On the official road heading west, a carriage raced along.

Inside, two men ground their teeth, occasionally glancing at the sack beside them, sneers forming at the corners of their mouths.

Third Master Xie was indeed as rumored—an embroidered pillow stuffed with straw. It had taken them no effort at all.

And he was a military official! Simply disgraceful!

“How do you think our master will deal with him?”

“Most likely cut off his thing.”

“The Xie family has three sons. Cut off one, there are still two. But our side won’t work—we’ll have no heir.”

“We’ll see if our master can recover enough to father another one.”

I’d say that’s a pipe dream.

Inside the sack, Xie Zhifei silently replied.

An hour or so later, the carriage turned onto a small path. After traveling a bit longer, it entered an estate.

At the estate gate, several guards were already waiting.

The two men jumped down from the carriage. One of them said, “Brother Liu, put this one in the woodshed?”

The one called Brother Liu lifted the curtain. “Someone’s already in the woodshed.”

“You got that woman?”

“Didn’t we just? Put this Xie fellow in the stable.”

“Brother Liu, our master is impotent now. Do you think that woman will be for us?”

Brother Liu gave several lewd chuckles. “Not just for us—all the brothers get a share. Play however you want.”

“Hahaha…”

“Look at you all, so eager. Your filthy things better stay put. Before the master gives the word, that woman can’t lose a single hair. Understood?”

“Understood, Brother Liu, you can rest completely assured!”

Several men talked as they pulled the carriage into the estate.

Two strong men climbed onto the cart, brought down the sack, and threw it hard into the stable.

Xie Zhifei’s head hit the ground, striking heavily. The pain made his scalp tingle and stars dance before his eyes.

After recovering, he gave his hands a slight pull—the rope broke. He took out a blade and cut hard at the sack.

Light flooded in. Xie Zhifei immediately drew a breath of fresh air.

With each inhale and exhale, his mind raced.

That woman must be Yan Sanhe.

He had to hand it to her—was Li Buyan just decoration? She couldn’t even keep watch over someone?

And what about the person he’d sent?

Was he dead?

Third Master Xie was so angry his eyes filled with blood.

…

Yan Sanhe slowly regained consciousness.

The moment she opened her eyes, memories rushed back into her mind.

She’d been standing by the river, staring intently at the water surface, when she suddenly heard movement behind her. Before she could turn around, her neck received a heavy blow.

Who?

Only that wretch Xu Sheng!

Yan Sanhe moved her limbs and discovered her hands and feet were bound behind her back—she couldn’t even sit up.

But the more critical the situation, the calmer Yan Sanhe became.

Li Buyan was a good swimmer. For these thieves to abduct her in such a short time meant their skills were considerable.

When she’d been standing by the water, it was just before noon.

Now the sun was slanting down from the west—about one or two hours had passed. That was enough time for Li Buyan to rush back to the capital and report.

This meant Xie Zhifei had already received news of her abduction and was searching everywhere for her.

With Xie Zhifei’s brain, he wouldn’t even need to think to know who was behind this.

One or two hours wouldn’t be enough to find her, but three or four hours should be about right, which meant…

The woodshed door suddenly opened, and a familiar face poked in.

Yan Sanhe’s heart stopped abruptly.

Had this man flown here?

Their eyes met. Xie Zhifei made a silencing gesture toward Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe blinked, indicating he could completely relax, and also indicating he should quickly help her untie the ropes.

This position with limbs bound behind her and face on the ground was truly humiliating enough to make her want to kill someone.

Xie Zhifei completely missed the meaning of Yan Sanhe’s blinking. After dragging in the two guards he’d knocked unconscious, he walked to Yan Sanhe and began untying her ropes.

As he untied them, seeing the bruises on her wrists, Third Master’s belly filled with fire that shot upward—he also wanted to kill someone.

So when tying up those two guards, Xie Zhifei not only used excessive force but also viciously kicked one of them in the head.

Yan Sanhe rubbed her aching wrists, looking at the fury on Xie Zhifei’s face, and asked in a suppressed voice:

“Where is this? How did you find it so quickly? Where are Li Buyan and the others?”

Xie Zhifei had no time to explain and couldn’t answer. “Good girl, let’s first find a place to hide.”

Good girl?

Was this the right time to use that word?

Hide?

Why hide?

Didn’t Li Buyan and the others follow?

Though Yan Sanhe had a belly full of questions, she didn’t ask a single one. She only said coldly, “Where do we hide?”

“We can’t stay here anyway. Let’s get out first.”

Xie Zhifei rummaged around and somehow produced a dagger. “Take this for protection.”

“I have one!”

Yan Sanhe pulled out a dagger from behind her waist.

Thank heaven—these thieves hadn’t yet had time to search her.

The two of them crept out of the woodshed, pressing against the wall as they headed toward a corner of the estate.

After circling past a row of connected low buildings, Yan Sanhe realized this was a suburban estate with rolling mountains behind it.

Her eyes lit up. “Hide in the trees!”

“Hide in the trees!”

Xie Zhifei’s low voice rang out almost simultaneously with hers.

Their eyes met, and both saw incredulity in the other’s gaze.

Xie Zhifei: “You can climb trees?”

“Who are you looking down on, Third Master?”

Having dropped that line, Yan Sanhe took off running.

Xie Zhifei’s eyes flashed with amusement as he also broke into a run.

Two figures raced through the afternoon sunlight, soon reaching the perimeter wall.

Xie Zhifei crouched down. “Step on my shoulder and climb up.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t hesitate. One foot on Xie Zhifei’s shoulder, one hand hooking the wall, she pulled herself up with force and was on top of the wall.

Without even taking a breath, she turned around and extended her hand. “Come up.”

Xie Zhifei also didn’t hesitate. Grabbing Yan Sanhe’s hand, he kicked against the wall a few times and was up.

Just then, shouts came from the distance.

Not good—someone had discovered their escape.

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed as he jumped down from the wall.

“Quick, jump down—I’ll catch you!”

“Move aside.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t need him to catch her. Gritting her teeth, she leaped down.

Her feet had barely touched the ground when the man’s arms steadied her firmly.

Yan Sanhe jutted her chin. “Up the tree!”

Xie Zhifei nodded. “Find the biggest one.”

Below Taihang Mountain stood towering trees.

Yan Sanhe found one with the most luxuriant branches and leaves. First she looked up to observe the tree’s structure, then she spat twice into her palms and rubbed them together.

“I’ll go first!”

Like a cat, she scrambled up swiftly and nimbly.

Sunlight filtered through the forest, dazzling Xie Zhifei’s eyes. For a moment he felt disoriented, as if transported back to an afternoon nine years ago.

“What are you standing there for? Come up!”

Yan Sanhe turned her head to see Xie Zhifei still standing dumbly. Her eyes widened, nearly popping from their sockets. “Hurry!”

Xie Zhifei felt as if something had gently plucked at his heart.