Chapter 134 A Love Affection That's a Blatant Lie

Chapter 134 A Love Affection That's a Blatant Lie

Before she could even take a step, a rough, large hand suddenly reached out from behind and covered her mouth tightly, while a cold blade was instantly placed against her neck.

"I knew you were going to run away the moment I saw your face!" the man cursed viciously, his accent revealing his ferocity.

Jiang Yutang stared wide-eyed in horror.

Aren't the bandits on TV all simple-minded? How come this guy is actually quite shrewd?

Before she could struggle, she was suddenly struck hard on the back of the neck. The world spun before her eyes, and she lost consciousness completely.

A short whistle rang out, and then several dark figures darted out of the bushes, hoisted her up like a sack of potatoes, and disappeared into the vast night.

A dull pain shot through the back of her neck, and Jiang Yutang opened her eyes, her consciousness gradually returning from its hazy state. She laboriously turned her neck, taking in her surroundings.

She was leaning against a cold, damp stone wall in a narrow canyon. On both sides were steep cliffs that seemed to pierce the sky. Looking up, she could see the piles of boulders at the top of the cliff. Sunlight leaked through the cracks in the cliff face, stinging her eyes.

She didn't know how long she was unconscious; only one word echoed in her mind.

It's over.

The bandits brought her to this place intending to use her as bait to lure Cheng Lanzhou and Jiang Huaiyu to rescue her. They planned to use her as bait to trap the rescue team in the canyon with a single kick of a boulder from the cliff top, leaving no trace of their bodies.

Jiang Huaiyu must be extremely worried, as for Cheng Lanzhou...

She now regrets arguing with Cheng Lanzhou last night. If they hadn't argued, he might have been willing to save her.

As her heart sank, Jiang Yutang forced a self-deprecating smile.

I came to the front lines to save lives, but instead I've become a burden to everyone.

She instinctively reached for the book in her arms, but her hands were tightly bound behind her back with rough hemp rope, preventing her from moving.

"Waaah—"

She made indistinct calls towards the bandits guarding her not far away.

A stubble-faced bandit walked over, roughly ripped the gag out of her mouth, and spit on her face.

"How many soldiers are left in the camp? How many days will the rations last? Tell me honestly, and I'll spare your life!"

Jiang Yutang feigned being terrified, shaking his head with a pained expression: "I don't know! Too many people were injured in the fighting a few days ago. I've been staying in the medical tent every day and haven't even left the camp."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.

The bandit stared at her face for a moment, seemingly convinced she wasn't lying. Just as he was about to press her for more information, another bandit carrying a large sword impatiently shouted.

"Stop wasting your time with this little wench. She's useless to you, so it's better to let her go peacefully!"

Jiang Yutang couldn't even cry anymore.

These bandits weren't going to use her as bait anymore; they were going to kill her to silence her!

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and said in a tearful voice, "I...I give up. Anyway, I'm just a weak woman and I can't fight back. I just beg you to let me leave with some dignity, let go of my hands, and let me straighten my clothes, okay?"

Seeing her weeping so pitifully, the stubble-faced bandit felt a pang of pity. He glanced at his companion and then untied the rope binding her hands.

Jiang Yutang rubbed her wrist, which was red from being bound, and her fingertips trembled as she reached into her bosom.

Empty!

Her heart sank to the bottom. She frantically searched her body, even turning over the corners of her clothes, but the ancient book was still nowhere to be found.

"My book!" She looked up abruptly, grabbed the stubble-faced bandit's arm, and demanded, "Did you see a book when you searched me?"

The bandit was startled and shoved her away: "What book? Apart from that strange dagger at your waist, you don't have a single copper coin on you!"

That book was her only hope of survival; losing it meant she could never go back and could only wait to die.

Jiang Yutang felt ice-cold all over. Her grandfather was still waiting for her to come home in the modern world. She had promised to take care of him and live a good life together.

A strong will to survive surged through my body instantly, and my blood seemed to boil.

She can't die, she absolutely can't die here!

Jiang Yutang's eyes gradually hardened as she glanced around the canyon, searching for an opportunity to escape.

She stared at the bandits in front of her, and suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. She shouted, "Don't kill me! I'm Cheng Lanzhou's wife. If you capture me, you can get more from him!"

The bandits' expressions changed drastically, and they burst into a joyful commotion.

The leader of the bandits with stubble stepped forward, his eyes full of scrutiny: "Are you really Cheng Lanzhou's wife? Then how did you end up in the outer camp?"

"I know medicine!"

Jiang Yutang quickly organized her thoughts, her tone carrying just the right amount of urgency: "He's fighting on the front lines, and I'm worried about him, so I came here to take care of the wounded, so I can be closer to him."

"laugh--"

The bandit let out a sneer, his tone laced with mockery: "I didn't expect him to be such a lovelorn fool."

The bandit's tone shifted abruptly, his eyes sharpening: "Don't try to fool us!"

"I love him! I would die for him!" Jiang Yutang answered without blinking, her eyes resolute, almost believing it herself.

This was her only chance of survival.

Jiang Yutang pressed her advantage: "He loves me just as much. Use me as leverage to get him to withdraw his troops or hand over his supplies. He'll definitely agree!"

The bandits exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

Cheng Lanzhou's army is extremely powerful, and they are no match for him in a direct confrontation. If they could use his wife to force him to submit, it would be an excellent idea.

The leader immediately made the decision: "Alright! We'll trust you this once! Xiao San, go to the military camp and tell Cheng Lanzhou to come to the outside of the canyon to negotiate in person!"

Watching the bandit disappear into the canyon, Jiang Yutang sat there, her heart filled with unease.

She had just had a fight with Cheng Lanzhou, but now, she could only hold onto her last hope and wait.

After an unknown amount of time, the sun had shifted its direction, and the bandit who had gone to deliver the message finally returned, panting and shouting.

"They're here! Cheng Lanzhou has arrived with his men!"

The stubble-faced bandit immediately perked up, grabbed Jiang Yutang from the ground, and once again held his sharp scimitar to her neck.

"Go! If you dare to try anything funny, I'll slit your throat right now!"

"Brother...swords have no eyes, let's talk this out..."

Jiang Yutang gently pushed away the curved knife on her neck and was pushed forward by him. They turned out of the narrow canyon corner and the view suddenly opened up before them.

In the open space ahead, an army stood in neat formation. Jiang Huaiyu, riding a horse and holding a long spear, stood at the very front. The moment he saw her, his eyes reddened, and he excitedly shouted, "Little sister!"

Upon seeing her loved ones, Jiang Yutang could no longer hold back her tears.

"Third Brother!"

Jiang Huaiyu pointed his spear at the bandits and shouted angrily, "Release my sister! I'll be your hostage!"

"Don't try that!" The stubble-faced bandit wasn't buying it at all, and shouted, "Order the troops to retreat, or we'll kill her!"

Jiang Huaiyu's face darkened: "I cannot make the decision to withdraw the troops."

Jiang Yutang then realized with a start that Cheng Lanzhou was nowhere to be seen among the soldiers.

Where is he? How could he not be there at a time when her life is at stake?