She would never let herself and the children fall into danger. All she could do now was take good care of the children and not be a burden to Ling Mohan.
The two children were still fast asleep, completely undisturbed by the chaos outside.
Cai Qing's heart was clenched tight, her panic evident in her eyes as she constantly looked around, her gaze occasionally drifting outside.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Feng Jin patted Cai Qing's hand, offering comfort.
"Young General, the young madam's arrangements are complete!" Lu Shi said in a deep voice, riding his horse to Ling Mohan's side.
Ling Mohan nodded, his gaze fixed on the people opposite them.
"Who are you, and why are you blocking our path?"
Lu Shi, following Ling Mohan's instructions, sternly questioned the approaching figures.
The man at the front wore a mask, his voice slightly hoarse as he said, "A mere nobody comes to answer. Have your leader come out."
Ling Mohan's hand gripping the reins tightened abruptly, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. He took a step forward on his horse, looking coldly at the man before him, "Be sensible and move aside, and I'll spare your lives!"
"Such arrogance! Haven't you bothered to find out whose territory Jinmei Mountain is? Whether you are a dignitary or a noble, if you want to pass through Jinmei Mountain, you must either leave your wealth or leave your beauty!"
The masked man scanned his surroundings, expressing slight disappointment, "They're all men. Since there are no beauties, you can leave your wealth. Once I have the money, I'll naturally let you pass!"
He had gathered his brothers and resorted to robbery here merely to make a living. As long as they were sensible and left their wealth, he would not cause trouble.
Ling Mohan's lips curved into a cold sneer, the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes intensifying. He waved his hand, and a single word escaped his thin lips: "Kill!"
"As you command!" Lu Shi bowed in acknowledgment and led his contingent of brothers to charge.
The bandits, accustomed to simple robbery, were no match for the battle-hardened Black Armored Army. In just a moment, all the bandits were slain one by one by the Black Armored Army.
Lu Shi brought the captured bandit leader before Ling Mohan, saying, "The captured bandit is here, Young General. Please dispense your judgment."
The bandit had long since lost his previous arrogant demeanor. Having witnessed his brothers being slain while he was powerless, he was now trembling uncontrollably, lacking even the strength to stand, half-crawling on the ground.
His gaze met Ling Mohan's, and he trembled, his lips quivering slightly. Who was this man, to possess such a terrifying aura?
He had been robbing in this area for years, believing he had never failed. This time, however, he had stumbled into a ditch and fallen into the hands of these travelers.
"Who exactly are you? Tell the truth, and I might spare your life!" Ling Mohan said sternly.
"I'll tell... I'll tell... Let me go, let me go... I don't want to die!"
Lu Shi stepped forward, restraining the man who was becoming frenzied with fear, and pressed him to the ground.
"Speak quickly!" Lu Shi commanded sharply.
"I'll tell, I'll tell! I'm just a bandit, I just wanted some money to live on. I used to be an honest farmer, but I couldn't make ends meet, so I took a risk and came up with this plan. I... I've never hurt anyone. I just took some money, I haven't done anything else!"
Ling Mohan gave Lu Shi a look and then rode away.
Lu Shi looked coldly at the man kneeling on the ground and snorted, "You were quite bold just now, and now you're so terrified. Someone like you dares to be a bandit? You overestimate yourself!"
"Brother... no... Sir... I beg you to let me go. I have elders and children at home, please let me go."
"When you robbed others of their wealth, did you ever consider that they also had elders and children at home? You took their entire fortune, how were they supposed to live!"
People like him were not worthy of pity. Letting them go would lead to countless more deaths and injuries.
Lu Shi gripped his long sword, raised it high, and struck with fatal precision.
"Clean it up!"
Lu Shi said coldly, then hurried to report to Ling Mohan.
"Young General!" Cai Qing, observing from outside, called out excitedly as she saw Ling Mohan's back.
"Young Madam, it's the Young General! The Young General is back."
Cai Qing turned around, excitedly pulling Feng Jin's hand as she shouted.
Feng Jin's gaze deepened, and she lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. Upon seeing Ling Mohan, her restless heart finally settled.
"Ling Mohan!" Feng Jin called out loudly.
She stood up abruptly, stumbling slightly as she got down from the carriage, and ran towards the man.
Ling Mohan leaped off his horse and embraced Feng Jin as she rushed towards him.
"Are you hurt?" Feng Jin asked anxiously, her eyes darting around Ling Mohan, examining him.
"I'm fine."
Only after personally confirming Ling Mohan was unharmed did Feng Jin's suspended heart finally relax. "What happened just now?"
"Just some mountain bandits. They've all been dealt with. Let's continue our journey."
Ling Mohan, holding Feng Jin, walked back towards the carriage. After ensuring the mother and children were settled, Ling Mohan got up to return.
"The Young General has handled everything."
The area had returned to its former tranquility, making it impossible to imagine the fierce battle that had just taken place.
Their journey was already drawing attention. If word of the fighting here spread, it would surely prompt an investigation by local authorities, and their whereabouts would be completely exposed.
"Well done. Continue the journey."
"Yes, Young General." Lu Shi replied in a deep voice and then called his men to resume their march.
To prevent further incidents of bandits blocking the road, they traveled day and night without rest and finally arrived at the border city of Yuncheng, safe and sound.
"Who are you, to dare trespass into Yuncheng? Retreat immediately, or we will draw our swords."
The guards of Yuncheng, seeing Ling Mohan's retinue, shouted angrily. Instantly, the archers on the city walls were ready.
"Lu Shi, take my token and explain our intentions to them."
Ling Mohan took a black token from his waist and handed it to Lu Shi.
"Your subordinate obeys." Lu Shi took the token and rode towards Yuncheng.
"I am Lu Shi, the vanguard of the left wing of the Ling family's Black Armored Army, accompanying the Young General to Yuncheng. Here is my token. Quickly open the city for us and have the Yuncheng commander, Fan Shun, come to greet us."
The guards recognized the token in Lu Shi's hand as Ling Mohan's unique possession.
They had also received news that His Majesty had appointed General Ling to escort the dowry of the Princess of Xiliang to the capital, and they were expected to arrive in Yuncheng soon.
Realizing that the person before them was General Ling, the guards hastily hurried back to report to the commander.
In less than a moment, the tightly shut gates of Yuncheng were opened from within, and a middle-aged man emerged from the city, walking with haste.