“Boss, let them be — you and I will go find something to eat.” A man in grey clothing walked over.

“Let’s go, boss, let them have their fun!”

Duan Liuyang looked at the man the others called their leader, shaking her head over and over.

Don’t leave! Don’t leave her here.

It was as if, so long as this “boss” didn’t leave, she would somehow remain safe.

But in the end, this leader left anyway, walking off without a word.

Of course he did — a man ruthless enough to kill her entire family could hardly be a good man.

“No! No!” Duan Liuyang’s long-dry eyes overflowed with tears again.

“No! Help! Save me…”

Once Lei Ming and the other man had left, she closed her eyes and bolted outward.

But after only two steps, she crashed straight into a burning-hot embrace.

“Little girl, stop screaming, save your strength.”

“Ha ha ha, the boss finally gave in.”

“No food for now, but a little fun with this girl isn’t bad either.”

“So soft, so clean — I like it.”

“Little girl, serve us men well, and we’ll definitely give you a full meal.”

“Tsk, tsk… so lovely — killing her would be such a waste.”

Duan Liuyang struggled with all her strength to break free of the man’s embrace, trying to run, only to crash straight into the arms of one man after another.

She cried, she screamed, and her strength drained away more and more.

Heaven! She didn’t want to die — who would come to save her?

Amid the men’s cheerful laughter, all Duan Liuyang could see was a grey blur.

Perhaps she deserved to die — her father, her mother, and her younger brother were all dead; let her die too.

Even so, even facing death, she didn’t want to end this way, disgraced.

Heaven, let her die — she no longer had the strength to bear any of this.

“Let her go!”

Suddenly, a resounding voice rang through the entire cave.

Duan Liuyang’s body went limp, and she collapsed onto the grass.

Was she dead? Was that voice she’d just heard the sound of heaven?

No one was coming to save her — these past few days, how many times had she heard that said?

No one would come, so — was she hallucinating, or had she reached heaven?

“Who are you?” one of the men turned and asked, looking at the figure who had appeared at the cave entrance.

Zhao Yusheng looked at the woman lying on the ground, her clothes barely covering her, and his eyes turned instantly to ice.

“Kill them for me — kill these devils!”

“Yes, Young Master.” The brothers nodded as one and charged forward, swords drawn.

The cave rang at once with the clash of swords, blades, and shouting.

It wasn’t only inside the cave — outside, chaos had already erupted, but the men inside had been too focused to notice what was happening outside.

Zhao Yusheng took off his own robe, wrapped the woman on the ground in it, and gathered her into his arms.

They had only met a few times before, but he knew she must have suffered greatly these past days, whatever exactly had happened to Miss Duan.

That such a fine woman had been tormented into this state was enough to enrage anyone who saw it.

“Miss Duan, it’s me, Zhao Yusheng.”

“Miss Duan, wake up.”

Zhao Yusheng knelt on one knee, one arm cradling Duan Liuyang against himself, and reached out his other hand to gently touch her face.

“Miss Duan, I’m Zhao Yusheng. Jiu’er sent me to save you.”

“Miss Duan, are you all right? Miss Duan, wake up.”

Duan Liuyang slowly opened her eyes.

In her world of darkness, a beam of light had suddenly appeared.

She saw — she saw a man, upright and brave.

That man had saved her, taken her into his arms, and given her warmth.

“Miss Duan, you’re awake? How are you feeling?” Zhao Yusheng let out a small breath of relief seeing her eyes open.

“It’s all right now — they can never hurt you again, don’t be afraid!”

“Who are you…” Duan Liuyang reached out a trembling hand and touched Zhao Yusheng’s cheek.

“I…”

Before she finished speaking, her body went limp and she fainted again.

Zhao Yusheng, quick to react, caught her slipping hand.

“Miss Duan, are you all right? Miss Duan.”

Zhao Yusheng laid a hand on Duan Liuyang’s neck, checking for a pulse.

Thankfully, she had only fainted.

“Young Master, is Miss Duan all right?” one of the brothers strode over.

“Take off your robe,” Zhao Yusheng said, glancing at the man who’d approached.

“Understood.” The man knew at once what was needed.

Not just him — everyone who came up behind him took off their robes as well.

It was cold outside, so Zhao Yusheng wrapped Duan Liuyang in three layers before carrying her out.

“What’s the situation?” he asked in a low voice as he stepped outside.

“Eight men in the cave, all eliminated. The brothers outside are still chasing down those who fled,” the man following him replied quietly.

“Did you see Lei Ming?” Zhao Yusheng, carrying her, glanced toward where the fighting was still going on as he reached the cave entrance.

“Yes, that’s him over there,” the man said, pointing.

Zhao Yusheng narrowed his eyes, turned, and looked at the person beside him.

“Take good care of her.” He handed Duan Liuyang over. “Under no circumstances is she to be left behind.”

“Yes.” The man took the wrapped woman. “Young Master, be careful.”

Zhao Yusheng personally finished off Lei Ming, whom they’d spent so long searching for, then mounted his horse and rode away with Duan Liuyang in his arms.

Before nightfall, they finally found a place to stay.

To evade pursuit, Lei Ming’s group had gone deep into the mountains.

Zhao Yusheng and his men rode a long distance before finding an abandoned village.

There was at least a roof over their heads, but the thatched huts inside were completely bare.

Duan Liuyang showed no sign of waking. It was too cold outside, so Zhao Yusheng had no choice but to stop.

Choosing one of the sturdier huts, Zhao Yusheng laid the woman he had been carrying onto the bed in the inner room.

“Go see if you can find some hot water,” Zhao Yusheng said, glancing back and waving a hand.

“Yes, Young Master.” The brother who had followed him in turned and left.

Zhao Yusheng again checked Duan Liuyang’s pulse.

In truth, he could only confirm she was still alive — he had no way to judge anything else.

But at least, she was alive.

Zhao Yusheng let out a breath, and, feeling his way in the dark, found a candlestick.

Fortunately, there was still half a candle left unburned on it.

He took out a fire striker and lit the candle.

The small flickering light illuminated the modest room.

Zhao Yusheng searched around but still found no blankets or quilts of any kind, so he took off another layer of his own clothing and came to the bedside.

“No! Don’t come near! No! No! Please, I beg you, don’t…”

On the bed, the woman who had been unconscious for over two hours suddenly began to murmur deliriously.

“No! No! Get away! No! Please, I beg you, don’t come near!”

Zhao Yusheng immediately sat on the bed and laid the clothes in his hand over her.

He held her small hand and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. It’s all right now.”

“It’s all my fault, for not arriving in time. I’m sorry.”

—