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The next morning you meet Xu Hai on the steps to the tavern.
Xu Hai: Miss Afu, I prepared a carriage for you. Please get in!
Xiu Ying: It's fine. I'll ride a horse. It will save you time.
Xu Hai: It won't make much difference. It's a long way. How are you going to manage riding a horse all that way? The carriage would be easier.
Xiu Ying: I appreciate the gesture, Lord Xu, but I'm not all that delicate. I can ride a horse.
You refuse three more times. Lord Xu doesn't look pleased, but says nothing more on the subject. Several days later you pass through a mountain forest. As there are no settlements nearby, you are forced to camp by the road. You share the work with several other women in the caravan, collecting water and cooking meals. As you are collecting water at the spring, you overhear a conversation.
Woman A: Master, do you like Afu?
Xu Hai: She is very pretty. Who wouldn't like her? She's a bit dull though, and indiscreet! Do you still have any of that medicine you brought along last time? Next time add it to her food...
Your blood runs cold. You're still trying to regain your composure when someone else appears.
Woman B: Afu, do you have the water ready? Don't dillydally now!
Your mind is screaming "NO!!!" when Xu Hai wanders over, attracted by the noise.
Xu Hai: Miss Afu, drawing water here, huh?
Xu Hai smiles mildly. He has been all kidness on this journey. If you hadn't heard it with your own ears, you would have ended up drugged and god knows what else.
Xiu Ying: [Calmly] Yeah, I fell asleep by the spring. My sister just roused me.
Xu Hai: [Looking concerned] Better go to bed early tonight I think!
You smile in response, calmly draw the water and leave.
Xiu Ying: (They are Xu Hai's people. I can't alert him to the fact I know, but I've got to get out of here as soon as I can...)
Returning to the group, you pretend everything is fine. You busy yourself with something, then wander in the direction of the latrine and keep going.
Xu Hai: [He stands ahead of you, suppressing a laugh] Where are you running off to, Afu?
Seeing him, your hopes of an easy escape are dashed. When collecting water at the spring you'd pretended you hadn't heard him. He'd pretended he believed you, but he hadn't... and now he was here, waiting for you.
Xu Hai: Afu, you're hurting my feelings! I've treated you so well, and now you're just going to leave me?
Xiu Ying: If I hadn't heard you back there, I'd still think you're a good person!
Xu Hai: [Sighing] I was careless, I admit it. But I wasn't, and here we are.
Xiu Ying: You won't get what you want.
Xu Hai: Actually I don't like forcing people into stuff. Afu, you don't need your family. You could stay with us, and eat at my table.
The night is dark. The stars overhead shine dimly. You feel the panic rising in your stomach. Your thoughts are racing. The best option is stalling him for now, then trying to run in the morning.
Xiu Ying: I was attracted to you before I heard you planning to drug me. That made me angry... Do you guarantee you won't do that to me?
Xu Hai starts to laugh.
Xu Hai: Afu, Afu... I might be rich, but I'm not a fool. If I do as you say, you're sure to make a run for it in the morning!
Xiu Ying: Basically you don't trust me and you're still going to do whatever the hell you want!
Xu Hai: I wouldn't be a very good merchant Afu if I didn't drive a hard bargain.
Xu Hai has been inching towards you as you speak. You hand grips the hilt of your dagger tightly, and you try to control your breathing.
Xiu Ying: [Looking over his shoulder] Who's that? Do you know him?
Xu Hai: [Skeptically] Haha. Nice try.
Xiu Ying: Fine, don't look. You might regret it though.
Xu Hai looks brash and skeptical, but he still looks around. You grab your chance and dash into the trees.
Xu Hai: Stop her!
Xiu Ying: Next time I'll remember to say my prayers!
Xu Hai's men start to close in. Out of nowhere sounds a battle cry. You stumble. The next instance you're held in someone's warm embrace. A deep voice tries to smooth you.
Fu Heng: Sorry. I'm late.
You blink. You feel like you might cry. Looking up you see Fu Heng's kindly face smiling down at you.
Xiu Ying: You're never too late.
Xu Hai: [Scornfully] You turned me down because you have another man!
Fu Heng's eyes harden. He sees you safely to one side, says a couple of reassuring words, then turns and charges into the middle of the caravan. The merchants are capable of defending themselves against common bandits, but they are no match for the battle-hardened Fu Heng and quickly turn tail and run. Xu Hai creeps up on you silently, planning to take you hostage and use you as a bargaining chip against Fu Heng. You flee, but you cannot outrun him.
Xu Hai: [Grabbing your left arm] Your boyfriend knows how to fight!
Xiu Ying: You pig! He's ten times the man you are!
You slash at his arm with your dagger and he cries out in pain, letting you go. Enraged, he charges at you, only to be sent flying by a well-aimed kick from Fu Heng, who has just arrived on the scene.
Fu Heng: Is he bothering you again?
Xiu Ying: He wants to... He needs to be taught a lesson.
Xu Hai: [Struggling to get up] You... you... you BITC-
Before Xu Hai can finish his sentence, Fu Heng hoists him up by his collar and starts beating him black and blue. He eventually passes out.
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