woman dressed in silk and satin, her face heavily made-up, walking over with a large entourage. Through the cage, she grabbed Liang Shaoqing’s collar and declared, “This one.”

The owner hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, “Madam, about the price I mentioned earlier?”

“Do as you said!”

“Very well! Just a moment, please!”

Seeing this, Liang Shaoqing turned pale, looking to Chu Qiao for help.

The woman was followed by more than ten fawning servants and over twenty newly purchased slaves, all handsome.

Chu Qiao was secretly amazed. Smiling, she stepped forward and said slowly, “Madam, at your age, buying so many strong young men—can you handle it?”

The woman was displeased, giving Chu Qiao a cold look. “Where did this brat come from? Get lost.”

“I’m concerned for you. Why not let me have one?”

“Dream on!” the woman shouted angrily. “Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll break your dog’s legs!”

“My, how fierce!” Chu Qiao quickly stepped aside and called out to the owner, “Sir! How much is she paying for this slave? I’ll pay double!”

At these words, the owner, who was about to remove Liang Shaoqing from the cage, froze, his eyes gleaming with gold as he looked over.

“Double?” The woman’s voice was shrill. “I’ll pay four times as much. Dare to compete with me!”

Chu Qiao smiled, leaning against the cage nonchalantly. “I’ll pay ten times.”

“I’ll pay twenty times.”

Chu Qiao shook her head. “I’ll pay forty times.”

“I’ll pay a hundred times!”

“I’ll pay two hundred times!”

“I’ll pay a thousand times!”

“Wow! A thousand times?” Chu Qiao smiled pleasantly, exclaiming, “Then I’ll let you have him. I can’t compete with that.”

The owner’s face blossomed with joy as he rushed forward. “Madam Qian, the original price was two gold leaves. At a thousand times, that’s two thousand gold leaves. Deal!”

The woman had only been acting on impulse. Looking at this fair-faced slave from every angle, he wasn’t worth two thousand gold leaves. With a quick thought, she shouted, “Well! Master Mu, you’ve conspired with someone to cheat me!”

“How… how can you say that? I dare not cheat anyone, least of all you!”

“Hmph! I won’t buy him. We’ll see about this!” The woman shouted, turning to leave angrily with her servants.

Master Mu stood bewildered. Looking around, he spotted Chu Qiao leaning against the cage. He hurried over, smiling, “Young master, that lady has left. Since you like this slave, I’ll sell him to you. As you offered earlier, two hundred times makes four hundred gold leaves.”

“Master Mu, are you taking advantage of my youth and inexperience?” Chu Qiao smiled. “I only quoted that price to spite that fat lady. Now that she’s gone, you still ask for so much. You’re not selling a slave but a prince!”

Master Mu was speechless, chuckling awkwardly. “Well, what’s your offer?”

“The same as your original agreement, two gold leaves.”

“What?” Master Mu was greatly surprised, frowning. “I’d be better off selling to my regular customer. Why offend someone for your sake? You need to add a bit more.”

Chu Qiao snorted coldly, turning to leave. “Take it or leave it. If you won’t sell, go find your regular customer.”

“Wait! Wait a moment,” Master Mu sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll sell him to you.”

Liang Shaoqing immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but before the smile could fully spread across his face, he heard Chu Qiao say something utterly shocking: “But Master Mu, I didn’t bring any money today. How about I write you an IOU? I’ll certainly pay you back later.”

“What?” Everyone present was stunned. Master Mu was especially furious, smoke practically coming from his seven apertures as he angrily said, “Young master, are you playing games with me? I’m quite old and have lived in Xianyang City for over twenty years, but I’ve never encountered a customer like you.”

“Hey! Hey!” Liang Shaoqing called out softly, “What are you doing? Pay him quickly!”

“I don’t have any money left,” Chu Qiao turned back, looking miserable as she said, “Don’t believe me? Come and check. I’ve spent it all. Who told you to refuse it earlier when I offered?”

Liang Shaoqing’s face instantly paled. Pitifully, he asked, “What do we do now?”

“There’s no other way. Only this.”

Liang Shaoqing was about to ask what she meant when suddenly, the girl drew a sharp dagger with a swoosh, her body instantly spinning like a whirlwind. In one motion, she pressed the blade against Master Mu’s fat neck, smiling sweetly as she said, “I offered to write you an IOU, but you refused. Now, I’ll have to rob you outright.”

Master Mu’s teeth chattered as he trembled, saying, “S-such audacity!”

“I don’t know how brave I am, but Master Mu, you’re quite courageous—talking so eloquently with a knife at your throat.”

“Release our boss!”

More and more onlookers gathered around. Chu Qiao smiled, glancing around, then leaned close to Master Mu’s ear and whispered, “A man of your wealth, dying for two gold leaves—is it worth it?”

The dagger slid gently down Master Mu’s neck, immediately drawing a line of small blood droplets. The sixty-something slave trader immediately let out a heart-wrenching scream.

“Shut up!” Chu Qiao kicked the man’s shin, her eyebrows raised, her pretty face cold as ice as she commanded, “Release him now!”

“Quick! Release him!” Despite it being only a small wound, Master Mu cried so hard that even his snot was about to fall out.

Chu Qiao noticed a group of horses tethered beside the cage—Master Mu’s horses. In a flash, the girl leaped up, delivering a powerful kick to Master Mu’s chest, grabbed Liang Shaoqing, mounted a horse, shouted “Hiya!” and galloped away in a cloud of dust!

“Quick! After them!”

Master Mu shouted, but where were they to be found? The long night stretched on, the cold moon like frost, leaving only a land bathed in clear moonlight.

In a dilapidated City God Temple outside the city, Liang Shaoqing sat on dry straw. Chu Qiao took out dried provisions from her bundle and handed them to him, smiling as she said, “Eat something.”

The scholar was reluctant to accept, and Chu Qiao didn’t insist. She handed him several bank notes, saying, “I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Our paths diverge from here. If you get into trouble again, I won’t be able to save you. Take this money.”

Liang Shaoqing frowned: “Didn’t you say you had no money?”

“Who said I had no money?”

“You said so at the market.”

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, saying, “I have money, just not much—only this much left. If I had given it to him, how would you manage afterward? Besides, even if I had plenty, I wouldn’t give it to a slave trader like him.”

Liang Shaoqing was moved by her words. After thinking for a long time, he finally asked, “If this is all the money you have left and you give it all to me, what will you do?”

“I’ll be fine,” Chu Qiao smiled gently, sincerely saying, “If not for me, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Although your foolishness played a role, I’m partly responsible too. Take it. Just be more careful in the future and don’t foolishly meddle in others’ affairs.”

Rarely, Liang Shaoqing didn’t argue. He held the bank notes, lost in thought, saying nothing.

Chu Qiao took a deep breath, leaning against a pillar, gazing at the bright moon outside the window. Her gaze was serene, having lost its usual sharpness, replaced with a feminine gentleness.

Liang Shaoqing looked up at her curiously and suddenly asked, “Where are you headed?”

“Me? I’m going home.”

“Your home is in Bian Tang?”

“No,” the girl shook her head gently. “My home is far away. It’s a long journey.”

“The roads are dangerous these days. You, being a girl, must be very careful.”

Chu Qiao smiled slightly without answering. Her gaze was as soft as moonlight, her eyelashes long and dark, casting shadows on her cheeks. Seeing that she didn’t respond, Liang Shaoqing introduced himself, “I’m going to Bian Tang.”

Chu Qiao softly responded, “Oh.”

Liang Shaoqing’s voice suddenly filled with longing and joy, as if he were speaking of something worthy of great pride: “I’m going to Tang Capital in Bian Tang to visit the elderly Master Cao Zhongmou.”

“Cao Zhongmou, the Grand Secretary of Rites of Bian Tang?”

“Yes! You know of Master Cao?”

Chu Qiao nodded: “Master Cao’s poetry and prose are unmatched, and his fame is known throughout the land. Who doesn’t know him?”

“You’re right,” Liang Shaoqing said. “I’ve traveled thousands of miles, drawn by his reputation. I must meet Master Cao, discuss with him, and listen to his profound insights.”

“It’s good to have idols you admire and respect, but it’s not always necessary to get close to them. If you leave disappointed, wouldn’t that be a shame?”

“How could that be?” Liang Shaoqing immediately replied unhappily. “Master Cao’s scholarship bridges heaven and humanity, his fame spans the world. How could I be disappointed?”

“Is that so?” Chu Qiao smiled. “Then I wish you success.”

The wind blew in from outside, making the torches on the ground crackle. After pondering for a while, Liang Shaoqing tentatively asked, “Why were the officials trying to capture you?”

Chu Qiao didn’t look up: “Don’t you already know?”

Liang Shaoqing was surprised: “What do I know?”

The woman replied carelessly, “Didn’t you say it before? I’m a habitual thief. You’re right—I stole something and was discovered, that’s why they’re hunting me.”

Liang Shaoqing was stunned, completely at a loss. Chu Qiao turned to look at him, smiling sweetly as she said, “Yes, the food you’re eating, the bank notes in your hand, even the money I first used to buy you—all stolen. Now that you know your situation, do you still want to maintain your manly pride and refuse these banknotes and this food?”

“I… I…”

Liang Shaoqing stammered for a long time without forming a complete sentence. Seeing this, Chu Qiao burst into laughter, her smile radiant, her teeth white—momentarily dazzling the scholar.

Just then, Chu Qiao suddenly frowned, instantly suppressing her smile. She turned her head sharply, sitting up like an alert leopard. The night wind howled, and soon, in the quiet night, countless faint footsteps could be heard approaching the dilapidated temple rapidly.

By now, even Liang Shaoqing sensed the problem. The man nervously moved closer, whispering, “Is it Master Mu’s people coming after us?”

Chu Qiao didn’t speak, but she had already dismissed this possibility in her mind. Master Mu couldn’t possibly mobilize so many people. Just from their footsteps, she could tell they were all martial artists of considerable skill. She slowly stood up, her hand on her sword, and said calmly, “Stay behind me at all times. Whether you live or die depends on yourself.”

As she finished speaking, a white flash suddenly appeared. Danger! Chu Qiao’s reaction was incredibly swift. Her body instinctively moved, her form flickering as she lunged forward. Her arm swung right, sending a cold flash shooting into the thick darkness. With a muffled thud, a scream came from outside, followed by a silver arrow embedding itself forcefully before her.

The enemy was determined to leave no survivors. Tonight’s encounter was truly perilous!

“Follow me!” Chu Qiao shouted, rolling to the window. She drew her sword, parrying the incoming arrow storm. Chaotic footsteps sounded outside the door, and a dense shower of arrows instantly flew toward the two like locusts.

Disordered footsteps rang out at the door. Countless shadows rushed into the temple, drawing their swords without a word and slashing forward!

A cold light flashed. Two men dressed in black night clothes charged forward. Before Chu Qiao could act, one man’s blade had already reached her head.

Strike! Grab the wrist! Chu Qiao’s movements were as swift as lightning. With a crack of breaking bones—dislocation! The blade fell! In an instant, the black-clothed man collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony like a puddle of mud.

“Fool! Follow me!” Grabbing the panicking Liang Shaoqing, Chu Qiao leaped up, delivering a powerful kick to another man’s chest. With the crackling sound of bones breaking, the man spat blood and flew backward. The girl’s body swayed as she drew her sword, employing broad, powerful strokes—a completely fearless and fierce style. With powerful charges, clever evasions, and precise slashes, the girl’s precise killing technique and overwhelming bloody aura made these men retreat, unwilling to approach.

“Attack! Attack now!”

The leader pushed his retreating subordinates, shouting. Chu Qiao turned to look at him coldly, her lips curling in a sneer as she threw her last flying knife. The blade flew as if it had eyes, embedding itself in the man’s heart with a whoosh. The man’s eyes widened in shock, his feet trembling, before he collapsed to the ground with a thud!

The blades flashed blindingly. The temple was small, limiting the number of people who could enter. Wherever Chu Qiao moved, devastation followed. Her bright sword flew horizontally, each strike causing severe injury. More importantly, every part of Chu Qiao’s body was a weapon—she attacked simultaneously with both hands, using her feet, legs, and elbows to defeat enemies. For a time, no one could stand against her overwhelming force.

Just then, Liang Shaoqing let out a sudden cry of alarm from behind. Without thinking, Chu Qiao’s body twisted sharply. Instantly, a sharp pain shot through her left side beneath her ribs. With no time to check her wound, her hand moved, her sword slashing sideways. The Moon-Breaking sword flew diagonally, taking half the attacker’s head with it. Blood sprayed out, splattering all over Liang Shaoqing’s face. The scholar, who had never even killed a chicken, screamed in terror—a sound more horrifying than that of the beheaded man!

With incredible speed, the injured woman moved even more swiftly. Her petite body darted left and right in the narrow space. In moments, the ground was covered with fallen enemies.

“Hold onto me!” the girl suddenly shouted. Before Liang Shaoqing could react, he heard more enemies rushing in from outside. The man couldn’t understand why a slave trader would put such effort into capturing him. During this moment of confusion, he saw Chu Qiao unfasten the grappling hook from her waist, swing her arm, and hook it onto a ceiling beam.

The girl climbed up the rope like a monkey. By the time Liang Shaoqing tried to grab her, it was too late.

Another dense shower of arrows came. Chu Qiao crouched on the beam, hooking Liang Shaoqing’s belt with the grappling hook. Then, grabbing the other end of the rope, she leaped down, passing Liang Shaoqing in midair. In the blink of an eye, she had pulled the cumbersome man onto the roof!

“Quick! Shoot arrows!”

“Hold the rope!” Chu Qiao shouted, then grabbed the rope and climbed up in a few movements. The arrows came in a dense shower. Chu Qiao, in a moment of carelessness, was hit in the shoulder, blood flowing freely.

“Ah! You’re wounded!”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Chu Qiao snapped, kicking through the roof tiles and pulling Liang Shaoqing out along the beam.

Arrows pattered against the beam. Someone shouted, “The targets are on the roof! Go up and catch them!”

But by the time they ran out and climbed onto the roof, there was no trace of Chu Qiao.

The black-clothed men looked at each other in confusion. After a while, one angrily removed his black outer garment, saying, “Even with such a tight net, she escaped! I’ve lived all these years for nothing!”

Beneath the black garment, he was wearing a military uniform.

Another man shook his head, saying, “We lost quite a few men at Tang Ma Ridge too. If she were an ordinary woman, would the imperial capital promise us so many rewards?”

“I think we should drop this matter.”

“You wish you could continue,” the man shook his head. “Trying to catch her in the future will only be more difficult.”

“How are you?”

In the thick of night, Liang Shaoqing carried Chu Qiao, running swiftly through narrow alleys. The shoulder wound wasn’t serious, but the injury below her left ribs was severe, bleeding profusely.

Chu Qiao groaned, gritting her teeth as she said, “Put me down.”

“What?”

“Put me down!”

The woman said firmly, “They’re not following us.”

“Who says we’re not following you?”

A deep voice suddenly sounded in the darkness. Both of them were startled and looked up to see Master Mu leading more than twenty men, walking out with a smile.

Liang Shaoqing cried out, “So it was you!”

Master Mu didn’t even glance at him, his small eyes fixed on Chu Qiao as he smiled and said, “Brat, you have quite a few enemies looking for you. It’s truly a case of searching everywhere without success, only to find what we seek without effort.”

Liang Shaoqing suddenly stood up, stretching his arms to shield Chu Qiao. Summoning his courage, he shouted, “If you want to capture someone, capture me! Don’t harm her!”

“Don’t harm her?” Master Mu snorted coldly. “I won’t spare either of you!”

“Come! Seize this boy. He’s quite handsome and will fetch a good price.”

The crowd surged forward, quickly capturing the severely wounded Chu Qiao and the defenseless Liang Shaoqing.

Master Mu waved his hand: “Let’s go! Back to the market!”

(The author notes: Didn’t finish writing during the day, making up for it tonight.)