The old bandit was momentarily stunned by the man’s calm yet noble and refined presence. But when he noticed the man sitting in a wheelchair, his confidence returned, and he smirked.
“Who might you be, sir? Tong County’s a small place, yet I’ve never heard your name before.”
“I’m just a commoner,” the man replied lightly. “Not worth mentioning.”
“Is that so?” The bandit tugged arrogantly at the rope that bound the young woman and sauntered over. He sat down, picked up a teacup, and pretended to savor it like a gentleman. “Good tea,” he said.
He wasn’t worried about poison—years of running through the jianghu had sharpened his senses enough to recognize it if there were.
The man in white cast a casual glance toward the bound girl. “Sir, your actions seem… rather inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate? What, feeling sorry for the girl?” The bandit’s grin turned wicked. “She’s my spoils of war. I can treat her however I like. Though I’ll admit…” He clicked his tongue. “She really is quite a beauty.”
The young woman jerked her face away, dodging his hand with a scowl. “Go ahead and try touching me.”
“Oh? And what if I do?” The bandit rose, amused by her fire.
“Do you have any idea who this man in white is to me?” she asked sharply.
The bandit glanced at the man, who calmly set down his teacup and turned his gaze to her, waiting for her answer.
“Well?” the bandit asked. “Who is he to you?”
“He’s my fiancé.”
The bandit burst out laughing. “Miss Xia, are you joking? I’ve done my homework. Your fiancé’s name is Yang Jie—the coroner.”
“Then you should also know he doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him,” she replied coolly. “We’re about to break off our engagement. I’m going to marry this man instead.”
Her bold declaration left the bandit speechless for a moment. “What—love at first sight? He might look fine, but he’s a cripple.”
“Don’t be so narrow-minded. Love at first sight is about appearances. A fortune-teller once told me that when I turn sixteen, my Red Luan star would be stirred. I’ve been waiting sixteen years for him.”
The bandit had no words for that. Her reasoning was so absurd that “love at first sight” would’ve sounded more believable.
“You’ll save me, won’t you?” she said with a playful wink at the quiet man in white. “You’re my future husband, after all. If you don’t save me, you’ll lose a wife before you even get one.”
The man paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. “The young lady seems to lack any proof that she is, in fact…” He hesitated for effect. “My future wife.”
Before anyone could react, she bent down quickly and kissed him on the corner of his lips. The soft touch froze him in place.
She grinned triumphantly. “See? Aside from a wife, who else would do that?”
The look of smug satisfaction on her face was downright roguish.
Her move had been so sudden—and she was so obviously defenseless—that no one thought to stop her. Even the bandit holding her rope was too stunned to react.
When he finally did, he tugged the rope sharply. “You really think he’s going to listen to your nonsense?”
The man in white’s voice cut in smoothly, his tone calm yet firm. “Actually… the young lady makes a very good point.”
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1