Volume One, Chapter 11: Father, Don’t Be Afraid—I’m Here

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Little Joy saw Shu Zijun looking utterly shaken, and she lifted her small hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. With exaggerated seriousness, she patted his back and comforted him, “Daddy, don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, they can’t hurt you.”

Shu Zijun stared blankly at the calm little face before him, momentarily dazed. Something about this situation felt off.

The group following behind, including Song Xianger, caught sight of the carnage inside the room—limbs severed and scattered everywhere in chaotic disarray—and immediately retched.

Lin Mingzhu, ignoring her fear, shouted tremblingly, “Stop hitting them! Capture them alive!”

Little Joy didn’t understand why those two insisted on capturing them alive.

What use was it to capture such ruthless desperados alive?

Still, since they insisted, Little Joy sweetly and softly gave the order, “Uncle Yu, capture them alive.”

Although the three men were formidable fighters, in one-on-one combat, Little Joy’s guards might not necessarily be their match.

But her guards never won by lone fighting. Their greatest strength lay in seamless cooperation, mutual defense, and balanced offense and defense.

At Little Joy’s command, Uncle Yu waved his hand, and a few of them immediately changed their attack style, no longer aiming to kill with every strike.

After about half an incense stick’s time, the three men had teeth knocked out, jaws dislocated, and all their tendons in hands and feet severed. They were brought before Little Joy and Shu Zijun.

“Miss, these men are all from North Meng,” Uncle Yu stepped forward and explained to Little Joy.

“They infiltrated here, but it’s unlikely they came for you, Miss.”

Little Joy blinked, her big dark eyes full of confusion.

Uncle Yu was not one to make rash judgments; why would he declare so without interrogation?

If they weren’t after her, then why kidnap her?

What kind of inexplicable behavior was this?

Upon hearing the words “North Meng,” all five women were stunned, mouths agape.

Shu Zijun was even more agitated. “Impossible. North Meng is allied with our Great Yu now, working together against the Great Desert. If they stabbed us in the back and betrayed us, Great Yu would be doomed.”

“My father, my elder brothers—they are all stationed at the border now…”

Shu Zijun could not continue, trembling with fear.

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Zhou Chong’s mother seemed to have just come to her senses. “It’s a mistake, a mistake. It can’t be them—it shouldn’t be them—”

Zhou Chong looked incredulous. “Mother, what exactly is going on?”

As they spoke, suddenly a group of black-clad men burst through the window.

Seeing the miserable state of their comrades inside, they froze in shock.

Then, one by one, they dropped to their knees, repeatedly kowtowing. “Please spare us, masters. We came to the wrong place.”

Zhou Chong’s mother covered her face.

Her lifetime of prestige was utterly ruined.

Zhou Chong also felt awkward, staring stiffly at his mother, voice strained, “Were they... arranged by you?”

“Did I forget to tell you? Little JoyI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.