Rebirth of a Farming Wife

Chapter 482: Chapter 489: Keep Running
 

They could disregard their own safety and sacrifice their chance for life, but they could not fail to consider Madam’s welfare. Even a sliver of hope for Madam was worth fighting for—they had been taught this from the very first day they were assigned to her side. Madam’s safety was of paramount importance. Thus, as they fled, they did not forget to leave extensive tracks behind. The more obvious, the better, to draw all those pursuers to them and ensure Madam’s safety.

The man in black leading the group chased in the direction Su Wenyue had fled, only to encounter the same situation again—this time, the traces pointed in three directions.

“Damn it, this woman is too cunning. She’s using the same trick again, thinking she can deceive us with such a tactic,” the man in black couldn’t help but curse foully, frustrated with having been led around in circles by Su Wenyue thus far. Just when it seemed they were about to catch up with her, they were met with another challenge.

“Boss, there are traces of people having passed in all three directions. Which way should we chase? Should we split up again? We are already few in number, and if we split up again, it’s not certain we’ll have the upper hand, especially since Su Wenyue might have experts accompanying her.”

“But if we don’t split up, nobody knows which direction Su Wenyue has run off to. Which way should we chase?”

The leader of the men in black suppressed his irritation and carefully examined the tracks leading in the three directions, then suddenly the corner of his mouth curled into a smile: “Let’s go. We’ll chase in this direction. Su Wenyue must have fled this way.”

“Boss, these tracks are the lightest. Shouldn’t we chase where there are more tracks?” one of the men in black asked, puzzled.

“Fool, that’s exactly why we should chase this way. The traces in those other two places are too obvious; they must be deliberately made to mislead us. They want us to chase in those directions, so Su Wenyue must have escaped this way. Quick, let’s catch up immediately!” The leader of the men in black said as he led his men in the direction Su Wenyue had just taken. Ironically, Qiao Lan and Qiao Hui wouldn’t know whether to regret that the very traces they had deliberately left had inadvertently exposed Su Wenyue’s whereabouts.

Su Wenyue ran non-stop, trying her best to head towards areas with abundant trees conducive to hiding. But eventually, as her physical strength waned, she began to struggle. Suddenly, she heard some noisy voices not far behind—a sure sign that the group was catching up. Gritting her teeth, she increased her speed, but the men in black still discovered her.

“Boss, there’s someone up ahead, a woman. Could that woman be Su Wenyue?!”

“Quick, catch her!” The leader of the men in black, after following at a distance, also saw Su Wenyue and joyously commanded his men to surround her.

Su Wenyue knew she would fall into their hands but could not bear to surrender without a fight. With her three beloved children waiting for her, she held onto hope and frantically dashed forward, disregarding directions. If there was a path, she would take it. She had been near exhaustion, but now she seemed to forget her fatigue and miraculously increased the distance between them.

“You wretched woman, stop right there! Don’t run! You cannot escape. If you don’t behave, I’m going to teach you a lesson the moment you fall into my hands!” the man in black threatened while chasing, his voice laced with vulgarities. Yet, at that time, Su Wenyue couldn’t hear anything. Her only thought was to run; her feet had become numb, and as she ran, the path ahead opened up to reveal a cliff.

If fate decrees my death, I shall not escape it. At that moment, Su Wenyue could only think of this saying. Despite exerting her utmost effort and harboring a glimmer of hope, she found a dead end before her. Was there anything more tragic? Su Wenyue could only stop in front of the cliff.

At the same time, the men in black drew closer. Seeing the cliff nearby, they let out sinister laughter, slowed their steps, and approached Su Wenyue one step at a time.

“You skinny and weak thing, yet you can run. Go on, run! I really want to see where you can run off to. Keep running!” the man in black, aggravated by Su Wenyue’s previous mocking tricks and this desperate running, looked at her with a face of malice and mockery.

As she stared back at the man in black’s vicious face and his cat-and-mouse sneer, Su Wenyue suddenly lost her fear and worry and stood there quietly, watching the man in black close in on her, her face as calm as it had never been before.

Seeing Su Wenyue like this, the leader of the men in black couldn’t help but appreciate her more: “Indeed, she is General Han’s woman. Such courage is not something ordinary women can compare to. To be this calm at such a moment, you truly have my respect.”

Though the man in black had never met Su Wenyue, he had heard his superiors describe her. Observing her appearance and demeanour, he was convinced they had not pursued the wrong person.

“Are you men sent by Zhao Fan?” Although Su Wenyue posed the question with some uncertainty, her tone carried a degree of certainty. Judging solely by the way these men were dressed in black yet carried themselves with a bandit’s swagger, and considering who would be interested in capturing her at this time, there were only a few possibilities.

“Madam Han guessed correctly. We are indeed sent by General Zhao. We wish to invite Madam Han to be our guest for a few days at General Zhao’s place. Please cooperate with us, Madam, so that we won’t be put in a difficult position,” the man in black didn’t bother to hide their identity, nor did he see the need. However, out of reverence for Han Yu combined with Su Wenyue’s composure, his tone was somewhat polite, even though the threat in his words was clear.

“A guest? That sounds nice, but General Zhao and my Husband are on opposing sides, practically sworn enemies. Inviting me as a guest at this time? What kind of invitation is that? It’s nothing short of a scheme to capture and threaten my Husband,” Su Wenyue unapologetically pierced through the man in black’s pretense, not considering whether this would provoke him.

Seeing Su Wenyue’s response, the man in black’s smile faded a bit, turning somewhat dangerous and vicious: “Since Madam Han knows so much, why bother being so blunt? It makes it impossible for me to remain courteous. However, I’ve always admired General Han’s ability, and if Madam Han cooperates nicely, I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Su Wenyue, unflinching, mockingly looked at the man in black and scoffed, “Hmph, stop with the pretense there. You’re nothing but contemptible and shameless. Unable to defeat my Husband on the battlefield, you resort to such despicable acts behind the scenes. It’s truly shameful. Do you think I’d be afraid of you? Dream on. If you’re thinking of using me to threaten my Husband, forget it, not even the Window, let alone the door, exists for that. Give up that deluded hope!”

“Boss, why be so courteous with this woman? She dares to be so defiant even when captured by us.”