Chapter 45: I Know Who He Is!

Ning Yaxin had yet to recover from her fright, and timidly asked, “Who… who are you?”

“Miss Ning, I am a friend of your younger brother, Master Ning,” came the voice from outside—it was Xu Mo.

“You’re Yongqiang’s friend?” Ning Yaxin’s anxiety eased considerably.

Ling’er, upon hearing this, immediately stopped crying and, tearfully, said, “Miss, that’s wonderful! He’s the young master’s friend—we’re saved!”

Ning Yaxin nodded and let out a long, quiet breath of relief.

At that moment, Xu Mo asked, “Miss Ning, aren’t you coming out? It truly is safe now.”

Only then did Ning Yaxin and Ling’er slowly open the carriage door, bend down, and climb out.

As Ning Yaxin emerged and looked up, her eyes met Xu Mo’s, and for a moment, they simply gazed at each other.

At first sight, Xu Mo was struck by Ning Yaxin’s cool elegance and striking beauty, finding himself unable to look away.

Ning Yaxin, feeling shy, quickly lowered her gaze to avoid his eyes.

Ling’er noticed Xu Mo staring at her mistress, and hastily stepped between them, using her body as a barrier.

Xu Mo snapped out of his daze, realizing his lapse in manners, and hurriedly changed the subject, “Miss Ning, are you both unharmed?”

Though Ning Yaxin was somewhat displeased by his rudeness, she couldn’t say anything at this moment—after all, he had just saved them.

She replied, “Thank you for your concern, sir. We’ve not been injured, only badly frightened. We’ll recover soon enough.”

Relieved to see they were safe, Xu Mo nodded and turned to ask Qin Mutou, “Mutou, how are their injuries?”

Qin Mutou was tending to an injured servant and immediately replied, “Master, the three of them are hurt rather badly. They’re in no condition to walk on their own.”

Ning Yaxin quickly went to check on the coachman and the two other servants, finding Qin Mutou’s assessment to be accurate.

Xu Mo then suggested that Ning Yaxin and her group accompany him back to Gushan Village for the night, and that it would be best to notify her family in the city the next day to come fetch them.

Ning Yaxin found his suggestion sensible, especially since she had business in Gushan Village herself, and agreed readily.

Soon, Xu Mo and his companions carried the three wounded onto the mule cart and untied the Ning family’s horses.

Since the horses were also injured and unable to pull the carriage, they would have to be taken back to Gushan Village for treatment.

As for the overturned carriage, it would have to wait for the Ning family to come deal with it the next day.

Leaving the mountain pass, Xu Tieshu drove the mule cart with the wounded at the head of the group.

Ning Yaxin and Ling’er walked in the middle, speaking softly to each other as they went.

Qin Mutou, holding a horse in one hand and a staff in the other, walked behind Xu Mo at the rear.

After some distance, Ning Yaxin suddenly turned and asked, “By the way, sir, may I ask your name?”

Xu Mo replied, “I am Xu Mo.”

Ning Yaxin was taken aback—so he was Xu Mo!

Though startled, she kept her expression composed.

Ling’er, however, reacted differently; at the sound of Xu Mo’s name, her face filled with astonishment. “Miss, he’s…!” she began.

Ning Yaxin stopped Ling’er from finishing by quickly covering her mouth. “I know who he is! Must you react so strongly?” she whispered, frowning and gritting her teeth.

Ling’er nodded quickly, and only then did Ning Yaxin slowly release her hand.

Qin Mutou, walking beside Xu Mo, witnessed this and found it odd. He whispered, “Master, what’s going on with them?”

Xu Mo replied indifferently, “Mind your own business.”

“Oh,” Qin Mutou answered sheepishly.

In truth, Xu Mo understood at a glance—they had likely heard tales of his predecessor’s reputation, and were now meeting the man himself for the first time, explaining their reactions.

Qin Mutou then asked, “Master, do you think those bandits are dull-witted? We just caught one of them, and yet they dared strike again, and at the same spot no less!”

Xu Mo shook his head. “I can’t fathom their thinking, but I do understand why they chose this spot.”

“Why’s that, Master?” asked Qin Mutou.

Xu Mo said, “Tell me, aside from this mountain pass, is there any other place along this route suitable for an ambush?”

Qin Mutou immediately understood and nodded. “That’s right! Nowhere else is suitable but here.”

Ling’er, overhearing their conversation, clung to Ning Yaxin’s arm and whispered, “Miss, so it was they who caught that bandit… but I find it hard to believe.”

Ning Yaxin said, “Didn’t you hear the bandit yell, ‘It’s him again!’? Clearly, those bandits have suffered at their hands before. Why else would they flee at the sight of them, not even daring to fight, even though they outnumbered them?”

Ling’er nodded, finally convinced.

Now that she had regained her composure, Ning Yaxin turned to say, “Master Xu, we truly owe you for your help just now. When we return to Xincheng, the Ning family will certainly reward you handsomely!”

Xu Mo replied, “Miss Ning, there’s no need for such formality. I am a friend of your brother, and it is only right to assist a friend’s sister in trouble.”

Ning Yaxin insisted, “Even so, a reward is only proper! Otherwise, should word get out, I’d be the subject of much gossip.”

With that, she turned away, saying nothing more.

Her thought was, “You’re a degenerate gambler who’d even gamble away your own wife—I certainly won’t owe you a favor!”

The rest of the journey passed without further conversation between Ning Yaxin and Xu Mo.

Thus, it was near dusk when the party finally arrived at Gushan Village.

Upon entering the village, the first thing they did was bring the wounded to the village chief’s house.

When the chief learned that the visitors included the eldest daughter of the Ning family from Xincheng, he was immediately overwhelmed and quickly summoned the most respected elders in the village.

One elder, who had studied medicine for several years, took charge of treating the injured.

The wounded horses were also quickly handed over to the villagers for care.

The chief wanted to settle Ning Yaxin and Ling’er into their accommodations, but Ning Yaxin insisted on staying until the coachman and the two servants had their wounds tended.

While the wounds were being treated, Chen Miaoyi and Xu Hui arrived at the chief’s home.

Xu Hui, upon seeing her father and Xu Mo, anxiously asked, “Father, cousin, I heard you met bandits on the road. Are you both alright?”

She hurried to her father’s side, grasping his arm in concern.

Xu Tieshu shook his head and smiled. “Don’t worry, Huihui, we’re fine! See, here we are, safe and sound.”

Xu Hui looked over her father and Xu Mo, visibly relieved.

Chen Miaoyi approached Xu Mo, her voice full of anxiety. “Husband, I heard from the villagers someone was injured—and badly, too. I was so worried, I nearly died of fright.”

Xu Mo took her hand and smiled. “Don’t scare yourself, dear. With Mutou here, a master in his own right, how could anything happen to us?”

Qin Mutou, hearing Xu Mo’s praise, grinned sheepishly at the pair.

Just then, Chen Miaoyi noticed someone watching her and hurriedly withdrew her hand from Xu Mo’s, turning aside and lowering her head in embarrassment. “Husband, there are people… watching us…”

The ones watching were none other than Ning Yaxin and Ling’er.

“So this is Master Xu’s wife—an honor to meet you,” Ning Yaxin said, giving her a graceful salute.

Ling’er quickly followed suit, albeit reluctantly, but since her mistress had done so, she could hardly abstain.

Xu Mo promptly introduced them. “Dear, this is the eldest Miss of the Ning family, Master Ning’s own sister.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Ning,” Chen Miaoyi returned the salute, her posture graceful and dignified.