Chapter 39 Rescue

Chapter 39 Rescue

Jiang Shu ran desperately forward, only to find that the path ahead suddenly ended at a cliff.

"Hahaha, run, I dare you to see where you can go now."

The bandit leader reined in his horse a few dozen feet behind Jiang Shu, ordering his men to surround her, ready for a cat-and-mouse game to add some fun.

Jiang Shu turned around and saw Zhao Dezhu at once.

"It's you." She was shocked, yet it made sense.

"Yes, Madam, we meet again," Zhao Dezhu said, rubbing his hands as he approached lecherously.

Jiang Shu felt repulsed but tried to stay calm, saying coldly, "Do you know that offending the Lady of the Marquisate is a capital offense?"

"Hahaha..." The bandit leader laughed wildly, showing his yellow teeth. "Which one of my deeds isn't punishable by death?"

"After we're done with you, we're going to ransack Cenhe Manor."

What?

Jiang Shu was shaken to her core and looked at Zhao Dezhu. "Zhao Dezhu, do you have any shred of humanity? Little Tao is your own flesh and blood."

"So what? Girls are just a burden, destined to be someone else's eventually. It doesn't matter if they exist or not." Zhao Dezhu showed no concern.

Jiang Shu was stunned, unable to believe these words came from a human mouth.

"This woman is too damn beautiful, Zhao Dezhu, you've got good taste," the bandit leader said, unzipping his pants with a lecherous grin as he approached.

"I told you she's a beauty worth dying for under the peony."

Jiang Shu glanced back at the cliff behind her, her eyes filled with determination.

She would rather die than fall into the hands of these inhumane beasts.

Seeing them closing in, Jiang Shu turned resolutely and rushed toward the cliff.

"Shit, this woman is going to jump! Catch her!" the bandit leader shouted, his eyes wide with fury.

Behind them, three riders galloped towards them at breakneck speed.

Jiang Shu's determined leap caught their attention, but they were too far away to stop her.

In desperation, Yu Zheng yelled out, "Jiang Shu!"

Who? Who was calling her?

Jiang Shu stopped at the edge of the cliff and turned, seeing Yu Zheng, dressed in black brocade with his hair tied up neatly, leaping off his horse towards her.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

When she regained her senses, Yu Zheng had already positioned himself in front of her, blocking Zhao Dezhu and the others.

"Attack!" Neither Zhao Dezhu nor the bandit leader knew Yu Zheng's identity; they only knew he was spoiling their plans and wanted him dead.

"Be careful, Your Highness," Jiang Shu warned anxiously.

Unfazed, Yu Zheng drew a thin, flexible sword from his waist, his dark eyes filled with murderous intent.

To prevent harming Jiang Shu, Yu Zheng took the initiative, moving the battle further away, leaving her a safe distance of several feet.

"Clang! Clang!" As Yu Zheng engaged the bandits, his two personal guards arrived and quickly joined the fight.

Despite being outnumbered three to seven, they did not falter. Within moments, Zhao Dezhu and his men were defeated.

"Who are you?" Zhao Dezhu retreated, supporting his injured body, finally feeling fear.

Underneath the fear was a hint of resentment.

He was so close to tasting Jiang Shu.

The man who ruined his plans had a fierce demeanor and an imposing presence, exuding nobility from head to toe, clearly not an ordinary person.

Yu Zheng ignored the question and turned to walk towards Jiang Shu.

Jiang Shu had been standing tensely at the edge of the cliff. Now that the danger was over, she suddenly felt her legs give way, trembling uncontrollably, almost slipping off the cliff.

"Don't move, don't move," Yu Zheng said, his brows furrowed in alarm, quickening his pace.

As he approached, Yu Zheng extended his hand, signaling Jiang Shu to take it.

Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment before giving him her hand.

In a life-or-death situation, there was no time for propriety.

Yu Zheng gripped her hand tightly and pulled her away from the cliff's edge.

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Zheng changed his grip from her hand to her arm, helping her sit down on a clean rock.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me," Jiang Shu said, her voice weak after narrowly escaping death.

Yu Zheng examined her closely, noticing her disheveled hair, pale and frightened face, and her dirty dress stained with blood. He asked, "Are you hurt?"

Jiang Shu touched her knee. "I fell while running, but it's nothing serious."

Relieved, Yu Zheng let her rest.

After settling Jiang Shu, Yu Zheng turned to Zhao Dezhu and the others, his eyes suddenly turning cold.

"Have you grown tired of living, daring to offend the lady of the Marquis Jingan's household?"

"It was she who forced me into a corner first." Zhao Dezhu gritted his teeth, placing the blame on Jiang Shu.

Jiang Shu turned back, glaring at the unrepentant Zhao Dezhu with hatred. "You have a heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog, devoid of humanity. For all the heinous acts you've committed, handing you over to the authorities is already lenient."

"Hmph!" Zhao Dezhu threatened, undeterred by the consequences: "If you don't let me go, I'll tell everyone in court that I've defiled you. Your reputation will be ruined, you'll be abandoned by the Marquis Jingan, and you'll be ridiculed for the rest of your life."

Zhao Dezhu laughed wildly, certain that Jiang Shu wouldn't dare face him in court.

Jiang Shu, still shaken, was indeed terrified by these words, her face as pale as paper.

"Face each other in court? Do you think you'll live long enough to see that day?" Yu Zheng held his long sword, his eyes filled with a murderous intent.

Zhao Dezhu panicked. "What do you mean? According to our laws, even the most heinous criminals must be tried and sentenced by the authorities; no one has the right to kill them without due process."

Yu Zheng's face was as cold as ice. "A group of bandits ambushed this prince and were killed in self-defense during the fight. It's perfectly reasonable."

"Not only will no one dare question this prince, but I'll also hold them accountable for their negligence."

As he spoke, Yu Zheng's sword was already at Zhao Dezhu's thick neck.

Feeling the bone-chilling coldness, Zhao Dezhu panicked, his eyes filled with fear, and he struggled desperately. "Even if you kill me, there are others. If they reveal anything..."

"Then we'll kill them all. Dead men don't talk." Yu Zheng's eyes turned colder, and he made a slight movement with his wrist.

The sharp blade easily cut through Zhao Dezhu's neck, blood spurting out onto the grass and trees.

Zhao Dezhu gazed in utter disbelief, collapsing onto the ground in unwillingness.

Seeing Zhao Dezhu dead, the other bandits realized they had encountered a formidable opponent and scattered in terror.

Yu Zheng watched coldly and shouted, "Zhuiyun, follow the wind."

"Yes, Master." Zhuiyun bowed, awaiting orders.

"Leave none alive." Yu Zheng's voice was calm but as chilling as winter winds.

"Yes." Zhuiyun followed the order, using lightness kung fu to catch up with the bandits and dispatching them swiftly.

Witnessing a group of living people turn into corpses, Jiang Shu's almond-shaped eyes trembled in horror.

"If you're scared, don't look." Yu Zheng blocked her view with his body.

Jiang Shu bit her lip, hating them. "They deserve to die. I want to see them dead with my own eyes."

Had it not been for encountering Yu Zheng today, not only would she have died, but the villagers of Cenhe Manor would likely have met the same fate.

For the first time, the usually kind Jiang Shu felt a sense of satisfaction from seeing people killed.

"Master, it's all taken care of." Zhuiyun returned to report.

Yu Zheng glanced at Jiang Shu, who was still trembling, and instructed the two, "Go and take care of the remaining bandits. Prepare the carriage and wait."

"Yes." Zhuiyun and the other left on horseback.

Yu Zheng took out a silk handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood off his soft sword.

Jiang Shu watched his movements, feeling that Yu Zheng, like his soft sword, was both dangerous and captivating.