Upon hearing this, Sun Shi immediately flared up.
"Why?" she demanded, stretching her slender neck, her voice sharp and piercing. "Just because that ugly woman saved you, does that give you the right to abuse your power for personal gain?"
"So what if I'm abusing my power for personal gain? Got a problem with that?"Hu Dahai retorted, hands on his hips, looking at her with a provocative expression."
Having been responsible for escorting prisoners for years, this was the first time he had encountered such a difficult group.
Clearly, they were already fallen pheasants, yet they still thought of themselves as high and mighty phoenixes!
Sun Shi was equally furious.
"Of course I have a problem!"she snapped, turning abruptly to incite the others." "We're all exiles here. Why should there be different classes among us? Why should she get special treatment?"
"Some people shouldn't think they're so great just because they're Yamen runners. If you really push us, we won't move another step."
"Then you won't be able to reach the Great Northwest within the stipulated time. Let's see how you explain that to your superiors!"
After being driven like dogs by these Yamen runners for days, everyone had already been nursing grievances.
Hearing these words now, their anger flared up even more.
"That's right! We're not going anywhere. Go ahead and kill us if you dare!"
Following this, everyone sat down and refused to move.
They wanted the same treatment as Shen Wan—they also wanted free wheat pancakes for every meal!
Seeing the group of exiles daring to rebel, the Yamen runners' expressions changed.
If they failed to reach the exile destination within the specified time, according to regulations, they would face severe punishment.
Their leader was really being unreasonable. Why go against everyone for the sake of an ugly woman?
There were many ways to repay a favor; it didn't have to involve going to the market.
"You think I don't dare to take action?" Hu Dahai immediately grew enraged, directly drawing his gleaming broadsword from his waist. "The journey from the capital to the Great Northwest is long and requires passing through the Poisonous Miasma Forest. It's perfectly normal for a few people to die along the way."
"Come on, which of you wants to test how sharp my blade is first?"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, his broadsword swung straight toward a woman's head.
"I'll go! I'll go right away!"
The woman was scared out of her wits, and a warm liquid gushed down her legs.
Instantly, the stifling air was filled with the strong smell of urine.
Hu Dahai sneered coldly, then pointed his broadsword at a man's head. "What about you?"
"I'll go too!" the man nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, stammering, "I promise I won't hold anyone back."
Hu Dahai nodded with satisfaction, finally fixing his gaze on Sun Shi.
"I'll go… I'll definitely go!" Before he could even ask, Sun Shi hurriedly said, terrified.
Hu Dahai sneered, not even attempting to hide the contempt in his eyes. "Still want to go to the market?"
"No, no! I won't go anywhere!" Sun Shi said hastily, her face pale.
Hu Dahai curled his lips and finally sheathed his long blade. "At least you know what's good for you."
"I'm letting Sister Shen go to the market because she's skilled in medicine. I need her to buy some medicine."
"You said I have ulterior motives—that's true."
Upon hearing this, Sun Shi immediately fawned like a dog. "No, no, you're doing this for our own good."
"If anything happens to your health, what would we do on the journey?"
Watching her servile and obsequious demeanor, Shen Wan couldn't help but feel a wave of disdain.
The dignity of the prestigious Guo Gong Fu had been completely tarnished by this woman.
"Are you going?" Xie Mubai stared at her, asking impassively.
Shen Wan nodded: "These herbs I gathered will rot if I don't sell them soon."
"Once we have the money, our journey won't be so difficult."
Hearing this, a complex emotion flashed in Xie Mubai's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Shen Wan asked, somewhat surprised. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Xie Mubai extended his large hand, completely enveloping her thin, small dark hand.
Her hand was so small and soft, barely larger than a child's.
Shen Wan was startled by the sudden gesture from the main antagonist.
Just as she was about to pull back, a cool object dropped into her palm.
"This is for you." Xie Mubai smiled faintly and withdrew his large hand.
Looking down, Shen Wan saw an exquisitely crafted jade belt hook resting in her palm.
During the house confiscation, Huang Gonggong had turned Zhen Guo Gong Fu upside down, yet overlooked Xie Mubai lying on the stretcher.
Truthfully, he didn't have much on him—only the jade belt hook from his waistband held any value.
What did the main antagonist mean by this? Did he want her to buy something for him?
As Shen Wan was about to ask, Xie Mubai straightened up and said calmly, "Hurry and eat. Don't keep the yamen runners waiting too long."
Shen Wan didn't understand his meaning, but she didn't dwell on it. After all, not everyone could comprehend the thoughts of the main antagonist.
After the meal, she administered Xie Mubai's medicine, carried him to the cart, and then departed with Hu Dahai and the others.
Watching her receding figure, Xie Mubai felt an emptiness in his heart, as if he had lost something important. He didn't even hear the yamen runner speaking to him.
While he was in low spirits, Shen Wan was quite cheerful.
This was her first time visiting the market since arriving here.
Although the town was poor, it was crowded and bustling.
There were vendors selling sugar figurines, red bean cakes, and various fresh fruits and vegetables.
Shen Wan first accompanied Hu Dahai to purchase several doses of medicine, then sold the herbs she had brought.
Roadside herbs weren't worth much, so she discreetly added some medicinal plants from her Space, managing to earn a modest sum!
Handing the medicine over, Shen Wan smiled and said, "This is the medicine from the prescription. Make sure to take it regularly from now on."
"Little sister, could you do me a favor?" Hu Dahai accepted the medicine, smiling as he handed over a piece of paper and some silver fragments. "I don't understand women's necessities. Could you help me buy them?"
"I need to get other things too. Let's meet back at this pharmacy later, alright?"
Seeing his bright smile, Shen Wan seemed to understand something.
"Alright!" She took the money pouch, smiling as she bid Hu Dahai farewell.
Watching her walk away, a yamen runner looked at Hu Dahai with concern: "Boss, what if that woman doesn't come back?"
Hu Dahai's smile faded, his expression turning serious.
The yamen runner suddenly understood.
So, the boss intended to give this woman a way out!
"Then why not bring Xie Mubai along too?" he asked, somewhat confused.
Hu Dahai shot him a glare and scolded irritably, "Have you forgotten his family name?"
The yamen runner slapped his forehead, finally realizing.
This exile was all because of Zhen Guo Gong Fu. If Xie Mubai, the principal offender, escaped, would they still have their lives to report back?
Shen Wan was different—as a woman, even if she ran away, she wouldn't cause much trouble.
If the authorities were to investigate, they could easily fabricate an excuse to get away with it.
"Let's go," Hu Dahai turned around and said coldly, "Hurry up and buy what we need so we can get back on the road as soon as possible."
The Yamen runner laughed and said, "What's the rush? There's still plenty of time."
"What do you mean, what's the rush?" Hu Dahai snapped impatiently, "If we don't hurry, that woman might catch up to us!"
He could tell that this ugly woman cared deeply about the Shizi from the Guo Gong Fu.
If they didn't shake her off, she probably wouldn't leave on her own.
The journey of exile was already harsh, and to make matters worse, the Shizi treated her with indifference.
Leaving might be the best choice for her.
After hastily finishing their shopping, the two took a shortcut and caught up with the group.
Seeing Hu Dahai return, Xie Mubai instinctively glanced behind them.
Sure enough, the ugly woman wasn't there.
Although he had already anticipated this outcome, for some reason, his heart ached faintly.
But he didn't regret it.
She hadn't been able to cure his leg, and he hadn't been able to protect her for a lifetime. This was for the best.
When the Yamen runner returned, the prisoners crowded around to collect the items they had asked him to buy.
Sun Shi had bought some fabric, intending to make a change of clothes.
She didn't know how to sew, so the task naturally fell to her sisters-in-law—after all, they couldn't just freeload off her flatbread for nothing!
"Hey, where's Shen Wan?" She looked up but didn't see the ugly woman, and her eyes lit up. "Did she run away?"