Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 89

Chapter 89

“Get lost, or I won’t be polite,” Ye Qing said as she took out her crossbow bolts.

She aimed the crossbow in her hand at the bearded man, who had never seen such a thing and mocked Ye Qing, saying, “Pretty boy, I advise you to obediently get off the carriage. Your few people are not enough for us to fight.”

Ye Qing ignored him. She pulled the trigger with her right hand, and the crossbow bolt shot out with a whoosh. The next moment, the bearded man let out a scream.

An arrow from Ye Qing struck his chest directly. The bearded man, not expecting Ye Qing to act so quickly, felt a sharp pain in his chest and spat out a mouthful of bl00d.

The others, seeing Ye Qing’s ferocity, scattered and fled, leaving the bearded man behind.

Ye Qing continued pulling the trigger, and the crossbow bolts shot out with a whoosh, hitting three more people who fell to the ground. The rest escaped completely.

Such trash only bullied the weak and deserved to pay a price. In ancient times, with no surveillance, Ye Qing felt no pressure killing these scums.

Song Zhao jumped off the carriage, pulled the arrows from the four bodies, wiped them clean with a rag, and returned them to Ye Qing.

“Let’s go. Don’t delay our journey,” Ye Qing said, ignoring the bodies on the ground, and drove the carriage away.

The few who had just escaped were terrified. After Ye Qing’s carriage went far, those hiding in the nearby woods ran out again.

“Big Brother, what do we do now? Four brothers died just like that,” one said.

“What can we do? Drag the bodies aside and report to the officials. Hurry and report,” the man called Big Brother replied.

However, Big Brother knew reporting to the officials was futile. The local constables moved slowly, and by the time they investigated, the female Qianyuan and her group would be long gone. The case would likely end with the bodies taken back to town.

Ye Qing and her group were not much affected and continued north. The two horses ran quickly, and the roads were good now, unlike before when refugees crowded the paths, making fast travel impossible.

Near noon, Ye Qing and her group stopped the carriage by the roadside. Jiang Jinhuang, holding the little one, got off the carriage.

The group spread a bedsheet on the ground and sat to eat the sauced beef and pastries Ye Qing bought that morning.

The little one held a pastry in her left hand and sauced beef in her right, eating heartily while dropping crumbs.

Ye Qing, also hungry, ate three pastries and felt slightly better.

While the three ate lunch, a few ragged people, looking like beggars, walked south on the main road.

Ye Qing glanced at them and looked away, continuing to eat the sauced beef wrapped in oil paper. Then, she heard one of the beggar-like people shout toward them from nearby.

“Benefactor? Benefactor, do you remember me?” the people said, walking toward Ye Qing’s group.

Ye Qing, holding a long knife, stood up warily. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had heard it, having met too many people and events on this journey.

When the man approached, Ye Qing still didn’t recognize his face.

Seeing Ye Qing didn’t recognize him, the man rubbed the dirt off his face vigorously and said, “It’s me, Benefactor, Zhou Mancang.”

Ye Qing then recognized the man’s appearance, though he looked too disheveled. His cotton clothes were tattered, and his face and body were covered in dirt, worse than the beggars in town.

Looking behind him, Ye Qing saw Zhou Mancang’s wife, daughter, and son, but his youngest son was missing.

“How did you end up like this?” Ye Qing asked. Fearing pursuit by men in black, her group had ridden fast, leaving Zhou Mancang’s family behind, and she hadn’t expected to see them here.

“And where is your youngest son?” Ye Qing continued asking.

Zhou Mancang, as if wronged, began wiping tears and said, “Benefactor, we followed you at first, but you had horses and moved too fast. We couldn’t keep up. Later, our food ran out, so we killed our donkey to eat. But that attracted all the nearby refugees. We didn’t get any donkey meat; they took it all and nearly killed us. My youngest son was trampled to death by those rushing to grab the meat.”

At this point, Zhou Mancang cried profusely. He took a breath and continued, “Shilong, trying to save his brother, had his right arm broken in the chaos, and it still hasn’t healed. Later, we survived by eating tree roots and clay. Then, the court set up porridge stalls, and we ate sparingly, managing not to starve. We’re now heading south to find a way out.”

Ye Qing nodded and said, “Raozhou City is not far. If you walk, you’ll reach it in four or five days. It wasn’t hit by disaster, and everything is fine there. Try to settle in Raozhou.”

“Benefactor, where are you headed?” Zhou Mancang asked.

“We’re going north to the capital. The disaster situation is under control now, and the roads north are less dangerous,” Ye Qing replied.

She waved at Zhou Shilong, who wiped the dirt off his face with his remaining arm and said, “Benefactor, what do you need?”

Ye Qing pinched Zhou Shilong’s broken arm, causing him to nearly cry from pain. Ye Qing frowned and said, “Some parts of your arm have healed improperly. It may need to be rebroken and reset later.”

“What?” Zhou Shilong said, nearly breaking down.

Ye Qing went to the carriage, actually taking a pack of flatbreads and twenty taels of silver from her space.

Holding the items, Ye Qing walked to Zhou Mancang, sighed, and said, “This bundle has a dozen flatbreads, enough for your journey. Take these twenty taels of silver, too. When you reach Raozhou, find a good doctor to reset your son’s bones. The rest should help you settle there temporarily. Keep it safe.”

Zhou Mancang knelt before Ye Qing, crying with snot and tears, and said, “Thank you, Benefactor. You’ve saved our family again. If I make something of myself, I’ll go to the capital to repay your great kindness.”

Ye Qing pulled him up and said, “I don’t seek repayment. Just live well and keep the silver safe so it’s not stolen again.”

“Yes, yes,” Zhou Mancang’s family said, sobbing uncontrollably.

They had thought they’d have to beg in the south, barely surviving, let alone treating their son’s injury. Unexpectedly, they now had hope.

Ye Qing and her group finished eating. She looked at Zhou Mancang’s family and said, “We must go now. Take care.”

“Don’t worry, Benefactor. Once we reach Raozhou, we’ll make something of ourselves,” Zhou Mancang said, crying.

Ye Qing nodded to them, and her group got back on the carriage, heading north.

Zhou Mancang’s family stared at Ye Qing’s departing carriage until it vanished from sight. Zhou Mancang then came to his senses.

“Let’s go. If we don’t make something of ourselves, we’ll let our benefactor down,” he said.

Meeting Zhou Mancang’s family was a small interlude. Ye Qing’s group continued their journey. In the afternoon, the little one, tired, slept with Jiang Jinhuang in the carriage.

The weather outside was nice. Ye Qing and Song Zhao chatted while driving, occasionally meeting other travelers.

At night, they camped in the wild, as the nearest town was far from the road, and Ye Qing didn’t want to waste time. She wanted to get Jiang Jinhuang to the capital soon so she could use the remaining time for her own plans.

She now cared less about favorability and didn’t want to force Jiang Jinhuang. With only a little over a year left, she wanted to enjoy the world’s delights before dying. This journey had already taken over half a year.

At night, while Ye Qing kept watch, Jiang Jinhuang felt their current routine wasn’t working. They rushed during the day and rested at night, leaving no time alone with Ye Qing. The faster they traveled, the more anxious Jiang Jinhuang felt, yet she couldn’t find a reason to slow down.

Days passed, and ten days later, Ye Qing’s group reached Xiangzhou’s territory. In another ten days, they’d be back in Linzhou.

That evening, they hurried and entered Xiangzhou City before the gates closed.

Though not as prosperous as before, Xiangzhou City had recovered. Refugees passed through, but vendors lined the streets, making it lively.

Ye Qing’s group found a decent inn to stay at. After getting off the carriage, they went to the inn’s hall, which was bustling with people eating and drinking.

Ye Qing’s group sat in a quiet spot. The waiter brought a menu immediately.

Ye Qing, starving, didn’t look at the menu and said, “Bring your signature dishes, plenty for four people, and some soup.”

“Alright, sir. Any drinks?” the waiter asked.

Ye Qing shook her head and said, “No drinks. Is it always this lively here at night?”

“Not always. It’s lively these days because tomorrow is the Flower Festival. In spring, flowers bloom, and there’ll be street performances. At night, near the lake, it’s even livelier. Young people come out to float river lanterns, seeking the Flower God’s blessings. You’ve come at a good time,” the waiter said, smiling.

“Good, thanks. Tell the kitchen to hurry. We’re hungry,” Ye Qing said, giving the waiter five copper coins.

The waiter smiled and said, “Right away, sir. Please wait a moment.”