How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 226 Encountering Human Traffickers Again

Qingru took a nap, but it wasn't very restful. Because of the rain, the air was very humid and stuffy, so Qingru opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Looking down, I caught a pair of downcast eyes.

Was he watching her the whole time? Qingru was startled. Yes, he hadn't been watching her the whole time. Why did he suddenly avert his gaze?

Qingru got up and drank a glass of water. The injured man, whether unconscious or asleep, was lying on the bed snoring loudly.

Guo Zixing covered his ears in frustration. Qingru asked him, "Where's my brother?"

Seeing that Qingru had woken up, Guo Zixing moved closer to her and said, "Your brother went to hire a carriage. He said he couldn't wait a moment longer and needed to return to the city immediately to feel at ease."

Qingru wholeheartedly agreed, "That makes sense. I was looking out the window just now, and someone was watching us the whole time. Who knows who it is? Maybe they're a human trafficker who hasn't been caught yet?"

Guo Zixing noticed that she mentioned human traffickers several times and seemed quite wary in her words, so he couldn't help but ask, "Really? There are human traffickers here, so close to Sifang City?"

Qingru sighed, "That's the cleverness of that group. They're blind to what's right under your nose. You just don't remember that you personally apprehended them, and the process was quite thrilling. You don't know that the human traffickers have another hideout. There are children bought by families in the surrounding area who are in cahoots with the traffickers and vouch for each other, so it's normal for some to slip through the net. You can't wipe out people like that in one go."

Guo Zixing had no recollection of ever having done such a thing. “You’re so capable, and you’re a woman, you must be highly valued, right?”

Qingru glanced at Guo Zixing with a complicated expression. How could she explain their relationship? Before her amnesia, they had just confirmed their feelings for each other and were lovers.

Thinking that he had already had a relationship with Yuan Yue'e, Qingru felt resentful. "He's alright, I guess. He trusts me quite a bit."

Guo Zixing couldn't understand why Qingru was suddenly unhappy. He did feel a genuine sense of closeness to Qingru, a feeling he hadn't experienced with Jiang Shen.

Could it be someone close to me, someone I have a very intimate relationship with?

But seeing Qingru's decisive and efficient manner, Guo Zixing became uncertain again.

Fortunately, he didn't hesitate for long before Jiang Shen pushed open the door and entered. "Let's go, the car is all set up. We'll be at Sifang City in less than an hour."

Qingru breathed a sigh of relief. Facing Guo Zixing now only made her feel suffocated. It was more comfortable to escape.

They all got into the car, and the honest, impoverished driver was extremely grateful. He accepted a small fee and treated the group as if they were gods descended from heaven. The man also shamelessly got into the car with them, but as he said, since they were already involved, they couldn't completely sever ties.

Besides, we'll be returning to Sifang City soon, so there's nothing to be afraid of anymore.

Qingru was filled with anxiety and worry. Fortunately, they were almost at the city gate, and nothing happened along the way.

Qingru was finally able to relax a little.

As they were about to get off the carriage, the driver showered them with auspicious words, each one different: "Young master and young lady, may you make a fortune! Young master and young lady, you are such kind people! You made me drive this carriage once, which means my whole family has had a full meal again and you have saved my whole family's lives. I kowtow to you to thank you for your great kindness."

The man kicked the driver up and said with a smile, "Fellow villager, no need to be so polite. We're just doing business, we don't owe each other anything."

The coachman readily agreed, saying, "What you say is true, sir. May you make a fortune and live a long and healthy life."

As he spoke, he went to untie the horse's reins. He peeked at the queue to enter the city, his face a mixture of envy and worry. "This city is so nice. I wish I could go in too."

Qingru happened to overhear the driver's rambling and couldn't help but say, "What's wrong with that? Go if you want. We've known each other for a while now. If you have any trouble, we can help you."

The driver, seizing the opportunity, asked with shining eyes, "Miss, are you serious?"

Qingru was taken aback. Her casual remark had actually gotten her so attached to the other person. However, after being busy for so many days, she was about to go home, so she readily agreed, "I'm happy today, so it's really true."

The driver was about to speak when he suddenly became shy. "Miss, could you help me buy some medicine? My wife needs it, but I can't afford it."

Qingru readily agreed, "Just tell me what medicine you want?"

The driver hesitated, seemingly embarrassed, "Could you come over here for a moment? There are so many people here, I'm too embarrassed to say it."

Qingru found it amusing, then looked at Jiang Shen, who was walking towards the city guards. Thinking that it wouldn't hurt to say a few words, she first told Guo Zixing, "Wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Seeing that they were about to enter the city and that there was probably no danger, Guo Zixing nodded and said, "Go ahead. If it's too difficult for you, you don't have to agree."

The man had a meaningful look on his face, but it was hidden by his beard, so his expression was impossible to read.

Qingru followed the driver to the side of the carriage. Seeing that no one was around, she asked, "Just tell me."

The driver suddenly looked up, his usually honest face now displaying an inappropriate shrewdness. "I need a medicine that can bring the dead back to life. Does Miss Lü have any?"

Qingru sensed something was wrong and was about to leave when everything went black and she fainted.

The man kept his eyes on the driver, only noticing that the carriage swayed twice before returning to calm.

Jiang Shen had finished negotiating and excitedly arrived with the city guards. Upon seeing Guo Zixing, his eyes lit up immediately, "Young Master, you're finally back!"

"We've already called the commander-in-chief; he'll be there soon."

Although Guo Zixing didn't remember them, he was inexplicably excited. "Okay, let's go back right away."

Jiang Shen looked around, "Where's Qingru? Why isn't she here?"

The man chuckled at the opportune moment, "You guys go back, I'm going to rescue Qingru."

Jiang Shenzhenche: "What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'save her'?"

Guo Zixing also looked confused. "Didn't she go to talk to the coachman?"

Sensing something was wrong, he led his men to the carriage. When the curtain was lifted, the carriage was empty; the coachman and Qingru were nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Shen was furious. "You said you were going to save her, so you just watched her disappear? Why didn't you say so earlier? With so many of us, would you let a coachman and someone disappear?"

The man was confident. "I noticed in town that someone was always watching her. It seems it wasn't a sudden idea, but rather someone who's been observing for a long time. If we don't use this method, how can we lure out the person behind it? You can't guard against a thief for a thousand days if you're already doing it."

Jiang Shen threw a punch, "Bastard, there are so many of us, do you even know who I am? I will never let her fall into danger."

The man took the punch head-on, spitting out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva. "Don't worry, I will definitely bring her back safely."

Jiang Shen was furious. "Do you know how important a girl's innocence is? Those human traffickers and Qingru are mortal enemies. Because of your negligence, she might have been saved alive, but what about her innocence? Even if I don't care, what will the world think of her? Why should she suffer such an undeserved disaster?"

The man then said anxiously, "Come on, I've marked Qingru, they can't get far."

Just as the two were about to run away with their men, Guo Zixing lagged behind. Jiang Shen thought for a moment and said, "You don't need to go. We were going to bring you back anyway. If you run away again, where will we find you? You should go back and tell the commander to think of a solution. We'll go first, and you'll be in charge of the backup."

Guo Zixing stopped in his tracks. This arrangement seemed to be the best possible one, but why did his heart suddenly clench?

"Okay, you guys go quickly, don't delay any longer."

Jiang Shen ordered five city guards to leave, while Guo Zixing remained where he was and ordered the city gates to be closed.

Before long, clouds of dust billowed at the city gate, the dust kicked up by the running troops.

Guo Zixing looked at the leader on horseback, a figure both familiar and unfamiliar. He and the man looked somewhat alike, but the man was more imposing and domineering, his eyes and brows exuding the aura of a decisive and ruthless ruler.

Is this the kind of person his father?