Chapter 972: Chapter 972

Upon hearing Bu Deng's words, the manager and the four men couldn't help but change their expressions again, instinctively turning to look at the manager.

"Damn it! If it's bad news, it won't avoid us, and trouble doesn't skip anyone. Since we're already here, if that Gu Master shows up, we won't have a chance to escape either!" The manager gritted his teeth and shouted angrily, "Kill this kid first, grab the money and the stuff, then get out fast. We have a car; even if the Gu Master wants to hunt us down, they won't catch up!"

These words calmed the four men's nerves, and as one, they turned around and charged at Ye Qing. The leader swiftly pulled a dagger from his waist and stabbed it straight toward Ye Qing's abdomen.

Ye Qing's movements were faster. Just as the man thrust out his dagger, Ye Qing stepped forward and raised his fist, landing a punch directly on the man's face. The man instantly fell to the ground clutching his face. Ye Qing's punch had broken his nose.

The other three were startled; they hadn't expected Ye Qing to fight back. They quickly drew their daggers and surrounded him. However, for Ye Qing, these three posed no real threat. Before they had a chance to strike, they were all floored by Ye Qing's punches and kicks, rendered completely powerless against him.

The manager, who had assumed the four could easily finish Ye Qing off, had started moving toward Huangfu Ziyu. But seeing the four men being swiftly taken out by Ye Qing, he froze in shock, his eyes bulging. He couldn't believe how formidable Ye Qing was!

Seeing Ye Qing approaching him, the manager panicked and stammered, "You... you, stay back... Bu Deng, Bu Deng, quick, grab the woman!"

Bu Deng in the car snapped back to reality and quickly reached out to grab Huangfu Ziyu. However, this move was nothing short of suicidal. Huangfu Ziyu's combat skills were far above Ye Qing's. Even though she couldn't cultivate her powers at the moment, dealing with someone like him was still a piece of cake.

As soon as the manager finished speaking, a scream came from Bu Deng. The manager turned his head to look and saw Bu Deng lying outside the car, clutching his wrist and howling in pain. Inside the car, Huangfu Ziyu was leisurely playing with Bu Deng's dagger, her graceful appearance and delicate jade-like fingers giving no impression of lethality. Yet, this seemingly harmless beauty had subdued a burly man wielding a dagger in an instant!

The manager nearly went insane. One Ye Qing was already formidable, and now Huangfu Ziyu proved to be just as terrifying. Could this be some kind of bad luck?

Watching Ye Qing walk up to him, the manager stepped back several paces, his voice trembling, "You... you... who are you really?"

"My name is Ye Qing!" Ye Qing replied.

The manager hurriedly said, "I know your name is Ye Qing. What I mean is, who are you really? How did you manage to take down my men?"

"I used to be in the Special Forces," Ye Qing said.

The manager's knees went weak and he knelt on the ground, his face contorting into misery. "Big brother, you... you used to be in the military? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You never asked," Ye Qing replied.

"If I had known, I should've checked your profession first!" The manager muttered bitterly. "Seems like I'll need to do a background check before taking on jobs next time..."

"I don't think there'll be a next time," Ye Qing said coldly as he reached the manager. Looking him dead in the eyes, he added, "It seems you've killed quite a few people. Murder should be paid for with one's life!"

As he spoke, Ye Qing slowly raised the dagger in his hand, glaring at the manager.

"Don't... don't kill me..." the manager begged, "Don't kill me! Killing me is against the law..."

"Didn't you say that here in the Miao Borderlands, even if someone dies, no one will investigate?" Ye Qing chuckled coldly, "If you die here, it'll be the same. No one will investigate."

The manager nearly started crying. Those were his own words earlier, and now they had come back to bite him—poetic justice indeed.

"If you kill me... there'll be no one to guide you into the Miao Borderlands..." the manager stammered. "I'm familiar with the area inside. I can help you navigate..."

"I don't need that!" Ye Qing shook his head. "I believe the Miao People aren't dangerous; the truly dangerous ones are people like you with sinister intentions. I'd rather go in on my own than have you lead me. So, I'm sorry!"

As Ye Qing spoke, he drove the dagger straight into the manager's chest. The manager opened his mouth wide but couldn't make a sound, collapsing to the ground, lifeless. His life had ended—retribution for his actions. He had spent years hunting others but wound up being brought down in the end.

Since killing Ding Shaoyan with his own hands at Chen San's place, Ye Qing had changed a lot. He showed no mercy to these people, dealing with them all one by one before tossing away the dagger and walking to the car.

"Zi Yu, are you okay?" Ye Qing asked gently.

Huangfu Ziyu smiled faintly, "These petty crooks wouldn't dare harm me."

"That's good. Let's keep moving." Ye Qing glanced around and was about to get into the car when his gaze accidentally landed on a person hiding behind a large boulder.

Seeing Ye Qing look her way, the person immediately cowered further behind the boulder, seemingly terrified.

Ye Qing frowned slightly. Did the manager have hidden accomplices here? But why hadn't this person stepped out earlier?

"Zi Yu, wait here a moment." Ye Qing picked up a dagger off the ground and crept toward the boulder. Taking a deep breath, he suddenly lunged forward, raising the dagger, ready to strike.

But when he saw the person hiding behind the boulder, Ye Qing's hand froze in place, dagger suspended.

Behind the boulder was not one of the manager's allies, but a frail young woman. She wore a black veiled cloak over her head, completely masking her face, giving her a mysterious aura. She was clutching a partially gnawed wild vegetable, her clothes patched in many places, suggesting a hard life sustained by foraging. Her thin garments provided little protection against the frigid weather, causing her to shiver pitifully—a sight that stirred sympathy.

Realizing this woman had nothing to do with the manager's group, Ye Qing quickly lowered the dagger and said, "Miss, I hope I didn't scare you?"

The woman kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with Ye Qing, and responded only with muted head shakes, as if terrified of him.

Seeing her reaction, Ye Qing felt at a loss. He stepped back and said gently, "Miss, I mean no harm. Those men were bad people trying to rob me; I acted in self-defense. I apologize if I frightened you."

The woman still didn't speak, remaining hidden by the boulder, looking helpless.

Ye Qing sighed. It was clear that the woman's demeanor stemmed from deep-seated insecurity, rendering her unable to speak or even look him in the eye. He decided not to push her further. Returning to the car, he took some food and brought it back to her, extending it toward her. "Miss, here's some food for you. Please have something to eat."

The woman eyed the bread and biscuits Ye Qing held in apparent confusion, as if unsure whether they were edible.

Noticing her puzzlement, Ye Qing realized she likely didn't know what these items were. He opened a loaf of bread, tore off a piece, and popped it into his mouth with a smile. "See, Miss, these are edible. Try some."

While chewing, he handed the remaining bread to the woman with a gentle voice, "Go ahead, try it."

Hesitating at first, the woman cautiously tore off a small piece of bread and mimicked Ye Qing, placing it in her mouth. After chewing for a moment, she suddenly reached out, grabbed all the food from Ye Qing, and began devouring it ravenously. It was as if she hadn't eaten in days; her hunger was palpable.

Watching her eat, Ye Qing felt a mix of emotions. Her voracious appetite confirmed the harsh conditions of her life, where even simple bread was a rare delicacy, making her savor every bite.

"Miss, slow down. Be careful not to choke. Don't rush; here's more. You can have it all," Ye Qing said as he handed her the rest of the bread and cake. The woman took them gratefully, her gestures speaking louder than words—she was immensely thankful for his kindness.

"What's going on?" Huangfu Ziyu asked as she approached, seeing the woman eating ravenously. She paused in surprise, "What's happening?"

"I'm not sure," Ye Qing replied. "She seems to be Miao People and likely doesn't understand Chinese."

"How can she be wearing such thin clothes in this cold weather?" Huangfu Ziyu sighed as she took off her coat and approached to cover the woman. But as she stepped closer, the woman reacted like a startled rabbit, retreating several steps and watching Huangfu Ziyu warily.

"Don't be afraid. We mean you no harm," Ye Qing reassured her. "This coat is for you; it's very warm and will keep you comfortable."

The woman looked from Ye Qing to Huangfu Ziyu, cautiously taking the coat from Huangfu Ziyu's hands. She tried it on, pulling it tightly around herself, her expression revealing never-before-seen happiness.

Huangfu Ziyu smiled faintly at the sight. Despite her strong exterior, she had a kind heart. Seeing the woman's plight, she genuinely wanted to help.

Ye Qing took off his coat and draped it over Huangfu Ziyu's shoulders. Glancing at the woman, still savoring the bread, he said softly, "Let's leave her be. Let's continue on our way."