Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Tao Da (Part 1)
"Miss Kong," the black tower man’s voice was very loud, startling everyone: "I’ve brought buns."
The faces of the few female bandits sitting on the ground flashed with fear.
They remembered this black tower man. The day their stronghold was breached, it was this black tower man who was the first to rush in, wielding a long knife, slicing a bandit in half with a single stroke. His strength was immense, and the scene of killing was extremely bloody.
Kong Qingwan naturally recognized this robust man and quickly got up to greet him gracefully: "I’ve seen my benefactor."
This man was none other than Tao Da, who had saved Kong Qingwan.
Tao Da, naive with joy and anger written all over his face, grinned broadly when he saw Kong Qingwan and said, "Miss Kong, no need to bow. And, I’m not a benefactor, I’m called Tao Da."
Eagerly waiting for Kong Qingwan to address him correctly.
Kong Qingwan couldn’t withstand those large eyes as big as bronze bells in front of her, so she had to change her address: "Brother Tao."
The moment those three words entered his ears, Tao Da felt lighter, his mouth stretching to his ears.
The three personal soldiers in the military tent found it amusing yet somewhat sour.
They were all from the Personal Guard Camp, who didn’t know each other! Tao Da was straightforward and couldn’t hide things, so the matter of him going to the Commandery Princess to request marrying Kong Qingwan had already secretly spread around.
Everyone laughed at Tao Da for wanting to marry a girl from a bandit nest, while simultaneously envying his luck in love affairs.
This Miss Kong, born slim and elegant, with a gentle temperament, educated and literate. Such a girl, if she hadn’t fallen into a bandit nest, would never have reached Tao Da’s turn.
However, Kong Qingwan was unaware of these things. She spent her days in the military tent, memorizing the classics, surnames, and ancient texts for future use. She seldomly left the tent, and even when she did, she never made eye contact or spoke with any of the soldiers.
She naturally didn’t know that the big black Tao Da in front of her wanted to marry her.
"Tao Da," one of the soldiers deliberately teased: "It was clearly Cao Er who went to the kitchen just now, how come it’s you who came over."
Another soldier picked up the topic: "No need to ask, it’s probably that Tao Da saw Cao Er’s weak strength and couldn’t carry half a pot of buns!"
The last one chuckled.
Tao Da turned a deaf ear to this teasing, threateningly squeezed his fist, and the three noisy ones immediately shut their mouths.
Kong Qingwan saw this and pursed her lips, a smile flashing in her eyes. She stepped forward to reach for the pot. Tao Da immediately said, "This pot is very heavy, let me hold it."
Kong Qingwan was embarrassed: "Brother Tao, let me do it!"
Her strength was like a chick compared to Tao Da. Tao Da didn’t realize that a girl’s strength was so weak; he thought he was being very careful, but with a slight pull, Kong Qingwan staggered.
Tao Da was shocked, quickly dropping the basin and reaching out to support Kong Qingwan.
Bang!
The basin fell to the ground, buns scattered everywhere.
Boom!
Kong Qingwan was grabbed by the arm by Tao Da, not knowing if it was from embarrassment or pain in her arm, she blushed and struggled to retreat.
But Tao Da’s strength was astonishing, she couldn’t shake it off. In panic, her eyes began to tear up.
Tao Da, the blockhead, didn’t know what was happening, and had the nerve to ask: "Miss Kong, who bullied you? Why are you crying!"
The personal soldiers: "..."
The female bandits: "..."
The female bandits dared not make a sound. One of the personal soldiers spoke up: "Tao Da, let go quickly. Your strength could bend an iron rod, Miss Kong is delicate, she can’t handle it."
This reckless thing, could it be that he hurt Miss Kong’s arm!
Tao Da immediately let go upon hearing this.
Kong Qingwan held back her tears and stepped back a few steps.
"I’m sorry." Tao Da looked at Kong Qingwan pitifully: "I didn’t mean it. Don’t be mad. Is your arm hurting? I’ll ask Miss Sun to take a look at it."
Kong Qingwan’s arm was burning, surely red and swollen. And it was her right arm, she still needed to write...
"There’s no need." Kong Qingwan steadied her mind and said softly: "Brother Tao, you should go back first!"
After speaking, she lowered her head to pick up the buns.
This was the Personal Guard Camp, where the food was ample. Coarse buns were plentiful. In an ordinary household, they’d never afford to eat like this. She once lived in splendor, not knowing the hunger of the world, then fell into a bandit nest for two years, being able to fill her stomach was a blessing.
What harm could a bit of dust do after falling on the ground, just brush it off and eat.
Tao Da was reluctant to leave and bent down to help pick them up. He was fast, collected most in an instant, and without realizing, bumped into a slender figure.
Thud!
Kong Qingwan’s shoulder was hit unexpectedly, she fell back to the ground, tears welled up from the pain again.
The soldiers and female bandits: "..."
One soldier, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward, grabbed Tao Da’s collar: "Get out, don’t make trouble for Miss Kong."
Tao Da, for once, didn’t fight back, left the tent with his head down, feeling a bit dejected: "Am I a bit stupid?"
He clearly wanted to show kindness but always ended up causing trouble.
The soldier rolled his eyes: "You realize that yourself! Miss Kong is educated and delicate. You’re just a rough soldier, you’re not compatible with her. You shouldn’t stick around Miss Kong... Oh, come on, how could you hit me!"
Tao Da snorted, waving his fist before the soldier: "Miss Kong is not for you to talk about. I’m warning you, stay far away from her. Look one more time, and I’ll hit you."
The soldier was amused and instinctively retorted: "Pah! I have a wife already. Besides, even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t marry a girl from a bandit nest. Ruined by so many bandits, she’s long lost her purity... Ouch!"
The previous "ouch" was pretentious, but this cry was genuine.
Tao Da, looking fierce, landed a solid punch on the soldier’s shoulder.
At least this blockhead remembered not to hit the face, otherwise, this punch would have disfigured the soldier.
"Tao Da! Why are you hitting people!" The soldier stepped back a few steps, clutching his left shoulder, grimacing: "Could it be I said something wrong? She did come from a bandit nest. If you dare to move again, I’ll report to Commander Qin and let him decide for us!"
Tao Da darkened his face, clenched his fists, and stepped forward.
A gentle girl’s voice called out: "Brother Tao, go back!"
It was Kong Qingwan who had come out of the tent.
Tao Da’s loud voice and the soldier’s rough voice, their argument and the action hadn’t been quiet. Not only Kong Qingwan but the female bandits in the tent could hear it clearly.
The soldier, caught bad-mouthing behind backs, was a bit embarrassed but couldn’t apologize, so he awkwardly rubbed his nose and slipped back into the tent.
Looking at Kong Qingwan’s calm face, Tao Da suddenly felt a little sad: "Miss Kong, don’t be upset. If that wretch dares to talk nonsense again, I’ll rip out his tongue."