Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 114 - 113: Expert

Qin Yao immediately took out the bounty announcement she carried with her and compared the person on the ground to the portrait. The only common feature she could find was the same vicious look in their eyes.

Qin Yao was very familiar with that kind of look, mostly appearing in those born with malice, and occasionally in major criminals.

Such people are extremely cruel, completely devoid of human empathy, the kind who can kill without any guilt.

Instead, they feel excited and happy for killing someone, gaining a sense of accomplishment. Usually, they are fringe characters or adept at disguising themselves, treating people like lab mice for constant experiments, fearless of death.

If discovered, they happily confess and patiently describe their crime process, showcasing their prowess, mocking the government’s incompetence.

This kind of person often has many blind followers who agree with their worldview, believing themselves to be unique and transcendent.

The three kings beside Xiang Wang are pure brainless followers.

The late-arriving horse team not only failed to bring back any goods but also lost two men and three horses.

They had 20 people originally, intending to raid a large caravan, but unfortunately, the caravan was fully prepared and hired the most powerful escort agency in the county for protection.

Both sides shouted a lot of codes, none of which matched. They had no choice but to fight.

When the caravan had a large number of people, the bandits didn’t stand a chance. Once they engaged, seeing the unfavorable situation, the leader intended to retreat. However, greed arose again, wanting to seize part of the goods, leading the caravan to fiercely retaliate, leaving two brothers and three horses behind.

Caravans almost never chase bandits to preserve their goods, allowing the bandits to retreat.

On the way, thinking of the impending punishment, several brothers considered fleeing.

But the leader sneered, "Escape? Can you escape today and tomorrow?"

Fleeing means certain death; not fleeing means at least a chance to live.

Thus, a group returned disheartened, each taking off their shirts, kneeling before the cave to await Xiang Wang’s decree.

A man suspected to be Xiang Wang walked out of the cave, surprisingly dressed as a scholar, tall, handsome, holding a charming woman, followed by three huge men.

Just seeing those three big men sent a chill through their hearts.

"Two men lost, three horses down, that’s five lashes and five fingers, sort it out among yourselves and come forward for punishment."

The scholar-dressed Xiang Wang looked helpless, as if he didn’t want to punish them but was forced by rules.

The three kings immediately stepped forward, drawing their knives and whips with a "swish," angrily saying:

"The king is so generous to you, sharing money, women, and good wine, yet you still act so ungrateful, losing the king’s horses and killing his brothers—aren’t you ashamed?!"

The leader immediately lowered his head, kneeled two steps forward to Xiang Wang, saying, "Thank you, Xiang Wang, for your mercy!"

The so-called five lashes and five fingers meant five lashes and five severed fingers. They returned with eighteen men, needing only ten to complete the punishment.

Compared to previously punished teams, this was considered very light. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The leader knew it was due to his previous contributions that leniency was exercised.

Thinking he still held some weight in Xiang Wang’s heart, the leader secretly sighed with relief, teary-eyed, respectfully looking at Xiang Wang, "I’m willing to take one lash and one finger punishment!"

Xiang Wang nodded with satisfaction, "I knew you were a real man."

Then he turned around, playing with the hairpin of the girl in his arms, ignoring the bloody scene.

Soon, wails could be heard in front of the cave, five severed fingers were presented before Xiang Wang, scaring the woman in his arms, trembling and biting her lip in silence, her strained fake smile vanished.

"Scared?" Xiang Wang asked with pretended care.

The woman shook her head, turning her face away, forcibly turned back by the man, making her look clearly.

Fear reached its peak, her expression uncontrollable and deeply contorted.

"Ugly!" Xiang Wang sneered, grabbed her neck, and threw her out, "A reward for you!"

The leader, covering his severed finger, sweating profusely, quickly reached out to catch her, dragged the terrified woman towards the shed.

Before leaving, he effusively thanked Xiang Wang for his generosity, promising to bring more treasures and women next time.

The woman screamed for help, but all around was laughter, mocking her innocence for calling for help in a bandit lair.

Little did they know that these cries for help reached the ears of someone.

Qin Yao frowned; this bandit leader understood how to manipulate, spinning these fools around his finger.

She folded the notice back into her chest, using the darkness like a ghost, slipped into the tree shed.

The woman curled in the dark tree shed, continuously begging, "Brother, spare me please, my father has money, a lot of money, use me to exchange for silver, okay?"

The leader was bandaging his injured finger, hearing this sneered, "Your father wouldn’t pay ransom for a worthless daughter. Serve me well, and I’ll find you a good buyer; otherwise... I’ll sell you to a brothel!"

Then he sneered, "The king truly is a king, doesn’t even fancy a beauty like you, so it’s my gain...."

Hearing this, the woman felt further despair, seemingly giving up on the hope of leaving the bandit lair alive, falling silent.

As the night deepened, those outside hadn’t heard the sounds they wanted from the tree shed, jokingly urging:

"Is this wedding night happening or not? If you don’t move, your brothers will!"

The curled woman heard this, terrified, glanced at the shadow at the shed entrance.

The man, having bandaged his finger, shouted outside, "Get lost, you wish!"

Then turned his head, looking towards her.

Despite the dark inside, she could clearly see the malicious gleam in the man’s eyes through the night.

A mix of herbal and bloody odors suddenly approached, the woman screamed "Ah!" turning on her side to the ground, still unable to give up the hope of survival, trying again to save herself.

Sadly, a large hand grabbed tight at her ankle, dragging her down.

Gravel scraped blood marks across her back, but she couldn’t care, her hands rummaging the ground, seeking a weapon to fight back.

Yet the disparity in strength was too great, the stone she just grasped was kicked away, a slap coming "whack," her head spinning, unable to react.

Outside the tree shed, hearing the intense commotion within, they laughed out loud.

It seemed accomplished, as the shed suddenly fell silent, finding it uninteresting, everyone dispersed, drinking or gambling.

Meanwhile, inside the tree shed, the man felt the cold edge of a knife on his neck, holding his breath.