Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 26: Disadvantage

Xin Zhuo's words were very impactful, leaving the group of constables at a loss for words.

Very well, I've got it!

Xin Zhuo confronted them for another half an incense stick's worth of time, confident that they wouldn't give up easily. He instructed Huang Dagui and Bai Jianxi to stay behind and keep an eye on the constables. Each of them was given an iron basin and a wooden hammer as a signal for "killing." Xin Zhuo himself took Cui Ying'er and Han Jiulang back to the village.

"Are you the Iron-faced Judge, Pure Good Little Master?" Cui Ying'er asked as they walked. She remained skeptical of the title Xin Zhuo had just given himself.

Bandit aliases, like the names of martial arts masters, were carefully chosen. They were usually given based on one's reputation and behavior, and they could effectively represent a person's image and abilities.

For example, Huang Dagui's alias, "Sai E Lai," indicated that he was ugly and fierce-looking, which was quite fitting.

And Cui Ying'er's alias, "Du Xi Shi," portrayed her as a beautiful and cold-hearted woman, which was also appropriate.

But the alias Xin Zhuo had given himself... it felt strange. She had never heard of it before.

Xin Zhuo rubbed his chin. "I made it up myself. It was mainly to gain their trust and show that I'm a man of my word."

Cui Ying'er smiled mischievously. "By saying it in front of so many people, you might not be able to shake off this alias in the future!"

"Really?" Xin Zhuo couldn't help but feel a chill. This alias was full of the cheesy and awkward elements of traditional martial arts novels. It would be better to be called "Bloodthirsty Butcher" or "Thunderous Fist" or something like that.

Perhaps because the immediate danger had temporarily subsided, Cui Ying'er was in a good mood. She pursed her lips and chuckled. "Definitely!"

Han Jiulang was stunned. "Yinger, you look so beautiful when you smile!"

"Get lost," Cui Ying'er said, her face turning serious again, as she hurried a few steps ahead.

The village was just ahead, and they could already see Han Qiniang sitting on the steps in front of Xin Zhuo's door, her arms wrapped around her knees, looking worried. When she saw them returning, she quickly stood up and greeted them. "How did it go?"

Xin Zhuo nodded and looked at the tightly closed door. He could vaguely see a figure inside. "Has she been standing there the whole time?"

Han Qiniang stuck out her tongue. "Yes, she's been standing there with a dagger the whole time. She doesn't respond when I talk to her. She's quite stubborn, but it's quite amusing."

"Boss, how do you plan to arrange this young lady?" Cui Ying'er asked.

Xin Zhuo thought for a moment. "Let her stay in my room. I don't trust other places. You all should rest early too. Huang Dagui and Bai Jianxi will take over later in the night, and we have important matters to attend to tomorrow morning."

"Boss, you don't mean to..." Han Jiulang blinked rapidly, making a gesture that only women would understand, and certain images flashed through his mind.

"You're thinking too much. Women only slow down my sword-drawing speed!"

With a cool statement, Xin Zhuo entered the kitchen.

There was a large amount of food that they had seized from the young lady's carriage. It consisted of dried fruits, jerky, and other snacks, all of which were exquisite and refined. It was evident that she was a food lover.

Xin Zhuo chose a pack of jerky and a pack of preserved fruits, put them in two bowls, and walked to the door of his room. He lightly knocked on the door and then pushed it open.

Sure enough, the beautiful young lady was still standing in the same spot, holding the dagger in her hand. When she saw someone enter, she took two steps back and tightened her grip on the dagger.

Perhaps standing for too long had caused her face to lose its resolute and defensive expression. She looked tired, and her legs were numb. As she stepped back, she stumbled and was about to fall.

Xin Zhuo acted quickly, swiftly throwing the snacks onto the table and reaching out his right hand to support her waist.

The posture of the two of them instantly became quite delicate—

The girl fell halfway, her long and shiny black hair almost reaching the ground. Her left leg was bent, while her right leg was raised high, accentuating her graceful posture.

Xin Zhuo supported her waist with his right hand, while his left hand unconsciously pressed against her abdomen.

Their eyes met.

They were extremely close.

He could clearly see her flawless facial features, fair and translucent skin, and bright and beautiful eyes like water.

A hint of the unique fragrance of a young girl entered his nostrils, and even her breath carried a slightly sweet scent.

Her waist was slender, her abdomen flat. Even through the silk dress, one could feel its delicacy.

Xin Zhuo admitted that this was a very beautiful and attractive girl. He had never seen anyone so naturally pure and untainted in his two lifetimes combined.

He couldn't help but take a few more glances.

The girl seemed to have never been treated so lightly by anyone before. Her face instantly turned red, a hint of anger between her eyebrows. She tightly gripped the dagger and stabbed towards him with force.

Xin Zhuo quickly supported her and stepped back, but he was a step too slow. His left hand was cut, and blood gushed out.

The girl, due to exerting too much force, stumbled forward, only stopping her movement after taking a step. She once again held the dagger against her neck, breathing heavily, her eyes clouded with a sense of humiliation.

"Forget it! I don't blame you."

Xin Zhuo put himself in her shoes and thought that if he were kidnapped by bandits, he would probably fight for his life, let alone when the other party was such a valuable bargaining chip that needed to be treated gently.

Enduring the pain in his hand, he closed the door, latched it, and found a clean cloth to bandage his wound.

The girl's gaze followed his movements, not daring to relax even a bit.

Xin Zhuo, on the other hand, was at ease. After bandaging his wound, he picked up some dried meat and took a bite. "Don't be nervous. I'm not a good person, but I won't harm you. Stop being stubborn and come eat. It's delicious and expensive, isn't it?"

The girl ignored him, but her beautiful eyes subconsciously glanced at the preserved fruits.

Xin Zhuo found it amusing. "You won't eat, so I'll eat them all?"

The girl slightly turned her slender and fair neck and looked away, expressing her protest and attitude.

Xin Zhuo thought that he should have a sincere and harmonious conversation with her about how to get along. "I actually think you're quite foolish!"

The girl turned her head to look at him, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, three parts anger and seven parts confusion.

"I can tell that you haven't practiced martial arts. Although I don't know why, the fact remains that you have no resistance. Let me tell you, I have killed at least seven or eight bandits and constables."

Xin Zhuo sat down and brushed off the meat crumbs from his hands.

"I know you injured Mr. Xu. Your martial arts are impressive."

The girl finally spoke, her voice crisp and pleasant, with a tone that fell between a child and a mature woman, very pleasant to the ear.

It was hard to imagine that a woman could be so beautiful, with a beautiful figure and a beautiful voice, without any flaws. It was truly unfair.

Xin Zhuo chuckled. "It's good that you know. So, if I wanted to harm you, what difference would it make if you had a small dagger?"

"You have already harmed me just now!"

The girl's voice was filled with inexplicable embarrassment and resentment. She was referring to when Xin Zhuo held her and pressed on her abdomen.

Her background was very special. Since she was young, she had been taught to pay great attention to her appearance, behavior, and interactions with men. Intimate contact was something that only married couples should do. How could she have imagined that one day she would be held and pressed by a thief?

(End of this chapter)