Chu Ruoyan and Liaokong hurried to the front hall, where Aunt, Rong Su, and the others had already gathered.
Just as they were about to step inside, they heard Gu Feiyan’s shrill reprimand: "You bald monk! What nonsense are you spouting? Great Xia is prosperous and peaceful, especially under the Emperor’s rule—how could there possibly be bandits here?"
Bandits?
Chu Ruoyan’s heart skipped a beat. The Guardian Temple was right next to the capital—even the boldest outlaws wouldn’t dare commit robbery in such a place!
The reporting monk shook his head frantically. "Amitabha, this humble monk dares not lie. My senior brother and I were just walking along Ziyun Path when a group of people surrounded us. Fortunately, I know some martial arts, and with my senior brother’s help, I managed to escape and report back. If you don’t believe me, look—these injuries were inflicted by them!"
Chu Ruoyan strode forward and saw the wounds on the monk’s hands and neck.
"You said you encountered the bandits on Ziyun Path?"
The monk hesitated upon seeing her. "Yes."
Chu Ruoyan lifted her gaze to Rong Su and the others. "Miss Rong, wasn’t your carriage also lost and then disappeared on Ziyun Path?"
The three girls—Rong Su, Zou Yue, and Xie Yaozhi—stiffened in shock. Zou Yue couldn’t help but ask, "M-Miss Chu, are you suggesting our carriage was also taken by them?"
Chu Ruoyan didn’t answer, but the implication was clear.
The bandits had set traps along the road, intending to ambush them. They had only held back because they unexpectedly encountered Xie Zhizhou. After the group left, the bandits had taken the carriages…
The realization sent a chill down everyone’s spines.
If they hadn’t listened to Chu Ruoyan and left Ziyun Path immediately, the consequences would have been unthinkable!
"If that’s the case, what about Cuiwei and Biluo?" Rong Su covered her mouth, her voice trembling.
Xie Yaozhi tried to comfort her. "Sister Rong, don’t worry yet. Once we report this to the authorities and they capture the culprits, your maids will surely be safe!"
This was the general sentiment among the group.
The women staying overnight were all noble ladies or wives of high-ranking officials, accustomed to comfort and privilege—none had ever faced such a situation. Aside from reporting to the authorities, they were at a complete loss.
Chu Jing remained composed. After exchanging a few quiet words with Lady Jiang the Younger, she asked the monk, "When you were down there, did you see how many people there were?"
The monk thought for a moment. "About forty or fifty, but it was getting dark, and the woods nearby made it hard to be certain."
Chu Jing let out a relieved breath. If it was only forty or fifty, the temple’s warrior monks and their own guards could likely hold them off.
"Abbot, the priority now is to send a few skilled monks down the mountain to inform the authorities. Meanwhile, have others guard the main gate, side gates, and back doors to prevent the outlaws from sneaking in!"
Her experience shone through as she gave clear, orderly instructions. The abbot quickly agreed and set off to arrange it.
Chu Ruoyan, however, was staring intently at the monk’s neck. Xue Ling whispered, "What is it?"
"Cousin, look at the wounds on his neck… don’t they look like scratches?"
Xue Ling took a closer look—they did. "I didn’t expect there to be women among the bandits…"
But the moment she said it, she realized something was off. The monk had multiple scratches—even the corner of his eye was red from being clawed!
If these were bandits, why would there be so many women?
Chu Ruoyan spoke up. "Venerable monk, may I ask a few more questions? Did the bandits have weapons? How were they dressed? Could you tell where they were from by their accents?"
"Well… they had no weapons, wore tattered clothes, and their accents sounded like they were from near the capital."
Chu Ruoyan’s expression changed instantly. "They’re not bandits!"
All eyes turned to her. Gu Feiyan scoffed, "If not bandits, then what? Refugees?"
"Exactly—refugees!"
No sooner had she spoken than the abbot rushed back in, his face pale with panic. "A large group of refugees has appeared outside—starving, their eyes gleaming with hunger! I’ve ordered the gates barred, but they’re trying to break through!"
"What?!"
Pandemonium erupted in the hall. Gu Feiyan shrieked, "I want to leave—get me down the mountain!"
Refugees were far more terrifying than bandits.
Bandits numbered in the dozens at most, but refugees could swarm in the hundreds or thousands—impossible to resist.
Worse, bandits only wanted valuables, but refugees, driven by starvation, would even resort to cannibalism…
The noblewomen turned ashen at the thought. Even Lady Jiang the Younger and Chu Jing clutched their daughters tightly, utterly at a loss.
Chu Ruoyan pinched her fingers, forcing herself to stay calm. Suddenly, Liaokong chanted a Buddhist invocation and declared, "Amitabha. Do not panic, honored guests. The Guardian Temple is a royal sanctuary—it will not fall so easily. Please remain calm." He then turned to the abbot. "Senior Brother, gather everyone in the temple here. Have the warrior monks guard the courtyard entrances. If the refugees cannot breach our defenses, they will eventually leave."
His words acted like an anchor, steadying the frantic crowd.
Chu Ruoyan added, "Uncle Liu, take Liu Min and join them!"
Uncle Liu hesitated. "Miss, I should stay and protect you—"
"If the refugees break in, no two men can hold back a tide of people. Go."
Following her lead, Xie Yaozhi and Lady Jiang the Younger also sent their guards to reinforce the gates. Soon, the other noblewomen did the same, mustering fifty to sixty defenders—roughly matching the number of refugees outside.
The pounding on the gates continued for a while before finally ceasing.
The group exhaled in relief, but Lady Jiang the Younger suddenly asked, "What if they surround the temple and refuse to leave? We’d be trapped!"
The abbot and Liaokong exchanged glances. The former reassured her, "Lady Chu, do not worry. We will send two disciples down the back mountain to alert the authorities—"
"The back mountain?" Gu Feiyan’s eyes lit up.
The abbot nodded. "There is indeed a narrow path leading to the foothills, but it’s treacherous. I advise against attempting it."
Chu Ruoyan, noticing Gu Feiyan’s eager expression, warned, "Miss Gu, even if it’s a small path, we don’t know if refugees are lurking there. Don’t act recklessly."
The mention of refugees made Gu Feiyan hesitate.
Just then, the noise outside gradually faded. Liu Min entered and reported, "Miss, my father says they’ve stopped trying to break in. They likely won’t charge for now…"
The tension in the room eased.
Chu Jing suggested, "Ladies, given the crisis, returning to our rooms to rest is impossible. Let’s gather our valuables first, then reconvene here in the prayer hall for the night."
The proposal was met with agreement. Chu Ruoyan, accompanied by Yulu and Nanny Zhou, went to retrieve her belongings.
But the moment she stepped into her room, a familiar herbal scent enveloped her. She froze.
"Yan Zheng?"
