The middle-aged man leading them held a long saber, the kind used by soldiers. A Jiu didn't know his name.
A Jiu's hand rested on the horn knife at her waist as she retreated step by step.
"What do you... want?" The old woman, dragging her broken leg, scuttled backward, her eyes filled with terror.
"We have nothing left, only this wretched life. But... but please don't hurt my grandson. He... has only just arrived. I beg you, sirs."
On the ground, Zhao Di bit her lip tightly, weakly but firmly clutching the tattered swaddling clothes.
"Who says you have nothing? Aren't there three women here?" The so-called second-in-command, stroking his goatee, grinned cruelly.
"Second Brother, and the child too. Tender meat, brittle bones," the burly man named Da Xiong suggested with a sly grin as he leaned in to whisper.
"Beasts," A Jiu's eyes reddened. Had these people's consciences truly been eaten by dogs?
"Oh, this little girl has quite the temper. Interesting, I like it."
The second-in-command's gaze immediately locked onto A Jiu.
The other two returned, having searched the surroundings. In their hands were the wild chicken and rabbit, along with several pounds of wheat. This was the food Cai Lihua had roasted and hidden in the embers, intended for the next day's rations.
Cai Lihua flashed to where she had been sleeping and pulled out a cleaver from beneath the pillow made of a bundle. Her hands, clutching it, trembled:
"What did you steal from us? Can't you hunt for yourselves?"
At that moment, with a *whoosh*, Da Xiong, standing behind the second-in-command, suddenly spewed a large amount of blood from his mouth, his eyelids slowly rolling upward.
With a *thud*, he pitched forward and fell to the ground, a long, solid bamboo arrow protruding from his back.
The second-in-command tightened his grip on his saber and whipped his head around. Ten meters behind him, a scarred face appeared, walking steadily forward.
By the time he saw him, the man had already drawn three solid arrows from a quiver on his back and was nocking them onto a bowstring.
"Little sister A Jiu, how are you?"
A familiar voice echoed from outside the door.
A Jiu's pupils constricted. It was her father and the others, returned.
Cai Lihua's body relaxed, as if seeing hope of survival. The cleaver in her hand almost slipped.
The second-in-command immediately took half a step back, glancing at Da Xiong at his feet. That archery was not merely skillful; it was extraordinary.
It seemed they had encountered a tough opponent today.
"Let's go," the second-in-command suddenly lost his nerve. He waved his hand, and his men quickly carried Da Xiong away.
Meng Shaode lowered his fully drawn bow, his hands clearly trembling. He hurried inside. Seeing his wife and daughter safe, he gritted his teeth and cursed,
"Can't people even live in peace? Damn these bastards."
Wu Dalei was frozen with fear, hiding behind Meng Shaode.
He wasn't afraid of death, not exactly. He recognized the man. His eyes darted about as he crouched by his wife, son, and mother, lost in thought.
Suddenly, he let out a roar: "We can't let them escape!"
This shout startled everyone again. But Wu Dalei, as if with no time to explain, spotted the horn knife at A Jiu's waist.
"Lend it to me." He turned and chased after them.
"Dalei, no... your life is more important," Aunt Wu weakly stretched out her hand to grab her husband, but she couldn't stop his rushing footsteps.
Meng Shaode was utterly bewildered. Wasn't it the best outcome that they could protect themselves now?
Why would his brother take such a risk? At most, they could leave here before dawn.
After a long while, only the gasps of those who had just experienced the ordeal remained in the room.
A Jiu came back to her senses and looked around. Huh, she thought she had heard Xiao Yan Yan's voice just now.
Where was he now?
"Father, where's Xiao Yan?" A Jiu asked.
Meng Shaode, about to leave, returned. "He came back with us just now. He'll be fine. I have to go out. I can't let my brother take the risk alone."
"Shaode," Cai Lihua's eyes were filled with desolation. She had witnessed the cruelty of this world twice now. Lives were like grass, and they could barely protect themselves. Why risk your life for others?
"It'll be alright, Lihua. I, Meng Shaode, have done too many cold-hearted things in the past. Now, consider it a path to righteousness. Don't worry, no matter what, I will keep this life to take care of you and our daughter."
Meng Shaode exuded a rare, intense sense of justice, as if as long as he was present, this family would undoubtedly have someone to rely on.
"Scared this old man to death."
"Who?" Cai Lihua and her daughter followed the sound and saw a person on the main beam, nearly collapsing in fright.