Chapter 25: Successful Escape

Everyone nodded, and the few children looked at the little girl who was younger than themselves. For some reason, at this moment, they trusted this little girl completely.

Xiaojiu was the first to step out of the wooden hut, carefully sneaking past the fallen black-clothed men.

When the children saw the black-clothed men lying on the ground, they nearly cried out in shock, but thankfully they quickly covered their mouths.

Did this little girl defeat them all?

Could this little girl be a fairy?

……

Xiaojiu led them forward toward the forest.

At the front, Cuihua, who was on lookout, suddenly clucked a few times.

Master, someone is coming this way.

Xiaojiu looked back and saw two black-clothed men walking toward the wooden hut.

“Someone’s coming. Run forward quickly, don’t make a sound. See that chicken ahead? Follow it to a place where no one is around and hide there first. I’ll come find you later,” Xiaojiu told the children.

“What about you?” Shen Zhiyuan asked worriedly.

“Yeah, what if they find out we’re missing and capture you again?” the chubby boy added hurriedly.

“Don’t worry about me. Just follow Cuihua closely and stay quiet,” Xiaojiu said, ignoring them, and headed toward the hut down the mountain.

Xiaojiu took out the stun baton and quietly approached the hut just like before.

The two black-clothed men got closer. Xiaojiu quickly circled to the back of the hut and found a hidden corner to hide. She switched on the stun baton, making sure it was ready to use.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the hut’s door gently swung, making a creaking sound.

The two black-clothed men’s attention was immediately drawn to it.

Something’s wrong. It’s too quiet. There’s no one guarding outside the hut.

If they looked behind the hut, they would see that the dozen or so black-clothed men who had been guarding outside were now all lying neatly in the grass.

The two black-clothed men quickly drew their swords, watching the doorway cautiously.

Xiaojiu seized the opportunity and quietly moved to the other side of the hut, preparing to launch a surprise attack from behind.

Suddenly, Xiaojiu leapt out. The stun baton flashed blue electricity, striking the nearest black-clothed man.

Caught off guard, the man was hit by the electric current and collapsed instantly.

The other black-clothed man quickly reacted and lunged at Xiaojiu with his sword.

Xiaojiu nimbly dodged and grabbed the man’s ankle, forcefully throwing him to the ground.

The black-clothed man felt as if his insides were dislocated.

Xiaojiu dragged the two black-clothed men over to lie beside the others she had stunned earlier.

Perfect. So neat. Xiaojiu was very satisfied.

After looking around to ensure no more black-clothed men were coming, she quickly headed into the forest.

Before long, Xiaojiu saw in the distance a hidden clearing where Cuihua was crouched under a big tree with the children, their faces full of nervousness and hope.

“The candy-selling little girl, we’re here!” the chubby boy excitedly whispered when he saw Xiaojiu.

The other children also gave her reassuring looks.

“Shh, keep your voice down,” Xiaojiu made a shushing gesture, patted Cuihua’s head, and whispered, “The situation is urgent. Let’s leave here as soon as possible.”

Seeing Xiaojiu return, the children’s fears were greatly eased as if they had found their backbone. They all nodded in agreement.

Leading the way, Cuihua brought the children along a hidden path.

Finally, as night fell, the group emerged from the cave mouth.

Xiaojiu saw Yan Que and Lin Qi anxiously waiting at the cave entrance, their faces full of worry.

If it weren’t for Yan Que holding them back, they would have rushed into the cave to find people already.

As for why Yan Que stopped them, he just inexplicably trusted that this little one could come out successfully.

If these people went back in, in the end, it might be the little one who’d have to go back and save them again.

After seeing that several children were following the village chief, among them a chubby boy whom he had seen selling candy in town not long ago, A Dou asked, “You were captured too?”

The chubby boy recognized many of the people around him.

Familiar faces — indeed.

He was almost moved to tears.

Sob…

It was like seeing family.

He nearly rushed forward to hug A Dou and the others.

Seeing that the sky was already late and the villagers must be extremely anxious, Xiaojiu waved her hand and said, “Let’s return to the village.”

“What about us?” Shen Zhiyuan tugged on Xiaojiu’s sleeve, unwilling to let go, looking at her with a pitiful expression.

At this moment, Shen Zhiyuan felt Xiaojiu was far more reliable than her own father.

Xiaojiu glanced at the children who were looking at her expectantly and said, “You will come back to the village with us. Tomorrow, we’ll send you home.”

Cuihua took the lead, guiding everyone swiftly along the way back.

However, after less than an hour, the night had completely fallen.

Xiaojiu pulled out her flashlight from her pocket.

She switched it on, and a bright beam instantly cut through the surrounding darkness, lighting the path ahead.

Everyone’s mouths dropped in surprise — what kind of miracle was this?

“Everyone stick close to Cuihua and hurry back to the village,” Xiaojiu urged.

The night grew darker, and the sounds of insects rose and fell all around. Occasionally, distant wolf howls sent a chill through the group. The children tightly held hands, and regardless of any previous conflicts, they now felt warm comfort from each other’s company.

They quickened their pace returning to the village, and in the distance, they saw flickering torchlight.

“That must be the villagers! It has to be! That’s the big banyan tree behind our mountain — the clan leaders must be waiting ahead,” Tieniu excitedly shouted.

Hearing this, everyone felt even more excited.

Under the big banyan tree, a group of villagers had gathered, praying for the village chief and the others’ safe return.

“What’s that? There’s light! Is it the village chief and them coming back?” Zhao Dalang saw the distant light, his eyes full of hope.

The villagers all looked toward the light.

Getting closer and closer, Zhao Dalang seemed to hear his son’s voice.

“Huer!” Zhao Dalang called out into the distance.

“Father, I’m back!” Zhao Hu shouted back toward his father.

“It really is them!” Zhao Dalang hurried forward.

Other villagers also broke into a run.

“Village chief! Village chief!”

“Village chief! Village chief!”

…

Xiaojiu heard the villagers’ shouts from afar.

She called forward, “We’re back! I brought them all back.”

“Good, you’re back! Good, you’re back!” The clan leaders wiped their tears and shakily walked forward, wishing they were younger by a dozen years so they could rush up immediately.

These damn kids, they didn’t even help these old folks up.

“Sis! Sis! I’m back!” A Dou ran to the front and saw his sister, opening his arms, waiting for her warm embrace — she must have missed him terribly.

“Village chief! Village chief! Are you alright? I swear I’ll study martial arts properly from now on, and wherever the village chief goes, I’ll go too!” Da Ya rushed past A Dou without looking back, running to the village chief and crouching down to hug her.

A Dou thought: Sis, you’ve changed.

Zhao Hu watched as Da Ya passed by his own father.