After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 13
The night wind was bone-chilling, its icy gusts slicing through the air like knives.
The villagers stepped forward and bound the three captives tightly, tying them back-to-back.
Zhu Zhenzhen coldly scanned the crowd, but Old He was nowhere to be seen.
Zhao Lin frowned, his tone displeased. Instead of worrying about others, you should be thinking about how you’ll survive tonight.
No one answered.
Feeling humiliated, Zhao Lin’s brows furrowed. He grabbed Zhu Zhenzhen by the throat and demanded fiercely, Why did you go to Changding?
Her lips moved slightly, as if she were trying to speak, but her voice was barely audible. When he leaned closer, Zhu Zhenzhen spat out, one word at a time, You… don’t… deserve… to… know.
Enraged, Zhao Lin tightened his grip on her throat.
Lu Yin cried out, Let her go!
Song Heng glared at Zhao Lin, his eyes burning with fury. If Zhao Lin dared to make another move, Song Heng would reveal his true identity and kill him, even if it meant exposing himself.
He didn’t understand why he felt this way, simply attributing it to his desire for revenge.
The sensation of being choked was unbearable. The pain was excruciating, and the air seemed to solidify, making it impossible to breathe. Black spots danced before her eyes, as if death were imminent.
Song Heng gripped a silver needle between his fingers, its tip gleaming coldly. Poised to strike, he was about to flick the needle when a sudden change occurred.
The silver needle silently slid back into the hidden pocket of his sleeve.
A cold glint flashed in Zhu Zhenzhen’s hand as she lunged forward, a blade aimed directly at Zhao Lin’s face.
Zhao Lin felt a chilling draft rush toward him. He swiftly released his grip on her and leaned back to evade the surprise attack. Had he hesitated, he might have lost an eye.
To sever the ropes so quickly in such a state required perfect timing, unwavering resolve, and extraordinary courage—qualities the former Song Zhen had never possessed. It was as if two entirely different people inhabited the same body.
A faint, metallic scent of bl00d drifted into Song Heng’s nostrils.
The moment Zhu Zhenzhen’s throat met fresh air, she gasped greedily. The sudden influx of cold air burned her throat, but it also jolted her muddled consciousness back into focus.
Her heavy mind finally began to function again. Though she swayed unsteadily, her hands moved with unwavering precision as she untied the remaining two prisoners.
Zhu Zhenzhen had no intention of hiding any longer. In the moment she felt herself suffocating, she truly understood that she was alive in this world—this was no game, no dream. The despair of impending death clung to her heart, refusing to dissipate.
Whether Song Heng discovered she wasn’t the original Zhu Zhenzhen or they called her a wandering ghost, she would survive.
The villagers closed in, unarmed but forming a tight circle around the trio. Yet they hesitated, stepping back a few paces, wary of the knife in her hand.
Everyone had witnessed the decisive swiftness of her strike.
Lu Yin drew his own blade from his boot, though his grip was awkward and his hand trembled slightly.
In the blink of an eye, the woman surrounded by the crowd had darted behind Zhao Lin.
But to Zhao Lin, her speed was still too slow. He scoffed, arrogantly striking out with a palm strike to his right.
Instead of the expected scream, he felt a bone-chilling cold press against his back. Sensing danger, he whirled around to strike again.
Too late. Zhu Zhenzhen had seized his momentary opening, ducking low and kicking the back of his knee. His leg buckled, forcing him to his knees as the blade pressed against his throat. She whispered in his ear, Let us go, or… The razor drew a thin line of bl00d across his neck, a stark threat.
Zhao Lin wasn’t a fool he understood the wisdom of preserving his strength for another day. Seeing that none of the useless villagers dared to step forward, he abandoned his earlier arrogance.
Fine, he growled, clenching his jaw tightly. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the villagers to disperse.
Zhu Zhenzhen slightly withdrew the blade but maintained her grip. Where is Lord He? Answer me now!
Since entering the Prince’s service, Zhao Lin had never felt so humiliated. To be held hostage by a frail woman only deepened his humiliation.
Lu Yin stared in disbelief, realizing his benefactor, Song Zhen, possessed such formidable skills. His gaze lingered on her left hand, which had been concealed beneath her sleeve. Now, crimson stains seeped through the fabric, dyeing it in mottled patches.
Song Heng clenched his fist, knowing he couldn’t reveal the truth at this moment.
Zhao Lin gritted his teeth. Yan He is doing just fine!
How do I know you’re not lying? Zhu Zhenzhen countered.
Aren’t you heading to Changding City? Zhao Lin suddenly regained his composure, a sinister smile twisting his lips. You’ll see him there.
You’d better let me see Old He, she warned. Otherwise, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth and tear you limb from limb.
With these final words, she led her companions out of the village. Darkness swallowed them whole, and they vanished from sight.
Zhao Lin slowly rose to his feet, aided by the villagers who rushed to support him. Sir, one of them asked, should we send men to capture her?
No need, Zhao Lin replied. Send word to Yan Guiyun that new ‘merchandise’ has arrived. Tell her to ensure our guest receives the finest hospitality.
Just a woman. Does she really think she can escape? Once she enters Changding, her fate—whether life or death—will be entirely out of her hands.
Lu Yin chattered incessantly, like an early-awakened bird, his words revolving entirely around Zhu Zhenzhen’s prowess and his boundless admiration for her.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere between the other two remained awkward.
Zhu Zhenzhen didn’t know how to speak to Song Heng. After what had just happened, even someone mentally impaired would realize she was no longer the Song Zhen he once knew.
The former Song Zhen had excelled in needlework, cherished poetry and literature, loved etiquette and music, and detested horseback riding and archery.
She could never have acted as Zhu Zhenzhen had. She wondered what Song Heng must be thinking.
Bl00d continued to drip from her palm, each drop absorbed instantly by the soil, leaving only faint stains.
She was aware of the discomfort in her hand but dared not stop to examine the wound until they were far from the stronghold.
If she were to be honest, she couldn’t defeat Zhao Lin in a straight fight. Her only advantage lay in her superior speed and agility.
Zhao Lin’s first palm strike had nearly struck her heart. Had she not anticipated the attack and retreated several steps, she likely would have coughed up bl00d.
A ghastly wound now marred her palm. Zhu Zhenzhen paused, momentarily stunned. In the heat of the moment, she hadn’t considered the consequences, focusing solely on regaining consciousness. The mild pain hadn’t been enough to jolt her back, so she had continued to exert force.
She hadn’t anticipated the cut would be so extensive.
Song Heng, leveraging his height, easily spotted the wound on her hand.
The fresh gash was crimson, the flesh gaping open.
Song Heng’s breath hitched. Wordlessly, he rummaged through the bamboo basket and retrieved a medicine bottle.
The familiar scent wafted from the uncorked bottle, filling her nostrils.
Zhu Zhenzhen glanced sideways and saw her younger brother’s lips pressed into a tight line. Whether it was her imagination or not, she thought she glimpsed a flash of icy coldness in his eyes.
For the first time, Song Heng displayed a forceful side to her. He seized Zhu Zhenzhen’s hand, his warm fingertips brushing against her cold skin, sending a slight tremor through her.
Assuming he had hurt her, Song Heng loosened his grip, though his tone remained stiff. I’ll apply the medicine.
Even after nearly being strangled to death, why did she still insist on protecting us? With her skills, she could have escaped the moment she broke free.
She didn’t need to intervene. I could have silenced everyone here in an instant, though dealing with the aftermath would have been troublesome.
With his other hand, he gently wiped away the overflowing bl00d with the corner of a handkerchief before sprinkling pale yellow medicinal powder onto the wound.
He changed the cloth and re-bandaged her wound.
Zhu Zhenzhen lowered her eyes, remaining silent.
She had to admit that the warmth of family companionship and concern far surpassed the loneliness of wandering alone.
Zhu Zhenzhen had once been wealthy—extremely wealthy. She could have purchased several mansions in the most luxurious districts, yet she ultimately chose a room of less than fifty square meters.
Li Zhen had once asked her why she lived so frugally. Zhu Zhenzhen simply stroked the newly replaced brown blanket on her fabric sofa and replied, It’s convenient for getting to mission locations.
In truth, it was merely to avoid feeling empty and lonely.
Even though Song Zhen’s identity had been obtained through dubious means, she wished Song Heng’s questioning would come later.
Song Heng tied a long knot, the soft, unsupported fabric drooping on both sides, swaying like the ears of a lop-eared rabbit with every movement.
She felt like an insatiable thief, greedily seizing everything that belonged to Song Zhen.
By the time they finished, the night had begun to fade, and dawn was approaching.
Despite the night’s turmoil, she felt no fatigue. Her only thought was to leave as soon as possible and reach Changding City at the earliest opportunity.
The three of them chatted and laughed along the way, though most of the conversation was between the siblings and Lu Yin. The siblings themselves remained silent, as if bound by some unspoken agreement.
Lu Yin found himself in a difficult position, trying to please both sides. He offered fruit to Song Heng while simultaneously praising Zhu Zhenzhen’s extraordinary appearance. Despite his tireless efforts, they continued to speak past each other, each lost in their own thoughts.
Helpless, Lu Yin couldn’t understand why they were acting this way.
Just as dawn was about to break, a magnificent city gate loomed before them.
The ancient wooden gate was weathered and crumbling, its iron chains lying discarded and gathering dust. No guards stood watch outside, and the gate hung slightly ajar, as if inviting them to enter.
The only remaining trace of its former glory was the signboard above the gate, where three characters were boldly inscribed in golden ink Changding City.
Zhu Zhenzhen withdrew a face veil from her pouch, covering everything but her eyes.
The other two had already tied on their veils, swords and blades at the ready, fully prepared for whatever lay ahead.
The ancient gate creaked heavily as they forced it open, as if it hadn’t been opened in ages. If anyone in Changding City was planning an ambush, the loud noise would surely alert the enemy to their arrival.
The moment the city gates creaked open, Zhu Zhenzhen stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing.
If Old He’s words were true—if he had personally witnessed the unprovoked disaster that struck Changding and obeyed Magistrate Li’s order to flee—why had he returned?
Changding was now clearly a dragon’s lair, yet Zhao Lin remained convinced that Old He was hiding there.
Zhu Zhenzhen could understand Old He’s reluctance to send innocent travelers to their deaths in Changding. But Zhao Lin’s relentless questioning about their intentions for going there suggested he feared they might be planning something.
From Zhao Lin’s perspective, he seemed more like the government forces in a historical drama.
While their differing views might appear contradictory, the truth was that Zhao Lin cared nothing for the lives of ordinary people—a stark contrast to Old He’s concern.
Could individuals with such opposing stances truly collaborate? To Zhu Zhenzhen, they seemed to have forged a temporary alliance based on some unspoken agreement.
She couldn’t make sense of it. The complex web of relationships had ensnared her completely.
Exhaling a heavy sigh, she decided to let it go. There’s always a way forward, she thought. Old He is in