Chapter Fourteen: When Disaster Strikes, Does Everyone Flee Separately?

“That's all well and good, but have you considered what would happen if our master dies? Wouldn’t we all become widows?” Xu Ruolan couldn’t help but speak up. “My corrupt ex-husband was already executed by the court. The new master, I’ve only known him for a few days, and we haven’t even shared a bed before he died. If word gets out, I’ll surely be branded as a woman who brings misfortune to men. Then men will avoid me like the plague—how am I supposed to marry again?”

As she spoke, she covered her face and began to weep, lamenting, “Wah, my life is truly miserable.”

The women around her all looked on silently, speechless.

Good heavens, it seems you’re more worried about being labeled a jinx than anything else.

No wonder she’s a mother of four; her way of thinking is completely different from ours young ones.

“Enough crying! You’re just making everyone irritated!” Li Xiuning snapped with a sharp reprimand.

As the legitimate wife and a princess of the Tang Dynasty, Li Xiuning had been raised in privilege, carrying an air of nobility. Her stern words immediately silenced Xu Ruolan, who obediently closed her mouth.

“So, what do we do now? Just wait here for the master to return? It’s already dark; shouldn’t we find an inn to rest?” Lu Qiqi asked timidly, glancing toward An Ruoxue and Li Xiuning.

Though An Ruoxue was also a concubine like herself, her demeanor was extraordinary—calm and poised in the face of adversity. Moreover, as a disciple of the Snow Sword Sect, in their eyes, An Ruoxue stood on equal footing with Li Xiuning in terms of status.

However, when faced with the women’s questions, An Ruoxue remained indifferent, not even bothering to glance their way or utter a word. She stood aloof, cradling her sword, as if the others did not exist—only the moonlight her companion.

Xu Ruolan’s eyes darted suddenly, and she said, “Or… should we just split up now? After all, the master’s wealth is all on the carriage. We could divide it among ourselves, then each go our own way.”

Upon hearing this, the other women exchanged uneasy looks, some even harboring the same thought.

They had no real affection for Chen Xuan anyway. If he truly never returned, it might be better to part ways and disperse.

“Rubbish!” Li Xiuning’s eyes flashed with fury as she sharply rebuked, “If anyone dares mention dividing the property again, I’ll punish them by the family law!”

Her tone was icy and merciless as she stared directly at Xu Ruolan.

Xu Ruolan shrank back like a frightened quail, not daring to utter another word.

But inwardly, she grumbled, Family law? What family law? Chen Xuan had just saved her yesterday and hadn’t set any such rules.

She thought Li Xiuning was just flaunting her status as the legitimate wife, feeling a bit aggrieved and resentful, but Li Xiuning’s firm attitude left her no room to argue.

“So, where are we going now? We can’t stay here forever, right?” Lu Qiqi’s voice lowered considerably out of respect for Li Xiuning’s authority.

“We stay here until dawn. If he returns, we follow him to the frontier. If he doesn’t, then we divide the property and each go our separate ways,” Li Xiuning said after a moment’s thought, her voice grave.

If by dawn there was no sign of Chen Xuan, it would mean his fate was sealed.

In that case, there was no point in waiting any longer.

This was the best course of action for now.

Even Xu Ruolan, who had earlier voiced complaints, fell silent at the suggestion. Her heart was torn—she wished Chen Xuan would come back, yet part of her hoped he wouldn’t.

After all, the gold in the carriage, if divided among them, would allow her to live in luxury for some time.

Going to the harsh, cold frontier with Chen Xuan meant untold suffering.

Sometimes, a woman’s heart is complicated and contradictory.

Li Xiuning’s expression suddenly grew complex as she glanced at An Ruoxue.

Li Xiuning did not know An Ruoxue’s exact cultivation level, but as a martial artist, if she wished to leave, no one present could stop her.

In other words, this was the best moment for An Ruoxue to depart.

Meeting Li Xiuning’s gaze, An Ruoxue understood the unspoken meaning behind it.

She let out a faint, cold snort. “I am no opportunist. I would never flee while he is away.”

Li Xiuning exhaled in relief.

In truth, An Ruoxue’s presence gave her a greater sense of security. Though wounded, An Ruoxue could still fight at thirty to forty percent strength and protect them.

...

The night was dark and the wind fierce.

Thirty li from the entrance of the bandit mountain lay a hill called Golden Peak.

Atop this hill stood a stronghold—the infamous Golden Peak Bandit Camp.

There, the bandits gathered around the flickering campfire, feasting and drinking heartily.

“Hahaha! Boss, this time we really hit the jackpot! That Mr. Sima was unbelievably generous—one thousand taels of gold to buy the worthless Chen family brat Chen Xuan’s life!”

“Our Second-in-Command personally led two hundred men to ambush him and brought bows and arrows from Mr. Sima. I heard Chen Xuan called the Yang Escort Agency for protection. The Yang Agency’s just a small outfit. This time, Second-in-Command will wipe them all out!”

The bandits laughed boisterously.

To them, with Second-in-Command leading the charge, killing a mere Chen Xuan was a guaranteed victory.

The camp leader sat at the highest place, draped in a tiger skin coat, his body covered in tattoos of dragons and tigers.

His fierce gaze exuded a chilling aura.

In his hand, he held a vessel made from a human skull, from which he drank deeply.

A look of satisfaction spread across his face.

His Second-in-Command was his most loyal dog, never making mistakes. He awaited good news from him.

“Report!”

At that moment, a disheveled bandit, clothes torn and face pale with fear, staggered into the camp.

“Oh, it’s Bald Zhang returning—this means Second-in-Command has triumphed!”

The bandits burst into laughter upon seeing the pitiful figure.

“Hey Bald Zhang, why do you look like a drowned rat?”

“Where’s Second-in-Command? Did you bring back the body of that Chen Xuan brat? Mr. Sima demanded his corpse!”

“And what about the women with that brat? Don’t tell me you touched them? They’re supposed to be sent back to the capital for Mr. Sima.”