Chapter Thirteen: When a Rogue Meets a Soldier

“Ah, you’re right about that. In our line of work, sometimes reason just doesn’t apply.”
Ma Hanshan said dismissively, “Enough talk. Now you have only two choices: either pay up or come with us to the magistrate’s office.”
Chen An paid no mind and took deliberate steps toward Ma Hanshan.
“Kid, I’m telling you, don’t do anything foolish.”
Ma Hanshan suddenly felt a pang of unease.
Without saying more, Chen An suddenly flung open his robe.
What Li Duo Wan did not expect was that the once arrogant Ma Hanshan’s legs began to tremble uncontrollably the next moment.
“You are...” Ma Hanshan stammered.
“That’s right. I’m also a child of the martial world. I hope, boss, you can give me a chance.”
“No, I mean...” Ma Hanshan’s vision darkened rapidly.
“You just want to help, right?” Chen An closed his robe and smiled calmly.
Yet, in Ma Hanshan’s eyes, Chen An’s smile looked terrifying.
The cause of all this was that Ma Hanshan had noticed the token hanging from Chen An’s waist.
That token symbolized the elite guards of the Grand Marshal!
In the three provinces of Beiliang, not only county magistrates and their officers, but even frontier officials showed utmost respect upon seeing this token.
Fan Jin was a war hero commanding great prestige in Beiliang; his orders were law, and those bearing his token were exempt from legal repercussions when taking lives.
Unable to control himself any longer, Ma Hanshan fell to his knees with a loud thud, tears and snot flowing freely:
“I was blind and foolish to offend such mighty authority...”
“Enough, enough. Since I’m in a good mood, get lost quickly.” Chen An waved his hand dismissively.
After profuse thanks, Ma Hanshan was hurriedly helped away by his underlings.
Naturally, Li Duo did not know the full story, but since Chen An had resolved her trouble, she owed him some courtesy.
“Thank you, young hero, for your timely rescue.”
“You’re welcome. To be able to purchase so much grain and supplies at this hour, you must be from a distinguished family. I am Chen An, a wandering swordsman. May I have the honor of becoming acquainted with your family?” Chen An borrowed a line from the movies to flirt.
Li Duo glanced at Chen An’s appearance, hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
The caravan moved slowly, entering the mountains by noon.
Regarding Chen An’s identity, Li Duo probed cautiously, but Chen An answered all questions with solid reasoning.

They halted on a hillside and the caravan came to a stop.
Li Duo handed him a mask. “Young hero Chen, my family has dwelled in the mountains for generations...”
Before Li Duo could finish explaining, Chen An put on the mask and reclined comfortably on the ox cart.
Li Duo’s face blossomed with curiosity at this moment.
The cart jolted along the rough road for about an hour before stopping halfway up the mountain.
Chen An, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and softly said, “Someone’s coming.”
Li Duo was momentarily stunned, and before she could react, rustling sounds emerged from the forest.
The bushes on both sides of the mountain path rapidly collapsed, faint traces of human passage visible.
“Everyone be careful, quicken your pace!” Li Duo shouted urgently.
No sooner had she spoken than several drivers frantically urged the oxen, racing along the narrow mountain trail.
“Bang! Bang!”
When the caravan was only a few hundred meters from the exit, two massive stones fell from above, blocking the path completely.
Immediately, over one hundred ragged refugees surged from front and rear, surrounding them.
“Heh heh, Miss Li, buying so much grain—what are you planning to do with it?”
As the encirclement formed, a sinister laugh echoed through the woods.
A crippled man appeared from the crowd.
“Wang Meng!” Li Duo gritted her teeth.
It was clear they were old acquaintances.
Compared to Li Duo, Wang Meng looked grotesque.
His body was covered with countless scars; he limped like a toad with a broken leg.
Seeing her small number of companions, Li Duo pointed to the cart of grain and said through clenched teeth, “This cart of grain is for you and your men—consider it your pay.”
Wang Meng grinned widely. “On behalf of the Wang family, thank you, Miss Li. But this cart won’t satisfy the hunger of hundreds in my clan. Why not leave all your grain? Consider it a generous gift.”
“You’re dreaming!” Li Duo said coldly. “This is the Wang family’s food supply for the next half month!”
“If you won’t agree, don’t blame us for taking it!”
Seeing Li Duo’s expression, greed flashed in Wang Meng’s eyes. “Brothers, attack!”
Li Duo’s face turned icy; a murderous gleam crossed her pupils as she grasped her slender hand and drew a long sword across her chest.

Yet, facing such overwhelming numbers, the Li family drivers showed despair.
Clang! Bang! Crash!
Just as the battle was about to erupt, a sack of grain was hurled like a missile, hitting Wang Meng unexpectedly and forcing him back several steps.
Struggling to regain footing, he suddenly found a dagger pressed against his throat.
Everyone present — both thugs and Li Duo — were stunned by this sudden turn.
“It’s you!” Li Duo looked at Chen An in alarm.
“I say, brother, we have no past grievances nor recent troubles. Do you really want to oppose us over these worthless people?” Wang Meng’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
But given the current situation, he dared not act rashly.
“Just you alone? How can you oppose my hundred men!”
“I may not be able to face all of you, but I’m confident I can take down a general in the chaos.”
Chen An responded simply to Wang Meng’s challenge.
“Leave now, or you’ll die!”
Taken aback by Chen An’s bluntness, Wang Meng’s expression darkened.
The Wang clan had been exiled, barely surviving countless hardships; he had never felt fear—until now.
“Alright! Since you speak so, I’ll give you face today!” Wang Meng said. “Fall back, everyone!”
The Li family caravan was saved by Chen An’s intervention, and Li Duo’s gratitude toward him deepened.
Their conversation grew more frequent, and through it, Chen An gained a rough understanding of the refugee distribution in the Tiger Sun Mountain range.
The refugees were divided into two factions: one led by Li Duo’s family name, Li, and the other by Wang Meng’s Wang clan.
Both were descendants of former officials from the previous dynasty, exiled to the Tiger Sun Mountains for offending the powerful Chancellor Wei.
At this point, two questions arose in Chen An’s mind:
“Since the raiders were from these two factions, it makes sense they would steal tribute supplies.”
“Normally, places of exile are in Lingnan or the frontier, so why were they sent to Youzhou this time?”
With these doubts, Chen An arranged to meet Li Duo’s grandfather, the current head of the Li refugees, Li Shang.