"Watch out!" Seventeen shouted, reacting instantly. As he tumbled from the collapsing carriage, he braced himself with one hand, twisting to catch Yue’er, who had been thrown out. With a swift somersault, he landed gracefully, the child safely in his arms.
Meanwhile, Hao’er, anticipating the chaos, pulled Muchen close as they were ejected from the carriage. He propelled them forward, landing several meters away along the edge of the mountain path.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Hao’er asked, his eyes scanning the two younger children forany injuries.
They both shook their heads in unison, although Muchen’s expression was grim and Yue’er’s brows furrowed. They were unharmed, but the sudden, violent disruption had unsettled them.
"Young Master, the carriage is destroyed," Seventeen reported, his voice tight, his gaze fixed on the wreckage.
Hao’er’s eyes swept over the shattered carriage before settling on the group of eight or nine figures standing before them. A flicker of recognition crossed his face.
These were not the individuals they had encountered previously. Instead, it was the owner of Rejuvenating Hall himself, accompanied by his men.
The group consisted of nine individuals: the owner, a cultivator at the Golden Core; two elderly men, also at the Golden Core level; and several others with cultivation levels in the mid-stage of foundation building.
For a confrontation with a few children, this was an overwhelming force. These cultivators represented the core strength of Rejuvenating Hall, perhaps even the extent of their power.
"Rejuvenating Hall? What do you want?" Seventeen demanded, his voice steady.
A low chuckle emanated from the owner of Rejuvenating Hall. He ignored Seventeen, focusing his attention on Hao’er, his gaze lingering before shifting to the younger children. "I have no desire to cause you children harm," he said, his tone deceptively mild. "Simply leave behind the treasures you carry, and you may depart unharmed."
"Treasures?" Hao’er asked, his eyes narrowing. "What treasures?"
"Ha, indeed, what treasures?" The owner of Rejuvenating Hall replied, his eyes gleaming with avarice.
"Brother," Yue’er said, her voice filled with childlike surprise, "isn’t the owner of Rejuvenating Hall a wealthy merchant? How can he be so poor as to resort to robbery?"
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Muchen scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "The phrase ’unscrupulous mind, beastly heart’ perfectly describes him."
"Or perhaps ’a wolf in sheep’s clothing’?" Yue’er suggested, blinking innocently.
Muchen pondered for a moment. "That’s not quite accurate," he concluded.
"So, is he truly the owner of Rejuvenating Hall, or a bandit who waylays travelers?" Yue’er asked, her curiosity piqued.
The two four-year-olds stared at the group, their innocent words and pure gazes causing the old man Yuan, standing behind the owner, to lower his head in shame. He couldn’t meet their eyes.
However, not everyone shared his remorse. Another elderly man, hearing their words, scoffed. "Master, why not dispose of the guard and simply take the brats? A thorough search will reveal their treasures."
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