The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 19

Grand Tutor Gu burst into the room and immediately saw his precious daughter, Gu Zhirou, already a tearful mess.

“Oh, my darling, my precious girl!” he cried out. “Xiao Yi, you little bastard! This old man will beat you to death, you little scoundrel!”

“How dare you kidnap my daughter to a bandit’s lair? What have you done to my Rou’er?”

Grand Tutor Gu looked at his frail daughter, so weak she couldn’t even get out of bed, his heart aching with both pity and regret.

From now on, whenever Xiao Rou’er leaves the estate, I’ll assign her a team of elite guards. This little scoundrel won’t get another chance to take advantage!

“If I don’t deal with you today, I’ll renounce my surname! Men! Seize Xiao Yi, bind her, and drag her back to the Capital. I’ll personally present her to the Emperor!” Grand Tutor Gu’s beard bristled with fury, his eyes blazing with a rage that could have incinerated Xiao Yi on the spot.

What the hell? What did I even do? Xiao Yi thought, speechless. I didn’t even bully Gu Zhirou.

At Grand Tutor Gu’s command, the guards from the Grand Tutor’s Estate drew their swords and charged at Xiao Yi.

How could Xiao Yi just stand there and take it? Just as she was about to retaliate, the Bandit Leader arrived with his men.

“Which blind dog of an official dares to bully my Grandma on my turf? Brothers, beat them! Beat them until they piss their pants!”

Chaos erupted. Xiao Yi watched Gu Zhirou, huddled in Grand Tutor Gu’s arms, her heart pounding with worry. Can the little girl’s frail body withstand this commotion?

The moment Xiao Yi’s gaze landed on them, Grand Tutor Gu whipped his head around, glaring and snarling, “Xiao brat! What are you staring at? Look again, and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

Xiao Yi: … Very well, very well. The first person to threaten my eyes. If it weren’t for his devotion to Xiao Rou’er, I’d cripple this old fool.

Xiao Yi reminded herself that she couldn’t return to the capital yet. She needed to secure all the goods she’d seized from Prince Jin first.

With her target clear, she joined the fray. Her intervention immediately turned the tide, the Bandit Leader’s men overwhelming the Grand Tutor’s guards.

Watching his guards collapse in disarray, Grand Tutor Gu flew into a rage, cursing, “Useless trash! I’ve fed you for years, yet you can’t even defeat a few bandits? A bunch of worthless cowards!”

Xiao Yi stood by with her arms crossed, while the Bandit Leader glared at them, furious. He had only stepped away for a moment to discipline his troublesome younger brother. How had these people managed to slip past his defenses and infiltrate Clearwind Stronghold?

This was a blatant slap in the face to the Big Boss of Clearwind Stronghold.

“What are you waiting for? Get out of here! Does the Grand Tutor plan to stay and become a bandit with me? Or do you want me to escort you out one by one?” The Bandit Leader swaggered, confident in Xiao Yi’s backing.

“You… you… Xiao Yi! You’ll pay for this! I’ll settle this score with you today!” Grand Tutor Gu roared, scooping up Gu Zhirou to leave.

Seeing Gu Zhirou being carried away, the Bandit Leader’s face darkened. He stepped forward to block their path. “You can leave, but what’s with taking this beauty? Put her down! She’s Grandma’s exclusive beauty. Drop her now if you don’t want to die!”

“Grandma’s not done playing with her yet!”

The moment Grand Tutor Gu heard the words “exclusive beauty,” his chest surged with fury. He vowed to make Xiao Yi pay dearly for this humiliation!

His exclusive beauty? Did he even ask for my permission?

Grand Tutor Gu ignored him and strode toward the exit, only to be blocked by the Bandit Leader again.

“Hey! Can’t you understand plain talk? Put the little beauty down for me!” the Bandit Leader barked, turning to Xiao Yi. “Grandma, this old geezer doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

“Let them go,” Xiao Yi said.

“Aye, sure thing!” The Bandit Leader replied. But when he realized what Xiao Yi had said, he stared in disbelief. “Wait, Grandma, what did you say? Let them go? How can we let them go? He’s taking your little beauty with him!”

This old geezer was taking Xiao Yi’s little beauty away! Where would he ever find another girl as stunning as her? If he failed, he’d be the one to suffer the consequences!

“That’s her father!”

“Huh???”

“Let them go!”

“Sigh, fine!” The Bandit Leader waved his hand dismissively, like swatting a fly. “Scram! Get out of here! Or I’ll kick you out myself!”

After the group had left, the Bandit Leader trembled as he stole a glance at Xiao Yi. Seeing her dark expression, he cautiously asked, “G-Grandma, should I go find you another beauty?”

“No need. Bring out everything I brought here!”

The Bandit Leader blinked in confusion, his eyes widening. “Grandma, didn’t you say you were rewarding us?”

What’s with taking it back now? he thought. Xiao Yi can’t be that stingy, right?

Xiao Yi rubbed her temples. Bandits will always be bandits—brainless fools. “Who do you think that old man was? Grand Tutor Gu! I stole those things from Prince Jin. If Grand Tutor Gu knows, it’s as good as Prince Jin knowing.”

“But Prince Jin doesn’t know we stole his stuff!”

“Hmph, he’s not an idiot. He’ll figure it out tonight. After all, I brazenly dragged everything straight to your Clearwind Stronghold.” Xiao Yi rolled her eyes. In the Capital, everyone had eight hundred schemes brewing in their minds. Finding out would be a piece of cake!

“Then what do we do?”

“Not only will Prince Jin’s Manor come for us, but government officials will be here soon too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve kidnapped Grand Tutor Ruo Zhenbao’s precious daughter. He’ll definitely report this to the Emperor, and this won’t end there. The Emperor will send troops to capture me! Prince Jin’s Manor will use this as an excuse to search for their lost goods!”

“Ha! We’re going head-to-head with the imperial court now!”

“What? Are you scared? If you’re afraid of this, what kind of bandit are you?”

“I am a little scared. What does being a bandit have to do with fearing the court? Even江湖 forces fear the court, not just bandits!” It wasn’t like she was the only one who was afraid.

“What’s there to fear? Grandma’s here, isn’t she? Alright, relax. Grandma won’t let your Clearwind Stronghold be implicated. I’ll protect it, since it’ll be useful later. From today onward, Grandma is the leader of your Clearwind Stronghold!”

“Ah, really???” Before Xiao Yi could respond, the Bandit Leader hastily clasped his fists. “Then this humble one thanks Grandma!”

Xiao Yi…

“I’m not saying this is permanent. Just for this period, Grandma will act as your Clearwind Stronghold’s leader to help you weather this crisis!”

Though slightly disappointed, Xiao Yi nodded in agreement. “Alright, alright!”

After the Bandit Leader agreed, he left the room. Xiao Yi gazed at the empty chamber, feeling a strange sense of unease.

She chuckled bitterly. What’s wrong with me? Haven’t I always been alone? Why do I suddenly feel so out of place? Sigh!

In the following weeks, Xiao Yi led Clearwind Stronghold, robbing the rich under the guise of helping the poor. They plundered vast amounts of wealth and even abducted numerous people.

The surrounding villagers seethed with hatred, yet remained powerless to stop them.

One day, after returning from another “good deed,” Xiao Yi strolled through Clearwind Stronghold. Her eyes fell upon four figures approaching, their faces completely concealed. Intrigued, she called out to them, “You’re not young maidens—why the elaborate disguise?”

The four figures didn’t dare utter a word, darting sideways to avoid her.

Their evasiveness only fueled Xiao Yi’s curiosity. “Are you going to remove those yourselves, or should Grandma do the honors?”

Trembling, the four figures hastily knelt on the ground, pulling down the cloths covering their faces.

“Little… little… little ones! We’ve seen the Big Boss!”

“Oh, it’s you lot! Well, I never thought I’d see the day. You look quite healthy, I must say.”

Xiao Yi placed a hand on one of their shoulders. “Stop trembling! What are you shaking for? I’m not going to eat you!”

She scrutinized the four men from head to toe, front and back. Just when they thought she was about to punish them, she said, “It’s good you’re out. Look at you, all full of vigor!”

Is this woman blind? the four men thought. Which eye sees us full of vigor? We’re clearly terrified of her!

“Come, come, come! I have a task for you to carry out.”

The four men trembled. “Big… Big Boss! We know we’ve wronged you! Please spare us!”

“Spare you? Spare my ass! All I’m asking you to do is feed the pigs, and you’re whining like babies. It’s just feeding the pigs!”

“Feed the pigs…?” Is that really all she wants us to do?