Chapter 65: The Intentions of Women

“Sir…are you sure? All these women are coming back with us?” Deng Fang doubted his own ears.

“They have nowhere else to go, what choice is there?” Qi Jun shook his head helplessly. “For now we’ll take them to Dongling Village. Later, I’ll find a way to buy this place, and then we can bring them back to live here. Simple as that.” Clearly, Qi Jun had a plan in mind. Panlong Ridge was nothing more than a treacherous mountain peak; he knew the county constable Feng wouldn’t be interested in such a place.

“Brother Jun, you make it sound easy. Where are forty women supposed to live when we get back? Don’t tell me you expect them to squeeze in with you and Brother Feng?” Deng Fang grinned, teasing.

“Hey, since when did you get as wicked as Sun Jiu? All these girls are still here, watch your mouth!” Qi Jun was momentarily taken aback, raising his hand in mock threat.

“I’ll go check if the bandits are tied up tight enough…” Deng Fang laughed, covering his head as he made an excuse and darted away.

“You…” Qi Jun could only point at Deng Fang’s retreating figure in exasperation, opening his mouth but saying nothing.

Turning back toward the women, he prepared to smooth over the awkwardness Deng Fang’s crude words might have caused. But to his surprise, the women seemed unfazed, even looking at him with gentle smiles.

Some of their gazes held an emotion he couldn’t quite name.

Even Qi Jun, oblivious as he was, could sense something was amiss. The realization made his face suddenly flush red. It wasn’t that he felt uncomfortable around them, but he’d never before been the focus of so many young women’s affection.

Instinctively, Qi Jun took a step back, which the women misinterpreted. Some lowered their heads and turned away, but others, with tears sparkling in their eyes, knelt before him.

“Sir, we can never repay your kindness. If you don’t mind, we are all willing to stay by your side and serve you, whatever you may command, without complaint.” The leading woman cried as she bowed low to Qi Jun.

Her action seemed to flip a switch—one by one, the other women knelt, begging Qi Jun through their tears.

“I know I’m not worthy, and I wouldn’t dare harbor improper thoughts. We all know in our hearts that you’re the only one who treats us as people. We only ask to remain by your side—otherwise…what meaning is left in living…” Another woman spoke through her sobs, growing more distraught until, suddenly, she ran out toward the village gates.

Beyond the gates, the mountain path dropped off into a bottomless ravine. Qi Jun’s heart clenched with fear and he quickly sent Liu Kui after her.

Influenced by the strict customs between men and women, Liu Kui hesitated for a split second before realizing the gravity of the situation. Without delay, he raced after her, not daring to lose a moment.

Qi Jun watched Liu Kui chase after the woman and finally let out a sigh of relief. He turned back to help the women still kneeling on the ground.

No matter how earnestly he pleaded, the women only cried harder, refusing to get up.

“The night is cold—won’t you please stand? When I said I’d bring you back here in the future, I didn’t mean I’d abandon you. Will you trust me?” Persuading people, especially women, was never Qi Jun’s strong suit.

Now, facing these women weeping and insisting on staying by his side, he could only repeat the sincerest promises and reassurances he could muster.

“Do you mean it, young master?” A slightly childish voice rose from the crowd, and Qi Jun recognized the girl he’d saved on Dragon Claw Peak.

“I mean it. I, Qi Jun, keep my word.” Sensing a breakthrough, Qi Jun answered solemnly.

“My mother told me those who lie turn into puppies…” The girl wiped her tears, sniffling.

“I’d rather be a man! I’ll be a man, I swear!” Anxious to stop the tears and get everyone back to Dongling Village, Qi Jun blurted out a hasty promise, only realizing after it left his lips how odd it sounded.

His words made the girl giggle, and soon the other women joined in, their laughter breaking through the gloom and lightening the mood.

Seeing their spirits lift at last, Qi Jun let out a long sigh and wiped his brow, only to find his hand slick with sweat.

“How did those emperors handle so many women in their palaces? Just forty weeping women are enough to drive me mad,” he wondered.

The women finally rose, bowing together to Qi Jun in gratitude. He bowed in return, and when he lifted his head, he saw the woman who had run out earlier returning with Liu Kui.

From afar, she saw her sisters bowing to Qi Jun and knew he must have agreed to their plea. Overjoyed, she ran back to join the group.

“Yue’er, you’re so clever. The moment you ran out, sir was frantic!” one woman teased, giving her a gentle nudge.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Sir is just too kind-hearted to see us suffer…” Yue’er protested, her face flushing red, though her tone was tinged with pride.

The matter of Yuniang’s protective charm still hadn’t been explained to Yun Fei, and now he would have to bring back so many women—how would he ever explain it to her? Even as the women radiated joy, Qi Jun found himself troubled by this new dilemma.

“Brother Jun, the bandits are all tied up. When do we head out?” Deng Fang, seeing Qi Jun overwhelmed by the women’s attention, returned at just the right moment to rescue him.

“You’re sure they’re all secured? We can’t afford to be careless. I’ll go check again!” Qi Jun seized the opportunity, quickly escaping the circle of women.

Deng Fang followed, struggling to stifle his laughter at Qi Jun’s discomfiture.

“What’s so funny? Do you know how nerve-wracking it is to be surrounded by a bunch of women confessing their feelings?” Qi Jun snapped, annoyed.

But his heartfelt complaint struck a nerve in Deng Fang.

“Yeah, how have I gone my whole life without experiencing that? Am I really so unlikable…” Deng Fang stopped in his tracks, staring after Qi Jun, suddenly plagued by self-doubt.

Clouds drifted past the moon, casting clear light over the mountain path, saving them the need for extra torches.

Liu Biao and his men led the way, followed by Qi Jun with the women, and Liu Kui and Liu Fuyuan’s men bringing up the rear with the captured bandits. The procession wound along the mountain road in the darkness, like a fiery dragon coiling through the peaks.

The county soldiers escorting the loot under Sun Jiu’s command had already arrived at Dongling Village.

“Brothers, you’ve worked hard! Tomorrow you get the day off—go into town and treat yourselves!” Sun Jiu called, tossing a large sack of money onto the ground. The county soldiers rushed over eagerly, and in the quiet of the night, their triumphant cheers echoed unchecked.