Chapter 3, the setting sun casts the light of pear blossoms upon the empty wall

Chu Shaoqin walked to Li Qiuxue's bedside and carefully examined her. He was not a doctor and did not know her current condition, but he assumed she was gradually improving. However, seeing her in this state caused a sharp pain in his heart

Chen San furrowed his brows, clearly infuriated by their back-and-forth banter. Had he not seen enough of this "fake couple" act? However, this time it concerned Li Qiuxue, and jealousy surged within him as he sternly commanded: "Go! Lock those two up first!"

The incident of the Li family being exterminated in one night has stirred up a great deal of talk in Qingyang City. Some say it was because they offended someone in the court, others claim it was due to harboring criminals, and still others assert that they defied the wishes of the Emperor Chu Fu. The people in the city had never been fond of Li Qiuxue, and now that the Li family is left with only her, even fewer people pay her any attention

I have heard that the current emperor also has a twin brother, and for some unknown reason, the crown prince has suddenly gone missing. Coincidentally, the missing crown prince is also named Shao Qin, but he is Chu Shao Qin. Tell me, how can there be such coincidental events in this world

"Kakak!" Pear Qiuxue, who had been choked by water, suddenly coughed a few times and regained consciousness. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Chen San holding her. His skin was dark and smooth, resembling a loach. Beneath a pair of sword-like brows that exuded a murderous aura, his eyes were like deep pools. A scar from a knife ran across his right cheek, giving him a somewhat terrifying appearance.

Recalling the words "I want to be here with you," his heart burned with emotion, and he also guessed the reason why Li Qiuxue stubbornly covered herself with straw. She was probably afraid that he would persuade her to leave first

I can only take you this far, so take care of yourselves. Chen San reached out and pulled Li Qiuxue out, then lowered his head to place a kiss on her forehead, saying, "Sister Xue, feel free to come find me whenever you need me in the future"

"The tactic of provocation is indeed used quite well," Chen San retracted his sword and scoffed at Chu Shaoqin.

When the cart entered the city, the soldiers guarding the city gate stopped it and inspected the goods inside. The cart was filled with grain and merchandise. Chen San claimed to be a businessman coming to the city for trade and offered some silver coins to the soldiers at the gate.

This girl intends to send them away and be alone with Young Master Chu, truly a case of a girl growing up and not being able to stay at home

"Xue'er, please stop jumping, as this will have the opposite effect." He looked at the pile of straw in the cage, "You should cover yourself with the straw in the corner; this will help reduce heat loss."

"Xue'er, Xue'er!" Chu Shaoqin looked around, the sunlight shimmering on the water's surface, creating a dappled effect. Not far away, several shadows resembling fish gradually swam away, among which there was a white figure. Chu Shaoqin took a deep breath and jumped into the stream, chasing after that group of shadows.

When Li Qiuxue was pushed into the cage, she was drenched all over. After she was locked in, Chen San even asked her if she would like to go to his guest room to rest. However, the stubborn Li Qiuxue turned her face away and sat in the farthest corner of the cage, remaining silent.

"Leaving you alone makes me uneasy, my dear." Li Baize was initially somewhat concerned, but soon discerned something from the pout of Li Qiuxue's small mouth

I, I am not very good at..." Chu Shaoqin's face turned red, a mix of shyness and embarrassment, "How about I play a tune for you?" After saying this, he reached into his clothes and soon took out a leaf, placing it between his lips and began to blow.

Then you say, how should I deal with you

Li Qiuxue murmured the name of Chu Shaoqin, while Chen San took a seat by the bedside first

"Father, father, wake up, what on earth has happened? Why is it like this? Wasn't everything fine yesterday? Father, open your eyes. Father, please don't leave Xue'er all alone, you are my only family left, father, father..." Li Qiuxue wept bitterly, grasping Li Baize's arm in a state of confusion, crying loudly. Li Baize's large blade tilted downwards, and his body also fell towards Li Qiuxue.

"It is all your fault! It is because of you! If you hadn't insisted on staying at your mother-in-law's for the night, I would have made it back in time, and I would have been able to save my father. It is all because of you; you are the one who caused my father's death. You owe me my father's life, you owe me the lives of the eighty-three people in the escort agency!" Li Qiuxue sobbed, kneeling in the muddy ground mixed with rainwater, unable to speak through her tears

Chen San suddenly became angry, he threw Li Qiuxue down and grabbed her hands, pressing them against the stone wall

Listening to the melodious tune, Li Qiuxue slowly drifted into slumber. In her dreams, her father still lovingly accompanied her in counting the stars

The old woman is a solitary elderly resident living in the mountains. She originally had a partner, but he passed away a year ago. The elderly woman has neither children nor descendants. Occasionally, she goes up the mountain to gather herbs to sell at the market for some money to buy food. Recently, due to the cold and damp weather, her bones have been aching, and after falling on the road, she is unable to get up.

Early in the morning, Chu Shaoqin approached the cage and called out "Xue'er". However, no matter how he called, Li Qiuxue did not respond to him. Sensing that something was amiss, Chu Shaoqin quickly shouted at the top of his lungs: "Someone come quickly! Help!"

"Let us not be in a hurry to leave," Chu Shaoqin retorted, "Chen San means no harm to you; you can take advantage of this to ascertain the details of the bandit hideout. Perhaps, when necessary, Chen San could even lend us a hand." Chu Shaoqin analyzed the situation carefully and leaned closer to Li Qiuxue's ear to whisper.

"Xue'er, you haven't eaten anything for several days. If this continues, your health will deteriorate. Would you eat something?" Chu Shaoqin bought a few steamed buns from the market and handed them to Li Qiuxue, who was kneeling in front of the grave. Since Li Baize's death, Chu Shaoqin had called Li Qiuxue 'Xue'er.' Li Baize used to call her that when he was alive, and he did not want her to hear anyone else call her that again.

"Why can't I kill you?" Chen San asked with a hint of amusement, "Give me a reason not to kill you." As he spoke, he donned the tiger-skin coat brought by his subordinate, his demeanor becoming even more menacing.

Li Qiuxue originally thought that they were afraid of her playing tricks on them, but many people on the street were discussing the Zhengda Escort Agency. Worried that something might happen to the agency, Li Qiuxue quickened her pace as she headed home

"Are you still trying to take my place as the chief's wife?" Li Qiuxue stepped back warily, while Chen San shook his head

An elderly woman sat on the ground, seemingly having tripped over the stones beneath her feet. Beside her was a medicine basket, with herbs scattered all around. While calling for help, the elderly woman was making an effort to gather the herbs back into the basket

The convoy of the escort agency traveled through the mountains and forests, continuing towards the bustling market of Qingyang City

"Sha Qin, I would like to ask you a question." Li Qiuxue spoke softly, "Is it because of my father that you do not leave me, or is it because you also have feelings for me? If it is merely out of responsibility, I do not need you to stay by my side..."

Initially, Li Qiuxue responded to him a few times, but later her voice gradually diminished until it completely disappeared. Chu Shaoqin thought she was merely tired and had fallen asleep, so he stopped calling out to her. After all, ever since the escort agency was destroyed, Li Qiuxue had not slept soundly, and although she did not speak of it, he could tell.

Would you be willing to be my sworn sister? If you agree, this place will also be your home from now on, and you are always welcome to return whenever you wish

Before entering the house, the midwife glanced at Chu Shaoqin, who was standing at the door

What do you want to do

"So what you said before about liking me was also false?" Chu Shaoqin pretended to breathe a sigh of relief and continued, "Since it is false, I can rest assured and marry another woman."

I refuse without a second thought, "If you don't leave, I won't leave either. I want to stay here with you. Chen San cannot do anything to us!" After saying this, she continued to jump in place.

Along the way, there were no inns or small shops to rest at, and their food and water quickly ran out. In order to survive and reach Yandu, the two of them picked fruits from the mountains when they were hungry and sought spring water to drink when they were thirsty

Chu Shaoqin saw her sinking into sadness once again and could not help but hold her hand, saying, "Do not be sad, I will help you"

Upon hearing this, Chen San felt even more heartbroken for Li Qiuxue. Although he sympathized with her plight, he was unable to accompany her in seeking revenge like Chu Shaoqin did.

Chen San's words left Li Qiuxue even more perplexed, but before she could respond, Chen San suddenly seemed to remember something, his expression unwilling as he said: "You are with child, take care of yourself."

During these days, he has not allowed Chu Shaoqin to rest. Whenever there is free time, he will take Chu Shaoqin here to practice archery and whip skills. Chen San hopes that Chu Shaoqin can become strong enough to protect Li Qiuxue. In this way, even if Li Qiuxue ultimately chooses to leave Longshan, he can feel at ease.

When Chu Shaoqin and Li Qiuxue had settled the old woman, it was already late. The old woman urged them to stay overnight and set off again at dawn. Chu Shaoqin also believed that traveling at midnight was unsafe, so he persuaded Li Qiuxue to stay for the night.

It seems that the lives of your family are not as important as that of a fugitive. The leader snapped his fingers, and the large blade fell, causing Xiao Li's head to roll to the feet of Li Baize

The early spring rain fell suddenly, soaking their clothes. Chu Shaoqin hurriedly found an umbrella to shield Li Qiuxue's head. He was concerned about her health, yet he did not know what else he could do for her. Everything she was enduring now was because of him, and no matter what, he could not abandon her.

Father, this lady's foot is injured and she cannot walk for the time being. I would like to take her home

The soldiers exchanged a few glances, concealed the broken silver in their waists, and tacitly permitted them to enter the city

Indeed, I also believe that the two of us are quite well-matched

"Mother-in-law, I found it, is this the one?" After searching for a long time, Li Qiuxue finally found the herbal medicine that her mother-in-law mentioned. She hurried over with the herbs in hand, her face beaming with joy.

"Xue'er, what are you talking about? Of course, it is because I like you that..." When Chu Shaoqin uttered these words, he was also taken aback himself

Three days later, Chen San drove a cart filled with goods into the city, accompanied by several brothers. Li Qiuxue and Chu Shaoqin were hidden beneath the partition of the cart; without a careful inspection, one would not discover that there were others inside the vehicle

"Shao Qin, save me." It was evident that Li Qiuxue also saw Chu Shaoqin, and she was about to run towards him, but the other two bandits were quick to pull her back.

"Alright, you all take this old lady back, and then catch up with us," Li Baize conceded, looking at Li Qiuxue's satisfied smile before turning to leave the forest. The others from the escort agency followed behind him, continuing their journey back to the agency.

Chen San also smiled in understanding, such an embrace is enough

"Xue'er, what happened?" Li Baize, who followed closely behind, inquired about the situation

"Xue'er, what is wrong with you?" Noticing the commotion on Li Qiu Xue's side, Chu Shao Qin inquired.

He does not wish to be that kind of petty person; women should be cherished in the palm of one's hand, rather than subjected to humiliation

"If you dare to kill him, I will fight you to the death!" Li Qiuxue retorted

Father has passed away, and my heart aches as well. Li Qiuxue finally spoke, a tear rolling down her cheek. She could no longer cry out loud, yet it was heart-wrenching.

Chen San said to Li Qiuxue that she could consider this place her home, and he, Chen San, would never allow outsiders to bully her. In his bandit lair, Li Qiuxue could continue to be the willful young lady she was, and as long as she was willing to stay, he was willing to protect her for a lifetime, allowing her to live without worries and far from hatred

After a while, Chen San smiled, leading his subordinates as they departed with the horse-drawn carriage

He is a bandit, with a large group of brothers who trust him wholeheartedly. Each of them believes in him completely, and no matter how much he loves a woman, he would never leave this mountain for her, nor would he kill a king for her. Perhaps what he can do for her is to let her choose whether to stay or leave. If she chooses to stay, he will certainly provide her with a warm home

"Father, you are still alive, that's wonderful. I will take you to see a doctor right away, you will be fine." Hearing the voice, Li Qiuxue hurriedly grasped Li Baize's hand, trying her best to help him up. However, Li Baize felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and no matter how hard she tried, she ultimately failed.

She has not yet been able to let go of her hatred, nor has she been able to relinquish her love for Chu Shaoqin, which is why she cannot stay in Longshan and cannot act on her impulses

Where do you live, sir?

On the other side, Chu Shaoqin occasionally glanced at Li Qiuxue's cell, gently comforting her while also devising a way to escape

Li Qiuxue opened her eyes and saw Chen San's scarred face. She was suddenly taken aback, and then quickly pulled the quilt and the book to huddle in the corner of the bed, saying: "What do you want to do? If you dare to touch me, I will smash my head against the wall right here!"

Chu Shaoqin stared at her in a daze, feeling that at this moment she was more adorable than ever before, a cuteness that radiated from her very bones. Chu Shaoqin's heart stirred, and he also crouched down to help.

"Report, chief! We have just captured a man who emerged from the waterway. How should we handle him?" At that moment, several bandits brought Chu Shaoqin, who had just surfaced from the water, before Chen San.

If you truly care for Xueer, then grant her the right to choose. I can see that you are not that kind of despicable person; otherwise, you would have resorted to force long ago. Xueer has endured a lot of suffering, and I believe none of us wish to see her unhappy. " As Chu Shaoqin spoke, his gaze was extremely gentle as he looked at Li Qiuxue lying on the bed. Chen San was provoked by his gaze, and a sense of male pride surged within him.

The next day, they bid farewell to the old woman and returned to Qingyang City. The people in Qingyang City saw them and all hurriedly avoided them, as if they had encountered a plague god

"If you kill me, it will be a case of one corpse but two lives. Even if Li Qiuxue marries you, she will still hate you." Chu Shaoqin seemed to discern something from his gaze; that old woman must have told him a lie.

Chen San never kidnapped women, but he felt an inexplicable thrill when he saw Li Qiuxue underwater

The following day

She inhaled sharply, her eyes wide open as she stared at Chu Shaoqin, her face filled with astonishment. Just as she was about to push him away, the hand that Chu Shaoqin had placed on her waist naturally tightened.

Father? Father! Li Qiuxue ran madly into the mansion, searching for the figure of Li Baize among the pile of corpses. She cried out, continuously turning over the bodies lying face down to see if it was Li Baize.

She searched through all the corpses and finally saw Li Baize sitting on a chair in the hall. He propped himself up with a large knife, as if he were sitting there. Li Qiuxue rushed in that direction but tripped over the threshold and fell hard.

Upon hearing these words, Chu Shaoqin felt both moved and helpless, and the guilt in his heart deepened.

Li Qiuxue turned to look for herbs, while the old woman held onto Chu Shaoqin's hand, urging him to stay: "I noticed you haven't said a word all along; do you think little girls are beneath you?"

This situation did not last long. One day, Li Qiuxue returned from a stroll in the street, her eyes red and fists clenched, and said to Chu Shaoqin: "I finally know what trouble the escort agency has gotten into!"

Li Qiuxue acted according to her words, but when she lifted the straw in the corner, she found that only the surface layer of the straw was dry, while the remaining part was dampened with moisture

Father, what is wrong? Father..." Li Qiuxue began to cry bitterly. When her mother passed away, she was still too young to understand, only crying and calling for her mother to come back. But now, she clearly knew that her last remaining relative in this world was also about to leave her. Her heart felt as if it had been torn apart, never to heal again

Chu Shaoqin was imprisoned and unable to follow, feeling as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. It was only with the sunlight that he realized the straw that Li Qiuxue had used for warmth last night was only a thin layer of dry straw.

Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoqin was taken aback, thinking that Li Qiuxue had finally realized he was the true culprit. Just as he was about to confess, he heard her say: "Today, I encountered people from other escort agencies on the street. I heard them say that our family was annihilated because we offended the Emperor. My father has never engaged in any illegal activities. I do not understand why this foolish monarch has targeted our escort agency, but I must avenge this grievance!"

"Xue'er, call Chen San and agree to let him stay in the guest room. Change into a set of dry clothes before anything else, otherwise you will fall ill," Chu Shaoqin urged.

Li Qiuxue hurriedly responded, "If you kill my husband, I will bite my tongue and take my own life, dying together with my child"

She has not been resting well recently, and this cell is damp; she is bound to fall ill

Chen San glanced at the person who had read the report, released Li Qiuxue, and walked towards several individuals

The door of the escort agency was tightly shut, with two seals affixed to it. Li Qiuxue tore off the seals and pushed the door open. At the moment the door swung wide, she felt her blood run cold. Inside the agency, corpses lay scattered everywhere, and a foul stench assaulted her senses. Bodies were sprawled in various corners of the house, their bloodstains long dried and mingled with the dark red on the ground. Feathers from arrows were embedded in the corpses, and flies and mosquitoes swarmed around. After a while, Li Qiuxue could not bear the sight before her, staggered back a step, and fell into Chu Shaoqin's embrace. Bodies were sprawled in various corners of the house, their bloodstains long dried and mingled with the dark red on the ground. Feathers from arrows were embedded in the corpses, and flies and mosquitoes swarmed around. After a while, Li Qiuxue could not bear the sight before her, staggered back a step, and fell into Chu Shaoqin's embrace.

"Xue'er, there's no need. Father can no longer go on." Li Baize's voice was as faint as a wisp of smoke. He looked at the entire escort agency, all of whom had perished, his expression bleak. "Father could not protect the people of the escort agency, and has no face to live in this world any longer. However, Father cannot bear to part with you; Father wishes to see Xue'er one more time."

"Why are you going to Longshan?" Chen San suddenly asked

"You cannot kill me!" Chu Shaoqin said fearlessly, his gaze resolute.

"Little Miss?" "The Lady of the Stronghold?" Li Qiuxue pondered for a moment before realizing that she had been captured by bandits. She hurriedly struggled, pounding her fists against Chen San's chest. However, Chen San tightened his arms, holding her even closer, and then directly threw her over his shoulder, carrying her towards the room.

Chen San let out a sigh and looked up at the starry sky. At that moment, he suddenly understood that the woman before him belonged not to him, nor to anyone else. She was unique, she belonged to herself. Even Chu Shaoqin could not fully possess her

Between Yan Du and Qingyang City lies Long Mountain, which is infested with bandits. Even the officials and soldiers dare not provoke the bandits on the mountain. Chu Shaoqin originally intended to take a longer route to avoid the bandit den on Long Mountain, but Li Qiuxue was unwilling to take the detour, feeling that it would waste time, and was determined to take a shortcut. Unable to persuade her otherwise, Chu Shaoqin had no choice but to follow her up Long Mountain.

"I will be by your side, Xue'er, you still have me." Chu Shaoqin crouched down, grasping Li Qiuxue's shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. Li Qiuxue's dazed eyes gradually focused as she looked at the drenched Chu Shaoqin before her, and suddenly, in a fit of madness, she pushed him away and began to roar in anger

You two are a perfect match, with the talent of a man and the beauty of a woman

"Yes, Master!" his bandit subordinates replied loudly, demonstrating their keen insight by locking Chu Shaoqin and Li Qiuxue in separate cages.

Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoqin suddenly remembered that her clothes and hair were both wet

"Father, Xue'er forbids you to speak nonsense. You will be fine; Xue'er does not allow Father to leave, absolutely not." Li Qiuxue sobbed, shaking her head, fearing that in the next moment he might lose his breath

"Hand over Chu Shaoqin, and I may spare your lives." The leader sitting in the chair smiled slightly, and with a flick of his fingers, several subordinates placed their knives against Xiao Li's neck

In order to prevent the Pear family from being occupied, before Li Qiuxue and Chu Shaoqin packed their belongings and left, they locked all the doors and then buried all the keys under the pear tree in the backyard. This location for hiding the keys is known only to the two of them

"Revenge." After Chu Shaoqin carefully tucked in the corners of the quilt for Li Qiuxue, he turned to Chen San and recounted in detail the incident of the Qingyang City Zhengda Escort Agency being wiped out in one night.

Li Qiuxue could not swim, so after spending a long time underwater, she fell into a faint. When Chen San pulled her out of the water, she was as quiet as a kitten, peacefully sleeping against his chest

The old woman glanced at Chu Shaoqin's profile and couldn't help but chuckle

Seeing this, Chu Shaoqin's feelings of guilt deepened even further, making it even more difficult for him to speak the truth.

We do not have the person you are looking for here

In the dimly lit alley, two figures overlapped under the setting sun. Chu Shao lowered his head slightly, deeply kissing Li Qiuxue, as if this moment could last forever

I am a bandit, and you do not need to thank me; you should thank Li Qiuxue, for it is because of her that I helped you. Chen San turned and walked to Chu Shaoqin's side, patted him on the shoulder, and brushed past him.

He is well aware that he is the main culprit, yet he does not dare to confess, and can only allow guilt and torment to consume him.

Chu Shaoqin clenched his fists tightly, his brows furrowed, as if a dark current was surging within his heart

He admires her independent approach to work, appreciates her fearless character, and is captivated by her boldness in love and hate... She has long struck a chord in his heart, making it impossible for him not to be moved by her

"Are you Shao Qin? Do you know her?" Chen San walked up to Chu Shao Qin, reached out to lift Chu Shao Qin's chin, and examined his appearance.

Chu Shaoqin did not respond; he staggered to steady himself and silently stood behind Li Qiuxue

The wind weaves through the mountains and forests, carrying with it a variety of sounds: the rustling of leaves, the calls of birds and beasts, the footsteps of passersby, and more.

"Still unwilling to speak? Then let us kill another one," the leader said with a sneer, waving his hand. The soldier wielding the knife struck down another person. These were all brothers who had fought alongside Li Baize through thick and thin. They could see the suffering of Li Baize, yet none of them uttered a single word.

Little Li! The person tied up in the yard was struggling, while Li Baize tightly gripped the large knife in his hand, his heart caught in a struggle

"It was him! It was him who killed our people." A soldier who had narrowly escaped death days earlier pointed at Li Baize. He had brought hundreds of soldiers, densely surrounding the escort agency from within. Li Baize looked up at the roof of the attic, where archers were lying in wait on the halls and upper floors.

She repeatedly murmured "Daddy" in her sleep, while Chen San sat by the bed, gazing at her, and Chu Shaoqin was locked outside the door. After a while, the midwife who had been invited arrived, leaning on her cane and walking unsteadily

"Mother-in-law, my name is Li Qiuxue, and he is called Bai Shaoqin. Do you think we are a good match?" Li Qiuxue pointed to herself and then to Chu Shaoqin

The waiting time was not long; it was not that Li Qiuxue had awakened, but rather that Chen San had sent someone to release him.

No," Li Qiuxue shook her head, "I happened to encounter them while I was going to buy the pastries that Father likes the most, and I overheard them from the side." As she spoke, Li Qiuxue lowered her head sadly

Later, Chu Shaoqin borrowed a cart and spent three days transporting all the members of the escort agency to the forest for burial. Due to a lack of funds for gravestones and a memorial hall, they had no choice but to cut down timber themselves, fashion wooden markers, and inscribe the names of the deceased upon them

"Who... who is your little lady?" This time, all of Li Qiuxue's domineering and unruly demeanor was concealed behind her flushed face. She resembled a shy young girl, at a loss in front of the person she adored

Finally finding her enemy, Li Qiuxue felt as if she had discovered light in the darkness, providing her with the motivation to continue moving forward. A resolute light shone in her eyes as she said in a deep voice: "Father, I will definitely seek justice for you!"

I do not wish to investigate your identity, but I hope that you can protect Li Qiuxue well in the future, ensuring that she does not suffer even the slightest grievance. Chen San placed his hands on the wooden railing and took a deep breath

In the dead of night, Li Qiuxue shivered with cold. During the day, she had no idea how she had fallen into a deep slumber, and now she was awakened by the chill.

Upon hearing the words "Zhai Master’s Wife," Chu Shaoqin slightly frowned

Still unwilling to speak

Li Qiuxue was unwilling to listen to Chu Shaoqin's persuasion any longer, silently covering herself with the wet straw, fortunate that the night was dim, and Chu Shaoqin could not see clearly

The bandit chief's wife has awakened! Upon hearing this, the bandits following Chen San began to make a commotion. One by one, they were bare-chested, wearing lantern pants, with water dripping down their bodies.

In mourning attire, Li Qiuxue remained silent, shaking her head as she continued to stand before the gravestone of Li Baize

It was approximately on the third day when they encountered a group of bandits bathing in the creek. Upon seeing two individuals emerge from the jungle, the bandits hurriedly submerged themselves in the water

Father, Shaoqin and I will take Grandma home. You all continue on your journey, and we will catch up with you after we have settled Grandma in.

She did not know whom to blame, nor whom to hate. Overnight, she transformed from a young lady who was the center of countless affections into an orphan, and this kind of pain seemed impossible to adapt to

Li Qiuxue wished to give a grand burial to the eighty members of the escort agency, but all the family’s wealth had been seized by the officials and soldiers. Their family had nothing but an empty house. Li Qiuxue wanted to borrow money from others in the escort agency, but they all drove her away. Without Li Baize to support her, she was worse than a street rat. At that moment, she felt a deep sense of helplessness. Chu Shaoqin, unwilling to see her being bullied, took her away, preventing her from running around to borrow money. Without Li Baize to support her, she was worse than a street rat. At that moment, she felt a deep sense of helplessness. Chu Shaoqin, unwilling to see her being bullied, took her away, preventing her from running around to borrow money

That was for the sake of survival ... ... The sound of the pear autumn snow was like that of mosquitoes and flies, as if she had completely forgotten the fact that she once said she liked Chu Shaoqin.

"Little lady, are you awake?" Chen San's voice was very gentle, but given his scar, it always gave people the impression that there was a hint of gloom on his face

You ... ... '' Li Qiuxue's delicate face turned red with anger. She originally intended to pull Chu Shaoqin's collar to teach him a lesson, but unexpectedly, she exerted too much force, and when Chu Shaoqin was pulled over, he collided hard with her lips.

"Haha, indeed quite resolute!" Chen San felt a bitterness in his heart, yet he still threw his head back and laughed, "Rest assured, I will not do anything to you. However, I want to keep you here to play for a few days. When the time comes, whether you want to leave or stay, I will let you choose for yourself"

She kicked her legs, but was pulled by the bandit beside her, unable to reach Chen San no matter what

When you were in the bandit's den, did you not also admit it?

He was afraid to see the expression of disappointment on her face. Although he did not know how this misunderstanding had come about, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. If possible, he would be willing to deceive her for a lifetime and also willing to take care of her for a lifetime

"Shao Qin, you..." Li Qiuxue looked at Chu Shaoqin, who seemed to have transformed into a different person, with astonishment. There was an unshakeable tenderness at the corners of his lips, yet it also carried a hint of mockery.

Li Qiuxue nodded slightly, but was quickly pulled back by Chu Shaoqin

"Xue'er and I are husband and wife, and she is carrying my child!" Chu Shaoqin, in a moment of urgency, cleverly directed his gaze towards Li Qiuxue

But Li Qiuxue told him that no matter how hard he tried, her loved ones would not come back. She could not continue to be willful and domineering; she needed to learn to grow as an individual, and growth requires experiencing more things, rather than being constantly pampered.

Chu Shaoqin was somewhat distracted by her smile; perhaps she was truly innocent and kind, but just rough towards him. Thinking of this, Chu Shaoqin felt even more troubled.

"Father—" Li Qiuxue shouted hysterically, ultimately unable to withstand the shock and fainted.

Li Qiuxue gazed at the dim sky and had no choice but to agree. That night, Li Qiuxue felt restless, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep

"Why don't I become your family?" Chen San said with a苦脸.

He did not know when it began, but his feelings for her transformed from exploitation to affection

The midwife went in for a while and then came out. She handed the bandits a few prescriptions and then left. Not long after, Chu Shaoqin heard the sound of porcelain breaking from inside the room. Chen San ordered someone to open the door and brought Chu Shaoqin in.

I will fight you to the end! Li Baize finally drew his large sword and stabbed the opponent to death before the soldier's sword could fall. The leader, who appeared to be calm, revealed a chilling smile as his elite soldiers surrounded him. Another group of men surged out from all directions of the escort agency, initiating a brutal battle

Chu Shaoqin hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing not to reveal his true identity, but instead deceived him just as he had deceived Li Baize. Chen San chuckled, seemingly dissatisfied with this lie.

"You all listen, it seems someone is shouting for help." The first to hear the voice was Li Qiuxue. She stopped to carefully discern the direction from which the sound was coming, and then walked towards that direction

Not long after losing her loved ones, Li Qiuxue remained in a state of deep sorrow, yet her fierce temperament showed no signs of abating. Within three days, the bandits in the entire hideout rushed to complain to Chen San, pleading with him not to marry such a domineering wife, as the brothers simply could not endure it. Every time Chen San heard such complaints, he couldn't help but smile. He truly appreciated Li Qiuxue's fearless character and genuinely wished to keep her in Longshan forever

Chu Shaoqin was taken aback, slightly parted his lips, yet said nothing.

Chen San instructed the women in the village to change Li Qiuxue into clean clothes, and then sent his subordinates to the foot of the mountain to invite the healer to come and treat her. Upon learning that Chu Shaoqin had been released, Li Qiuxue fell back into a deep sleep.

"Shaoqin, sing for me, I want to hear you sing." Li Qiuxue, who received a satisfactory response, revealed a smile as she leaned against the wall and spoke softly.

Xue'er ... ... '' struggling to hold on to her last breath, Li Baize faintly heard Li Qiuxue's voice. He laboriously opened his eyes, but as he spoke, he coughed up a mouthful of blood

"A pretty boy." After Chen San released his grip, he sneered and asked, "Do you like him?" Without waiting for Li Qiuxue to respond, he coldly made a decision, "Drag him away and kill him."

After Chen San left the room, Li Qiuxue looked at Chu Shaoqin with a bewildered expression. Chu Shaoqin quietly informed her about the old woman, who was the one they had saved earlier.

Li Baize spread his arms to block his companions behind him who were trying to rush forward to save him

As Li Qiuxue crouched down to scoop up water with her hands, a bare-chested bandit suddenly emerged from the water with a splash, grabbing Li Qiuxue's hand and pulling her into the water. Li Qiuxue was caught off guard and fell into the water with a splash. By the time Chu Shaoqin reacted, there was nothing else in the stream.

On the road, the two guards mocking him said that the "master's wife" called out the name of Chu Shaoqin while she was unconscious, and if Chen San did not release Chu Shaoqin, she would refuse to receive medical treatment. It was only then that Chen San let him go.

Li Qiuxue helped the elderly woman take off her shoes and socks, while simultaneously massaging her feet and applying medicine to them

Chu Shaoqin did not answer, but instead asked, "May I see her?"

"Go ahead." Chu Shaoqin's understanding of when to advance and retreat pleased Chen San greatly, and he nodded in agreement.

"Is it ... ... what they said to you in person?" Chu Shaoqin asked somewhat nervously

I live right in this forest, in a small wooden cabin three miles ahead." The old woman pointed in a direction that was exactly opposite to that of the escort agency. Li Baize felt somewhat troubled, as taking the old lady back would delay his return journey.

I will take good care of my wife, so you can rest assured. Chu Shaoqin smiled, but there was something in his eyes that could be described as hostility. He and Chen San locked eyes, as if two flames were burning together.

Chen San is the leader of the bandit den in Longshan. Although he is a bandit, he adheres to a code of conduct, never robbing poor families or committing murder and arson. He is willing to draw his sword to help those in need, and the brothers in the mountains, under his leadership, also behave themselves. Longshan is abundant with food and drink, lacking nothing except for a wife to manage the stronghold.

Chen San parked the cart in a deserted alley. Several other bandits sitting by the cart jumped down, and together they unloaded the goods from the cart and pried open the partition. The two people lying side by side beneath the partition leaned against each other, with Chu Shaoqin resting his arm against Li Qiuxue's ear, fearing that the jolting of the cart would bump her head.

Although he had only known Li Qiuxue for a few days, it felt as if they had known each other for a lifetime. He continued, "Tomorrow I will escort you into Yandu, and this is all I can do for you. As for what happens next, you must be careful on your own."

Chen San, thank you

Since the massacre of the eighty-three members of the Zhengda Escort Agency, Li Qiuxue has seemed like a different person. The lively and spirited girl suddenly became quiet. When Chu Shaoqin spoke to her, she would only respond with nods or shakes of her head. The death of Li Baize seemed to have a profound impact on her. Chu Shaoqin felt a deep sense of guilt in his heart, yet he could not reveal the reasons behind it all to her

... ...

"Starting today, you can only call me Chen San, you can only call my name, and you are not allowed to call any other man's name!" Chen San followed her gaze to her wrist, where a bell was engraved with the character 'Snow', and then said, "From now on, I will call you Xue'er."

Is it not permissible to give my little lady a kiss

"Shaoqin, I entrust Xue'er to you, please take good care of her for me." Li Baize tightly grasped Chu Shaoqin's wrist, as if he were using all his strength. After seeing Chu Shaoqin nod heavily, he smiled, closed his eyes, and the hand that held Chu Shaoqin's wrist slowly loosened, falling heavily to the ground.

The next day

This place is unlike the royal or official dungeons, as there is no one guarding the entrance. Chu Shaoqin called out for a long time before someone came. The newcomer briefly examined Li Qiuxue and then hurried off to report to Chen San. Upon arriving, Chen San saw Li Qiuxue, who was unconscious, and immediately carried her out.

It is a pity that Longshan cannot confine this bird.

"Xue'er, your father would certainly not want to see you like this; he would be heartbroken."

On the other side, when Li Baize returned to the Zhengda Escort Agency, the guards at the entrance were nowhere to be found. An ominous premonition surged in his heart, and he hurriedly led everyone into the house. The main door of the residence was closed behind them as they entered, shut by several soldiers who had been stationed at the door. The others in the escort agency were bound by the soldiers, kneeling in the open courtyard.

"Miss Autumn Snow, please help me bring the herbs from the second shelf outside the door," the old woman said as she sat down, pointing to the shelf outside.

Chu Shaoqin carried the old woman on his back, while Li Qiuxue walked ahead of him with a medicine basket in hand. The two of them walked one after the other in the direction indicated by the old woman.

In response to this, Chen San felt both anger and affection. He did not believe that he could not tame this wild horse, so he decided to first quell her stubbornness. With that, he tossed his head and left the cell.

Autumn snow. Chu Shaoqin, who had been following closely behind Autumn Snow, hurriedly stepped forward to support her, but as she stood up, she pushed him away and quickly ran to Li Baize's side

I, Chen San, am not the kind of person who goes back on my word. Chen San said with a smile, "For the next few days, consider this place your home. The healer has said that your body needs rest. If you find it boring, my subordinates are at your disposal, but you cannot leave the mountain without my permission, understand?"

"I think that girl is quite nice, innocent and kind, always willing to help others," the old woman said. At that moment, images of Li Qiuxue mistreating him flooded Chu Shaoqin's mind, causing him to involuntarily twitch the corners of his mouth in a smile

Chu Shaoqin listened to their conversation all the way, feeling goosebumps all over his body

There is a circle of fence outside the old woman's wooden house, and inside the fence are many shelves filled with herbs. As Li Qiuxue and Chu Shaoqin entered the fence, a strong scent of medicine wafted towards them

Chen San had only just left when Chu Shaoqin turned around and kissed Li Qiuxue on the lips. Chen San, who caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye, frowned slightly, as he clearly saw Chu Shaoqin intentionally glance at him. Although Chen San felt displeased in his heart, he pretended not to see this moment and continued forward until he disappeared at the end of the alley

"It is so cold here," Li Qiuxue replied, shivering.

After Chen San finished speaking, he finally saw Li Qiuxue smile. She hurriedly nodded, her eyes reddening, and gave him a hug that was akin to that shared between family members

Truly unpleasant

Since Chen San left Li Qiuxue and Chu Shaoqin as guests in the bandit den, bandits have frequently been inexplicably hit by various traps, and the master who set the traps has consequently gained a comprehensive understanding of the terrain and layout of the bandit den

"Give me a reason not to kill you," Chen San said, brandishing his sword against Chu Shaoqin's neck

"Tell me your true identity," Chen San asked Chu Shaoqin, who was standing behind him, as he stood on the training ground.

Chu Shaoqin looked at the piles of corpses on the ground, and was instantly rendered speechless

"Grandmother, what is the matter?" Li Qiuxue stepped forward to help the old woman gather herbs and inquired about the reason.

At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind, which was to go to the capital, kill the dog emperor, and seek revenge

"Let me go, where is Shaoqin? What have you done with Shaoqin? Let me go, Shaoqin, save me, Shaoqin..." Li Qiuxue struggled, in this critical moment, her mind was filled with Chu Shaoqin.

"Help! Help!" Just as they were about to emerge from the forest, a faint cry for help came through.

She diligently rubbed her hands together, hoping to warm her body, and then stood up to jump in place. However, the dungeon was drafty, and the more she moved her limbs, the colder she felt

We must find a way to leave this place, said Li Qiuxue after hearing this

Li Qiuxue nodded in agreement while listening, deciding to follow the instructions given by Chu Shaoqin.

Chu Shaoqin is currently with Li Qiuxue. If he reveals Chu Shaoqin's whereabouts to them, it would be tantamount to sending his own daughter to her death alongside Chu Shaoqin. However, if he does not inform them, the other members of the escort agency will become scapegoats. On one side is his own daughter, and on the other side are the members of the escort agency. How should he choose between the two?

Really? Li Qiuxue looked at Chen San with doubt, seemingly unable to understand why he suddenly changed his mind after she woke up from her sleep

Li Qiuxue raised her head upon hearing this, fixing her gaze on Chu Shaoqin's eyes, her face filled with trust and gratitude