Qiao Wulang sat on a stool, chewing his fingers while glancing anxiously outside.

Seeing this, Qiao Sanlang pulled his hand away and wiped it with a handkerchief. “Fifth Brother, you’re daydreaming again. How many times has Grandma told you not to chew your fingers? You’ll end up swallowing bugs!”

Qiao Wulang’s small mouth quivered as he was about to cry. “Third Brother, I miss Grandma. I want her to tell me stories. When will Grandma and Uncle come back? I’ve already counted my fingers twice!”

Little Qiao Yinrui also lost his focus on studying.

He missed her too.

Second Uncle was too strict when teaching, and Uncle Jiaquan was too casual.

Only Grandma made lessons interesting!

Annoyed, he said, “Why are you asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Father said to wait a little longer. Grandma will come back when it’s time.”

“But when is ‘the right time’?”

Qiao Sanlang ruffled his hair in frustration. “I don’t know! Just focus on your studies. If you don’t memorize your lessons, Father will make you practice calligraphy again!”

At the thought of yesterday’s punishment—writing calligraphy while squatting in the snow—Qiao Wulang wailed, grabbed his book, and started reciting.

With Grandma gone, Second Uncle was terrifying.

A single mistake would result in punishment.

First Aunt and Second Aunt didn’t dare to say a word, and there was no one in the household to plead for them.

When would these days end?

While the younger generation of the Qiao family was suffering at home, the Grandma they missed so dearly was stirring up a storm among the bandit hideouts in the northern region of Weizhou Prefecture.

For over twenty days, Qiao Xin had been roaming the mountains near Laohu Town with her two sons.

They were living quite comfortably—far easier than Qiao Yunting had imagined.

Aside from the freezing weather while crossing mountains, food and clothing were never a concern.

The bandits never expected that, in such cold weather, someone would be bold enough to come knocking on their door.

Caught off guard, they were completely unprepared.

In just half a month, Qiao Xin had slaughtered her way through more than ten bandit hideouts of various sizes.

The heavy snow had worked in her favor, preventing them from communicating with each other.

It wasn’t until she uncovered some of her own family’s belongings in the largest hideout that she finally stopped.

Qiao Xin sneered at the bandit leader, who was glaring at her with all his might. “Don’t look at me like that. There’s no such thing as hatred without reason! Half a month ago, your people repeatedly raided Laohu Town for furs. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten?”

Seeing the realization dawn on the leader’s face, Qiao Xin continued, “We were getting along just fine, but you had to be blind and steal from me. Now I have to teach you a lesson—you didn’t even know how many eyes the Horse King has!”

The bandit leader, unwilling to accept defeat, retorted, “We were only following orders. If you want revenge, you should go after the mastermind! Don’t you want to know who you’ve offended? If you let me go, I can tell you!”

Let him go?

That would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains!

Qiao Xin wasn’t the least bit tempted.

Playing with the twig in her hand, she said, “The mastermind? Oh, I’ll find them. But you, the one who did the dirty work, aren’t innocent either.”

Realizing her intent to kill, the bandit leader quickly pleaded, “Killing me won’t do you any good. If they find out, they won’t let you off either. That person isn’t someone a mere commoner like you can afford to provoke!”

“Whether I can or can’t provoke them—what does that have to do with you? Right now, I only need to deal with you.”

The bandit leader fell into despair.

This demon in human form—she wasn’t afraid of threats or bribes!

Desperate, he made one last attempt, “Heroine, spare me! If you let me live, I’ll tell you where the treasure vault of the hideout is. I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf!”

“Oh? So there’s a treasure vault, huh? Well, thank you for that.”

Qiao Xin pulled out the dagger from her waist, patted his cheek, and whispered coldly, “Do I look like someone who can be bribed? If you die, won’t the treasure all be mine?”

She turned to Qiao Yunxin. “Go call the people.”

Qiao Yunxin immediately turned and left.

The bandit leader was confused at first. But when he saw a group of trembling victims approaching from afar—along with his captured brothers tied up in a row—he completely lost hope.

He was doomed.

Qiao Xin pointed at the bandit leader and said to the victims, “He’s right here. If anyone wants revenge, you can use this dagger.”

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader struggled fiercely.

But with his hands and feet bound, he was powerless to resist. His bloodshot eyes glared at the approaching victims as he shouted, “Who dares?!”

Qiao Yunting stepped forward and kicked him hard, sending him flying.

Then, he took the rag from Qiao Yunxin and stuffed it into the man’s mouth. “You’re about to be a ghost, and you still want to act tough? Who do you think you are?”

Encouraged, one severely wounded girl stumbled forward, snatched the dagger from Qiao Xin’s hand, and plunged it into the bandit leader’s face…

One after another, the victims stepped forward, and soon, bloodcurdling screams filled the mountains, startling countless birds into flight.

After looting the bandits’ hideout, Qiao Xin helped settle the victims.

Those who wanted to return home were given travel expenses and rations.

Those who didn’t wish to go back were compensated with some of the stolen wealth before being allowed to leave on their own.

With that done, she led her sons down the mountain with their captured bandits in tow.

They had been away for quite some time. If they didn’t return soon, the family back home would start to worry.

On the way back from the military camp after handing over the captured bandits, Qiao Yunqing grew increasingly irritated.

“Mother, that girl is still following us.”

It was the same girl who had been the first to take the dagger for revenge.

At first, they thought she was merely heading in the same direction, but when she followed them even after they left the camp, they realized something was off.

Qiao Xin stopped, walked up to the girl, and took a long look at the new and old scars on her face and neck. Lowering her gaze, she asked calmly, “Why aren’t you going home? Why are you following us?”

The girl clenched her fists at her sides, nervously gripping her clothes.

Swallowing hard, she lowered her head. “With my current state, I have no home to return to.”

“Then find a new place where no one knows you and start over. Didn’t I give you some money?”

The girl answered honestly, “Yes, but I feel safer being near you. If I could settle down in the same place you live, that would be even better.”

Qiao Xin chuckled, her tone carrying a deeper meaning. “You’re quite straightforward. Aren’t you afraid of leaving one den of wolves only to enter another?”

“I’m not afraid. I believe that Madam is a good person.”

A flash of something unreadable passed through Qiao Xin’s eyes before she smiled again. “Fine. If you’re not afraid, then come with us. Laohu Town has plenty of houses—you’ll find a place to stay easily.”

The girl immediately knelt and bowed, repeatedly expressing her gratitude. “Thank you, Madam!”

Qiao Yunting, displeased at bringing someone back, tried to protest, “Mother, you…”

One sharp look from Qiao Xin shut him up immediately.