Chapter 346: Encounter with Bandits
Chapter 346: Encounter with Bandits
Yuan Shanchuan was enticed by the rumors of lucrative wages.
Although he didn't possess martial arts skills like the other escorts, he was in his prime and had physical strength. Assisting in transporting goods seemed like a suitable job for him.
In a hurry to depart, Yuan Shanchuan had originally planned to find someone familiar or from his village in the county town to pass on a message to his family. Unfortunately, he didn't encounter any acquaintances, and the others couldn't afford to wait for him. Thus, he had no choice but to leave the town first.
According to the estimated journey, he would be back in around ten days. He had informed his family beforehand that if he encountered other tasks, it might cause a delay of a few days.
Little did he know that this delay would last for over a month.
Yuan Shanchuan recalled the thrilling experiences during those days and still felt a lingering fear.
"After we left the county town and traveled for two days, we didn't make it in time to find lodging one evening, so we camped out in the wilderness. Unexpectedly, we were attacked by bandits that night. Luckily, I went to relieve myself in the woods behind us. When I returned, I saw three or four men in black engaging in a fight with the others. My escort friend was kicked out and heavily fell to the ground, just three steps away from me, barely clinging to life."
That was his friend, and despite being terrified, Yuan Shanchuan quietly approached, intending to drag him into the woods during the cover of darkness and find a way to save him.
However, the escort grasped his arm and told him that among the cargo they were transporting, there was a very important item—a painting containing crucial case files related to the safety of the people of Jiangyuan County. It was in the second carriage. The escort urged him to find it and return to the city to deliver it to the county magistrate, making sure it wouldn't be snatched away by others.
Yuan Shanchuan wanted to inquire further, but the escort couldn't hold on any longer. His grip loosened, and he took his last breath.
Yuan Shanchuan was in a state of panic and had an instinctive feeling that the item was trouble and should not be meddled with.
However, he was held back by the words "related to the safety of the people of Jiangyuan County," including himself and his whole family.
Yet, he was just a small figure, lacking the ability to shoulder such a heavy burden.
Yuan Shanchuan wanted to run, but his feet wouldn't move.
At that moment, another escort was killed.
Their convoy consisted of only five people to begin with—three escorts and two ordinary individuals with no martial arts skills, one of whom was Yuan Shanchuan.
Now that the two skilled escorts had died, there was only one escort left to resist, along with one ordinary person who had turned and fled in fear.
Seeing the other person run away, the remaining escort, unable to contend with three opponents alone, gritted his teeth and also fled.
With two escorts dead and one escort and an ordinary person gone, Yuan Shanchuan hid behind the trees, not daring to make a sound.
The three bandits didn't pursue any further. They directly began searching the carriages for the item they sought.
Yuan Shanchuan held his breath and watched as they rummaged through the carriages. The painting was well hidden, but despite the commotion caused by the three bandits, they still managed to find it.
However, just as they were about to leave with the painting, another group of people appeared, launching an attack to seize the artwork.
The two sides clashed once again, and the situation became chaotic. The fight almost spilled over to Yuan Shanchuan's hiding spot.
It was at this moment that, by sheer coincidence, the painting fell just a short distance away from Yuan Shanchuan, within his reach.
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