Chapter 838: Chapter 838: It’s Them Again!
Cui Sanniang was quietly observing the movements of the travelers, seeing them coming closer and closer toward them, as if they were their targets, causing cold sweat to stream down her back.
Suddenly, she felt a lightness in her body as the cloak was quickly pulled off by someone. She was momentarily stunned to see that Xiao Lian Hua had woken up.
Just as she was in a daze, the person broke free from her hand and was about to run. She quickly reacted, pouncing forward to tightly hold the person along with her arms.
"Let me go, you old hag, let me go!" Xiao Lian Hua screamed, struggling with all her might to break free from the arms binding her, twisting her body to slide out from beneath Cui Sanniang’s arm, her hairstyle couldn’t withstand the repeated struggles and a head of soft, beautiful hair fell loosely.
Cui Sanniang used all her strength to hold the person, shouting fiercely in the direction of Second Master Liu: "Come over and help!" She couldn’t hold on much longer!
She had never known where a ten-year-old girl got such brute strength. The previous time she had Xiao Lian Hua sat on the ground, unexpectedly using the weight of her body to press her down and exerting force to barely hold her in place.
This time, both were standing, and the force of the struggle was so great that she felt her arms might break if she didn’t let go.
Second Master Liu had just moved Xiao Hua Mei into the cabin, feeling her breath was almost undetectable, and hadn’t had time to check when he heard the commotion outside.
He immediately rushed out of the cabin, leaping from the bow to the bank, quickly going to help Cui Sanniang.
The sudden change happened fast, and a few people standing close by, like Xiao Cui, were momentarily stunned, standing still in shock.
Xiao Cui was the first to snap out of it, shaken awake by Cui Sanniang. Her heart skipped a beat, afraid Xiao Lian Hua would really escape, fearing Cui Sanniang’s wrath, so she immediately ran to help.
Xiao Lian Hua had almost slid free when Xiao Cui approached. Lowering her head, she managed to bite Cui Sanniang’s arm hard in her frenzy.
Cui Sanniang let out a pained scream and released her grip, instinctively covering the bite wound, her hand came away stained with blood.
Her shifty eyes glared fiercely at Xiao Cui: "Stop her!"
Xiao Cui quickly spread her arms to block the way.
Xiao Lian Hua broke free and dashed off, taking a few steps to reach Xiao Cui, she quickly crouched down and swept with her foot, tripping Xiao Cui sideways to the ground, then ran forward two steps to find it was a dead end. Second Master Liu was already approaching.
She immediately turned back, stepping on Xiao Cui, and ran toward the other direction.
Before she could run a few steps, a strong force struck her waist, making her feet lose grounding. She was picked up mid-air by the waist.
Above her, Second Master Liu’s eerie voice called out: "Xiao Hehe, be good and don’t move, or Second Master can’t guarantee you won’t get hurt."
In all the commotion, Lian Hua’s hair became messy, falling over her face, obscuring her features.
She kicked and lashed with her limbs in the air, struggling fiercely: "Let me go, let me go..." As she growled like a young beast, putting all her strength into trying to break free, alas she was held aloft, unable to gain footing.
Seeing that the person was caught, Cui Sanniang felt both relieved and furious, intending to approach while covering her bleeding arm, when she inexplicably felt a chill.
Her heart skipped a beat as she suddenly recalled those travelers, quickly turning to look, only to see they had already approached, with the leader’s gaze sweeping over them.
It was them again! Guo Shun frowned with distaste, striding forward with his retinue, aiming for the large ship beside them, which belonged to the Guo family, manned by Guo family’s skilled hands.
Cui Sanniang and her group had little interest for him, he could tell at a glance what role they played - one looked like an Old Turtle, the other like a madam, coupled with a Flower Boat, their business was obvious.
Guo Shun had no interest in them, he was heading to Yangzhou.
A smooth journey from Xuanzhou Prefecture had seen matters handled satisfactorily, and today at Dangtu Town he had received a homing pigeon missive from Guo Neng, which responded regarding an affair needing his discretion on smuggling matters, ensuring it wasn’t uncovered.
This message reassured Guo Shun, dispelling any worries of suspicion or digging up past grievances, allowing him to handle affairs with impunity. Thus, after hastily wrapping up Dangtu Town matters, he had not paused, hurrying to the harbor with plans to sail to Yangzhou overnight.
Reaching the dock area, it was too crowded for horseback, so he tossed the reins to a waiting Guo family servant to handle, striding towards the Guo family’s ship.
Before getting close, he noticed from afar the previously seen low-life women waiting in front of a Flower Boat, flanked by a few timid girls, supporting a small-seized person whose head was hidden, like a child.
A thought flickered through his mind, so the gaudy carriage concealed several girls, their furtive manner betraying their improper origins.
Were it not for the Guo family’s ship being beside them, Guo Shun wouldn’t have bothered a second glance; as it was, he merely glanced before looking away, until a sharp cry drew his attention back.
It turned out that the child the madam was holding was struggling, with the cries of a young girl, her back to him and face hidden by disarrayed hair.
Just as expected, those girls were indeed of spurious origin, likely kidnapped.
Knowing this, what concern was it of his?
Snakes have their paths, and rats theirs, unrelated to him or the Guo family, hence he wouldn’t intervene, especially since such insignificant figures wouldn’t dare provoke them.
Guo Shun walked toward the adjacent large ship, noting the young girl’s build akin to a nine or ten-year-old, and with that fleeting thought, his cold gaze lingered an extra moment.
That look almost made Cui Sanniang’s heart leap out, fearing any suspicion. She recalled Xiao Lian Hua’s words, these people were from the Yamen, capable of arresting people; they had once seen them in a rest stop searching for someone.
The experienced madam quickly adjusted, suppressing her racing heart, disregarding the pain in her arm, and forced a slightly helpless, ingratiating smile: "Pardon the disturbance, just purchased and unruly, needs training, forgive us for disturbing your peace, sir."
She curtsied, adding a coquettish touch.
Guo Shun watched with disgust, coldly averting his gaze, ignoring her antics as if unheard.
His group had approached the ship, pausing before boarding one by one, as someone on board noticed their arrival and came running from the stern.
Cui Sanniang exhaled deeply in relief, whether believed or not, they weren’t the target, it was enough.
Second Master Liu now carrying Xiao Lian Hua made towards the gangplank, having recognized Guo Shun, keeping his head down only wanting to quickly get aboard; but Xiao Lian Hua’s vigorous struggles in midair made his progress uneven, leaving him no free hand to subdue her.