"I'm not interested in doing business."
Jing Xinche was startled for a moment. He didn't expect Qier to have no interest in such things. However, even if Qier wasn't interested, this imperial merchant position had to be held by someone they trusted. Otherwise, what if something like this happened again?
Jing Xinche ran through all the people in his mind but still couldn't decide on a suitable candidate. But this wasn't urgent. They could look for someone after solving the Jiang family's matter. After all, there would be quite a mess to clean up after the Jiang family's issue was resolved.
When Jing Xinche, Mu Fengqie and the others were passing through a forest, they noticed something was off.
"Zhu Fei, take Shen Qi and leave first. Qier, protect yourself well." Jing Xinche watched the surrounding environment warily. They were already in the territory of the Qin Dynasty. Who could have sent these people?
Zhu Fei glanced at Mu Fengqie. After receiving a positive look from her, he picked up Shen Qi and quickly left. Shen Qi would only distract the masters here.
Mu Fengqie took out the prepared medicine and stood back to back with Jing Xinche, watching all around.
Before long, a group of people rushed out from around. They didn't seem to be soldiers, but rather... bandits.
"Hahaha... I didn't expect to be so lucky today. I actually ran into a couple." A fierce - looking man stepped out. He should be the bandit leader.
"If you two are smart, hand over all your valuables. If you don't have any, then... heh heh, leave this little lady here to be my wife of the mountain stronghold." The bandit leader greedily stared at Mu Fengqie's face. This little lady was really beautiful. If he could hold this beauty in his arms every night, it would be worth dying for.
Jing Xinche was extremely angry seeing the greedy look in the bandit leader's eyes. How dare this guy covet Qier? He was really asking for death!
Jing Xinche didn't waste any words with them and immediately stepped forward to fight. These bandits were very disciplined. It was a bit strenuous for Jing Xinche to fight alone. The same was true for Mu Fengqie. Although she had medicinal powder in her hand, it would eventually run out. Her martial arts were no real threat to these well - disciplined bandits. Soon, Mu Fengqie was cut several times by those people.
It should be that the bandit leader had ordered them not to harm her, so she was able to hold out against them for so long.
Jing Xinche saw that although the number of people around had decreased, there were still many. They clearly weren't first - time offenders.
"You're not ordinary bandits." Jing Xinche said, looking at the bandits in front of him.
"Humph! You're a bit knowledgeable. How could we be compared with those brainless bandits." The bandit leader said proudly. They had received special training, and robbing in this way was much easier than the mindless way.
"Aren't you afraid that the court will send people to suppress you?" Jing Xinche said, looking at their arrogant appearance.
"Afraid? Would I be afraid? Do you know whose men I am? Let me tell you! I'm from Wupian Mountain. If you're smart, do as I say. Otherwise, don't blame me when you go to see Lord Yama." The bandit leader didn't care about revealing his identity at all.
Jing Xinche frowned after hearing the bandit leader's words. He didn't expect they were actually connected to Wupian Mountain. No wonder they were so organized and disciplined. But today, they were going to fall into his hands.
Just now, he had sent out a signal. Soon, his men would arrive. Jing Xinche glanced at Mu Fengqie's side and quietly moved over. He pulled Mu Fengqie behind him just before a bandit's knife came down.
Mu Fengqie's eyes turned red looking at the man standing in front of her. "Jing Xinche!" Watching the knife cut his shoulder, Mu Fengqie felt her heart ache.
Fortunately, at this time, Jing Xinche's men arrived, instantly turning the tide of the battle. Compared with professional killers, these bandits were nothing.
Mu Fengqie hugged Jing Xinche and looked worriedly at his wound. "How are you? Let me take a look at your injury."
Although she also had wounds on her body, they were just scratches. Those people hadn't really hurt her. But Jing Xinche's injury was much more serious. Looking at the wound on his shoulder that kept bleeding, Mu Fengqie's mind went blank for a moment.
"Qier, don't worry. I'm fine." Jing Xinche felt a bit guilty seeing Mu Fengqie's tear - streaked face. In fact, this injury was nothing to him. He could have easily dodged that knife just now. He did this just to make Qier feel bad for him.
But he didn't expect he had overdone it. "Qier, don't cry. I'm really okay. Let's go back quickly."
"Okay. I'll bandage your wound properly when we get back." Mu Fengqie quickly stopped the bleeding for Jing Xinche. After making sure it wouldn't bleed anymore, she carefully helped Jing Xinche stand up.
Jing Xinche's subordinate watched from the side and really felt embarrassed for their master. Their master had suffered all kinds of injuries. This injury was nothing at all. A subordinate was just about to remind Mu Fengqie.
As soon as he looked up, he saw their master's cold and warning look. Alright, he understood. This was all calculated by their master. The subordinate silently retracted the foot he had just stepped out and pretended he knew nothing.
Jing Xinche looked at him with satisfaction. He was perceptive and knew the situation well. Not bad.
On the way, Jing Xinche and his group ran into Yuan Yuhan who was rushing over with his men.
"Why did you come?" Jing Xinche asked Yuan Yuhan, who was sweating profusely from anxiety.
"Zhu Fei came to the mansion to find me and said you were in danger. I was worried about you, so I brought my men here. How are you? Are you injured?" Yuan Yuhan asked, looking at Jing Xinche.
"It's okay. Just a minor injury. But those bandits behind have a high - profile background." Jing Xinche looked back at the bandits who were glaring at him fiercely. "These people are connected to Wupian Mountain. We can start with them."
The court had been dissatisfied with Wupian Mountain for a long time. It was just that Wupian Mountain was easy to defend but hard to attack, and the terrain was complex. People who weren't familiar with the terrain could easily get lost if they entered.
Yuan Yuhan looked at the bound people in surprise and laughed. "What's this? They're just asking to be caught?"
"Humph! It's clearly you guys who are tricky. If you had reported your identities from the start, we wouldn't have fought with you." The bandit leader said, looking at Jing Xinche regretfully.
Normally, when people ran into bandits, they would report their identities and plead for mercy. Who would start fighting like them? And they were so despicable as to call for reinforcements halfway.