After the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
Jiang Yingcheng planted her hands on her hips, leaned forward slightly, and fluttered her almond-shaped eyes, her voice innocent. "Can you write or not?"
The bandit whom Liaochen and the others had knocked down in almost a single move lay on the ground, his expression tinged with humiliation amid his terror. "...Yes, a little?"
"Wonderful!"
Jiang Yingcheng pressed her palms together, her expression visibly brightening.
Then she eagerly reached out with both hands to help the one who could write up from the ground, complaining all the while, "Uncle, why didn't you just say so sooner?"
If he had said so sooner, Uncle Liaochen and the others wouldn't have needed to fight!
Under the glares of Liaochen and the others, the man who had spoken suddenly kicked hard against the ground and scrambled several steps backward. "Aaaah, don't come near me! Don't come near me!!"
Jiang Yingcheng looked utterly innocent, but she did not insist on helping him up.
She straightened and swept her gaze around. "Where's your hideout~?"
Liaochen and the others: "..."
The bandits strewn across the ground: "..."
Why are you asking that?!!
What do you want that for?!!
The bandits' lair was about half a day's journey from the city gates. By the time the party arrived, some excited and others resigned, the sky had gone completely dark.
The lair stood deep within a forest, in a remote spot. Though it was already early summer, the evening breeze carried threads of chill.
Liaochen pulled a long robe from the little bundle the little girl had packed, wrapped her whole body in it, and held her in his arms. Just as they arrived, she slowly stirred awake.
"Mmm..."
Jiang Yingcheng had slept very sweetly. The