Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Three hours remained until two in the morning.
After discussing it, Xiao Jingmo and Xiao Che decided to travel through the night.
As long as they avoided the bandits’ route down the mountain, they could escape being robbed.
Zhu Laosan and Li Si were puzzled.
“Second Young Master, why travel at night? We’re still at the edge of the mountains. If we continue, we’ll enter the interior, where traveling after dark is extremely dangerous.”
Zhu Laosan glanced at the Xiao Family’s elderly, women, and children. He was thinking of their safety.
“Sir, you’ve seen that someone is secretly helping our family reach the Northern Frontier safely.”
Xiao Jingmo needed an explanation that would not connect this to Jin Bao.
Zhu Laosan and Li Si exchanged glances. It was true.
More than a dozen black-clad men had appeared and helped the Xiao Family kill nearly a hundred warriors of the Blackstone Tribe. Only then had the bailiffs learned of the hidden aid. They had asked nothing, preferring not to invite trouble.
Now that Xiao Jingmo mentioned it himself, Zhu Laosan stopped pretending ignorance.
“Second Young Master, what does that have to do with traveling tonight?”
He still opposed the idea.
“They discovered bandits coming down the mountain. Their route passes directly through our camp.”
Understanding dawned on Zhu Laosan.
“I see.”
The group immediately set out with torches. They traveled for an hour before stopping.
Xiao Jingmo followed the route Jin Bao described, avoiding the bandits completely.
Only after stopping again did everyone light a fire and cook.
Thanks to the supplies taken from the Blackstone Tribe, they had eaten well these past days. The travel was exhausting, but they had not suffered for food.
Nanny Chen and Lu Shuangshuang handled the meals.
With two small children, Lu Shuangshuang made the food as delicate as circumstances allowed. Children had weak stomachs, and poorly prepared food could easily give them indigestion.
She boiled dried meat into mince, added white-flour paste and wild vegetables, and made a savory porridge.
Jin Bao and Xiao Jingyu each ate a large bowl.
Afterward, the women entered the carriages to rest.
Pei Wanqing wanted Jin Bao to sleep with her, but Jin Bao clung to Xiao Che’s neck.
“Mommy, Baby wants to sleep with Daddy.”
“How can you? There’s dew outside, and the forest is even colder. You’re too young. If you catch a chill overnight, you’ll be miserable.”
Jin Bao looked conflicted and gazed imploringly at Xiao Che.
He smiled. His daughter was finally acting spoiled with him. That expression could melt anyone’s heart.
Remembering the night’s task, Xiao Che whispered to Pei Wanqing.
Her eyes widened, then filled with concern.
“Husband, protect our daughter.”
“Don’t worry. Go rest.”
Only then did Pei Wanqing enter the carriage.
Xiao Che took Jin Bao and Xiao Jinghao up the mountain.
Xiao Jingmo was not highly skilled in martial arts, so he remained with the bailiffs to stand watch in shifts.
With Ye Qi and the others secretly guarding them, Xiao Che did not worry.
Following Jin Bao’s directions, Xiao Che and Xiao Jinghao traveled for two hours before reaching the bandit stronghold.
The stronghold was extremely well hidden.
It occupied half a mountainside amid dense forest. Without a guide, anyone could easily become lost.
The three climbed the nearest tree and studied it.
The rectangular stronghold was built against the mountain.
All its buildings were wooden, making use of materials found right there on the mountain.
A sheer stone cliff rose behind it as a natural barrier.
Stilted watchtowers stood on both sides of the gate.
Each held two bandits. They were supposed to keep watch, but the stronghold seemed so secret that they considered the duty pointless. They spent their shifts gambling or drinking.
“Father, I can handle the two on the left.”
Xiao Jinghao spoke with absolute confidence when he saw the two on the left hugging wine jars and drinking themselves senseless.
The two on the right were absorbed in dice.
“Hao’er, take the left. The two on the right-”
“Daddy, Baby… give them to Baby.”
Before Xiao Che finished, Jin Bao tugged eagerly at his sleeve.
He had heard about her strength, but the bandits were fierce. If she failed to silence them, they would raise the alarm.
Yet he could not refuse her expectant face.
“Fine. Come with Daddy. We’ll handle the two on the right together.”
“Daddy’s the best!”
Jin Bao happily slid down the tree.
“Little Sister, wait for me.”
Xiao Jinghao followed. Both sides had to move simultaneously, or one would alert the stronghold.
Xiao Che came close behind, and all three silently reached the watchtowers.
Jin Bao waited until Xiao Jinghao stepped on the supports and vaulted into the left tower before moving.
Xiao Che meant to warn her to be careful, but she climbed up in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Che thought, Forget it. My worries were completely unnecessary.
He leaped, caught the railing, and flipped inside.
The two bandits were already unconscious on the floor. Jin Bao rushed over.
“Daddy, Baby knocked them out already.”
Xiao Che finally understood Xiao Jingmo’s earlier shock. She was faster than he was.
“Good girl. Well done.”
Jin Bao nearly sprouted a proud little tail. Then Xiao Che lifted her onto his shoulders.
She almost shouted with delight, remembered they needed silence, and quickly covered her mouth.
“Hold tight, good girl. Daddy will fly you down.”
Her eyes shone like stars. She loved the thrilling sensation of weightlessness.
“So fun! Daddy’s like a big eagle. Baby likes it.”
Xiao Che’s chest shook with suppressed laughter. Now that he knew she loved flying, he would play this game with her often.
Xiao Jinghao jumped from the other tower and joined them at the gate.
“Father, what now?”
Xiao Che studied the layout. The large central building was probably the main hall. The east looked like living quarters, while the west held storehouses.
“Hao’er, take your sister west. I’ll search the east. Meet at the hall.”
“Understood.”
Three shadows melted into the night.
The dozen eastern rooms were empty. The bandits had likely all gone down the mountain. Several abducted women occupied the remaining rooms, and Xiao Che tied them up.
Xiao Jinghao and Jin Bao quickly searched every western room.
Within fifteen minutes, the three regrouped outside the hall.
“Father, there’s nothing. Even a rat would leave in tears.”
Xiao Jinghao had not expected the stronghold to be so poor.
“The east was empty too, except for a few abducted women.”
Xiao Che sighed. Their trip seemed wasted.
Jin Bao pointed at the hall. “Daddy, go inside. This house is huge.”
Xiao Che picked her up and kicked open the doors. The hall was empty too.
The bandits had gone out in full force, leaving only four gate guards and a few women.
The place was so poor that no thief would bother visiting.
The furnishings were crude: a large table and a grand chair covered with tiger hide.
“Daddy, good thing!”
Jin Bao’s eyes lit up.
Xiao Jingmo strode over and took the tiger hide. They could not return with nothing.
Nothing else in the hall was worth taking, so Xiao Che prepared to leave.
“Daddy, there’s a hidden room!”
Jin Bao pointed anxiously at the chair.
Xiao Che stopped and searched it, finding a raised switch on the back.
When he pressed it, the chair rotated aside and revealed a dark opening.
“Hao’er, stay above with your sister. I’ll look below.”
Xiao Jinghao took Jin Bao while Xiao Che descended.
Soon his shout came from below.
“Hao’er, there’s someone here. Come help.”
Xiao Jinghao entered the chamber with Jin Bao. Torches gave enough light to see.
No wonder the rooms above were empty. Everything was stored here.
There were two chests of jewels and several sacks of grain. In a corner lay someone barely clinging to life, filthy and slumped too low to distinguish their gender.
Xiao Che lifted the person. Xiao Jinghao and Jin Bao each carried a jewel chest upstairs.
Jin Bao was strong but tiny. Holding a chest larger than herself, she resembled an ant carrying a cake many times its size. Only the moving box could be seen.