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墨書 Inktalez
She walked with an empty stomach, exhausted to the point where she had no strength left. As she thought about reaching the city, she realized that after walking for a while, when her heels began to ache, she had completely gone in the wrong direction.
She had never been good with directions; when leading troops in the past, she often had one or two people familiar with the terrain by her side. But now, there wasn't a single person around who could help her, and she felt like a headless fly, stumbling aimlessly.
Continuing on like this was manageable when she was in good spirits, but when hunger and fatigue set in, she could only sit still and wait for someone kind enough to lend a hand. Although she had experienced many hardships and had even been on the battlefield—where she had once died—she had never felt as helpless as she did at this moment, as if she were the only person left in the world, living without support.
Her confidence had been shattered the moment she realized everything around her had changed.
On the roadside sat a stunning beauty, who was particularly eye-catching no matter where she was. Passersby, whether merchants or travelers, would stop to take a look, and some of the more flirtatious ones would even ask, "What is the beautiful lady doing?"
She glared at every bold person who dared to be lewd, brandishing her dagger forward, which immediately frightened them into retreating. A beauty carrying a weapon made even the most charming face seem intimidating.
She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, trying hard to figure out what had happened to her. Just then, a sound of hooves echoed ahead; looking up, she saw a caravan slowly approaching. There were more than ten horses pulling carts piled high with goods—a clear sign it was a merchant convoy.
She stood up, wanting to ask the caravan to take her along, but then hesitated, unsure of how to make such a request. It seemed she had never asked anyone for help before.
Just as she was hesitating, the caravan came to a stop. An elderly man approached her and bowed slightly. "Miss, what brings you here?"
She looked up at him, her large eyes revealing a hint of vulnerability. "I want to go to Jiancheng."
The old man exclaimed softly, "To get to Jiancheng, you should head south; this is west."
She replied quietly, "I don't know the way."
The old man felt a pang of sympathy. "Please wait here; I will ask my master."
He went to the front of the carriage and whispered a few words. The person inside the carriage replied a couple of times, and from the voice, it seemed to be a young man.
Before long, the old man returned and said to her, "If the young lady does not mind, you can travel with us. However, we are not going to Jian City; we are headed to Kou City. When we return, we can take you along."
She thought for a moment; after all, she was currently penniless, and someone willing to take her along was better than nothing. Otherwise, with just her two legs, even if she could manage to walk the whole way, she would starve to death. Especially given her current situation, she could not predict what would happen in Jian City or whether everything there would be as she imagined.
The members of the caravan took good care of her, perhaps seeing her as a pitiful young woman. They allowed her to sit on a pile of goods so she wouldn't have to walk on her own two feet.
She also met the owner of the caravan, a young master who had not yet reached adulthood. Others called him Young Master Rong. He looked thin and frail, and it was unclear if he was suffering from some illness as he would often cough. His legs seemed to have issues as well; since joining the caravan, she had not seen him get down from the carriage.
Given his physical condition, he should not have been traveling outside, or perhaps something had happened at home, or there could be other reasons.
She was merely an outsider; even if she had doubts in her heart, it was not appropriate to ask. So she quietly played the role of a distressed young woman.
In just a few days, they arrived at Kou City.
Kou City was a beautiful place; it was picturesque here. Although it was Winter Day, walking through the thick white snow was a rare enjoyment. Flakes of snow fell from above; in no time at all, the mountains were white, the roads were white, and even the carriage was covered in white. Each person's head was sprinkled with bits of snow.
She reached out to catch the snowflakes as they landed in her palm. They felt cool against her skin, and just as she tried to see their shape clearly, they melted into drops of water—truly "pure and flawless, crystal clear."
The young master worried that she might be cold outside and urged her to sit inside the carriage, but she refused. She loved snow; she loved watching it and enjoyed the feeling of it melting in her palm. It reminded her of when she used to run around in the palace with Qi every time it snowed, putting snow down his collar while watching him jump around in shock as she laughed heartily beside him. Thinking back on those wonderful times brought a smile to her face; she truly wished she could return to her childhood and those carefree happy days.
While she felt joyful, others did not share her good mood. Many people huddled their necks in against the cold and struggled to move forward while constantly complaining about their master's "heartlessness."
The lord's coldness was not only reflected in his demeanor but also manifested in other ways.
They were hurrying along the road when suddenly a Mysterious Cloaked Figure on horseback intruded into their view. The black Steed galloped across the pristine white snow, its hooves crushing the piled snow, sending flakes flying, some even splattering onto the faces of the caravan drivers.
The Mysterious Cloaked Figure had a black scarf covering their face, and a pair of bright eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, as if they had come here for a leisurely hunt.
Soon, many shouts came from behind the Mysterious Cloaked Figure, chaotic yet pressing forward, as several cold arrows whizzed through the northern wind, embedding themselves in the surrounding trees. The Steed pulling the cart suddenly reared up and let out a fierce neigh, likely having been struck by an arrow.
With the release of the cold arrows, chaos erupted within the caravan. Someone shouted, “Bandits are coming! Bandits are coming!”
The injured horse pulling the cargo bolted forward, scattering the Bandits that had surrounded them.
She could see clearly from the cart and picked up a Wooden Stick, leaping down to charge at the leading Mysterious Cloaked Figure. She had observed that there were about a dozen of them; aside from the leading Mysterious Cloaked Figure, who looked like a skilled fighter, the others were merely a rabble. If she could capture him first, the rest would fall apart without a fight.
She engaged with the Mysterious Cloaked Figure, while the Steward regained his senses and hurriedly directed his subordinates to protect the young master and safeguard the cargo.
Many loyal assistants in the caravan quickly regrouped, brandishing weapons to fend off the fierce Bandits. The two sides clashed with weapons drawn, producing a cacophony of clanging sounds. The clash of blades, fierce expressions, bloodied weapons, and low howls filled the entire wilderness with sounds of battle and a sense of tragedy. Many assistants suffered severe injuries or lost their lives, their cries echoing relentlessly.
Her Wooden Stick was broken in her hand, leaving her to defend herself with a dagger she didn’t know where it had come from; it had been beside her when she woke up. Although it was quite sharp, it was at a disadvantage against longer swords. However, every inch shorter meant greater danger; with short weapons against long ones, as long as she fought for her life, there was still hope for victory.
Perhaps due to her unwillingness to back down or because of the pent-up frustration she felt since waking up, every thrust she made carried a reckless momentum, each aimed at his horse's legs.
Seeing her like this, the Mysterious Cloaked Figure raised an eyebrow and said, “You really are something; you would risk your life for someone unrelated. I didn't know you could fight after not seeing you for several days.”
She was taken aback, "Who are you?"
"I am a thief. Didn't that annoying person already tell you I am a thief?"
He seemed to recognize her, but she clearly did not know him. After a moment of hesitation, she shouted loudly, "You bold villain, there's no need for more words. Surrender at once!"
"Tsk tsk, just like that Hate People, heartless and ungrateful."
He shook his head and sighed, suddenly turning his horse to run back the way he came. After running about a hundred meters, he turned his head back and shouted at her, "Today I'll let you off this time, but sooner or later I will return."
Once he left, the other Bandits followed suit and quickly disappeared without a trace.
The Bandits were gone; she should have been happy, but instead, she felt a chill run down her spine as if she had suddenly attracted the attention of someone formidable. And who was that Hate People he mentioned? Someone who could make him dislike them must be quite a character.
Turning back to face the caravan members, they all looked at her with expressions of utter astonishment. This scene could no longer be described as strange; it was as if she were some extraordinary creature.
The atmosphere became heavy and lifeless until suddenly a cough came from inside the carriage. Just that one sound began to permeate the quiet atmosphere, instantly bringing the entire scene back to life. The once dazed faces finally showed other expressions.
Young Master Rong said softly, "Cheng Uncle, what are you still doing? Hurry and help me down to thank our benefactor."
"Yes."
The Steward hurried over to assist Young Master Rong down from the carriage.
Since joining this caravan, this was the second time she had seen him get off the carriage; the first time was two days ago when they stayed at an inn, and now it was happening again.
He knelt down on the ground and performed a grand gesture of respect towards her. The Steward and many members of the caravan also knelt, bowing their heads three times, saying, "Thank you for saving our lives, benefactor."
She had been bowed to by many people before, and she felt no burden from their grand gestures. She was indeed among the noblest of nobles; it was only natural for everyone in Yan Country to pay their respects to her.
She sheathed her dagger and said lightly, "Young Master need not be so formal."
At that moment, she resembled a mighty general receiving the kneeling homage of thousands of soldiers, her imposing presence and noble air causing everyone to take notice.
Young Master Rong was slightly taken aback, as if he were seeing her clearly for the first time. He had thought she was a weak woman without a home, but who would have imagined that she was a woman with more spirit than many men.
He bowed down once more, this time with even greater sincerity.
Because of her recent confrontation with the Robber, she had become a great benefactor to the caravan. Everyone treated her with utmost respect, as if she were an esteemed guest. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that since this change in her role, she was no longer regarded as a weak woman who needed care in every matter. Especially Young Master seemed to be more distant than before.
Qing had once told her that whether one is a man or a woman, being too prominent would come at a cost. At that time, she did not understand what that meant, but now witnessing this scene, she suddenly realized that the price paid was the little power of protection that came with being a woman. A weak woman should be protected, while a strong woman skilled in martial arts did not require such protection.
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