Fortune Inn.
"Th...Third Young Master!!"
Xiao Fuzi stood dumbfounded, rubbing his eyes in disbelief before realizing it was indeed his master. He leaped three feet in the air with joy—he wouldn’t have to be buried alive with the dead now, wuwuwu.
"Young Master, are you alright? This servant was worried sick! Did the magistrate finally bring you back? I’ll have the innkeeper prepare some hot soup—"
Zhou Youcheng cut him off. "Where’s the magistrate? I came back on my own."
Huh?
"Th-the magistrate went to the yamen yesterday to report your disappearance and took men to search for you this morning! He ordered me to stay at the inn for communication. And these are...?"
Only then did Xiao Fuzi notice the group of children behind Zhou Youcheng.
"Send someone to inform the magistrate that I’ve returned and am waiting for him here. Also, have the waiter notify their families."
"Right away, Young Master! Gentlemen, please provide your home addresses."
Xiao Fuzi scurried off like a gust of wind.
"Waiter, bring us tea!"
Zhou Youcheng led Lu Chao and the others upstairs with an air of grandeur. "Rest here first. Once your families arrive, you can head home. Order whatever you want to eat or drink—it’s on me!"
"I want beef noodles!"
"I want wontons!"
"I want sweet soup and big meat buns!"
Now that they were back in the city, the tension from their ordeal finally eased, and the boys reverted to their youthful exuberance.
People often said three women could chatter like a flock of ducks, but Lu Chao thought these little brats were far worse—their incessant noise made his head throb.
"Lu Chao, how can we stay in touch? Can I write to you? We never finished hearing about the Monkey King’s story!"
Xu Zhiren clung to Lu Chao’s sleeve, refusing to let go.
"Hehehe, I can just cuddle with Third Brother at night and make him tell me! Hehehe!" Lu Yuanyi grinned mischievously.
"Then I’ll come to your house and sleep over too!" Yang Zongze wasn’t fazed—their families were close, so sleepovers were normal!
"Wha—?!" Yingge looked on the verge of tears.
Even the usually composed Zhou Youcheng gazed at Lu Chao with hopeful eyes.
"Uh, there’s something I should probably mention..." Lu Chao hesitated, scratching his nose. Though thick-skinned, he still wanted to save face in front of his little followers.
"I can’t write letters. I just started learning characters—I don’t know enough yet..."
!!!
They’d forgotten about that.
Zhou Youcheng paced anxiously in circles.
"What if we find someone to write for you? You dictate, they write! I can arrange it!"
Knock, knock, knock.
The door sounded.
"Must be the waiter with our food. I’ll get it!" Rubbing his growling stomach, Xu Zhiren eagerly rushed to open the door.
"Young Masters, your noodles are here."
The waiter kept his head low as he entered, carrying a tray.
That voice!
Holy shit—it’s the bearded bandit!
Did he really think shaving his beard would make him unrecognizable? And that uniform was way too tight—since when did waiters wear such snug clothes?
Lu Chao squeezed Zhou Youcheng’s hand, his expression darkening as he subtly gestured toward the waiter.
Zhou Youcheng followed his gaze, confused but sharp enough not to blurt anything out.
"Just leave it here, waiter. We’ll call you when we’re done."
"Of course."
"You two—wash your hands before eating!" Lu Chao’s heart nearly stopped as Lu Yuanyi and Xu Zhiren lunged for the food.
"I’m starving! Just one bite first!" Lu Yuanyi shook his head. His stomach had been growling forever—who cared about washing hands now?
Gritting his teeth, Lu Chao hurled himself forward, knocking over a chair. The bearded man staggered, and as the scalding soup nearly spilled onto him, he instinctively stepped back.
"HELP!! FIRE!! SOMEONE, HELP!!!"
Lu Chao suddenly screamed at the top of his lungs.
The disguised bandit yanked a dagger from his waist with a sinister sneer. "So you recognized me. Doesn’t matter—none of you are getting out alive. My life’s worthless, but taking a few rich brats with me? Worth it!"
Lu Yuanyi and Xu Zhiren froze, crouched on the floor, too terrified to move as the dagger swung toward Lu Yuanyi.
"WAIT!! You still have a way out!!" Lu Chao tackled Lu Yuanyi with all his strength, his arm searing with pain as the blade grazed him.
The bandit’s twisted face loomed over him. Clutching Lu Yuanyi, Lu Chao shut his eyes—
"STOP!! Kill us, and you’re dead for sure! Keeping us alive is your only bargaining chip!!"
The bandit panted heavily, glaring at the boy before hoisting him up like a chick.
One more squeeze, and this little neck would snap.
Father Lu had just entered the inn when he witnessed the horrifying scene, nearly fainting on the spot. Behind him, a woman’s shrill cry pierced the air.
"Chao’er!!"
Lady Lu had refused to wait even a second after the inn’s messenger arrived. She’d insisted on fetching her sons herself. Now, hearing panicked shouts about a fire, she’d charged inside—only to see her son dangling in the bandit’s grip.
"Third Brother!!"
While Lu Yuanyi was yanked to safety by quick-thinking Yingge, the sight of Lu Chao’s bleeding arm sent him into sobs.
Lu Chao’s vision blurred as the bandit’s chokehold cut off his air. His face flushed crimson, but relief flickered when he spotted Father Lu, Lady Lu, and the arriving officers.
He’d lived two lives—dying now wouldn’t be so bad. At least these kids were safe. Worth the day and night spent leading them through hell.
Zhou Sanwei snatched a bow from a guard, took aim, and loosed an arrow straight into the bandit’s arm.
Thwip!
Yingge seized a pair of sharp chopsticks and stabbed them into the bandit’s foot.
Zhou Youcheng, taller than the rest, delivered a brutal kick to the man’s groin.
Glaring at the petrified trio, he roared, "What are you waiting for?! HIT HIM!!"
Snapping out of it, Yang Zongze grabbed a candlestick and smashed it into the same vulnerable spot.
"AAAAHHHH—!!"
A bloodcurdling shriek echoed across Yingchuan City.
Every guard in the room instinctively crossed their legs.
Cough! Cough!
Gasping on the floor, Lu Chao’s throat burned like a broken bellows. Each ragged breath was a struggle. Damn it—he’d thought he’d get to visit Little Lu Chao in the underworld again!
Finally—progress 100%!
"Chao’er!!"
"Third Brother!!"
"Chao!!"
Lu Chao grinned weakly, about to reassure them—then everything went black.
"Wuwuwu!!! Third Brother, don’t die!!! Wuwuwu!"
"Wuwuwu!"
"Waaahhh!!"
The room erupted into a chorus of wails.
