The meal left everyone on edge, with Ling Dahu fearing that the bandit leader nearby might suddenly attack and try to kidnap his mother again.

Ling Dahu's nervousness also affected the others; they all recognized Zhang Tiehao.

Tao Wanniang, however, ate with great relish. Although the food was not as good as what she could cook herself, it was still quite good for her during the few days of travel.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Tao Wan's mother asked the waiter to put the bill on her tab, then led her family back to their room. If she guessed correctly, Zhang Tiehao recognized her, but why was he trying to avoid her?

She guessed that this person would still come looking for her, so before going to sleep, Tao Wanniang placed traps at the entrance and windows of the house.

In the stillness of the night, accompanied by a whooshing sound, a figure crashed heavily to the ground, waking Tao Wanniang from her sleep.

The tinderbox lit up quickly, and Tao Wanniang looked at the pained Zhang Tiehao and said coldly, "Why did you have to go through the window when there was a door? If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll think you can just walk into my house as you please."

A hidden arrow was pierced into Zhang Tiehao's shoulder. The arrow was coated with anesthetic, so Zhang Tiehao was completely powerless and could not feel the pain in his wound.

"Big sister, who exactly are you?" Zhang Tiehao lay on the ground panting. This kind of tactic was something no peasant woman could pull off.

“Who am I? A weak peasant woman forced into this situation by you. This is a method we use to catch rabbits in our village, which is perfect for you. Tell me, what are you trying to do by sneaking into my house in the middle of the night?” Tao Wanniang lit a candle, looked at Zhang Tiehao, and asked with a cold expression.

"Big sister, save me!" Zhang Tiehao said immediately. "Big sister, I was blind and offended you before. Please forgive my rudeness and help me get out of here."

"Ha, you're a bandit who kills and plunders, and you want my help? I think handing you over to the authorities would be the real way to rid the people of this scourge," Tao Wanniang mocked. What kind of good person would want to abduct her as their wife the moment they meet?

"Big sister, I know I've done a lot of wrong things in the past, but my Black Wind Stronghold used to be known for robbing the rich to help the poor. But I was betrayed by the second leader of the stronghold, and my brothers were either killed or injured. I was the only one who escaped."

"I swear I will never rob or steal again. As long as you help me get out of here, I, Zhang Tiehao, will be at your service from now on." Zhang Tiehao had already been tricked by Tao Wanniang twice, and he already felt that this woman was extraordinary. Now he felt that he had met his savior.

Tao Wanniang wouldn't believe Zhang Tiehao's one-sided story, and coldly said, "What does it have to do with me if you two are fighting like dogs?"

"Big sister, I swear to God, if you take me in, I will do anything for you from now on," Zhang Tiehao said hastily.

“If swearing oaths were effective, God would have already struck men dead with lightning,” Tao Wanniang said sarcastically. “I see you can afford to stay in an inn, and your situation isn’t that bad. If you want to come with me, wouldn’t you just be causing us trouble?”

"One-Eyed Dragon has allied with many mountain strongholds to cut off my way up the mountain. I dare not take the side paths. In Jinzhou City, the bandits dare not make any rash moves. But I have no identity documents and not much silver on me. Sister, could you give me some travel expenses?"

Tao Wanniang laughed in anger, saying that she had said she would no longer rob and plunder, but now she was openly asking for money.

"How could you say that? Whose money grows on trees? Giving it to someone without any identification or documentation is like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever. So you broke into my house in the middle of the night to steal money?!"

Zhang Tiehao felt somewhat embarrassed; he wouldn't have stolen it if he hadn't been desperate!

"Big sister, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. I know you are beautiful and kind-hearted. As long as you save me, I will repay you a thousandfold in return," Zhang Tiehao said hurriedly. He really had no other choice. The only option was to go to the capital, but as a wanted criminal, going to the capital would undoubtedly be like walking into a trap.

But if he doesn't go to the capital, he'll be caught in another trap set by the one-eyed man. He really needs someone to take him to the capital, or give him some money so he can have a few days' rest.

Tao Wanniang really didn't want to get involved in this matter, but with the person lying in her room, it was a bit of a dilemma.

"I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to convince me." Finally, Tao Wanniang spoke up, deciding to give them another chance, considering that as bandits, she hadn't attacked them when she saw them and had given them a chance to escape!

Zhang Tiehao immediately said, "Elder sister, I can only go to the capital this time, but my appearance is definitely not suitable for the capital. So I plan to find a doctor to give me a face transplant. Elder sister, please lend me one hundred taels of silver. I will definitely pay you back in the future."

Good heavens! Tao Wanniang was startled. She asked for a hundred taels of silver right off the bat. Even if he were to rob and plunder, he might not have that much!

"You're quite the talker. With your mediocre skills, my hundred taels of silver are a complete waste," Tao Wanniang mocked. "What kind of doctor could possibly change your appearance?"

"Big sister, I don't know what else to say, but everything I've said is true. Big sister, I know you're no ordinary person. You're chivalrous, brave, and resourceful. Big sister, please save me!"

How did this person become so eloquent? Tao Wanniang looked at Zhang Tiehao in surprise. His disheveled and wretched appearance made him look like a dog!

“I can lend you the money, but before that, you need to take this medicine.” Tao Wanniang took out a Maltesers pill she bought from the system. “If there is no antidote for this medicine after three months, it will cause your intestines to rupture and you will die.”

Zhang Tiehao was startled. Before he could speak, Tao Wanniang had already stuffed the dark object into his mouth.

He instinctively tried to spit it out, but the sweet, cloying taste in his mouth shocked him. What was this thing? It tasted so good and melted in his mouth, making it impossible for him to spit it all out.

"Cough~" Zhang Tiehao felt the sweet taste go down his throat, so sweet that he wanted to eat another one.

"What is this thing? Why does it melt in your throat and make you want to eat more?"

“Of course, it’s something you don’t know. That’s right, I’m not an ordinary person, but I won’t let you know my true identity.” Tao Wanniang put on a big show. “I can lend you a hundred taels. If you can really get to the capital, you can come find me.” Tao Wanniang gave her home address. “However, we need to go to Shanhai Prefecture first.”

"Will you definitely return to the capital within three months?" Zhang Tiehao asked, noticing the change in Tao Wanniang's expression. Although he had suspected that Tao Wanniang's identity was not simple, he was now certain after seeing her.

Last time he was drugged by her, and this time she drugged him twice in a row. Zhang Tiehao gritted his teeth and said firmly, "Big sister, please help me this time. As long as I, Zhang Tiehao, can get away to the capital, I will definitely come to your mansion to find you."

"Yes, it's a promise. I'll do anything for you, so don't go back on your word." Tao Wanniang readily handed over one hundred taels of silver.

"Then... Big sister, the effects of the medicine on my body..." Zhang Tiehao was still weak all over and couldn't escape!

"Just wait, he'll be able to move before dawn." Tao Wanniang stepped forward, pulled the hidden arrow from Zhang Tiehao's body, then quickly poured on some wound medicine and gave him a piece of cloth.

"Cover yourself up, don't let the blood drain away." Tao Wanniang chuckled. "Don't disturb my sleep. Once you can move, walk on your own. And don't even think about doing anything to me. If you really hurt me, you won't have the antidote. In three months, your intestines will rupture and your body will rot. You'll die a horrible death!"

After saying this, Tao Wanniang blew out the candle and went back to bed!