"Miss Xue really looks charming like this. Why not obediently follow us back and become our chief wife to play with?"

Half of his body leaned into the carriage, but the only things waiting for the bandit were the girl's tiny embroidered shoes and her screams.

"Help, Uncle Qian, save me, sob sob ..."

Her eyes were filled with mist, the heavy rain soaked the carriage, while the horse lay weakly on the ground, ropes tied to its legs, seemingly having tumbled chaotically, unable to stand up at all for the moment.

The girl inside the carriage seemed only fifteen or sixteen years old. Seeing the rogue trying to crawl into the carriage to abduct her, she screamed continuously and kicked him in the face, causing a burst of pain. He reached out and grabbed her ankle, attempting to drag her out of the carriage.

"Hehehe, Miss Xue, we've been waiting here for you a long time."

"A few years ago, when you were sent to the state city, you weren't like this. Blame it on those two bastards, Xue Ming and Xue Wuwei. If it weren't for your uncle, we wouldn't have been driven out of Qingshui County, forced to become bandits."

"Now it's your turn to pay back. Tell me, how should we brothers get our revenge tonight for these years? Huh?"

His expression was fierce.

He violently pulled at the girl's long limbs, even tearing her dress, causing her to scream loudly.

"No, it's not my fault. I've never bullied anyone. Please ... Uncle Qian, save me! Sob sob ..."

Her face was full of fear and grievance. She also knew that her uncle and the ignorant cousin had offended many people outside, facing great calamities years ago when the Xue Family was directly dissolved, leaving only these branch clan members.

Although the main family was gone, there were still many Xue family members outside in the branches, as such a large family can't just disappear abruptly. They've naturally accumulated considerable wealth over the years. Besides, Xue Ming, as the Family Head, has always been very charismatic, especially in the early days when he started from scratch with many loyal followers.

It was only later that Xue Wuwei acted excessively, causing his father to bear many blames. Like Miss Xue before him, she belongs to a family branch, with her father managing businesses near the state city. Even news about the sale of Body Tempering Pills in the market came from her to the main family.

"It's not your fault?"

"Hey, wasn't your Xue family very prosperous back in those days? How have you fallen to such a state now? Now that Xue Ming and Xue Wuwei are dead, you will repay the debt!"

"I've been following you for three days, finally found my chance. Don't worry, in this pouring rain, those government officials aren't going to patrol!"

Half of his body inside the carriage, he kept trying to pull the girl out. As long as they were older residents of Qingshui County, no, any local could guess what was happening. Not only Miss Xue before them, but many Xue family members suffered revenge after the main family fell.

After all, the trouble stirred by the lone son of the Xue family was far too much, coupled with many unsavory business tactics. Now that father and son are dead, the grudges are naturally directed at other innocent family members.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands pulled him away from behind!

Falling onto the ground, a fierce expression flashed across his face. The bandit pulled out a large knife to slash back, barely blocked by this man. However, other bandits who caught up stabbed forcefully, leaving a long wound despite trying to twist his body.

The towering body blocked in front of the carriage, this man appeared to be around forty years old, muscular in build, not cultivators but merely martial practitioners. Even as martial artists, they couldn't fend off so many bandits.

Barely kicking away one of them, the man lowered his voice toward the carriage behind him, "Miss, don't be afraid! This place is less than fifteen miles from Qingshui County. I'll hold these people back later, Miss, you should quickly run to Qingshui County. There's a post inn five miles ahead at the west gate where as long as they see you, they'll surely come to help ..."

"Uncle Qian, but what about you."

The girl hid behind the man with a timid expression. She was returning to Qingshui County this time merely to pay respects to her ancestors, since she grew up in Qingshui County. Soon it would be the memorial day for her uncle and cousin. With the family torn apart now, only she persisted in coming annually for the ritual.

One mustn't forget those who dug the well when fetching water. Regardless of how many mistakes or wicked deeds her family committed, her ability to live in the state city, enjoying a life of good food and drink, and hiring tutors to learn to read and write, all came thanks to this uncle. No matter what, she had to return home and see it.

Yet, never did she imagine being intercepted nearing her destination, causing this incident. Under normal circumstances, soldiers would be patrolling along the way, but a torrential downpour delayed the schedule today.

"Don't worry about me, go."

With a forceful push!

Some sharp-eyed ones wanted to stop the girl, but the strong-built man dashed forward to bump them away. It seemed Miss Xue still had words to say, but Uncle Qian only shouted loudly.

"Run quickly!"

"I owed Lao Xue a life many years ago. Last time when Lao Xue was harmed, I wasn't in the county. Now that you're the only surviving bloodline, I'll pay this life debt to Lao Xue. Remember to offer a stick of incense for me."

"Stop looking, run quickly, don't look back!"

With a roar, he voluntarily plunged ahead.

Facing six alone, his movement technique and knife skills were quite impressive. The big curved knife he wielded swept fierce winds, yet ultimately he's just an ordinary person. Lacking the terrifying physical quality of cultivators, nor their strong ability to regenerate.

His energy was quickly consumed, wounds still bleeding, especially with internal injuries. Remember, he was the driver when the carriage was tripped. He tumbled over ten meters on the ground after falling to stop, surviving was merely lucky.

Breathing became difficult, broken ribs pierced into his lung making motion increasingly arduous. Yet relying on decades of martial training, he could still hold back six bandits barely. Miss Xue only bit her lip and covered her mouth quick-footedly on the rugged mountain path.

She dared not stop, dare not look back, only ran while screaming loudly for help, hoping someone could hear her voice, persevering with gritted teeth all the way. But after all, she was just a pampered young lady, merely running two miles left her gasping.

Her legs felt as heavy as being filled with lead, quickly hearing movement behind her.

"Ah!"

A large knife swung over from behind.

"Still want to run, run? Why aren't you running anymore! Trying to go back and report? Dream on!"

The voice from behind startled the girl, particularly the large knife almost brushing past her body, causing her to stagger and fall on the spot.

Her delicate arm bruised on the stony mountainside road filled with scrapes and bruises, terrified and despairing watching the approaching bandit. Her mind was overwhelmed both by fear and despair, her lips trembling, unsure how to beg for mercy. But it was this look of hopelessness and helplessness that excited them.

Especially since she was the child of an enemy.

His face wore a vicious grin, though the bandit himself was covered in wounds, indicating Uncle Qian resisted with all his might. Yet thwarting many hands with mere fists could only last, pressing forward until the bandit lunged the next second.

Bang—

Landing embarrassingly.

A tattered figure emerged, with bare broken limbs. His left hand seized the bandit by the nape and threw him five-six meters away. The tall and lean figure blocked the girl, expressionless, neither joy nor sadness, calmly muttering a sentence.

"Judging by your skill, you should be well-trained, seems you've practiced martial arts since childhood."

"Men should stand firm by thirty, it's the age for achievements and standing tall. Yet you chose banditry, bullying women, truly deserving thousand deaths by cutting."

"Even your martial master and your parents would likely be ashamed of you; someone like you disgusts me in life."

The man's voice was weak, his body incomplete, but when saying these words the confidence was strong.

Every time at such moments, it felt as though he returned to several years ago, with disdain toward enemies yet filled with self-assurance. Even Wu Daoxu didn't notice, not only he followed the voice here but other eyes watched and whispered.

"You see, wasn't I right, I'm good at judging people."

"Years ago, I felt this guy was genuine, just a bit extreme. His refined Soul Puppets emanate such fierce malice, clearly made from ferocious criminals."

"Now you can rest easy..."

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