Chapter 2797 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 02

Chapter 2761 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 02

Jin Chen lifted the curtain again, and A Yan awkwardly held up a short sword that she had picked up from somewhere, blocking the carriage.

The boy was thin and his hand holding the sword trembled violently, yet he did not retreat an inch.

"We have...we have money..." Ayan's voice trembled, but she forced herself to shout, "Heroes, we'll give you all the money! Please spare my young master, he's weak and can't take it...ah!"

"Shut up!"

The one-eyed bandit leader interrupted sharply, pointing his broadsword, "Who gave you the right to speak!"

Two bandits stepped forward and grabbed Ayan from the left and right. The boy struggled desperately, but was forced to kneel on the ground.

The one-eyed man dismounted, walked to the sedan chair door, and flicked his knife.

The last rays of twilight peeked through the open sedan door, illuminating the figure of the person inside.

Jin Chen, supporting himself against the side of the carriage, slowly stood up, bent down, and stepped out of the carriage.

He wore a sky-blue long robe, covered with a thin cloak embroidered with bamboo patterns, and a mutton-fat jade pendant hung at his waist.

Perhaps due to sitting in the sedan chair for too long, Jin Chen swayed slightly, raised his hand to cover his mouth, and coughed twice.

A mountain breeze blew through the gaps in the forest, ruffling a few stray hairs on his forehead.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Even the two bandits holding Ayan subconsciously loosened their grip, and the boy took the opportunity to break free. He scrambled to Jinchen's feet, opened his arms to protect him behind him, and cried out, "Don't touch my young master!"

But no one paid him any attention.

All eyes were on Jin Chen, or rather, on his face.

The one-eyed man stared at him for a moment, his brows gradually furrowing.

He stepped forward, lowered his broadsword, and asked in a deep voice, "Boy, what is your name?"

Jin Chen turned her head to the side, her lips pressed tightly together, and did not answer, only letting out a disgusted "Hmph" from her throat.

One-Eyed didn't have time to pay attention; he was still staring at his face.

Like.

They do look somewhat alike.

Upon closer inspection, however, it does not seem quite like it.

The young master in front of me is more handsome, especially his eyes, which are upturned at the corners and look over coldly and indifferently, without the slightest fear in them.

One-Eyed felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

"Captain," a bandit nearby whispered, "doesn't this look like the painting in the chief's room...?"

"Shut up," the one-eyed man interrupted sharply.

He looked Jin Chen over again, then waved his hand, "Tie him up! Take him back!"

"Yes!"

Ayan tried to struggle, but the bandits grabbed her and pinned her down.

Jin Chen did not resist, her hands were bound with hemp rope.

The rope was rough, and it rubbed against the skin on my wrist, leaving red marks.

Jin Chen looked down and was startled.

Good, so crispy!

The bandits pushed and shoved them up the mountain.

Ayan cried all the way, constantly looking back at the carriage, where the young master's usual belongings and gifts prepared to be taken back to Nanzhou were still inside.

But now, those things are all ownerless, scattered on the mountain road shrouded in twilight, ignored by everyone.

Jin Chen walked beside him, scanning the surrounding terrain and memorizing the direction of the mountain path and the distribution of trees.

The bandits led them through the forest, deeper and deeper, until it grew dark.

The cries of unknown birds and beasts echoed from the forest, and distant firelight could be faintly seen. As the distance drew closer, it became clear that it was a village built on the mountainside.

There were watchtowers on both sides of the village gate, guarded by mountain bandits with bows. When they saw the one-eyed group returning, they blew a whistle.

"One-Eyed Guy is back!"

"Hey, you even brought two fat sheep!"

Jin Chen remained expressionless, but A Yan was so frightened that she trembled all over and could barely stand. She was pushed by the bandits behind her and stumbled forward a few steps.

"Lock it in the woodshed!" One-Eyed ordered. "Keep a close eye on it, and wait for the chief to return and decide its fate."

"Yes!"

The woodshed is located on the westernmost side of the village; it is a low wooden house.

The room was filled with dry firewood and miscellaneous items, cobwebs were growing in the corners, and a thin layer of straw, long since rotten and blackened, covered the floor.

Jin Chen was pushed inside, with A Yan following behind him, and the door slammed shut behind him.

"Young...Young Master..." Ayan's voice trembled as she groped for Jinchen's arm to support herself. "Are you alright?"

"It doesn't matter."

It hurts so much, it's tied up so tightly.

But I can't say it, it's embarrassing.

Jin Chen responded in the darkness, walked to the wall, and sat down with his back against the woodpile.

He lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently fiddling with the knot, then casually tossed the rope to his feet and rubbed his wrist.

Ah Yan crouched down beside him in the dark. "Young Master, we have to find a way to escape... When it gets darker, I'll try to pick the lock and we'll escape from the back mountain..."

Jin Chen interrupted him, "Where are you running off to?"

Ayan was taken aback.

“Those four servants abandoned us and fled alone. If this gets back to the manor, you know what will happen to them.”

Jin Chen said slowly, "But they still escaped."

Ayan opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

“Because they know,” Jin Chen withdrew his gaze and looked at A Yan, his eyes subtly probing.

"Even if you escape back, you won't be punished."

"Why..." Ayan's voice trembled.

Jin Chen didn't know if the young man was loyal, so she didn't answer. She just coughed twice and raised her hand to cover her mouth.

"Ayan, I've been poisoned."

Ayan froze.

"It's chronic; you won't die immediately, but you won't live long either."

Jin Chen made up something out of thin air.

“There are people in my household who can’t tolerate me, and those four servants are just following orders.”

"Impossible..." Ayan's voice trembled, "Master and Madam treated you so well, and the eldest young master too..."

Jin Chen then added with a touch of melancholy, "Going back now would be like walking into a trap. It would be better to stay in this mountain stronghold; perhaps... there's still a glimmer of hope."

Ah Yan was completely speechless.

He sat motionless in the darkness for a long time before finally choking out, "Young Master... you've suffered so much..."

Jin Chen didn't reply, but raised her hand and patted the boy's shoulder.

Ayan began to sob softly, but afraid that those outside would hear, she bit her lip tightly.

Jin Chen closed his eyes to rest, listening carefully to the sounds outside.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps approached from afar.

Jin Chen opened his eyes, and under A Yan's wary gaze, he loosely wrapped the untied rope back around his wrist and tied a slipknot.

He leaned against the woodpile, closed his eyes, his breathing slowed, weak and exhausted.

The wooden door creaked open.

The light from the torches rushed in, so bright it was blinding.

Two bandits stood at the door, gruffly saying, "Get up! The chief wants to see you!"

Jin Chen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat unfocused in the firelight.

He leaned on the woodpile to stand up, swaying slightly. Ayan quickly helped him up, but the bandit pushed him away.

"This is none of your business, just stay put!"

Ayan was pushed and fell into the haystack. She wanted to pounce on him again, but Jinchen shook his head.

The boy paused, biting his lip, and watched helplessly as his young master was led out of the woodshed by two bandits.

The wooden door closed again and was locked.

Jin Chen was escorted through the village.