Under the stunned gazes of father and daughter, the masked woman slowly removed her veil.
"Greetings."
Liang Xiao was playing with his children at his mansion when an urgent report arrived from Du Pingling.
"Marquis An, Madam Wanhua has been kidnapped!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Xiao rose abruptly, "How is that possible? Where is Liang Ke?"
Liang Xiao's wives were shocked!
Zhuo Xun had been enfeoffed as Princess Wanhua, and now people often referred to the six wives of Marquis An by their titles.
But Zhuo Xun traveled with Zuo Wushang and was quite low-key. She was still in Yan Province, and yet she was kidnapped?
Who in this world could have the ability to snatch Zhuo Xun from Zuo Wushang...
"It's Mr. Hong Qu returning to report!" Du Pingling's voice from outside was quite anxious.
Liang Xiao was filled with doubt. He hurried out, only to see Hong Qu's embarrassed face.
"Uh, Your Lordship, Madam Wanhua has been kidnapped..."
Liang Xiao looked suspicious.
Why did Hong Qu not seem worried at all?
"Marquis An of Great Qian, greetings~"
A melodious female voice came from outside. Liang Xiao's breath hitched, and he saw a figure in white enter the courtyard.
Even though the person was wearing a veil, Liang Xiao recognized her at a glance.
Zuo Jing!
"Lin'er??" Liang Xiao blurted out instinctively, then frowned, "Did you kidnap my little monster?"
"Besides me, who else could have done it?" Zuo Jing scoffed.
Liang Xiao patiently asked, "Are you here on your father's orders?"
Zuo Jing simply chose a wooden chair, crossed her legs, and sat down, her eyes smiling and alluring.
"You've caused me great suffering, and I've waited so long for this day~"
Liang Xiao looked at Hong Qu beside him, his eyes asking for an explanation.
Hong Qu chuckled dryly, "She really has her, but she used some underhanded means..."
Liang Xiao lost his temper and said, "Lin'er, state your terms."
Zuo Jing raised her head, stared at Liang Xiao, and said coldly, "Marquis An of Great Qian, your woman is in my hands. Do you dare to go to the dragon's lair alone with me?"
Hearing this, Du Pingling quickly reminded him, "Marquis An..."
He didn't want Zhuo Xun to be harmed, but Liang Xiao's importance to Great Qian was undeniable. Even the Son of Heaven of Great Liang could humble himself for him, so how could he easily put himself in danger?
Frankly, even if his junior sister Jian Qinwan were captured, he would never wish for Liang Xiao to take such a risk!
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and nodded, "Lead the way."
As soon as he spoke, everyone around was stunned. The heroes of Tianshan didn't know how to dissuade him!
Zuo Jing almost choked. She then detected a hint of coldness in Liang Xiao's voice. She looked at him with a mournful gaze and snapped her fingers.
The masked Yun Tian Guard, codenamed Qing, escorted Zhuo Xun, whose hands were tied behind her back, into the courtyard. A sharp short knife was pressed against Zhuo Xun's delicate neck.
Liang Xiao's pupils contracted, "Are you serious? Where is your uncle?"
But Liang Xiao soon noticed that Zhuo Xun's eyes flickered, full of grievance.
Zuo Jing crossed her arms and said casually, "I've tied him up too~"
At this moment, the door behind Liang Xiao opened, and Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan, who could barely get out of bed, walked out.
"Husband..."
Seeing Liang Xiao's beautiful wives and hearing the babies' cries from inside, Zuo Jing felt a pang of sadness. She let out a soft哼, untied the short knife at her waist, handed it to Qing, and then looked at Liang Xiao.
"I want to fight you one-on-one, bare-handed. Remember, you can only take hits, not fight back!!"
Liang Xiao was taken aback, "And then you'll let the little monster and the others go?"
As he spoke, Liang Xiao observed Zhuo Xun. Seeing no trace of panic on her face, he understood somewhat. He untied his Ephemeral Sword, handed it to Du Pingling, and walked forward five steps.
"That's right! If you dare to fight back, I'll slice your woman's throat!" Zuo Jing suppressed her nervousness and tried to maintain a cold tone.
To bolster her courage, Zuo Jing hardened her heart, clenched her right fist, and punched a round wooden table.
With a "bang," half of the round wooden table was broken by this punch, startling everyone!
"Fine, you attack," Liang Xiao nodded.
Everyone was shocked again. Du Pingling said nervously, "Marquis An..."
His greatest concern now was that an enemy might find an opportunity to approach Liang Xiao and deliver a fatal blow. Even if they were skilled swordsmen, they wouldn't have time to rescue him!
Zuo Jing saw this and was overjoyed. She took a few steps forward, got into a stance, and stared intently at Liang Xiao.
Everyone behind Liang Xiao looked bewildered but dared not speak to disturb them.
Du Pingling keenly sensed that something was amiss. The Marquis An might owe some romantic debt...
Under everyone's nervous gaze, Zuo Jing finally launched her attack. She feinted a left punch towards Liang Xiao's stomach and her right fist aimed straight for his face, as swift as lightning!
In a flash, Liang Xiao shielded his stomach with his left hand and blocked his face with his right, trying to grasp Zuo Jing's fist.
As soon as their hands met, Zuo Jing managed to land a blow and retreat, then swept a leg towards Liang Xiao's lower body, which was blocked by Liang Xiao's right foot.
Both were shocked by the speed and force of each other's attacks.
Liang Xiao's heart sank.
Compared to her wild attacks back then, her punches were now more methodical, and her strength was astonishing, surpassing that of ordinary men!
Zuo Wushang also had great innate strength, and the pampered Zhuo Xun was not weak either. This made Liang Xiao suspect if the Zuo family had some gene for great strength...
Everyone in the courtyard stared blankly at the two fighting. Seeing Zhuo Xun and Liang Xiao's skilled punches and swift movements, creating gusts of wind, they looked disbelieving.
Facing such a violent woman, Liang Xiao had already prepared himself mentally and responded calmly.
Back then, besides firearms, his boxing and improvisational skills were what he was most proud of.
But in this world where martial arts were aimed at killing enemies, there were as many fist and foot masters as carp crossing a river, so he dared not be careless.
Zuo Jing's rain-like punches were dazzling.
Liang Xiao, relying on his extraordinary reflexes and agility, neutralized them one by one, his expression unchanged.
Unable to succeed after repeated attacks, Zuo Jing became angry. In the end, she abandoned all pretense and attacked Liang Xiao's lower body.
A kick designed to cripple!
"Are you serious?"
Liang Xiao narrowly dodged the kick and finally got angry!
"You're not allowed to fight back!" Zuo Jing had lost her composure and didn't care what Liang Xiao thought.
Just as Zuo Jing was fighting and contemplating how to succeed, Liang Xiao, who had been on the defensive, suddenly threw a punch towards her face.
Zuo Jing was shocked and angry. After a hasty block, Liang Xiao seized the opportunity to get close and grabbed Zuo Jing's hands, tying them behind her back.
"You promised not to fight back!!" Zuo Jing was furious.
"I, Liang, have always kept my word. I said I wouldn't fight back, and I haven't. The previous action was purely self-defense. I didn't move from my spot."
Liang Xiao said this and then looked around at everyone in the courtyard, "Did anyone see me fight back?"
Everyone inwardly sighed at Liang Xiao's shamelessness and shook their heads, "No..."
Even Qing, the Yun Tian Guard holding Zhuo Xun hostage, was stunned and had to admire Liang Xiao's thick-skinned audacity.
"Let me go..." Zuo Jing was both angry and anxious, only able to kick backward, but she couldn't hit Liang Xiao.
A few breaths later, Zuo Wushang and his subordinates, escorting seven other Yun Tian Guards with their hands tied behind their backs, entered the courtyard.
"Your Lordship, she actually used the Yun Tian Guards as collateral, just to beat you up..." Zuo Wushang's old face flushed, and he couldn't continue.
Liang Xiao instantly understood the whole story. He firmly controlled Zuo Jing and said with a half-smile, "You want to beat me up so badly?"
Zuo Jing's breathing became disordered, and she said urgently, "I'll release your woman, and we'll exchange hostages. You'll let me go..."
At this moment, Qing retracted his short knife, pushed Zhuo Xun towards Zuo Wushang, and sighed, "Miss, stop struggling. You already lost miserably back then..."
"Qing, you traitor..."
Qing's sudden release of Zhuo Xun completely threw Zuo Jing into disarray, "Quick, let me go! I'll go back to Great Liang right now and promise never to come to Great Qian again..."
Luo Qingxue said urgently, "Husband, don't let her run away!"
After Liang Xiao had the Tianshan heroes and Zuo Wushang's subordinates escort the Yun Tian Guards out of the courtyard, he leaned close to Zuo Jing's ear and whispered.
"Miss Lin'er, you don't want your Brother Liang Xiao to be sad and distressed for you, do you?"
Hearing this, Zuo Jing's delicate body trembled. Her eyes flickered, and she dared not look back at Liang Xiao, or even at Zuo Wushang and his daughter.