Chapter Fifty-Three: There Will Be No Next Time

Miss Lin was precisely the spoiled heiress he had met during the day—the very girl whose short dagger Jiang Chen had used earlier to help the white horse give birth.

Fate truly worked in mysterious ways; who could have imagined such a coincidence, that the two would cross paths again under these circumstances?

“Aren’t you a courier from Shuima Post Station? How is it that you’re playing the role of bandit now, come nightfall?”

“And you, are you really the eldest daughter of the Lin family?”

The girl gripped her dagger tightly, her lively eyes locked onto Jiang Chen, as if any suspicious move from him would result in blood being spilled by her blade.

“I am Lin Rou, the eldest daughter of the Lin family, the first family in Ziyang City! My father is the renowned Lin Xuesong. If he learns you’ve dragged me here, he’ll tear you to pieces—you’ll die a miserable death!”

Watching Lin Rou threaten him through clenched teeth, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“Why don’t you try to understand what’s going on first? The two men lying over there, and another one farther off—they’re the ones who dragged you from the Lin residence. I am your savior!”

“Remember, this is the second time I’ve saved you!”

Jiang Chen emphasized his point with utter seriousness.

Lin Rou eyed Jiang Chen warily, glanced toward the front of the carriage, and indeed saw two bodies on the ground. Yet she still harbored doubts about his explanation.

“Why would they bring me here, only to be discovered by you? Isn’t that a bit too coincidental?”

Jiang Chen replied helplessly, “It’s just my rotten luck—I keep stumbling into the messes of unlucky girls like you. But I promise, if there’s ever a next time, I won’t meddle again!”

“You! Who are you calling unlucky? Watch your mouth, or I’ll tear it to pieces!”

Though Lin Rou’s attitude toward Jiang Chen was abrasive, she knew from their previous encounter that he couldn’t possibly be a kidnapper. Still, she couldn’t stand how this man always spoke so rudely to her, so she refused to back down.

Jiang Chen said, “Listen, you need to get back in the carriage. Their accomplices will surely arrive soon.”

“And why should I listen to you? Just because you saved me, don’t think you can order me around!”

Lin Rou was about to protest when Jiang Chen firmly pressed her head and shoved her into the carriage. He fiddled with something outside, then soon climbed in as well.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

Jiang Chen gestured for silence, warning her, “If you want to know who’s after you, then be quiet—now.”

You brute, how dare you treat me so roughly! Don’t try to make excuses. If they dared to kidnap me, surely they wouldn’t dare show themselves!

Such shameless arrogance—what a conceited idiot!

Lin Rou cursed Jiang Chen silently, but still obediently stayed inside the carriage, refraining from making a sound.

Outside, the sounds shifted; something was approaching. But Lin Rou’s hearing couldn’t distinguish between human footsteps and the myriad noises that might exist in a bamboo grove at night.

Yet, from Jiang Chen’s expression, she sensed the threat lurking beyond the carriage.

“Are you two asleep? Don’t you know how dangerous that is?”

A man’s voice came from outside, followed by the brief sound of a blade being drawn. Jiang Chen could now smell the iron tang of blood wafting through the air.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

“No, don’t kill me... Ah!”

The terrified cries for help came from the man Jiang Chen had knocked out earlier; he had just woken up, only to witness his companion’s murder.

Jiang Chen hadn’t seen it himself, but he could easily imagine the scene unfolding outside.

The man who killed was likely the mastermind behind the three kidnappers—eliminating his own men to silence them, a common enough practice. After all, the dead keep secrets best.

Once the trouble outside had been dealt with, a bloodied blade thrust into the carriage, aiming to lift the curtain for a look.

Lin Rou’s heart leapt into her throat, but Jiang Chen swiftly snatched the dagger from her hand. With a ringing clang, the two weapons collided, their sharp sound echoing crisply.

The attacker had clearly not expected such a powerful retaliation from within the carriage.

He stepped back, then saw Jiang Chen leap out, his surprise deepening—he had never seen this man before.

“Who are you?”

Jiang Chen saw a tall man masked with a black cloth, whose knife technique suggested years of training—not an ordinary thug.

“I should ask you—what’s your motive, kidnapping Miss Lin and bringing her here?”

The man gave no answer; instead, he changed his grip on the blade, eyes flashing with murderous intent, advancing on Jiang Chen step by step. Lin Rou, peering out from a corner of the curtain, drew in a sharp breath at the sight.

Two figures became entangled, blades clashing fiercely in a flurry of blows.

They moved so quickly that Lin Rou could scarcely follow their actions; after dozens of dazzling exchanges, one blade was sent flying.

Jiang Chen spoke gently, “It’s over. Will you surrender, or resist to the end?”

The man sneered, “I choose neither. Since you’re not of the Lin family, I’ll come back one day for revenge!”

He turned to flee, but had barely taken a few steps when a whistling sound behind him forced him to the ground.

“Did I say you could leave?”

Jiang Chen pressed his short dagger to the man’s neck, while Lin Rou hurried over.

“That voice is very familiar. Let me see who it really is.”

Jiang Chen pulled away the black cloth from the man’s face. When his true identity was revealed, Lin Rou was struck speechless with shock.

“He’s from your household?”

“Yes, a servant from the residence, one favored by my father. Who could have imagined he’d do such a thing! Damn him!”

Jiang Chen said, “It’s not surprising. To abduct Miss Lin from the family estate and spirit her out of the city, it would be impossible without an inside accomplice. He must have been bribed by your family’s rivals, which gave him courage for such an act.”

“Do you have anything to say?”

Now, caught red-handed, the Lin family servant could only hang his head in defeat, regretting his choices. Awaiting him would be the wrath and punishment of the Lin family.