Chapter 58 Taking You Home Qi Yu looked down at Liu Yeshu in his arms,...

With a rustling sound, a strand of black hair fell off.

Yang Qing grasped the severed lock of hair and shook it carelessly, as if he were twisting a mere wisp of dust. Then, he stood up straight, lazily straightened his clothes, and turned to walk toward the door, his steps calm and composed, without even glancing at Liu Yeshu.

"If General Qi still doesn't give me what I want by tomorrow night," his voice echoed at the door, "I'll have to ask Miss Liu to give herself to our leader."

Liu Yeshu watched his back gradually disappear at the door, and then the heavy wooden door slammed shut, and the entire woodshed suddenly fell into darkness.

Liu Yeshu then leaned against the wall and slowly squatted down. After a moment, she suddenly understood the implication of Yang Qing's words.

"Not good—Mrs. Guo is in danger!"

The sound of the iron lock falling was particularly harsh. There was only a faint candlelight flickering in the room, illuminating the messy pile of firewood in the corner.

Liu Yeshu stood up suddenly, rushed to the door, and pushed hard against the closed wooden door with both hands.

A chilly wind from outside the woodshed blew in through the crack in the door, carrying a mountain chill. The clanking of iron locks echoed. The tethered horse in the yard seemed to have heard her movements and let out a low neigh. As if sensing its owner's uneasiness, it began pacing back and forth in the yard.

"Thump, thump, thump" - the sound of horse hooves reached her ears clearly. Apart from that, there was no other sound inside or outside the yard.

Night fell, and after an unknown amount of time, Liu Yeshu gradually fell into a drowsy sleep. Suddenly, she heard a series of tiny noises. It must be mice scurrying back and forth among the firewood. She frowned, feeling even more irritated.

Just as she was about to readjust her posture and continue to force herself to sleep, she suddenly heard a neigh - this was the sound that the Arabian horse often used to greet people it knew!

Liu Yeshu immediately got up from the ground, walked quickly to the door of the woodshed, and lay down in the crack of the door, looking around the yard nervously, trying to see the situation outside as clearly as possible.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing in the dim moonlight - it was Qi Yu's attendant!

The attendant was agile and after observing the surroundings, he crouched down and quietly approached the woodshed. His movements were extremely light and made almost no sound.

She couldn't help but whispered, "I'm here!"

The attendant paused, then quickly turned his head, his gaze fixed on the crack in the woodshed door. Quickly and quietly, he approached, gently touching the door, and listened carefully to confirm that no other bandits were approaching.

"Miss Liu!" The attendant came over, "General Qi sent me to deliver a message. We have found the mark you left behind. The general will lead his men to suppress the bandits tomorrow. Don't worry, just wait patiently tonight."

After hearing these words, Liu Yeshu felt much more at ease.

"Miss Liu, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Liu Yeshu whispered back. "There aren't many people in this village, about a hundred or so, but the mountain roads are rugged, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. There's a secret path in the back of the village that leads to the valley. If we have enough troops, we can ambush them there and block their retreat." She paused and continued, "Also, Yang Qing is here too. He seems to be collaborating with the bandit leader."

After hearing this, the attendant nodded solemnly, "Okay, I will tell the general this information. This information is extremely important to us."

Liu Yeshu added, "The patrols in the village rotate irregularly, and sometimes there are breaks between patrols, especially in the back mountains. You must be careful not to be discovered."

"Thank you, Miss Liu," the attendant whispered back, "General, please wait patiently. We will help you escape tomorrow when we take action."

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, the sound of roosters crowing could be heard from the mountain stronghold. The door to the woodshed creaked open, and the bandit walked in and urged, "Miss Liu, get up! It's time to boil medicine for the mistress."

Liu Yeshu hurriedly got up, pushed open the door and walked towards Mrs. Guo's residence, tidying up her clothes as she ran.

Pushing open the door, Mrs. Guo, who should have been lying in bed, now dangled quietly from the beam. Her body swayed gently, her head lowered slightly, her eyes devoid of their former brilliance. A coarse cloth belt was tied around her neck, the roughness cutting deeply into her skin, highlighting her pale, bloodless face. Her hands hung limply at her sides, her fingertips slightly purple and already cold.

"Mrs. Guo!!!"

Liu Yeshu's feet suddenly went weak, and her heart went cold. She rushed to Madam Guo's side, trying to untie her, but it was too late. Madam Guo was already dead, and only her face, once filled with sorrow, was now frozen in eternal pain.

When the bandit leader pushed open the door and saw Mrs. Guo's body hanging from the beam, Liu Yeshu expected him to be furious or grief-stricken. However, to her surprise, the bandit leader's reaction was unusually calm. As if he had already anticipated this scene, he simply glanced at Mrs. Guo's body coldly, his face devoid of any grief, not even a frown.

He didn't get angry, but just waved his hand calmly and ordered his men outside the door: "Take her to the back mountain and bury her."

Upon hearing this, several bandits immediately entered, deftly unhooked Mrs. Guo's body from the beam, and carried it out with indifference. The entire process was simple and efficient, as if they were already accustomed to such scenes.

Liu Yeshu looked at this scene and felt a chill in his heart.

"Since the person is already dead, there's no need for further treatment." The bandit leader's voice interrupted Liu Yeshu's thoughts. He slowly approached her, his eyes fixed on her face, a strange glint in his eyes.

"Miss Liu, this mountain stronghold is a good place for you to stay. I won't treat you unfairly in the future."

Liu Yeshu understood the meaning of his words and subconsciously took a step back.

At this moment, Yang Qing beside him chuckled softly, his eyes filled with obvious mockery and ill intentions. He slowly walked forward, looked at Liu Yeshu gloomily, and a sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth: "Brother, you are right. Miss Liu is so beautiful. If she stayed here, wouldn't her life be much better than serving in the general's mansion?"

Liu Yeshu suppressed her inner anger, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Chief, but I am not interested in this. Now that Madam Guo has left, my mission is complete. Please let me go, Chief."

The bandit leader smiled slightly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes: "Miss Liu, I don't think you can leave here." His tone was firm and contemptuous, as if he had already controlled Liu Yeshu's fate in his hands.

Yang Qing clapped his hands: "Come here, take her to get dressed and ready. Big Brother is having a banquet tonight to welcome his new beautiful bride."

Liu Yeshu was immediately pinned down, unable to move. She took a deep breath, raised her head, and demanded, "Brother Chief, Madam Guo's body is still warm, and you're just disregarding our friendship?"

The bandit leader slowly approached, his figure imposing as a mountain pressing down on Liu Yeshu. A shadow fell over her face, and the air around her seemed to freeze as he approached.

"Loyalty?" He smiled grimly, his voice low and cold. "Are you talking to me about loyalty? She's bedridden. If I hadn't found medicine for her, would she be alive today?"

"Don't think you can become arrogant just because you're pretty." He turned his gaze to Yang Qing, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Brother Yang, you did a good job this time."

Yang Qing immediately bowed, a smug smile on his face. "Big brother is so lucky. As the saying goes, the old must go before the new comes. This Miss Liu is much better than Madam Guo. She can give birth to a strong son for you."

The bandit leader laughed loudly with satisfaction and turned to leave. Behind him, Yang Qing also glanced at Liu Yeshu with a cold look and smiled with ill intent.

Two maids pushed Liu Yeshu into a side room. A few dim oil lamps burned inside, illuminating a steaming wooden barrel and a bright red wedding dress. Embroidered with rich peonies, the dress shone eerily in the lamplight, as if mocking this absurd farce.

"Hurry up and get ready, and serve the chief well tonight." One of the maids smiled flatteringly and took out the wedding dress from the gold-painted lacquered wooden box. The fluttering red gauze made the room even more depressing.

Liu Yeshu stood there, her eyes as cold as ice. She stared at the wedding dress, remembering Guo's pale face, and felt a wave of nausea. This dress had once been another woman's nightmare, and now it was about to become her prison uniform.

Seeing that she wouldn't move, the maids grabbed her arms, one on each side. Liu Yeshu struggled hard, her hair disheveled, a strand of black hair falling down, covering her pale face.

"Don't bother," she said coldly, "I can do it myself."

The maids exchanged glances and stepped back, still guarding the doorway with a fierce gaze. Liu Yeshu slowly untied her belt, knowing that these maids, like her, were abducted and pitiful, now merely trying to survive in this cage.

"No one has worn this new dress for a long time." An old woman sighed.

Liu Yeshu's stomach churned. Thinking of the dress's previous owner, she couldn't hold it in any longer and vomited, hugging the wooden bucket. The women watched coldly, a flicker of sympathy in their eyes, but it quickly faded.

The sun was setting in the west, and the village remained peaceful. Liu Yeshu stood by the window, gazing at the rolling hills in the distance. The hope in her heart faded away bit by bit, just like the fading sunlight.

"Baike, is the sleeping powder ready?"

The system immediately responded: [The mixture has been prepared, but the herbs are out of stock. Only one set is available.]

Liu Yeshu hid the sleeping powder in the sleeves of her inner garment.

In the evening, the maids pushed open the door again, carrying a cup of wine with a strange aroma. The wine was a pale pink, and looked eerie in the dim light.

"Miss Liu," the old woman smiled, narrowing her eyes, "this is the Hehuan wine specially prepared for you. Drink it and make sure you serve the leader well tonight."

Liu Yeshu bit her lip tightly. "Did you guys force Madam Guo in the same way that day? You're so vicious!"

"Vicious?" The old woman sneered, "I'm helping you. After drinking this wine, maybe you can enjoy it a little. If you don't drink it..." Her voice suddenly turned cold.

One of the two women held down Liu Yeshu's shoulders, while the other pinched her chin. Liu Yeshu struggled desperately, but ultimately, she was no match for their strength. The sweet medicinal wine flowed from the corners of her mouth, and she felt dizzy and her consciousness gradually blurred.

As night fell, torches of all sizes lit up in the mountain stronghold. Liu Yeshu was taken to the bandit leader's room. The drug began to take effect, and she felt a burning sensation all over her body. The scene before her eyes became hazy.

The bandit leader surveyed the bride, dressed in red, with satisfaction. Her face flushed slightly, her hair disheveled, the crimson of her wedding dress accentuating her skin's beauty. The drug had left her with a hazy expression, her eyes slightly red, yet she stubbornly pursed her lips, trying to maintain a last glimmer of clarity.

"She is indeed a beauty." The bandit leader reached out and touched her face.

Liu Yeshu fought back the dizziness brought on by the drug, secretly clutching the sleeping pills in her sleeve. She closed her eyes slightly, feigning a hazy state, waiting for the perfect moment to release the sleeping pills. However, just as she was about to act, the bandit leader suddenly grabbed her wrist with a swift movement.

"Trying to play tricks?" The bandit leader sneered, easily restraining her arms and tying her wrists tightly to the headboard with a rough hemp rope. The rope cut into Liu Yeshu's white wrists, leaving deep red marks.

"It's broken—" Liu Yeshu's heart sank. She bit the tip of her tongue tightly, using the pain to keep herself awake. She twisted her wrist desperately, trying to break free from the damn hemp rope, but it only made the marks deeper.

Seeing her struggle, the bandit leader smiled even more smugly. He reached out to grab her belt, his eyes glinting with lewd intent.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves in the distance broke the silence of the mountain stronghold. Then came shouts one after another, like a thunderbolt splitting the suffocating night.

"Oh no! The government troops are coming!"

"kill--"

Amidst the deafening shouts and cries of killing, Liu Yeshu struggled to her feet. Just as the bandit leader was about to capture her, a sudden loud bang erupted from outside the door, sending it crashing down. Illuminated by the firelight, Qi Yu rushed in, sword in hand, followed by a team of elite soldiers.

"Let her go!" Qi Yu's voice was as cold as a knife, and the tip of the sword pointed with a cold light.

Just as the bandit leader was about to draw his sword, Qi Yu's sword was already at his throat. Amidst the screams outside, the stronghold was already surrounded.

Liu Yeshu could no longer hold on and fell forward. Qi Yu quickly stepped forward and caught her shaky body. She smelled the familiar scent of his armor, mixed with the smell of travel.

"I'm late," he whispered, his tone full of remorse and heartache.

Liu Yeshu leaned against his chest, finally closing her eyes in peace. Firelight in the distance illuminated the night sky, illuminating the figures fleeing throughout the mountain stronghold. This nightmare was finally over.

Qi Yu carefully picked up Liu Yeshu and turned to order the soldiers behind him: "Search the entire village and don't let anyone go. Especially Yang Qing, we must find him alive or dead!"

The soldiers took the order and left. Qi Yu looked down at Liu Yeshu in his arms and said softly, "It's okay. I'll take you home."