Xu Zhutao knew that although Enshi was in Huguang, it was not far from Wu Mountain. Qutang area had always been relatively peaceful under the protection of the Palace of Goddess. The boatmen, fishermen, farmers and woodsmen there also lived and worked in peace and contentment under the protection of the Palace of Goddess. The Jianghu people were afraid of the reputation of the Palace of Goddess, so no one dared to cause trouble in that area. Now, there were actually bandits gathering near Wu Mountain, robbing passing merchants. He was shocked and furious. He would never allow these bandits to harm the people and merchants in the Wu Mountain area.
"As far as I know, Enshi has always been peaceful. When did these bandits start gathering there?" Xu Zhutao asked.”
Travel Four Seas: " I don't know about that. Chengxing Bodyguard Agency and our Guangsheng Bodyguard Agency were originally just small bodyguard agencies in Wuchang Prefecture. Now that Chengxing Bodyguard Agency has experienced this disaster, I'm afraid it won't be able to recover."”
Zou Bafang cursed,"Damn you, you damned bandit! I say, Young Master White Horse, your martial arts are so high, can you go and exterminate those bandits? I, Old Zou, am willing to be the vanguard!”
Xu Zhutao said," To be honest, Brother You and Brother Zou, although this little brother has just come out of the martial world, I've also been a bodyguard once. I also hate those bandits who rob merchants and merchants. When I find out the truth, if those strong bandits really do all kinds of evil, I will definitely not let them off."”
Zou Bafang shouted,"Then what's there to investigate? We'll know once we go to Chengxing Bodyguard Agency."”
"Who is the Chief Escort of Chengxing Escort Agency? Can you two give me some pointers?" Xu Zhutao asked.”
" The chief escort of Chengxing Bodyguard Agency is called Lu Dawei, nicknamed 'Benevolent and Righteous Lu Dadao'," You Sihai said." He is a man who is generous and generous. He is a highly praised figure in the underworld."”
"Oh, so you two know him?" Xu Zhutao asked.”
"Of course we know him!" Zou Bafang said.”
Xu Zhutao thought for a moment and said,"Then can you two take me to see Chief Escort Lu?"”
Zou Bafang said," What do you mean by asking to see him? If Old Lu knows that Young Master White Horse is willing to stand up for him, he can even call you grandfather. Brother, wait here. We'll call him to see you!"”
Xu Zhutao said," I don't think that's a good idea. Please wait a moment, my brothers. I'll go over and say a few words to my companion first. Then, I'll go with you to visit Chief Escort Lu."”
Xu Zhutao walked back to Yu Luosha's side and said in a low voice,""Aunt, I'm sure you've heard it as well. This group of bandits did such a terrible thing, and they're near my sect. Aunt, please take good care of the girls. I'll go with those two to see Lu Dawei and come back.”
"Of course!" Jade Rakshasa nodded.”
Xu Zhutao followed You Sihai and Zou Bafang to Chengxing Bodyguard Agency. When they saw Lu Dawei, they greeted each other. Xu Zhutao said that he wanted to see Xiao Liu, who had escaped. Lu Dawei called Xiao Liu over in a short while. Xu Zhutao asked about the time and place of the night Liu was robbed, as well as the number of robbers, and then left. He did not mention to Lu Dawei that he intended to eliminate the robbers.
You and Zou followed him out of Chengxing Bodyguard Agency. When they reached the street, Zou Bafang asked,""Young Master Xu, when do you plan to go and exterminate the bandits?”
Xu Zhutao pondered for a while and said,"Let's move in the next few days. Do you and Zou want to go with us?"”
" Of course," Zou Bafang said." My martial arts might not be as good as yours, but I can still kill a few bandit goons!"”
" That's what I mean," said Travel Four Seas." When Young Master is leaving, you must inform us at Guang Sheng Bodyguard Agency. We'll cheer for Young Master."”
"Alright, I'll definitely inform you guys when I've decided on the time to take action." Xu Zhutao said. I'll return to Linjiang Immortal now. Please wait for my news.”
Xu Zhutao said goodbye to You Sihai and Zou Bafang. He returned to Linjiang Immortal and asked the waiter for a pen and paper to write a letter to the shopkeeper. He told him to give this letter to You Sihai or Zou Bafang if they came to the restaurant to look for him. When he returned to his room and saw that the four heroines were all there, Xu Zhutao spread his hands and said,"I'm going to meddle in other people's business again!"
"Alright, I have something to do again this time!" Shangguan Wanqian said.”
"Big Brother Xu, shall we go with you?" Ding Feng said.”
"Good Feng 'er, you and Ling' er should go home earlier."”
"I don't want to!" Ding Feng said. We want to go with you to exterminate the bandits.”
Xu Zhutao looked at Ding Ling.
"Of course I'm going too!" Ding Ling said.
Xu Zhutao said," There may be unexpected dangers on this trip. It's not impossible for you to go, but you have to listen to my aunt. Go pack your bags now and set off immediately."”
At dusk, they had already passed through a high mountain northeast of Enshi. Enshi County was already in sight, and they were passing by a large mound with dense forests.
Suddenly, Xu Zhutao reined in his horse, turned his head and asked softly,""Listen, there seems to be a sound from above!”
The few of them reined in their horses and listened attentively. "Yes, there's a child crying."”
"Why would there be a child crying in the wilderness?" Ding Ling asked. Strange, let's go up and take a look."
Xu Zhutao got off his horse and hung the reins on the tree branch."I'll go up and take a look. Wait for me." He followed the intermittent cries and walked towards the dense forest on the hill, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.
Shangguan Wanqian refused to be left out and said to Ding Ling,""Let's go and take a look too. There's no point in staying here.”
"Alright, we'll go too!" Ding Ling said.”The two of them dismounted, hung the reins, and left.
Xu Zhutao approached the top of the hill and saw a middle-aged man hanging three ropes on a branch and tying a knot. Under the tree, a boy and a girl, about seven or eight years old, were hugging each other and crying. The middle-aged man was dressed in ragged clothes. He was barefooted, and his face was yellow and skinny. The two children also had pale yellow faces and were thin and frail. Not only did they look malnourished, but they were also ill.
Xu Zhutao hid behind a tree and looked at the three ropes. He felt his hair stand on end and thought, Could it be that they wanted to hang themselves?
The middle-aged man tied the knot and tears rolled down his eyes. He found a few stones and carefully piled them up. When everything was ready, the middle-aged man waved at the two children and called out in a trembling voice,"Children, it's time to go. I'll leave first and find your mother as soon as possible.”
The two children stopped crying and supported each other as they walked closer. The girl shook the rope with tears in her eyes and asked,""Father, you can find your mother in the sky with a rope?”
The middle-aged man turned his head with difficulty and squatted down with difficulty. He reached out his hands to hug the girl and said,"Yes, I am. His father followed him. Child, don't be afraid. Soon, our family will be able to gather in the sky and live a life without hunger and cold. Come on! " Be brave, don't…don't cry…" He picked up the girl and walked to the last rope. He stretched out his shaking right hand and felt for the rope. He closed his eyes and let the big tears fall. Finally, he put the rope around the girl's head. He only needed to let go of his hands, and this poor girl would definitely die.
The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and shouted,""Child, you…you go first…first…"
He loosened his left hand and squatted down. At first, the little girl refused to let go of her hands around her father's neck, but when the rope tightened, she let out a scream and let go.
Xu Zhutao, who was hiding behind a tree trunk five feet away, saw this scene and was furious. He rushed over and hugged the girl. He broke the rope and slapped the middle-aged man to the ground. He roared,"A vicious tiger will not eat its cubs. You're worse than a beast. If you want to die, then die alone. Why did you bring two little ones along?”The middle-aged man was knocked to the ground. He groaned weakly and struggled to sit up.
Shangguan Wanqian also walked over and hugged the boy in her arms tenderly. It turned out that Shangguan Wanqian and Ding Ling had also arrived.
The middle-aged man staggered to his feet and said with a sad face,""Brother, don't worry about Xiaoke. Some people's lives are sins, why bother?”
"You shouldn't have dragged these two little ones to their deaths." Xu Zhutao said angrily.”
"I'd rather they die too," the middle-aged man cried,"so that they won't suffer while they're alive. Brother, it's true. If they live, the two of them will definitely become slaves. There's no meaning in living a painful life. It's better not to live.”
"Did you encounter any difficulties?" Xu Zhutao asked.”
" Yes," the middle-aged man said." I owe a debt that is difficult to repay. It is a disgrace to live, but I will die a clean death."”
"How much debt?" Xu Zhutao asked. Whose?"
"Forty taels, from the city's Third Master Lei." I won't be able to repay it in this lifetime, except for using my children to pay off the debt. However, I don't want my children to be slaves and be destroyed by others for the rest of their lives…"
"I'll go and kill that person. He deserves to die!" Shangguan Wanqian said.”
The middle-aged man shook his head and smiled bitterly. Half a year ago, his wife was terminally ill and could only borrow five taels of silver from a friend to save her. However, the medicine was ineffective and she still could not save her after two months. After the person died, the debt was transferred to Lei San Ye's account, increasing from two cents to six cents. In the past six months, interest had been rolling up. In addition to the monthly repayment of sporadic debts, the principal and interest were still owed as much as forty-one taels. Third Master Lei wants me to give these two children to him as slaves, and then we can clear our debts.”
"How despicable!" Shangguan Wanqian said. This person deserves to die!"
The middle-aged man shook his hand and said," Third Master Feng is my benefactor. He allowed my late wife to live for two months. I am deeply grateful. The fault lies with me. I can only blame myself for not being able to live up to my expectations. I can't raise my wife and children. After I die, I still can't pay off my debt to Third Master Lei. I can only repay him in my next life."”
Xu Zhutao thought to himself,"The common people have a deep nature and are clear about gratitude and resentment. They don't blame heaven or others, but themselves." "Brother, can I help you pay your debts?"”
"I owe too many people in this life. I dare not…" The middle-aged man smiled bitterly.
"I'm not pitying you, but I want you to do something for me." Xu Zhutao said.”He suddenly remembered that Xiao Liu of Chengxing Bodyguard Agency had said that they were attacked by bandits at a place called Qianma Ridge. Since he wanted to find someone to inquire about this place, he might as well ask this middle-aged man to draw a map. This way, it would not hurt his pride.
"Work! What do you want me to do?"
"Do you know a place called Qianma Ridge?" Xu Zhutao asked. I'll give you a hundred taels, and you draw me a map of that place.”
"I know!" the middle-aged man said. Forty taels is enough."
Xu Zhutao placed the girl in the arms of the middle-aged man and said seriously,"Bring your two children and follow me.”
The middle-aged man knelt on the ground and choked,""Benefactor, accept my bow!"
Xu Zhutao pulled him up and said,"There's no need for that."
The middle-aged man said with tears in his eyes," May I ask for the names of my benefactors? My surname is Lu, and my nickname is Chong. This is my son Tong 'er, and this is my servant Wan' er. The children thank you for your great kindness."”However, the two children were hugged by Shangguan Wanqian and Ding Ling respectively.
"My name is Xu Zhutao. I'll tell you the names of my two friends later. Come with us."”
The few of them returned to the horse park. Ding Feng and Yu Luosha were puzzled when they saw Shangguan Wanqian and Ding Ling each carrying a child back. Xu Zhutao explained the matter slightly. "I'll let Chaoyun bring Brother Lu into the city with you. I'll use my qinggong to catch up."”
"Come and ride with me!" Jade Raksha said.”
Xu Zhutao handed Chao Yun's reins to Lu Chong and asked,""Brother Lu, do you know how to ride a horse?"
"No." Lu Chong replied.
Xu Zhutao reached out to pat Chao Yun's head and said,"Chaoyun, Chaoyun, take this person and follow them into the city.”Chao Yun blinked and nodded. Xu Zhutao then said to Lu Chong,"You just need to get on the horse. The horse will walk on its own."”
Shangguan Wanqian and Ding Ling each carried a child on their horses and rode out first. Lu Chong mounted Chao Yun, who chased after the two riders in front. Ding Feng also spurred her horse to chase after him.
Xu Zhutao jumped onto Jade Raksha's horse and suddenly smelled a fragrance. He couldn't help but wrap his arms around Jade Raksha's slender waist and said with a smile,""Auntie smells so good!"
"Asking for a beating!" Jade Rakshasa said angrily. As he spoke, he whipped his horse.
Xu Zhutao could not help but feel intoxicated by the fragrance coming from Jade Rakshasa.
"You, kid!" Jade Raksha exclaimed. How can you get hard like this!"
"Because Auntie is beautiful and fragrant!" Xu Zhutao said.”
At this time, the setting sun was in the arms of the mountain beauty, and Xu Zhutao had an indescribable happiness.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]