Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 224 - 223: Bandits

Qin Yao’s expression hardened as she quickly withdrew her hand from the door, turning to dash out of the post station and head towards the adjacent horse stable.

Outside the door, Liu Li felt a gust of wind sweep past his front. Reacting a beat too late, he asked in puzzlement, "Miss Qin, what’s the situation?"

Already at the stable, Qin Yao clearly saw a figure in a panic, rushing into the bamboo forest behind the stable.

It seemed unexpected that she could detect him and chase after him so quickly. He turned to cast a surprised yet fierce glance at her.

When Liu Li caught up, he unfortunately met that fierce gaze, causing his spine to chill.

He asked in surprise, "Miss Qin, who is that person?"

Qin Yao shook her head, "I don’t know, but he’s definitely not someone good. The posthouse manager might have already been killed."

Having said that, without comforting Liu Li’s shocked spirit, she turned her head to glance at the stable beside her.

Liu Li curiously followed her gaze and saw that there was a depression in the straw under the old horse’s feet.

So, the person who just ran away had been curled up hiding here all along, watching their every move?

Qin Yao seemed to sense his internal guess, providing a definite answer, "That person was hiding here just now."

Because the noise from the horse covered the person’s breathing, she hadn’t detected this person’s presence at first.

Liu Li looked at the depressed straw and the eerie bamboo forest, and goosebumps rose on his arm!

"Miss! What’s happening!" Liu Ji shouted from behind.

Intending to continue checking the back door, speculating the posthouse manager’s corpse might be there, Qin Yao suddenly heard Liu Ji’s shout and decisively stopped, relinquishing this curiosity.

She signaled the frightened Liu Li to catch up, and they quickly returned to the carriage.

"Who just ran into the bamboo forest?" Liu Ji asked curiously.

Qin Yao gestured for Da Zhuang and Liu Li to get into the carriage while responding, "A murderer."

"What?" Liu Ji shuddered; the thought was terrifying, goosebumps covered his body.

"Let’s leave first, it’s not safe to stay here!" Qin Yao glanced at the bamboo forest from which the person departed and urged them.

Liu Li hurriedly asked, "Miss Qin, where are we headed?"

Qin Yao immediately replied, "Return the way we came, back to the town we just passed."

She was unclear about what’s ahead; in such situations, it’s better not to gamble and choose somewhere she knows, even if it’s farther, it is the safest option.

Liu Li nodded, reminding Da Zhuang to head back.

Da Zhuang was still a bit confused, not knowing what happened, but seeing Qin Yao and the Second Young Master’s serious expressions, along with the figure that suddenly ran out, he decisively chose to trust Qin Yao’s decision.

Their carriage, initially at the back, turned around, becoming the front. Seeing Qin Yao and her husband aboard the carriage, Da Zhuang flicked the whip, urging the horse forward.

The wheels quickly began to turn, and inside the carriage, Da Lang first calmly reassured his younger siblings, telling them to hold onto the protruding handles of the carriage, then crawled out the door towards his parents.

Liu Ji drove, while Qin Yao crouched partially on the carriage shaft, supporting one side of the carriage and half of her body hanging outside, scanning the surrounding bamboo forest.

Seeing Da Lang come out, Qin Yao sternly shouted, "What are you doing out here? Get back!"

"I want to help." Da Lang was full of worry.

Liu Ji promptly retorted, "What help could you offer? It’s best not to add trouble. Get back in now!"

Perhaps the tone was too harsh, Da Lang lowered his head in sadness, full of self-blame, feeling useless.

Just then, a warm hand landed on his shoulder; Qin Yao’s tone wasn’t exactly gentle, yet she looked at him with an equal gaze, "I’m entrusting Si Niang and the others to you, can you take care of them well?"

Light sparked in Da Lang’s dim eyes. He clenched his fist and nodded resolutely, "I can!"

Qin Yao’s lips curled into a faint smile, "Good, leave the inside to you; I’ll handle the outside crisis."

"Okay!" The young boy agreed solemnly, regaining confidence, and immediately returned to the carriage compartment.

Inside the sealed carriage, his voice faintly reassuring his siblings not to worry could be heard.

Qin Yao’s annoyed gaze swept past Liu Ji, who realizing his mistake in speech, could only drive the horse faster, not daring to meet her eyes.

Da Zhuang and Liu Li were running at the front, feeling like they had traveled an hour when it was barely half a stick of incense’s time; actually, they were just over a thousand meters from the Bamboo Forest Inn.

Suddenly, several figures rushed out from around the bamboo forest, the silver knives reflecting a cold light onto the horse’s eyes.

Da Zhuang and Liu Li exclaimed, "Miss Qin!"

"I’m here, don’t panic."

The woman’s calm response naturally brought a sense of reassurance.

Right then, Liu Ji also noticed figures rushing out from both sides of the bamboo forest. Seeing the flickering light of the knives, seemingly with bloodstains, he gasped involuntarily.

Clearly, the person who just left had informed his comrades; these people had no intention of letting them go.

Partly fearing they would report to the authorities, partly wanting to make some money.

Qin Yao’s lips curled slightly, who profits whom is still unclear!

"Don’t stop the carriage, charge right through!" Qin Yao shouted loudly.

Da Zhuang heard this, gritted his teeth, and directed the carriage towards the figures brandishing knives.

Liu Ji didn’t dare slack, gripping the reins tightly.

Qin Yao climbed atop the carriage rooftop with one hand, scanning with her eyes; there were nine people around them.

She drew arrows and raised her bow, the sharp arrows left the string, aiming at the nearest person before Da Zhuang, with a sharp whistling sound.

The first arrow was still in the air when the second and third followed consecutively. Such rapid arrow release left no room for the opposition to react; three men fell down without warning.

Due to the forward momentum, two of them collided with Liu Li’s rolling carriage wheel, bouncing off again.

Liu Li exclaimed under his breath, "That was close!"

Da Zhuang drove the carriage out of their encirclement, didn’t continue forward but stopped, and the master-servant duo looked back.

Then they saw Liu Ji driving, Qin Yao standing with bow on the roof, firing six consecutive arrows, each hitting the mark, all remaining six men fell face down.

One unlucky one wounded by his own knife, his thigh bleeding profusely.

In just a brief moment and with her swift action, she effortlessly dealt with the nine knife-wielding bandits, leaving Liu Li and the master-servant duo in shock.

Strong, incredibly strong!

"Stop the carriage!" Qin Yao ordered from the rooftop, leaping down directly towards the nine fallen men.

She hadn’t hit their vital spots, leaving them alive, aware of the children present she couldn’t be too brutal.

Upon reaching the nine men, under their disbelieving and frightened gaze, she landed a punch on each, the nine fell unconscious in unwilling pain.

Liu Ji parked the carriage and rushed over, familiar with the situation; Qin Yao knocked them out, and he scavenged one by one, indiscriminate of what they had, stuffing things into his arms carelessly.

Ah, this dagger seems quite good.

Wow, there’s actually silver!

Tut tut, this one is a bit ugly, but his boots are leather, collected...