Immersed in the enchanting twilight, there was a certain uniqueness to it, even the pressure seemed to lessen considerably.
"Whoa!"
At that moment, the carriage came to a sudden stop, jolting the compartment. Ye Xiaohan lost her grip and was thrown into a corner.
Six Bei lifted the curtain and jumped inside, pulling the still-dizzy Ye Xiaohan into his embrace. He covered her mouth and whispered in her ear, "Don't make a sound, there are Bandits!"
Bandits?
Ye Xiaohan's mind immediately conjured up images from movies and dramas, picturing a rough figure wielding a large machete, dressed haphazardly with one arm exposed, and wrapped in animal skin.
Her curiosity piqued; this was her first encounter with real Bandits in her life.
Six Bei restrained her restless body, pressing her down firmly. "Don't be silly; stay in the carriage. They aren't after us. We'll wait until they leave before we continue."
"Not after us?" Ye Xiaohan asked in confusion. "Are they just passing by?" She imagined a line of ants moving house, one Bandit after another, slowly marching along.
Seeing the spark of excitement in her eyes, Six Bei grew increasingly worried that she might impulsively rush out to take a look. He had no choice but to inform her about the situation outside. "There’s another carriage out there that looks quite valuable. Those Bandits are after them."
However, Six Bei's intention backfired; his words only ignited Ye Xiaohan's interest further. She leaned against the window, peeking outside and murmuring, "So arrogant? I want to see what these Bandits really look like. Just one glance."
Six Bei had always found it difficult to manage her enthusiasm, and this time was no different; he reluctantly compromised while remaining on high alert for any unexpected developments that might put Ye Xiaohan in danger.
Ye Xiaohan finally caught sight of the Bandits but was left utterly disappointed. "Huh? These are the Bandits? They look so ordinary; they’re no different from regular villagers."
There were no towering figures wielding massive machetes or clad in animal skins; there were only about a dozen of them. They had a slight air of menace about them, but not all of them—some appeared timid, trailing behind nervously.
The ruffians on the street looked more intimidating than they did.
Ye Xiaohan couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration, wondering what nonsense was going through her mind again.
After briefly mourning the shattering of her long-held fantasies, she shifted her gaze to the carriage surrounded by the Bandits. It quickly dawned on her what Lubei meant by "valuable."
As the light faded, it was hard to discern what material the carriage was made of, but just from its silhouette, one could sense its sturdiness and grandeur.
The carriage was covered with thick felt to protect it from rain and moisture, while light silk fluttered gently from the windows. The two horses pulling the carriage were robust and well-fed, surrounded by a crowd yet showing no signs of fear, snorting and letting out a couple of loud neighs.
In comparison to this carriage, their single horse cart looked pitiful. It was like a luxurious yet understated Benz passing by an old electric tricycle on a bustling street—an enormous difference that anyone could recognize.
One word: wealthy.
Two words: nouveau riche.
Three words: rich people!
To Ye Xiaohan, the entire carriage transformed into a dazzling pile of gold, her eyes gleaming with fervor that rivaled that of the Bandits.
Perhaps because of this, all the Bandits' attention was focused on the "luxurious vehicle," completely ignoring Ye Xiaohan and her shabby cart as if they didn't even exist.
"Get down now! Do I have to ask you three times?" one of the Bandits shouted. "Don't think you can refuse our invitation; once our patience runs out, we won't be so polite!"
The coachman had already jumped down from the carriage, standing guard in front to prevent the Bandits from getting close. "How dare you, Bandits! Do you know whose carriage this is? You must have guts to rob Power House's vehicle!"
The Bandits laughed recklessly. "I don't care who you are; this road is under my control! If you're smart, get off quickly and leave behind everything valuable. If you make me happy today, I might just let you go!"
"That depends on whether you have the ability!" The coachman was fearless, twirling his knife in hand, ready for a fight at any moment.
"Stop!"
A young woman's voice came from inside the carriage, carrying an air of authority that hinted at her noble upbringing. It was a unique quality cultivated over years of wealth and propriety.
"Yes, my lady," the coachman replied, stepping back to lean against the wheel, his gaze fixed intently on the bandits.
The carriage doors and windows remained closed, but the woman's voice rang out clearly: "Gentlemen, I am merely passing through and possess little of value. I kindly ask you to spare me. Upon my return, I will send a token of gratitude."
The bandits burst into laughter. "Do you think we're fools? Letting you go and then expecting us to send you money? I've heard of cooked ducks flying away, but never of ducks that flew off returning for more!"
"Boss, stop wasting breath on this arrogant woman. Just look at her carriage; only the wealthy can afford such luxury. There must be treasures inside!" One bandit brandished his knife, eager for the spoils he envisioned.
"Right, let's not waste time talking—let's take what they have!" The bandits brandished their weapons, waiting for their leader's command.
With a wave of his hand, the bandit leader shouted, "Brothers, let's take everything from these rich folks!"
"Yeah! Yeah!" The bandits surged forward.
The coachman wielded his knife with skill, clearly trained in combat, but against so many opponents, he was gradually overwhelmed.
Before long, he bore several cuts but remained steadfast by the carriage.
The bandits exchanged glances and seized their chance. While he was distracted, they ambushed him from behind and dragged him away from the carriage. One bandit leaped onto the carriage, crashing through the door and tearing aside the curtain.
"My lady!"
Furious, the coachman struggled to return but found himself ensnared by several bandits.
The bandit cackled, "I want to see just how beautiful this rich lady is!" He leaned in to peer inside.
However, before he could catch a glimpse of what lay within the carriage, he felt a powerful force yank him out of the compartment.
"Which bastard?" the Bandit cursed as he looked up, only to feel a shadow loom over him, causing him to panic and nearly lose control of himself.
Realizing the situation was dire, he attempted to flee. However, before he could even get to his feet, a strong hand grabbed his arm and flung him far away.
The man who had suddenly appeared was none other than 6 Bei.
6 Bei and Ye Xiaohan had been watching the scene unfold from their carriage. Seeing that things were going south, they decided to intervene.
For 6 Bei, this was a moment of hesitation. There was no benefit in opposing the Bandits; they didn’t seem intent on killing anyone, so there was no need to stir up trouble.
Ye Xiaohan, however, had different thoughts.
First, there was only one woman in the carriage. It was against her principles to let a woman be bullied without intervening. Out of humanitarian concern, Ye Xiaohan couldn’t just stand by.
Second, before they set out, Ye Xiaohan had prepared a substantial amount of biochemical weapons just in case. Among them was a Sedative that could quickly incapacitate anyone who inhaled it—perfect for the current situation. She felt confident in her ability to handle it.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, was the identity of the woman in the carriage.
Anyone who could afford such an upscale carriage and hire skilled drivers must have some significant status.
Moreover, from the earlier conversation between her and the Bandit, it was clear that this woman maintained her composure throughout the ordeal without uttering a single scream. When negotiating with the Bandit, she exuded an air of authority that demanded respect.
This was an attitude typical of someone accustomed to being in a position of power.
If they managed to save someone of such stature, it would only bring benefits to Ye Xiaohan and 6 Bei. If she were grateful and chose to support them later on, that would be even better.
And if she turned out to be ungrateful and walked away? Well, at least they would have done a good deed for the day.
Furthermore, Ye Xiaohan had always been good at reading people. Even though she hadn’t seen this woman’s face but only heard her voice, she sensed that this was not someone who would be ungrateful or turn into a backstabber.
If only she could become wealthy enough to compete with Liu Yuan, then they wouldn't have to worry about being afraid, sneaking around to avoid people even when buying things.
Liubei had no choice but to comply with the orders and work hard without complaint. He had never liked the actions of the Bandits, who spared neither the elderly nor women and children. Since Ye Xiaohan felt the same way, he decided to do his best.
With Liubei's involvement, the situation quickly turned around. The Bandits had to divert some of their manpower to deal with him, which eased the pressure on the coachman considerably.
The two of them stood guard by the carriage, fending off the attacking Bandits and forcing them to retreat in disarray.
"Who do you think you are, ruining my grandfather's good deeds! Just wait!" After throwing down a harsh threat, a group of Bandits fled in embarrassment, clutching their wounds.
Ye Xiaohan jumped down from the carriage and applauded them. Earlier, she had been repeatedly warned by Liubei not to leave the carriage. She understood that with her skills, getting involved would only cause trouble, so she had stayed inside, watching the situation unfold and ready to use her Sedative at the first sign of danger.
However, both Liubei and his companion were skilled fighters, leaving no opportunity for her to intervene. She was quite satisfied after witnessing such an exciting display of martial arts.
Especially Liubei; when he fought, there was no unnecessary flair—his movements were swift and decisive. Every strike was practical and effective, making it particularly enjoyable to watch.
Of course, this only made Ye Xiaohan more suspicious about Liubei's true identity.
What kind of experiences could have shaped his impressive skills? What transformation allowed him to become a simple villager living in poverty?
Ye Xiaohan couldn't make sense of it no matter how hard she tried.
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