During training at Xihe Bay, Zhang Liang had often sought A-Mei’s help for sparring.
By now, the escort team had amassed considerable experience in dealing with experts.
As long as a dozen crossbows simultaneously blocked all escape routes, unless the opponent wore heavy black armour, it was virtually impossible to evade them all.
At this moment, dozens of crossbows were aimed at Bei Qianxun.
They surrounded her from front, back, left, and right.
No matter how skilled Bei Qianxun was, she could not possibly dodge every bolt.
Yet Bei Qianxun showed no trace of fear. She merely watched Jin Feng with an enigmatic half-smile.
Seeing this, Jin Feng raised his arm and gave a signal.
The escorts lowered their crossbows slightly, aiming the bolts at the area beneath the carriage.
If anything unexpected happened, they could raise and fire in an instant.
“Must I explain?” Bei Qianxun asked with a smile.
“Yes, you must,” Jin Feng replied. “If I have misunderstood you, miss, I will apologise.”
“No need. For the sake of you getting me out of prison, let us call it even from now on.”
Bei Qianxun continued, “I once heard someone say that if you keep heading south, you reach the great sea, and even in winter it is warm by the coast.
I have never seen the sea. I planned to travel south, spend the winter there, and see the sights. I happened to pass this way and chanced upon bandits robbing travellers. I saw that girl wearing clothes from your Zhenyuan Escort Agency, so I rescued them on a whim. Who knew the other girl was your concubine.”
“That simple?” Jin Feng remained somewhat sceptical.
Her explanation did make sense, however.
She was now alone in the world, with no ties or obligations. The north was too cold, so coming south for a while was perfectly normal.
“That simple,” Bei Qianxun raised an eyebrow. “Believe it or not.”
“In that case, after rescuing Xiaobei, why did you not continue your journey? Why escort her back?”
Jin Feng asked, “Were you worried she might face another attack?”
“Not really. I just wanted to see the expression on your face when you saw me.”
Bei Qianxun recalled Jin Feng’s earlier reaction and smiled again. “Mr Jin did not disappoint me. This trip was worth it.”
Jin Feng was rendered speechless.
One moment Bei Qianxun was aloof like a cold-blooded assassin, the next she was mischievous like a prankster girl.
For a while, Jin Feng could not tell which was the real her.
He remembered reading a theory in his previous life that some people, once freed from all constraints, undergo a complete personality change.
Could Bei Qianxun be such a case?
While Jin Feng hesitated, Tang Xiaobei secretly pinched his arm, then stepped forward and waved to the escorts. “This is all a misunderstanding. Lower your weapons, lower them!”
Da Liu glanced at Jin Feng.
Jin Feng paused, then decided to trust Tang Xiaobei.
He spoke. “Lower them.”
So far, he had detected no malice from Bei Qianxun.
Moreover, whatever the circumstances, she had saved Tang Xiaobei. Treating a young woman this way was hardly appropriate.
Only then did Da Liu order the escorts to stand down.
“Sister, look at this mess.” Tang Xiaobei hopped onto the carriage. “It was all a misunderstanding. My husband is just cautious. Please do not be angry.”
“I am not angry. One should be careful when travelling the jianghu.”
Bei Qianxun rose with a smile. “Very well. I have delivered the person, and I have seen what I wanted to see. Time for me to go.”
“Sister, you saved my life. I will not let you leave!”
Tang Xiaobei grabbed Bei Qianxun’s arm.
“I said earlier that your husband also saved me once. Now we are even,” Bei Qianxun laughed.
“One thing is one thing. My husband saving you is his affair. You saving me is mine.”
Tang Xiaobei immediately resorted to her tried-and-tested shameless clinging tactic, hugging Bei Qianxun’s arm and refusing to let go. “I simply will not let you go.”
This move worked wonders on Jin Feng and Guan Xiaorou, but Bei Qianxun was completely unmoved.
“Miss Xiaobei, I know what you are thinking. Save your energy. I have finally gained my freedom. I will not protect anyone again.”
Bei Qianxun lightly tapped Tang Xiaobei’s ribs. Tang Xiaobei reacted as if shocked by lightning and involuntarily released her grip.
“Mr Jin, that is a fine horse. I will take it as a gift.”
Bei Qianxun flashed Jin Feng a slight smile, then leapt gracefully onto the nearby mount.
“Sister, do not go!”
Tang Xiaobei called after her.
Bei Qianxun did not even turn her head. She merely raised an arm and waved before riding away on the warhorse.
Tang Xiaobei wanted to chase, but Jin Feng held her back.
At this point, Jin Feng genuinely believed that Bei Qianxun’s encounter with Tang Xiaobei had been pure coincidence.
It was a pity. They had missed their chance once more.
Perhaps having repaid Jin Feng’s favour, she truly had no remaining ties and was completely free.
Jin Feng could sense that Bei Qianxun seemed lighter than before as she departed.
He had no idea what she would do next. Perhaps head south to see the sea, then find somewhere to live in seclusion.
If so, this might well be their final meeting.
Yet Jin Feng felt no regret.
He would rather let Bei Qianxun go than keep someone he could not fully trust by his side.
It simply meant they were not fated to travel together.
“Husband, are we really letting Sister Qianxun leave like this?”
Tang Xiaobei was still reluctant.
“She will not come with us.”
Jin Feng gazed at Bei Qianxun’s receding figure and said helplessly, “We can only wish her happiness in this life.”
“That is all we can do.”
Tang Xiaobei leaned into Jin Feng’s embrace and sighed along with him.
Only when Bei Qianxun’s silhouette had vanished completely did Tang Xiaobei pull Jin Feng back onto the carriage.
Da Liu shouted an order, and the mounted party set off again.
Inside the carriage, Tang Xiaobei, who had not seen Jin Feng for so long, melted bonelessly into his arms.
She chattered about the interesting things she had seen in Jiangnan, the delicious food she had eaten… as if she had endless stories to tell.
She talked all the way until the carriage reached its destination, only stopping with evident reluctance.
“Madam, I am so relieved you are safe!”
Yuan Caiwei, who had been waiting anxiously on the shore, finally felt the weight lift from her heart when she saw Tang Xiaobei leap down from the carriage full of life.
“Do not think that just because I am safe, you are off the hook!”
Tang Xiaobei had now regained the commanding presence of the chief manager of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
“Caiwei knows her fault and will accept any punishment!” Yuan Caiwei bowed.
“We will discuss punishment later. Have we found the river bandits who attacked us?” Tang Xiaobei asked.
“Not yet,” Yuan Caiwei shook her head.
As they spoke, an escort was seen galloping towards them from the distance.
“Sir, Miss Caiwei, news from the east!”
The escort dismounted and greeted Jin Feng and Yuan Caiwei.
Catching sight of Tang Xiaobei, he paused in surprise. “When did Madam Xiaobei return?”
Tang Xiaobei ignored the question and asked directly, “You said there is news from the east. What is it?”
“Oh, right!”
The escort slapped his forehead, pulled a slip of paper from his breast pocket.
Jin Feng took it and unfolded it to read.
Tang Xiaobei quickly leaned in to look over his shoulder.
Yuan Caiwei wanted to do the same, but in the end did not dare.
She waited until Jin Feng finished, then asked cautiously, “Sir, what does it say?”
