Valiant Qi

The horseman shouted from the outside.

Zhao Xing thought she was hearing things.

'Bandits?' How can that be? When she was coming with the Crown Prince they hadn't encountered any bandits on the way. Or could it be those who came to look for the Crown Prince had mistaken them for him?

Xiao Qi gestured for Zhao Xing to remain silent. There were noises coming from outside, sound of men laughing and being loud when they spoke.

"It's simple just give us whatever precious thing you have in there and this one will let you go." The man's voice was loud and unpleasant.

The horseman didn't move and stayed put. It was unknown whether he was cowering in fear or just stunned. His straw hat covered his expression.

Xiao Qi, got down from the carriage as Zhao Xing watched with wide eyes. She had never been in such a situation before, and so she was scared out of her mind. She didn't know if she should remain seated or not, but Xiao Qi had told her not to move. She could only stay and listen for what was going on outside.

"Eh? A beauty? Haha! Today is my lucky day!" Xiao Qi came out and saw a group of six brawny men, holding weapons in their hands. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Huh. Here I thought I had to deal with a band of bandits, I didn't expect to meet a few kids that lost their way."

"Heh, you're really bold." The man that stood in front seemed to be their leader. He looked Xiao Qi up and down with interest.

"Beauty, you must not know who we are." Another one said.

"You have stepped into our territory, if you want to get through, you must pay the fee first."

"We normally take valuables, but we don't mind taking you with us." The leader said.

Xiao Qi was irritated by his words, and drew out a dagger from her sleeve.

"In your dreams." With that she charged.

The bandits smiled and didn't back out.

Zhao Xing was inside and heard vigorous movement and clashing of weapons. She held her breath.

'Xiao Qi is actually a fighter, it's a pity I don't have the guts to watch.'

'Heavens, after today, I would have experienced a life and death situation! My life isn't that boring!' with such positivity in mind one couldn't tell whether Zhao Xing was actually scared.

Xiao Qi was actually a well-trained fighter, as the Crown Prince's person who often went under cover it would be weird if she wasn't skilled. Before long she had beaten all six men. "You actually have the guts to utter such dirty words and sully my dignity!" With that she kicked the leader who had told her he would take her with him. The men had beaten and suffered injury, they couldn't move because of the pain they endured.

In the end they begged for mercy.

"Beauty, it's our fault! We shouldn't have obstructed beauty's road."

"Now you know it?" She continued to scold them.

"I really can't believe these bandits these days, they truly have become bold!"

As she complained the horseman got down and removed his hat, revealing a scary mask on his forehead.

"Sister Qi, if we tarry any longer, we might delay our journey..."

Xiao Qi turned to him and narrowed her eyes "All you know is to sit and do nothing."

The man smiled wryly. "Sister, it's best if I stay like this, I still haven't recovered, it's inconvenient for me to fight…"

"Always having excuses, wouldn't admit that you're just lazy…"

Zhao Xing heard a bit of what was happening and figured the fight was over, she poked her head out the carriage. She saw the bandits lying on the ground in a sorry state, with widened eyes then at the valiant Xiao Qi with respect and awe.

"Xiao Qi jie is awesome!" She had never had the chance to see such a scene in her world. It was a scene straight out of a drama. She was so happy she witnessed it.

All those outside that is including the bandits, turned to look at the girl that had poked her little head out the window, having on a bright smile, if one where to look at this scene, her expression would be so contradicting to the air outside.

Xiao Qi was mesmerized by Zhao Xing's smile that looked playful, innocent and cute. 'What the hell…?' How is she so cute?

She ignored this thought and turned her attention to the men on the ground. "You guys must be new, right? Real bandits don't mess with me, if you meet your elder brothers, you ask them, Sister Qi is not to be messed with."

After that she returned to the carriage. They soon left the group of bandits that lay contemplating their lives.

In the carriage Xiao Qi gave Zhao Xing a look. "Did you get hurt?" She finally asked the question that was on her mind. The Crown Prince's order was to protect her at all cost. So this girl couldn't even get a scratch.

"I'm fine." Zhao Xing said this and brought out a bottle from her things. "I didn't bring much since I'm not planning on spending a long time there, here take this."

Xiao Qi stared puzzled, at the bottle. "Look at the scratch on your wrist." Zhao Xing pointed out.

It was then she realized she had indeed been injured, and that Zhao Xing must have handed her medicine. Looking at the jade bottle, she could tell it was no ordinary medicine, and it had to be from the Crown Prince. "Keep it, I'm a fighter, it's normal to get hurt once in a while, I carry my own medicine with me wherever I go." She said so and brought out a small bottle of her own.

Seeing this Zhao Xing didn't bother. She shrugged and put her bottle back.

"Xiao Qi, this route…are there many bandits on this road?"

"Not really, those we saw aren't really bandits, they're hungry people that had nothing at home. The real bandits that roam this place normally move in groups of 10 to 15, they have better fighting skills, and won't attack simple looking carriages like ours."

Hearing this Zhao Xing didn't know whether to feel relieved or not.

But as she knew what she was thinking Xiao Qi added, "Those ones, have gone to seek greener pastures elsewhere, it'd be rare to meet them here."

Zhao Xing still felt complicated. But didn't ask more. The carriage as well as the journey resumed its calm.