Chapter 272

What happened?!

The onlookers were stunned.

Even the nearby bandits were frozen—how could a healthy person suddenly pass out?

Yet before they could react, another shot from the anesthetic gun fired.

The other bandit holding Su Wanwan collapsed right after.

"There's someone over there—it's them!"

One of the bandits spotted the mother and daughter hiding in the corner.

Seeing everyone turn to look, Jiang Xiaoxiao quickly hid the anesthetic gun in her hand.

After all, it wasn't from this era—if too many people on the ship saw it, it would be trouble.

"So it's these two women behind this!"

The remaining two bandits flew into a rage; one snatched up a cleaver from the ground and hurled it at the mother and daughter.

Jiang Wei stepped forward immediately, blocking Jiang Xiaoxiao, and kicked the flying cleaver away with a horizontal slash.

"Bang—!"

The cleaver struck the ship side, slicing open a deep gash.

Those nearby were terrified.

If that cleaver had hit a person, it would have split their head clean in two.

The two bandits were also stunned—they never imagined anyone could catch a flying blade bare-handed.

"Let them go." Jiang Wei stared coldly at the two ahead, her gaze icy.

Originally, she had no intention of meddling, but since these two dared to target her, they had no one to blame but themselves.

"Y-You stay back! Or I'll kill her!" The two bandits realized Jiang Wei was no ordinary opponent and pressed their kitchen knives against Su Wanwan's throat.

Jiang Wei remained utterly unmoved, her face dark, stepping steadily toward them.

The two bandits panicked, babbling "Don't come closer!" while pressing the blades tighter against Su Wanwan's neck.

Yu'er trembled violently, sobbing: "Jiang Madam, please don't come any closer—they'll kill my mistress…"

Jiang Wei remained unmoved.

Yu'er bit her lip, suddenly rose, and charged at Jiang Wei, shoving her hard to the ground, trying to pin her down.

But at that instant, Jiang Wei seized Yu'er's shoulder, using her as cover, and flung the Swiss Army Knife hidden in her hand.

"Puff—"

Right between the eyebrows.

Everyone present froze in shock.

One of the bandits holding Su Wanwan stared in disbelief, eyes wide, blood slowly trickling from his brow, staining his entire face red.

He collapsed heavily to the ground, his eyes still open, filled with unyielding resentment.

No one present saw how Jiang Wei moved.

Except Yu'er.

In that instant, the cold blade had brushed past her ear.

She had never felt death so close.

She collapsed, utterly paralyzed, to the ground.

Seizing the moment of stunned silence, Jiang Xiaoxiao swiftly raised her anesthetic gun and aimed at the last bandit.

"Pssht!"

The final bandit dropped instantly.

The anesthetic gun wasn't completely silent, but one second before the sound drew everyone's attention, Jiang Xiaoxiao had already tucked it away, feigning terror, and ran crying toward her mother.

"Wah-wah-wah, Mama, I'm scared…"

The crying of the five-year-old girl shattered the silence of the night.

Only then did the crowd snap back to reality, exhaling in relief.

Yu'er scrambled to her feet and rushed to support her mistress.

Su Wanwan's hands and feet were bound tightly, completely immobile; a piece of coarse cloth was stuffed in her mouth, preventing speech.

Yu'er feared she would suffocate, so she immediately pulled out the coarse cloth and frantically began untying the ropes.

But the knots were tight, and her hands were weak from terror—after much effort, she couldn't loosen them.

Jiang Wei watched, sighed, and pushed her aside. "Let me."

She picked up the kitchen knife on the ground and cut through Su Wanwan's ropes in two or three swift strokes.

The moment the ropes loosened, Su Wanwan collapsed helplessly into Jiang Wei's arms, too weak to stand.

She must have been terrified.

Jiang Wei frowned but ultimately did not push her away.

"M-Mistress, are you alright?" Seeing Su Wanwan motionless in Jiang Wei's arms, Yu'er panicked and reached out to check on her mistress.

But as soon as Yu'er extended her hand, Su Wanwan shrank fearfully deeper into Jiang Wei's embrace.

"M-Mistress?" Yu'er froze. "What's wrong? I'm Yu'er…"

"Don't touch me!" Su Wanwan clutched Jiang Wei's collar like a lifeline, gripping it tightly. "None of you touch me!"

As she spoke, she pressed herself even closer to Jiang Wei, as if Jiang Wei's presence gave her absolute safety.

Yu'er burst into tears: "Mistress, what's wrong? Don't scare me like this…"

Jiang Xiaoxiao stepped forward to comfort her. "Sister Yu'er, don't panic. Your mistress is just in shock—let her rest quietly for a while."

As she spoke, she gave her mother a meaningful glance.

Jiang Wei nodded, then reached out and effortlessly scooped Su Wanwan up into a bridal carry.

"Your wife will stay here with me for now. Come back to pick her up when it's light tomorrow."

Saying that, she left carrying Su Wanwan.

Halfway there, she suddenly stopped again, her gaze sweeping coolly over the people on the ground: "These people—please deal with them."

Apart from one who had died, the other three had all been drugged; they wouldn't wake until tomorrow night, so she was quite at ease leaving them to be handled.

Yu'er wiped her tears dry and hurriedly called people over to deal with the bandits on the ground.

Bai Xiansheng also ran over to help, but Jiang Xiaoxiao held him back. "Uncle Bai, I have something to tell you."

She waved her little hand, gesturing for Bai Xiansheng to crouch down and listen to her.

"What is it, Xiaoxiao?" Bai Xiansheng looked puzzled, but still quickly crouched down.

Jiang Xiaoxiao pointed at Yu Ying'er on the second floor, leaned close to his ear, and whispered: "Before dawn, keep an eye out for me—see if anyone meets privately with that lady's maid over by the back kitchen. If there is, find a way to stop her for me."

Bai Xiansheng followed the direction Jiang Xiaoxiao pointed, seeming to understand something, and nodded solemnly: "Alright."

Jiang Xiaoxiao stayed behind, watching as the bandits were bound hand and foot by the people Yu'er had called over, then locked into a black room, to be sent to the Guanfu as soon as the ship docked tomorrow.

She was certain that if Yu Ying'er wanted to stay alive, she would definitely find a way to deal with these bandits before dawn.

She couldn't get close to that room herself, so she could only send someone to do it.

Jiang Xiaoxiao hurried back to the room right behind them.

The moment she entered, she saw Su Wanwan leaning against the corner of the wall, hugging her knees, sobbing with her head buried.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wei sat to one side, calmly sipping tea, looking as though she had absolutely no intention of paying attention.

Jiang Xiaoxiao let out a long sigh.

She walked forward and tentatively began: "Um, Madam, you…"

"My surname is Su," Su Wanwan managed between sobs.

Jiang Xiaoxiao, however, froze on the spot.