Volume One, Chapter 19: Rescue

Brushing against Jiang Jinshu’s hair, she was startled and quickly grasped the carriage’s handrail.

“Caiping, be careful.”

A voice came from outside—the coachman.

“This isn’t good. It seems we’ve encountered bandits.”

The carriage jolted violently as the coachman nervously controlled the reins, steering toward a fork in the road.

“Madam, hold steady.”

Caiping’s face paled, her eyes anxiously searching Jiang Jinshu’s.

“Miss, what should we do?”

The carriage shook fiercely; Jiang Jinshu’s head had already struck the carriage several times.

“Hold on tight. Let’s see if we can shake them off. This is near the royal city; this is likely more than just bandits.”

Two more arrows suddenly flew in. Both Jiang Jinshu and Caiping crouched beneath the carriage seats.

Outside, the horses neighed wildly, the coachman shouted commands, and the carriage sped on, direction unknown.

Suddenly, the coachman cried out in alarm.

“Not good, the carriage is out of control...”

The carriage, like a runaway horse, charged uncontrollably toward a steep hillside.

Jiang Jinshu’s heart tightened; she gripped Caiping’s hand firmly.

“Jump from the carriage...”

At this critical moment, a masked man on a tall horse galloped swiftly from afar.

Drawing his slender sword, he slashed the sheath as it split apart, striking the carriage’s rear wheel. The carriage faltered, and the man seized the moment to leap onto his horse.

“Hoo...”

But the horse was already panic-stricken and wouldn’t stop.

A fierce glint appeared in the man’s eyes.

He drew a dagger from his waist and precisely plunged it into the horse’s neck. Warm blood splattered, staining his mask red.

The carriage collapsed under the impact of the falling horse.

Jiang Jinshu, Caiping, and the coachman were thrown out.

The man turned back, caught Jiang Jinshu, and carried her away from the wreckage.

Though shaken, she felt the steadiness of his arm and was somewhat reassured.

Instinctively, she grasped his wrist.

“Are you alright?”

His voice was deep and strong, muffled by the mask.

Jiang Jinshu shook her head slightly.

Feeling his pulse, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes—he seemed poisoned!

Yet, despite the poison, his martial skill remained formidable.

Caiping, injured on her face and body, limped over after picking herself up.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Seeing this, Jiang Jinshu quickly released her hand and helped Caiping.

“I’m fine. How about you?”

Caiping winced through the pain and shook her head faintly.

“I’m alright, just some surface wounds.”

Suddenly, the masked man’s gaze shifted to the distance.

Several men in black, armed with swords, were approaching.

“What audacity, committing violence near the royal city.”

The black-clad men fixed their eyes on Jiang Jinshu.

“This warrior, please do not meddle. We act on orders. Blame this lady for offending someone she shouldn’t have.”

Unfazed, Jiang Jinshu met their murderous stares, tightening her grip on the silver needle in her hand.

They had come specifically for her—but who could it be?

Her mind raced through recent events; besides the Shen family, she had no particular enemies.

“Shen Nanxing—is it you?”

The masked man sneered, touching his waist. His sword, damaged by the carriage crash, now needed replacement.

“Looks like this soft sword will taste blood today.”

As the black-clad men closed in, the masked man shielded Jiang Jinshu. His soft sword transformed like a swimming dragon in his hand, its gleaming blade fierce. Instantly, a fierce battle erupted.

His swordsmanship was sharp and deadly; after several rounds, several black-clad men lay fallen.

Jiang Jinshu watched as one man on the ground struggled to pick up his sword. She stepped forward, kicked him in the chest, seized the sword, and with all her strength drove it through his chest.

Caiping gasped in shock, then quickly reacted, grabbing a nearby stone to strike another black-clad man’s head who was rising to attack.

The last black-clad man was forced back as the masked man, holding his bloodied sword, advanced step by step.

The man retreated in fear.

Seeing only one survivor, Jiang Jinshu quickly spoke.

“Please spare him.”

The black-clad man prepared to take his own life.

The masked man raised his hand, removing the man’s mask and dislocating his jaw.

Jiang Jinshu approached with a resolute expression, her skirt stained with blood.

She pressed a silver needle into an acupoint on the man’s body. He collapsed in agonizing pain, his dislocated jaw forcing him to emit only muffled cries.

Seeing him curled up and trembling, she knew the torment he endured.

The masked man showed a flicker of surprise, then wiped the blood from his soft sword on the man’s clothing and returned it to his waist.

Jiang Jinshu watched as the black-clad man writhed in pain for a moment, drenched in sweat, then fed him a pill.

“Remember the agony you just felt. When you speak later, do you understand?”

Recalling the excruciating pain she herself had endured from the silver needle, the black-clad man nodded frantically, eyes wide with fear.

Jiang Jinshu smiled and slowly lifted her hand toward his jaw.

“Don’t think of escaping or killing yourself. If you try to run, that pill will make your life unbearable. If you want to die, rest assured, I have great confidence in my medical skills. As long as I don’t want you dead, you will live to understand pain and despair.”

With a firm motion, she set his jaw back in place.

Jiang Jinshu looked at him with a faint smile in her eyes.

“Now, tell me, who is your master?”

The black-clad man looked at her smiling face, trembling lips filled with fear.

“I... I can’t say...”

Jiang Jinshu raised her hand; the silver needle trembled slightly.

“My patience is limited.”

Recalling the torment of the needle, the black-clad man closed his eyes in despair.

“It’s the general.”

A murderous gleam flashed in Jiang Jinshu’s eyes.

“Shen Nanxing!”

The man nodded.

“Yes.”

Jiang Jinshu suddenly sneered.

“Ah, can’t hold out, huh?”

She swiftly plunged the silver needle into his body.

The black-clad man collapsed, eyes never closing in death.

A healer’s duty to save or to kill lies in a single thought.

The masked man glanced at Jiang Jinshu with complex feelings. Earlier, when she killed in desperation, it was understandable courage born of urgency. Now, her ruthless decisiveness showed she was no longer the same.

“Do you know the person he mentioned?”

Jiang Jinshu slowly stood.

Caiping approached anxiously.

“Miss, perhaps there’s more to this...”

Jiang Jinshu raised a hand to silence her.

“No misunderstanding. Rest assured, I’m fine.”

Then she looked at the masked man.

“Of course I know him. General Shen, the royal city’s new power—who doesn’t?”

The masked man asked, “Why would he send men to kill you?”

Jiang Jinshu sneered coldly.

“Probably to claim his wife’s dowry without wanting her as his legitimate wife. Doing something even beasts wouldn’t dare.”

“Before I forget, sir knight, may I know your name? I am Jiang Jinshu, niece of the Zhou family. I am deeply grateful for your life-saving aid today and shall repay you in full when the time comes.”