ATLAS TRANSLATES

Who could this “he” be?

The scarred-faced man’s shout came through: “Go check if Fourth Miss is awake!”

Dou Zhao was startled and quickly climbed onto the couch to lie down beside Su Juan.

“Such a delicate young miss, my hand chop will keep her out for at least two hours,” someone muttered while walking over, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

Dou Zhao kept her eyes closed, relaxed her body, and pretended to sleep.

The gaze lingered on her for a moment, then footsteps in the room gradually faded away. With a “click,” the door was locked again.

Dou Zhao relaxed and found her forehead covered in fine sweat.

Had Bie Suxin found someone to rescue her?

And had Bie Sulan lost track of them or been discovered?

She hadn’t expected to be knocked unconscious.

If anything went wrong, she might not even have the chance to regret it.

This decision had been too risky!

A thousand thoughts tangled in her mind, leaving her in chaos.

Suddenly, a soft “creak” sounded in the room.

Dou Zhao looked toward the sound in terror and saw the window being pried open slightly. Bie Sulan climbed in from outside with light, nimble movements.

Her heart leaped with excitement, and she quickly sat up.

Bie Sulan’s face broke into a brilliant smile as she said softly: “Miss, Chen Big Brother and the others are outside. They’re just waiting for us to come out before they make their move.”

They wanted to rescue her early, probably worried that the kidnappers would use her as a hostage once fighting broke out.

Dou Zhao hesitated, looking at Su Juan.

If she disappeared, would the kidnappers harm Su Juan?

Bie Sulan was suddenly at a loss and whispered: “There are two or three bandits patrolling outside. I can’t bring Su Juan out too.”

After thinking for a moment, Dou Zhao whispered back: “Su Juan and I will hide in the room. You notify them to make their move.”

Bie Sulan disagreed.

Dou Zhao said: “Do you have any better ideas?”

Bie Sulan was also at a loss.

Dou Zhao woke Su Juan.

Su Juan was dazed and about to scream when she opened her eyes wide, but fortunately Bie Sulan quickly covered her mouth.

Dou Zhao quietly explained the situation to Su Juan, finally saying: “Fourth Miss is thinking of you even in a life-or-death situation.”

Su Juan’s eyes reddened, and she gathered her courage to say: “Fourth Miss, you and Sulan should go. Those people won’t harm me.”

“This is not the time for rash decisions,” Dou Zhao said displeased, “If we waste time because of this, won’t we all be in danger?”

Su Juan lowered her head, but tears fell in large drops.

Sulan said nothing more and pushed open the window to look around, searching for a chance to slip out.

Dou Zhao and Su Juan lay down under the couch.

Sulan silently climbed back out.

The room was quiet. Dou Zhao and Su Juan didn’t dare even breathe loudly. Outside, the kidnappers’ voices could be heard from time to time, making the atmosphere in the room increasingly tense. Dou Zhao could feel her legs trembling.

During the wait, time seemed to stretch endlessly. Perhaps several incense sticks’ worth of time had passed, or perhaps just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The window creaked open again, and this time, besides Sulan, Chen Xiaofeng and a robust middle-aged man with bright eyes also climbed in.

“Miss,” Sulan crouched by the couch and peered underneath, “Chen Big Brother says if they can’t protect you, even cutting those bandits into ten thousand pieces would be useless.” Then she pointed to the middle-aged man, “This is Uncle Duan, who works as a guard with Chen Big Brother. Uncle Duan’s martial skills are excellent. You and Su Juan just stay under the couch. Wait until Uncle Lin and the others capture them before coming out.” After speaking, she stood up to guard in front of the couch.

Chen Xiaofeng and Uncle Duan positioned themselves on either side of the door.

Soon, sounds of fighting and shouting came from outside.

The scarred-face man cried in terror: “Which gang are you from? We’re Master Xing’s men from Lingshui County. Don’t let the flood wash away the dragon king’s temple – we’re all in the same business!”

His response was met with even more intense fighting sounds.

The door burst open with a “bang,” and the scarred-face man rushed in with a knife, seeing a dark-skinned unfamiliar young maid standing in front of the bed. He hesitated for a moment.

In that moment, Uncle Duan had already moved like a ghost to strangle the scarred-face man’s neck and twisted the hand holding the knife.

The scarred-face man cried out in pain. Chen Xiaofeng, who was a step slower than Uncle Duan, kicked him hard in the stomach. The scarred-face man’s face turned pale, his knife clattered to the ground, and his legs gave way. If Uncle Duan hadn’t been holding his neck, he would have collapsed.

Uncle Duan spat fiercely and said in a muffled voice: “I thought he’d be something special, but he’s just some lowlife!” He was clearly unimpressed with the scarred-face man’s fighting skills.

“How many people in North Zhili can compare to Uncle Duan?” Sulan’s words were as sweet as honey as she helped Dou Zhao and Su Juan crawl out from under the couch.

“Thank you, brave warrior,” Dou Zhao curtsied to Uncle Duan and asked Chen Xiaofeng, “Where is this place?”

Chen Xiaofeng said: “A small manor at the border of Lingshui and Zhending, about twenty li from your manor.”

Lingshui County?

Wang Yingxue’s hometown.

Dou Zhao’s heart stirred.

The fighting sounds outside gradually died down, replaced by occasional groans of pain.

Someone laughed: “Just some small fry. Chen Xiaofeng made it sound like we were facing dragons.”

Someone else laughed in response: “It’s always better to be cautious.” Then continued, “Tie them all up and wait to see how the employer wants to handle them.”

Everyone’s tense nerves finally relaxed.

She said to Chen Xiaofeng: “Send someone with Sulan to my manor to find Master Chen. Have him pay you the ten thousand taels of silver I promised.”

Chen Xiaofeng had heard from Suxin that if they rescued Dou Zhao, there would be a reward of ten thousand taels of silver. He had thought Dou Zhao was just panicking and didn’t take it seriously, figuring they’d get at least one or two hundred taels as reward if they rescued her. So when recruiting people, he had only promised one hundred taels. Now hearing there really was a ten thousand tael reward, he was both shocked and delighted, at a loss for words. Even Uncle Duan stammered: “Miss Dou, is… is there really a ten thousand tael reward?”

“Though I am young, my word is my bond. I never go back on my promises!” Dou Zhao said coolly, but her expression showed such determination that one couldn’t help but believe her.

They had brought over twenty people. Even if Chen Xiaofeng took the largest share, it would still average several hundred taels per person. Working as a guard only earned twenty taels a year.

“I’ll go tell the brothers!” Uncle Duan said excitedly. He used the scarred-face man’s belt to tie him up tightly like a zongzi, “Thank you, Miss!”

The scarred-face man seemed to finally come to his senses and shouted angrily: “That bastard Pang Kunbai tricked us! He said you were just a little girl abandoned by your parents in the countryside with no one watching over you. Yet you can produce ten thousand taels of silver! He only promised me a hundred taels! I’m going to stab him…” He struggled desperately to break free from Uncle Duan’s grip, but Uncle Duan’s hands were strong as iron bands, leaving him unable to move.

Pang Kunbai!

It was actually him!

Dou Zhao was completely shocked.

She requested Chen Xiaofeng: “Please help me with one more thing – interrogate this man and find out what dealings he has with Pang Kunbai.”

They had only broken a sweat and easily earned someone’s ten thousand taels. Now she was just asking for a small favor. Not only was this kind of thing effortless for them, but even if it was somewhat troublesome, they wouldn’t refuse considering the ten thousand taels.

Chen Xiaofeng immediately agreed.

But the scarred-face man cried out: “Miss Dou, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you everything! Just let us go, and I’ll tell you everything.” He continued, “We were also deceived by Pang Kunbai. You’re magnanimous – considering we were just doing a job for pay, please don’t hold it against us…”

Dou Zhao remained unmoved.

What if they had kidnapped not her, but some other defenseless woman?

She said to Chen Xiaofeng: “Please help me interrogate him.”

Chen Xiaofeng nodded.

Uncle Duan greatly admired Dou Zhao’s decisiveness and voluntarily took the scarred-face man outside.

Sulan saw Dou Zhao covered in dust from lying under the couch and wanted to fetch water to help her clean up.

Dou Zhao asked: “Where’s Suxin?”

Sulan said: “Sister was afraid of missing the time to rescue you, so she told Chen Big Brother the meeting place and returned to the manor first.”

Dou Zhao nodded, saying worriedly: “I wonder how Grandmother is?”

Sulan comforted her: “They were after you, so they must have been lying!”

“I hope so!” Dou Zhao sighed.

Sulan and Su Juan brought water to help her wash her face and redo her hair.

Chen Xiaofeng requested to see her.

His expression was strange as he said quietly: “Xing Laoliu confessed that Pang Kunbai instructed them to bring you here, then Pang Kunbai would pretend to accidentally encounter and rescue you. After success, besides the hundred taels of silver, Pang Kunbai also promised to send them to Shaanxi Provincial Command Post as junior officers…”

Shaanxi Provincial Command Post – Wang Xingyi’s territory.

Dou Zhao’s eyes flashed coldly: “Why not rescue me right at the kidnapping? Why bring me here?”

“Xing Laoliu doesn’t know,” Chen Xiaofeng said. “Pang Kunbai just told him to wait here, saying he would come to rescue you, and Xing Laoliu should pretend to be defeated and retreat.”

“Did Pang Kunbai say when he would come?” Dou Zhao frowned.

“No.”

Dou Zhao lowered her head in thought. After a while, she looked up and said: “Master Chen, I hate to trouble the same person twice, but I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you all again with this matter.”

This was cleanup work – they had taken her money, so naturally they had to be responsible.

Chen Xiaofeng smiled and said: “Please give your instructions, Miss.”

Dou Zhao then spoke quietly to Chen Xiaofeng for a while.

Chen Xiaofeng was first stunned, then his expression gradually became serious as he kept nodding.