mtl008 Chapter 140 The Rescue Returns
Chapter 140 The Rescue Returns
Li Changyu signaled his men to release a sleeping potion into the cave. Within moments, the sound of people collapsing echoed from within. He immediately ordered two men to stand guard before cautiously entering the cave. A pungent odor filled the air, making them feel dizzy. Li Changyu frowned and waved for his men to proceed carefully.
Shen Yanchu frowned, waving his sleeve in disgust. Li Changyu had used a rather strong dose of the sleeping potion; he was already feeling a bit dizzy. However, he soon noticed that inside the cave, Miss Shi and the others were somewhat disheveled. Fortunately, they were unharmed, just a little frightened.
Li Changyu and the others quickly went to their side and untied their ropes. Just as Cui Yu'an untied Miss Wang, she looked at him pitifully, tears welling in her eyes.
"Thank you, Young Master Cui." Wang Jinqian was inevitably flustered by these sudden events, but she still managed to maintain her composure and not lose her composure. As a noblewoman, she was well aware of her status and demeanor, and could not afford to lose her composure in front of others.
If it weren't for Miss Shi diverting their attention, she probably wouldn't have been able to handle what happened today. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel grateful to Miss Shi.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then turned gracefully and walked towards Miss Shi. Her steps were light yet firm, each one revealing her confidence and composure.
Approaching Miss Shi, Wang Jinqian bowed slightly and said softly, "Thank you for your help, Miss Shi. I will remember this kindness." Miss Shi smiled and replied, "You're too kind, Miss Wang. It was nothing." The two smiled at each other, their eyes revealing a hint of appreciation and respect.
After being untied, Third Uncle rushed to the young master to beg for forgiveness. His face was full of guilt and self-reproach, and he said in a trembling voice, "Young master, this old servant is guilty. I failed to fulfill your request and caused the young mistress to be frightened. Please punish me."
Li Changyu looked at his third uncle, feeling somewhat annoyed, but mostly worried about the young mistress. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and then slowly said, "Third Uncle, please get up. I know you did your best; this matter can't be entirely blamed on you."
Uncle San was moved to tears. He stood up, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said, "Young master, this old servant will definitely atone for my sins. Young master, these people intended to disrespect the young mistress, and this old servant will deal with them now."
The bound soldiers, terrified, begged for mercy. They had been ambushed and drugged. Wasn't the general supposed to be looking for them? Where is the general?
"Young hero, spare me! Young hero, spare me! I didn't offend the ladies, young hero, sir, please spare me!"
The soldiers begged for mercy, but Uncle San picked up his sword and stabbed at their captain. Shi Wanxia immediately stopped him, saying, "Uncle San, spare their lives! Although they were offended, they don't deserve to die!"
Uncle San frowned, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but his sword did not falter in the slightest.
“Young Madam, don’t be so soft-hearted! These people are enemies. If you let them go, they will become a great threat in the future!” Uncle’s voice was cold and firm.
Shi Wanxia was extremely anxious. She knew her third uncle's personality well; once he made up his mind, it was difficult to change it. But she couldn't just stand by and watch these soldiers be killed.
“Third Uncle, they might just be following orders and not truly hostile to us. We can arrest them, but we can’t confront them head-on now; we don’t have the numerical advantage. This way, we can demonstrate our benevolence and avoid unnecessary bloodshed,” Shi Wanxia tried to persuade her third uncle.
Uncle San was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Shi Wanxia's words. Finally, he slowly lowered the sword in his hand.
“Alright, as you say. But these people must be kept under strict surveillance; there can be no mishaps,” Uncle San said.
Shi Wanxia breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced gratefully at her third uncle, then turned and walked towards the soldiers.
"Get up, all of you. I won't kill you. When we reach a suitable place, I will release you. As for whether you will live or die, we have no idea." Shi Wanxia's voice was authoritative.
The soldiers looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded obediently.
"Thank you all for sparing my life, heroes. We were very rude earlier; we were blind to your greatness..."
"Alright, that's enough. Let's hurry up and pack up. We need to get out of here first. If their general comes back soon, we'll be in trouble."
Shen Yanchu interrupted them, suggesting that it was time to leave and that they should not linger here.
Li Changyu immediately ordered his men to harness the carts, get the girls on board, and set off into the heavy snow. The soldiers, on the other hand, were tied together with ropes and trudged laboriously through the snow.
When Lin Wei returned, the cave was deserted, with only some messy footprints and a half-burnt campfire remaining. His heart tightened; these useless women had managed to escape. He immediately led his men to follow the footprints.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the wind grew stronger and stronger. Lin Wei and his soldiers struggled forward through the snow. Their faces were red from the cold wind, and their hands and feet were numb with cold. Due to the heavy snow and wind, they had long since disappeared from sight.
A blizzard raged, and all was silent. Snowflakes, like goose feathers, fell thick and fast, obscuring the sky and the sun. In a short time, the entire world was covered by a thick blanket of snow, as if only white existed between heaven and earth.
The convoy moved along, stopping frequently, and the tire tracks left on the snow were quickly covered by the white snow. Li Changyu and the others sighed with relief; thankfully, the snowstorm was heavy, otherwise those people could have caught up with them by following the tire tracks.
Uncle hesitated for a long time before advising the young master: "Young master, back then the girl was eloquent and persuasive, but today she was touched by those scoundrels and has already lost her reputation. Why don't you take this opportunity to cancel the engagement? How can a promiscuous woman who has lost her chastity be worthy of you?"
As soon as Shi Wanxia entered the carriage, she heard her third uncle's words, and her heart tightened. She knew that her reputation in this era was ruined. She looked up at Li Changyu, wanting to see how this guy viewed her.
Li Changyu frowned, looking at Miss Shi with some hesitation. He knew Miss Shi was a clever and quick-witted woman, but her reputation was ruined, and marrying her might cause some trouble.
Just as the young master hesitated, Shi Wanxia suddenly spoke up, "Brother Li, do you also agree with Third Uncle's words? Heh, how ridiculous. What we experienced today was simply that those people failed to commit violence, and I tried to find a way to stop them. How is that my fault?"
"Furthermore, my eloquence and persuasive skills are my own abilities. In such a dangerous situation, who can I rely on? You? As the saying goes, mountains crumble and rivers flow away. I have always relied on my own strength. Since you feel that I am not good enough for you, Brother Li, let's go our separate ways after we leave here! The marriage contract is fake anyway, it doesn't count."
Li Changyu was speechless and was about to explain when his third uncle was enraged by the woman's arrogant remarks: "You shameless woman! How could you be a decent woman if a strange man touched your body? You would have been drowned in a pig cage long ago. My master is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to hurt you, so he took the initiative to break off the engagement."