The journey was arduous and fraught with danger.
Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing, along with their merchant friends, hid in a cargo wagon of a caravan, embarking on their journey back to the capital. The heavy curtains kept out the wind, snow, and prying eyes of the outside world. The wagon's interior was covered with simple straw, but it couldn't hide the bumpy ride ahead. The two sat side-by-side, their fingers intertwined, their hearts filled with trepidation—they knew that Li Linfu would not let the matter rest and would surely lay a trap along the way to capture them, these two "fugitives."
On the third day of their journey, the caravan entered a remote, uninhabited valley. The mountains were high and the forests dense, the rocks jagged and grotesque. A cold wind howled through the valley, carrying an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The driver tightened the reins and whispered a warning to the group: "Black Wind Valley has never been peaceful. Everyone, be careful!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a piercing whistle suddenly rang out from the forests on both sides. Immediately afterward, dozens of bandits wielding knives and spears swarmed out, their faces contorted with rage, blocking the caravan's path. "This mountain is mine, these trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your toll!" The bandit leader, brandishing a ghost-headed saber, scanned the caravan with a menacing glint in his eyes, his gaze darting back and forth across the carriages, clearly having long coveted them.
The caravan members were thrown into a panic. The merchant friends rushed forward to negotiate, hoping to pay a small sum to avoid further trouble: "Heroes, the journey is not easy. Please accept this small amount of money and spare our lives."
"Enough with the nonsense!" The bandit leader kicked his merchant friend aside, brandished his knife, and shouted, "Hand over all your valuables, and everyone in the carriage, get out here!" As he spoke, several bandits rushed forward, trying to lift the carriage curtain.
Shen Qingci's eyes sharpened, and he immediately stood up to block the carriage door. Although he was trapped in exile, unarmed, and still wounded from his escape, he did not flinch in the slightest to protect Su Yunqing and the caravan members. "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you rob us on the road? Aren't you afraid of the law?"
"The law?" The bandit leader sneered. "In Black Wind Valley, I am the law! If you know what's good for you, get out of here, or don't blame me for being merciless!" With that, he swung his sword at Shen Qingci.
Shen Qingci was prepared. She dodged the blade, then smoothly raised her hand, gripping the robber's wrist tightly and twisting it forcefully. A sharp "crack" rang out, and the robber screamed as he released his grip on the knife; his wrist was dislocated. Seeing this, the surrounding robbers swarmed her, brandishing their knives and spears. Shen Qingci calmly responded, using the martial arts she had learned since childhood to weave through the ranks of robbers, her punches and kicks quickly bringing several of them to the ground.
Su Yunqing sat in the carriage, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched Shen Qingci fight alone, his clothes torn, a deep gash in his arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve. Her eyes reddened with anxiety; she wanted to rush out to help, but her merchant friend held her back tightly: "Miss Su, you'll only cause trouble if you go out. Young Master Shen is highly skilled in martial arts; he can definitely handle it!"
However, the bandits were numerous and fierce, and Shen Qingci gradually became exhausted, his movements slowing down. One of the bandits seized an opening and swung his knife at Shen Qingci's back. In the nick of time, several guards from the caravan finally mustered their courage, rushed forward with wooden clubs, and blocked the fatal blow.
"Young Master Shen, we're here to help you!" the guards shouted in unison, fighting alongside Shen Qingci. Shen Qingci felt a warmth in his heart, gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and once again threw a punch at the bandits. The two sides fought fiercely for half an hour, with more than half of the bandits dead or wounded. Seeing that they couldn't gain any advantage and fearing Shen Qingci's martial arts skills, the leader had no choice but to grit his teeth and order: "Retreat!"
The bandits fled in disarray, leaving the valley in ruins. Shen Qingci could no longer hold on and staggered against the carriage, blood still flowing from the wound on his arm. Su Yunqing rushed forward, took out some wound medicine and bandages from her bosom, and carefully bandaged him: "Brother Qingci, how are you? Does it hurt?"
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Shen Qingci forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, just a minor injury." He turned to his merchant friends and guards, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you all for your help. Otherwise, my wife and I would have had a hard time getting away today."
The merchant friend quickly waved his hand: "Young Master Shen, you flatter me. We should support each other. It's just that Black Wind Valley is dangerous, and the journey ahead will likely be even more difficult."
Shen Qingci gazed at the winding mountain road beyond the valley, a resolute glint in his eyes. He knew this was merely a minor incident on their return journey to the capital; a greater crisis awaited them ahead. But to clear his name and punish the wicked, no matter how treacherous the road ahead, he had to forge ahead.
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