Chapter 14: Your Master Colludes with Bandits

Lin Ruan Ruan hadn't even had a chance to throw her clenched fist when the group of servants was already subdued by Bai Cheng'an.

After knocking two people away in quick succession, the rough man continued to hold Lin Ruan Ruan's hand tightly.

The cold, stern look he directed at the group of servants made Lin Ruan Ruan's heart tremble.

The way he stood there seemed to say that he wasn't afraid of anyone, no matter how many they were.

Without any martial arts skills, relying purely on brute strength, he was still able to fight so effectively. It seemed her earlier sense of security was not unfounded.

"Who are you? Which mountain bandit group do you belong to?" the head servant stammered, his voice trembling as he gripped his wooden stick.

"Bandit?" Bai Cheng'an raised an eyebrow, his voice colder than before.

"I don't care which group you belong to. If you dare to offend my master, you'll regret it when you get back and your leader deals with you," the servant threatened, trying to sound fierce but faltering.

"Your master, your leader. So your master has dealings with bandits?" Bai Cheng'an shot back, seizing on the key point.

Colluding with bandits was a serious accusation.

"No, no! Who's colluding with bandits? You're just a bandit trying to frame our master," the servant hastily corrected himself, realizing his mistake.

But it was too late.

"Get them! If we can't bring this stuttering widow back, we're as good as dead," he yelled to the remaining servants. The two who had been knocked down were now being helped to their feet.

"Take that guy out if he tries to stop us. If any of you don't give it your all, our master will punish you severely when we return!" The head servant's words spurred the hesitant group into action, and they all rushed forward, brandishing their sticks.

Bai Cheng'an was strong, but he couldn't fight off so many people at once, especially while protecting Lin Ruan Ruan. In a moment of distraction, a servant took the opportunity to strike him on the back with a club.

Bai Cheng'an was robust, and the sound of the club hitting his back was loud and harsh.

Lin Ruan Ruan, startled by the noise, turned just in time to see the club break on his back.

The thick wooden stick breaking from the impact made her wince in empathy.

She looked angrily at the stunned servant who had wielded the club.

Despite the blow, Bai Cheng'an didn't seem to feel the pain. He continued to fend off the attackers, but it was clear that even his strength had its limits.

The servant who had broken his club on Bai Cheng'an's back was still in shock when he felt a sharp pain in his foot.

Looking down, he saw the stuttering widow had stomped on him hard.

Stunned and furious, he raised the broken club to strike Lin Ruan Ruan on the head.

But this was what Lin Ruan Ruan had been waiting for.

Taking advantage of his raised arm, she gathered her strength and punched him in the solar plexus. As he doubled over in pain, she followed up with an elbow to his waist, bringing him down.

The other servants were too focused on Bai Cheng'an to notice her actions until their comrade hit the ground.

Bai Cheng'an turned around, surprised, and frowned at the seemingly delicate Lin Ruan Ruan.

Realizing this wasn't good, Lin Ruan Ruan quickly feigned pain, holding her elbow and clutching her chest.

"It... it hurts!" she cried out in a tender, stuttering voice, evoking pity.

Sure enough, Bai Cheng'an's frown softened, and he stepped forward to take her hand.

"Hide behind me," he said in a low voice, gently pulling her behind him.

The sensation from Lin Ruan Ruan's hand reached her heart. As she looked up at the tall figure in front of her, she couldn't help but lift the corners of her mouth slightly in a smile.

Unlike her quiet delight, the group of servants was livid.

To them, this shameless couple was openly flirting in front of them, clearly not taking them seriously at all.

"Shameless couple! How dare you flirt in front of us," one servant shouted angrily.

He glared at Bai Cheng'an holding Lin Ruan Ruan's hand, wishing he could rush over and chop off that disgusting hand.

Seven or eight sticks came crashing down on Bai Cheng'an at the servant's shout. Even though she knew he was strong, Lin Ruan Ruan couldn't help but feel a surge of worry for him.

The burly man shielding her wasn't afraid. With one hand, he caught four of the sticks and blocked the other three with his other hand. Letting out a grunt, he pulled the assailants forward, causing them to stumble.

Seeing the situation was bad, another servant stepped back and, waiting for an opportunity, aimed a blow at Lin Ruan Ruan from behind Bai Cheng'an.

Lin Ruan Ruan was worrying about Bai Cheng'an when she felt a sharp pain in her calf.

"Hiss!" She drew in a breath sharply, feeling as if her leg might be broken.

The thick stick had hit her calf, sending waves of pain shooting through her.

Unconsciously, her eyes welled up with tears—not because she was weak, but as a reflex of her body's pain.

Squinting her eyes, she got angry and punched the servant in the face.

The servant, thinking she was no longer a threat after being hit, didn't guard against her.

Her punch knocked one of his teeth loose, filling his mouth with the taste of blood.

"Are you okay?" Bai Cheng'an asked anxiously, protecting her leg.

"Still... still okay," she replied, though her voice was tinged with a nasal tone from the pain.

Glancing quickly at her injured leg, Bai Cheng'an's eyes darkened.

"Step back a bit," he said, his voice now deeper and giving a different impression.

Before Lin Ruan Ruan could react, she saw him pick up a stick from the ground.

He had been holding back to avoid serious injury, but seeing the servants' cruelty towards a weak woman angered him.

Such a fragile girl couldn't withstand such blows. Even though she had been difficult, he couldn't bear to hurt her.

Thinking this, his expression grew even fiercer. With a brutal look on his previously gentle face, he swung the stick at the leg of the servant who had hit Lin Ruan Ruan.

The stick broke with a loud crack, accompanied by the servant's scream of pain.

Three more sticks broke in quick succession. Including the leader, three servants were on the ground, clutching their legs and wailing.

Seeing Bai Cheng'an advancing on them, eyes narrowed, the remaining servants could only drag their injured legs and crawl away in fear.

He was terrifying, absolutely terrifying. This man alone had taken down so many of them and broken three legs.