"Stop right there!" As Song Yan Ning and her companions were studying the map, a sharp shout came from outside.
Lifting the curtain, they saw several bandits, with the leader staring fiercely at them.
"Leave those dim-witted thieves to me," Yun Mo said with a chuckle as he hopped off the chariot. He hadn’t stretched his limbs for a long while and this was a good opportunity to loosen up with these petty bandits.
The leader took a glance at Yun Mo and sneered dismissively, "Hand over your belongings, or I won’t show mercy with my broadsword," brandishing the weapon in his hand.
Yun Mo stepped forward, "Then try showing no mercy."
The bandit leader let out a cold laugh, "Fine! Then taste my blade." This was the first time he’d encountered someone so arrogantly inviting him to attack.
"Crack!" The broadsword broke with a chop.
The leader stood there dumbly, looking at the broken broadsword in his hand, swallowing fearfully, "We were just kidding..." He was worldly enough to understand that if the other party could snap his broadsword in one go, their strength was formidable.
"Boss, I know who they are," one bandit whispered to the leader.
"Who?" The leader also wanted to know whom he had offended.
"They’re the two people wanted by the City Lord of Yunlan City." He had recognized Song Yan Ning and Qin Yushen upon seeing them.
"Why didn’t you say so earlier, we misunderstood, misunderstood. We’ll leave right now," hurried the leader, wanting to back away. If the other party wasn’t even afraid of someone as strong as the City Lord of Yunlan City, why would they fear a mere bandit like him?
"Did I say you could leave?" asked Yun Mo languidly.
"Big boss, we realize our mistake, please let us go this time," the leader regretted to his very core.
"You can go, but there is the matter of compensating us for economic losses and delay," Yun Mo stretched out his hand.
The bandits wore a pained face as they handed a money bag over to Yun Mo. All the profits from their morning’s hard work were gone, and it hurt.
Yun Mo took the money bag and glanced inside, "Not enough."
The bandit was about to cry. How could this person be even more of a bandit than they were?
Seeing no response from the bandit, Yun Mo lifted his foot and kicked.
The bandit was sent flying with a kick.
The other bandits trembled with fear but dared not express their anger.
"Are you going to give it or not?" Yun Mo walked over to the bandit, looking down at him imperiously. They needed a significant amount of money to use the transmission array to Lingyue City, and since money was being offered to them now, why wouldn’t he take it?
"I’ll give, I’ll give, but I don’t have that much on me," whined the leader, starting to cry.
Yun Mo snickered with a grin, "No worries, we’ll go with you to your home to get it."
"Ah?" Like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, the bandit felt a chill from head to toe.
"Brother Mo is still so sinister," chuckled Song Yan Ning. Remembering the childhood friends Yun Mo had tricked, a touch of nostalgia flickered in her eyes.
Qin Yushen wrapped his arm around Song Yan Ning and murmured in her ear, "From now on, call him Yun Mo." Every time he heard Xiao Ning call Yun Mo "Brother Mo," his heart felt a little sour. He had known Xiao Ning for so many years, and she always called him Qin Yushen, whereas she addressed Yun Mo so intimately.
"Why?" Song Yan Ning looked at Qin Yushen. In her heart, Yun Mo was her brother, and there was nothing wrong with calling him that.
"I’m jealous!" Qin Yushen muttered.
"Pfft!" Song Yan Ning couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She found Qin Yushen in this state quite adorable.
Qin Yushen’s face heated up, his ears turning slightly red, "If you keep laughing, I’m going to kiss you."
"I’ve stopped laughing, haha... I’ve really stopped..." Song Yan Ning tried to hold back her laughter, but the corners of her mouth still curved up.
Qin Yushen helplessly and affectionately tapped Song Yan Ning’s nose, "I’m at a loss with you, from now on call me Yushen, or just Shen." He didn’t want there to be any sense of distance between them.