Qiao Yunxin and Qiao Yunting stared in shock as they watched the entire scene unfold.

Qiao Yunting stammered and asked his older brother, “Big brother… how did Mother become so powerful? Didn’t Grandpa say she could only catch rabbits?”

Qiao Yunxin had no answer either. Who could he ask?

He had been deceived by their grandfather too!

Before leaving, their grandfather had repeatedly held their hands and told them to take good care of their old mother.

But now, who was taking care of whom?

They should be grateful that their mother had never laid a hand on them while growing up!

“Enough talking! Hurry up and help!”

Qiao Yunxin was about to run toward Qiao Xin with his younger brother when his expression suddenly changed drastically.

His eyes widened in horror as he shouted, “Oh no! Mother, behind you!” He grabbed Qiao Yunting and ran toward Qiao Xin.

By then, the ground had already begun to tremble.

When Qiao Xin turned her head, she saw a massive beast charging in their direction, chasing several figures.

The people being pursued were overjoyed to see them, and their frantic footsteps abruptly changed course.

The leading man shouted as he ran, “Hero, help us! I’ll pay you a hundred taels!”

Qiao Xin’s originally dark expression suddenly brightened.

She called out to Qiao Yunxin, “Watch the prey!”

Then she raised her hand and shot her last arrow at the giant bear’s gaping mouth.

Unfortunately, the bear dodged at the last moment, but the arrow still struck one of its eyes.

The excruciating pain enraged the beast even further.

The servant, A’Yuan, was desperately pulling his young master forward when he glanced back at the scene.

His face turned pale as he screamed, “Young master, the help you found is unreliable!”

Xu Can also regretted his decision. “I don’t even know them!”

He had thought he found a savior, but instead, the situation had only worsened.

The bear was gaining on them, and they were still a hundred meters away from Qiao Xin.

Xu Can despaired—were they going to die here?

Just as he was about to close his eyes and accept his fate, a furious voice rang in his ears: “Get down!”

Before his brain could react, his body obeyed.

A’Yuan yanked Xu Can to the ground.

A flash of cold light streaked past them—a cleaver thrown by Qiao Xin.

Had they been a second slower, half of their heads would have been gone.

The cleaver buried itself deep into the bear’s chest.

Though it didn’t kill the beast instantly, it bought enough time. Qiao Xin and her sons arrived just in time.

“Eldest, take them aside and stay put!”

Qiao Xin grabbed a rope and lassoed it toward the bear’s head.

With one eye blinded and a cleaver embedded in its chest, the bear’s reactions were much slower.

The rope tightened around its neck.

Qiao Yunxin and Qiao Yunting made sure Xu Can and A’Yuan were safe before grabbing cleavers, ready to finish off the bear.

But before they could act, they watched in shock as their mother pulled the rope—and with a powerful heave, she lifted the massive bear into the air and slammed it into a tree several meters away.

Boom!

The tree fell.

The bear collapsed.

Xu Can and A’Yuan, who had been watching the whole thing, were utterly terrified.

Their mouths hung open. “She… she… she…”

At this moment, the bear seemed far less terrifying than the woman before them.

If she wanted to rob them or kill them, what could they do?

Xu Can didn’t dare to think further.

He instinctively shrank back, but the two large brothers behind him stood firm, not letting him move an inch.

Qiao Xin cautiously approached the bear and confirmed it was dead.

Then, frowning, she walked toward Xu Can.

Xu Can finally noticed that this formidable warrior was actually a woman.

However, her expression was not pleasant.

Being a man who knew when to bend or stand tall, he didn’t hesitate—before she even got close, he pulled A’Yuan down with him and kowtowed. “Heroine, spare our lives!”

Qiao Xin: “…”

“Are you trying to get out of paying?”

Xu Can was stunned but quickly realized what she meant.

He sat on the ground, hurriedly removed his money pouch, and held it up to Qiao Xin with both hands. “How could I? Would I, Xu Can, ever renege on a debt? This is all yours!”

Seeing that Qiao Xin didn’t react, Qiao Yunting took the pouch, opened it, and was shocked to find five hundred taels inside.

He looked up at his mother, silently asking for instructions.

“Keep a hundred taels, return the rest, and let them go.”

The two now free, couldn’t believe their luck. They kept glancing back in disbelief.

That was it?

She didn’t rob them?

She didn’t kill them to bury the evidence?

She said one hundred taels and only took one hundred, refusing to take a single extra coin!

…

Xu Can walked away in a daze, unable to process what had just happened.

A’Yuan, however, glanced around the darkening forest and shivered.

He quickly nudged his young master’s arm.

“Young master, it’s getting dark. Are we really sure we can find A’Zhen in time? What if we get lost again? Should we go with them instead?”

Xu Can shuddered.

He stopped in his tracks, unable to take another step.

The sky was getting darker.

Shadows stretched ominously, as if countless beasts lurked within them, ready to devour him.

They really—

Truly—

Had no guarantee—

That they could make it out before nightfall.

Or even find their missing guard, A’Zhen.

If A’Zhen had already gone searching for them, they would probably miss each other.

Then what? Should they go back and retrace their steps?

Would his grandfather really let him die out here?

No!

Xu Can grabbed A’Yuan and ran back toward Qiao Xin.

In no time, he appeared before her again.

Without a word, he shoved the money pouch back into her hands.

Qiao Xin looked at the disheveled master and servant in confusion but said nothing.

Xu Can put on his most charming smile. “Big sister, can we come down the mountain with you? Consider this payment for the escort.”

Qiao Yunxin smacked him upside the head and scolded, “What are you calling her? That’s our mother! Call her Auntie!”

Qiao Xin’s face darkened.

She didn’t like being called old, but her dear son had said it so sincerely that she couldn’t refute it.

She looked them over—dressed in fine silk, adorned with jade ornaments—clearly wealthy.

And yet, they had ended up in the deep mountains, chased by a bear, with only one servant.

She had no desire to get involved with trouble. Just as she was about to refuse—

Xu Can, ever perceptive, noticed her hesitation.

His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stripped A’Yuan of all his valuables, including gold nuggets, and shoved them into Qiao Xin’s other hand.

His voice was exceptionally sincere: “Is this enough? If not, I’ll add another thousand taels! I just need to get out of here first!”

As long as he got out alive, even ten thousand taels wouldn’t matter!

Qiao Xin estimated the pouch contained around seven hundred taels.

Her refusal shifted into: “I’ll only escort you safely down the mountain.”

“Yes, yes, whatever you say!”

Xu Can was overjoyed and endlessly grateful.

A’Yuan nearly knelt again, but Qiao Xin swiftly stopped him.

“Enough nonsense. Help carry these things out before we attract more beasts.”

“Yes, yes!” Xu Can kicked A’Yuan. “Move it, idiot!”