After Rebirth, the Green Tea Illegitimate Daughter Became a Master of Schemes

Chapter 20 - Courage

With the matter settled, Xuan Yufeng and the others wandered around the temple for a while, preparing to return home.
Unexpectedly, as they were calling the coachman to bring the carriage around, the coachman and maid rushed back, their faces full of panic, reporting urgently.
"... Madam, there are a lot of mountain bandits outside!"
Xuan Yuluan had heard of bandits causing trouble on the mountain, but she hadn't expected them to come this far.
The temple's patrons were immediately thrown into chaos, fleeing in all directions.
Although Third Miss appeared calm, she was still a young lady, unaccustomed to such situations. She quickly became frightened and tightly grasped Xuan Yuluan's wrist.
The two, along with their maids, were unfamiliar with the terrain and could not find an exit.
Eventually, they were herded into a room by a group of bandits who had broken in.
There were not many bandits—only five or six—but against unarmed women, they were more than sufficient.
Seeing the covetous looks in their eyes, the women huddled in a corner, trembling with fear.
Xuan Yuluan's heart sank slightly.
The leader of the bandits came forward, scanning the room. His strong odor made the women nearly gag. Finally, his gaze fell on Third Miss's pale face. He reached out and dragged her out.
"You're the one... delicate little lady!"
The women screamed in terror, and some older women even fainted from the shock.
"Quiet!" The bandit leader impatiently kicked one of the crying women, "One at a time, no one gets away!"
Third Miss was ashen with fear. Xuan Yuluan, being only thirteen and perhaps overlooked due to her youth, was not targeted by him.
She bit her lip, and before the bandit leader could do anything to Third Miss, she couldn't help but stand up and speak loudly.
"We are willing to give you all our gold and jewelry!" She said, "Take these valuables and exchange them for silver. There will surely be women who are willing to follow you, just spare us!"
Her words were clear and logical, but coming from a young girl, they carried a different weight.
The women quickly agreed, begging for mercy.
The bandit leader narrowed his eyes, looking disdainfully at the young girl.
"I don't care about that. I just want to have some fun!"
He said, reaching for Third Miss's clothing. Unable to hold back any longer, Third Miss burst into tears.
"Men like you," Xuan Yuluan couldn't help but bite her lip and shout angrily, "Strong and healthy, instead of doing something meaningful, you come to oppress weaker women. Do you even consider yourself a man?!"
Her words were forceful, and even Yin Xu, watching from a tree nearby, couldn't help but agree; the statement was accurate.
The bandit leader seemed infuriated by her words and reached out to grab her.
Xuan Yuluan instinctively recoiled. Just as his hand was about to catch her, she suddenly heard the sound of an arrow slicing through the air.
"Whoosh—"
In the next moment, the bandit leader was struck in the chest by an arrow, his eyes widening as he slumped to the ground, bleeding and dead.
Xuan Yufeng quickly released him and ran to the young girl, trembling. Xuan Yuluan, however, turned her gaze to the gently swaying branches outside, where she caught a glimpse of a corner of clothing.
The remaining bandits, in their panic, heard shouts of "The officials are coming!" and quickly fled, leaving the women behind.
Before the officials arrived, Xuan Yuluan whispered to her maid, "Fix Third Miss's clothes so that no one points fingers."
The young girl knew that her mother and father cared only about their reputation and not the well-being of their concubine-born daughters. If Third Miss's honor were compromised, they might well order her death to preserve the remaining sisters' reputations.
"Yes."
The maid promptly adjusted Third Miss's clothing. When the officials arrived, seeing the women's attire in order, they were slightly relieved. No further disturbances occurred, and the officials escorted the madams and young ladies back to their homes.