Chapter 160: To Rescue or Not to Rescue

Because last night was peaceful, nothing happened.

During breakfast, Bai Tian was in a fairly good mood, chatting casually with Mu Hu.

As they talked, the conversation shifted to the Bai Family next door to Niantao Village and the connections between the Bai and Mu families.

With a “clatter,” the sound of chopsticks falling to the ground echoed beside Juanjuan.

The little one turned to look at her third brother.

Jiang Dai also glanced at her third son. “There’s a clean one here, use this for now.”

Bai Yun’an smiled, nodded, and accepted it, thanking his mother in the process. It seemed as if he had accidentally dropped his chopsticks.

But only he knew what had crossed his mind.

Niantao Village, Bei Lanfeng, Mu Family Army, Bai Family… It was as if a thread suddenly connected these words in his mind.

【How could I forget about that cousin from the Bai Family!】

【Really clever, with the guards here on alert, it’s actually better to head to the village and find that cousin from the Bai Family who’s also part of the Mu Family Army.】

【Both are from the Mu Family Army, one is unguarded, the other is on high alert. It’s easier to hide and retreat in the village. They probably reached near Niantao Village by the fourth watch¹ last night, and now it’s already the hour of the hare²…】

Juanjuan ate her meal in small bites, but her attention was entirely on her third brother.

It was the first time she’d heard her third brother speak so seriously and earnestly in his mind, with a hint of the stubborn determination Da Chui had when he missed catching grasshoppers.

Juanjuan found it hard to describe in words, but this version of her third brother was very different from before.

“Uncle Hu, is my cousin really that impressive? Why did he come back?”

Bai Yun’an’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, showing no signs of anything unusual. He even timed his question perfectly, just as they were discussing Bai Jiaxing.

“Your cousin is quite capable, mainly because he’s smart and quick-witted. But he got injured, so he was sent back to recover,” Mu Hu explained.

Bai Yun’an grew more interested, even forgetting to eat. “Then, can my cousin take on five of those bad guys from the other night?”

Juanjuan watched her third brother, starting to understand what he was trying to do.

Having listened to her third brother’s psychological lessons for over three months, most of her little tricks were learned from him. She hadn’t learned much yet, so she couldn’t compare to him.

But with the groundwork her third brother had laid, Juanjuan could see what he was performing.

Her third brother was trying to make their father, mother, second brother, and Uncle Mu Hu think that the bad guys might target their cousin from the Bai Family!

Mu Hu chuckled. “Your cousin isn’t that strong. Those people are elite.”

“Oh, as long as they’re not that strong,” Bai Yun’an nodded. “Last time, my second aunt said when my cousin comes back, he’ll teach us a lesson. Uncle Mu Hu, my cousin isn’t like that, right?”

“Of course not, but…” Mu Hu turned to Bai Tian and Jiang Dai. “How’s the relationship between your two families?”

“Not great. We split up and were kicked out,” Bai Tian replied with a smile.

Bai Yun’an: …

【Why hasn’t anyone figured this out yet? Is there anyone reliable in this group?】

【Should I make it clearer? But…】

“Will the bad guys bully my cousin?” A childish voice filled with curiosity rang out.

In that instant, almost everyone turned their gaze to the little Bai Family girl.

The almost five-year-old held her bowl, calmly taking a bite under their watchful eyes, looking at them with curiosity.

That sentence was just a child’s playful remark.

No one knew that beneath her calm exterior, the little one’s heart was pounding.

She even bit her tongue out of nervousness but managed to endure it.

Trying to emulate her third brother’s calm demeanor, she realized she couldn’t pull it off.

Especially as her ears grew hotter, likely turning red.

Attempting to act composed but still too naive, Juanjuan: …

Might as well just give up.

“Why… why are you all looking at me… Did I say something wrong…” The little one shrank back in fear, looking at her parents, brothers, and Uncle Mu Hu as if she were frightened by them.

Unexpectedly, this seemingly normal reaction dispelled the doubt that should have arisen in everyone’s hearts.

“You all continue eating. I’ll go find Lord Li.”

Mu Hu finally remembered something he had overlooked.

The scholar he encountered near Bai Jiaxing’s home now seemed to resemble someone from a wanted poster, thanks to the little girl’s reminder.

Watching Mu Hu leave in a hurry, Bai Yun’an’s gaze fell on his sister.

【Could this be… a connection of the hearts?】

What else could it be!

However, Bai Yun’an lowered his eyes slightly, contemplating his current state. It seemed he wasn’t in a “lie down and retire³” mode.

【Tsk, getting serious again. But since I’ve finally met someone interesting, might as well get involved a bit.】

Mu Hu arrived at the County Yamen⁴ to find Bai Family’s Second Sister-in-law already there, crying and kneeling on the ground.

Hearing movement behind her, Bai Family’s Second Sister-in-law turned and, seeing Mu Hu, rushed to him as if she had found her savior.

“Captain Mu, Captain Mu, please save Jiaxing.”

“A group of people broke into our home, took away Jiaxing’s father and my mother-in-law, and Jiaxing too.”

“In the middle of the night, they even had knives. Jiaxing’s father’s hand was chopped off!”

Bai Family’s Second Sister-in-law began to cry again, clutching Mu Hu’s arm desperately as if holding onto a lifeline.

Gradually, she felt something sticky in her palm and looked to see blood flowing down Mu Hu’s arm.

Mu Hu paid no mind to his arm’s injury, only comforting Bai Family’s Second Sister-in-law. “Alright, I’ll bring Jiaxing back.”

Why leave a Bai Family member alive?

Bei Lanfeng was waiting for Mu Hu to walk into the trap.

But how to rescue them?

Mu Hu didn’t know.

Yet he understood that not rescuing them now was the most rational choice.

“Lord Li, please take care of her. I need to go out and think of a plan.”

Mu Hu left the County Yamen, feeling somewhat defeated.

Just as he stepped out, he saw the Bai Tian family of six.

“We were worried about you, so we came to check,” Bai Tian explained quickly, glancing at his second son.

After all, his second son had also heard what Bai Family’s Second Sister-in-law said. Bai Jiaxing was originally his second son’s subordinate, so…

To rescue or not to rescue?

Translator’s Notes