Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Ye Qing’s right hand was open, ready to grab her sword. Just then, someone in the refugee crowd shouted, “Someone’s trying to escape! Stronghold master, spare me, don’t feed me to the wolves. Someone among the refugees wants to run. I can tell you, I’ll tell you everything.”

As soon as the man spoke, a whip cracked down on him, followed by his screams.

A nearby bandit whipped him and cursed, “Who gave you the right to speak? I’ll whip you to death, damn it!”

The stronghold master stopped walking, and the richly dressed young man beside him paused too.

The master frowned at the man, intrigued. “Is that so? Wanting to escape our stronghold? That’s some guts. I’d like to see who’s trying to run.”

He walked back to the high platform, the young man following. The dozen burly bandits also lined up in the courtyard, staring down the refugees.

“Stop it,” the master ordered.

The lackey below immediately ceased whipping. The man who’d been lashed collapsed in pain.

The master stared coldly at him. “Speak. Who among you is trying to run? We’ll skin them and hang them at the stronghold gate.”

“Her, that female Qianyuan. Last night, she said she’d escape from here.” The man pointed directly at Ye Qing.

Ye Qing’s expression turned icy, her fists clenched. She had planned to act in the chaos, but now, with this idiot’s words, all eyes were on her. Acting now would be difficult.

“You want to escape? I’ll give you face, huh? I’ll whip you to death.” The bandit with the whip strode toward Ye Qing, lashing out.

Ye Qing caught the whip with one hand, gripping it tightly. The bandit yanked but couldn’t pull it free.

“Looking to die, stealing my whip?” Unable to retrieve it, the bandit drew his long sword.

Jiang Jinhuang watched Ye Qing nervously, unsure what to do.

Ye Qing locked eyes with the stronghold master, staring unflinchingly.

The master didn’t speak or stop the bandit from drawing his sword. He watched with interest, curious to see how Ye Qing would handle it.

The bandit’s sword swung at Ye Qing. She dodged to the side, grabbed his wrist with her left hand, and twisted hard. The sword clattered to the ground. Ye Qing’s right fist slammed into the bandit’s face, and with a muffled groan, he clutched his nose and fell.

“You dare fight back? What are you all standing there for? Get her!” Seventh Bro, who had dragged a man to death with his horse, shouted angrily.

The bandits rushed at Ye Qing like mad. She dodged a blade from the front, but felt a chill at her back—someone was stabbing at her from behind.

Ye Qing barely avoided the blade, spinning and punching the attacker’s face. Her right hand opened, thinking it was better to grab a sword and fight than be attacked from all sides. But just then, the richly dressed young man on the platform spoke.

“Stop it. Don’t hurt her.”

Seeing the bandits still moving, the stronghold master roared, “Didn’t you hear my son tell you to stop? Who’s looking to die?”

At his words, the seven or eight bandits around Ye Qing backed off, but they watched her warily, afraid she’d strike back.

The man who had snitched on Ye Qing—the same one who mocked her twice in the warehouse—saw her injure a bandit and shouted, “It’s her! That woman wants to escape. You saw it—she hurt your men!”

The master glanced at the man impatiently. “Someone shut him up.”

“Yes, sir.” Two bandits grabbed the man, twisting his arms behind him. Another slapped him repeatedly. Bl00d trickled from his mouth, and tears streamed down his face.

“No, it’s that woman who hurt your men! Why are you hitting me? You’ve got the wrong person!” he cried, still taking blows.

Soon, his face swelled like a pig’s head.

Ye Qing stood there, unflinching, staring at the master. She was ready to pull out her crossbow. If they truly meant to kill her, she’d shoot the master first.

The master laughed loudly from the platform. “Hahaha, a tough one, huh? Rare. We’ve robbed hundreds of merchants and refugees, and you’re the first to fight back. Your skills aren’t bad either.”

The young man beside him nodded with interest. “Indeed, she’s different. Interesting. But your face…”

The master glanced at the young man, seeing his interest in Ye Qing. “Someone get water. Let her clean her face.”

A lackey quickly ran off and returned with a bucket of clear water.

The master’s bald subordinate signaled the lackey, who promptly brought the water to Ye Qing.

Jiang Jinhuang, holding the little one tightly, pressed her lips together, worried for Ye Qing. These bandits killed without blinking.

Ye Qing thought for a moment. Even if she shot the master now, there were thirty or forty armed bandits around her. Escaping would be hard, let alone with Jiang Jinhuang and Yangyang.

After a brief hesitation, Ye Qing dipped her hand in the water and wiped the dirt from her face bit by bit. She didn’t dare bend over to wash with both hands, wary of a sneak attack.

As she cleaned, a refined yet slightly cold face emerged.

The master hadn’t expected Ye Qing to be so striking. He glanced at his son, whose eyes were fixed on her.

After a moment, the young man snapped out of it and pointed at Ye Qing. “Father, throw out the Qianyuan you sent to my room. I want her!”

The master grinned. “I think she’s better too. Not just good-looking, but gutsy, like one of our stronghold’s own.”

He looked at Ye Qing again. She met his gaze calmly.

The master grew more satisfied. Whether merchants or refugees, most would be on their knees, begging and crying by now. He’d never seen someone as composed as Ye Qing, which pleased him more.

“You’re lucky. My son’s taken a liking to you. Stay with him, and you won’t have to wander anymore. Our stronghold lacks nothing. No need to flee south to scrape by.”

As the master spoke, Jiang Jinhuang’s grip on Yangyang tightened, her lips pressed firmly together.

She and Ye Qing were already married, though they hadn’t registered in Linzhou City due to the chaos. Still, they were wed, and Ye Qing had tricked her into it. What would Ye Qing choose?

Despite their time together convincing Jiang Jinhuang that Ye Qing wouldn’t abandon them, her heart wavered. The situation was dire, and neither choice—staying or refusing—promised an easy path.

Ye Qing glanced at the master and the young man. “I’ll stay, but you must let my family go. I’m already married, and my wife and sister are here. If you agree to release them, I’ll stay.”

The master’s face darkened. “You dare make demands? You’re asking to die…”

“Father, agree to it. We’ve got plenty of Kunze in the stronghold. Letting two go doesn’t matter,” the young man said, looking at Ye Qing. “But you have to stay willingly.”

Ye Qing nodded calmly. “Of course. Though I’ve fallen on hard times, I’m still a scholar. A marriage needs proper preparation. If you think I’ll be tied up and dragged to your room like that male Qianyuan, I’d rather die now.”

Facing Ye Qing’s defiance, the young man laughed instead of getting angry. “Funny, I feel the same. I’ve studied since I was young too. We’ll have plenty to talk about.”

He turned to the master. “Father, agree. I also think it’s too rushed. We need two or three days to prepare properly.”

The master frowned at Ye Qing. “Since my son agrees, you’ll marry in three days. But your family stays until after the wedding.”

Ye Qing nodded. “Fine.”

She only wanted to buy time to scout the stronghold’s layout for an escape, so she used the wedding as an excuse.

“Your wife and sister—where are they?” the master asked.

Ye Qing pursed her lips, thinking. Hiding them or not, their situation was bad. If she hid them, it might be worse—especially since the master had said the remaining Kunze would be given to his lackeys.

But if she revealed them, Jiang Jinhuang’s striking looks would surely draw attention. Either choice was tough.

After a moment, Ye Qing pointed. “That’s my wife and sister, holding the child. I’m already letting them down by staying. Their safety must be guaranteed. For these three days, you must treat them well. If anything happens to them, I’d rather die here than comply.”

The master frowned, looking at Jiang Jinhuang holding the child. “No rush. Hmm, with your looks, your wife must be just as stunning, right?”

Ye Qing kicked out, snatching a long sword from a nearby bandit. “I said, let them go, and I’ll stay. But if you harm them, I’ll take as many of you down with me as I can before I die.”