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Ever since being brought back by this girl in a fishing net, Vienna and Vande had been staying at her place. Though remote, it was indeed a good hideout to evade pursuers.
The girl’s name was Nina Lee. She had lived alone with her father since childhood, but not long ago, her father passed away, leaving her to tend to this small house by herself.
Though her temper was a bit fiery, she was genuinely a good girl.
Vienna immediately questioned the above narration: “Who’d believe that? Do you believe it?”
Vande shook his head. “Look at the calluses on her hands, clearly a martial arts expert.”
“Exactly! And who calls themselves a ‘good girl’ anyway?”
Nina spun around and slammed the table, veins bulging on her forehead. “Can you keep it down?! I can hear you!”
Vienna hastily nodded and shrank behind Vande like a timid wife.
They didn’t probe too deeply into Nina’s background. Since she showed no hostile intent, Vande saw no reason to confront her. His injuries needed rest, so he and Vienna settled in, occasionally venturing down the mountain to gather news.
This respite lasted over a month.
At the foot of the mountain lay a small village. Vande often went down to trade for rice and grain. On this sunny day, Vienna tagged along, chasing after him as they descended.
Since arriving in this world, Vienna had been constantly on the move. Only during this month in the mountains did she begin to grasp the outside world.
“When are you planning to send me back to the Judd Manor?”
Vande stiffened, his expression turning odd. “You want to go home?”
Vienna giggled, feigning shyness. “No way. How could I think of home when I’m with you?”
This was the truth: Vienna had no desire to return to the so-called Judd Manor. The real Judd family patriarch was there. Going back would be suicide.
Having figured this out, she clung even tighter to Vande, whining, “Mr. Vande, how could you bear to part with me? I gave you my first time, you know. Say something!”
Vande’s face flushed crimson. “Shut up! Shut up!”
“You’re not seriously waiting for my, I mean, my dad to accept your challenge before sending me back, are you?”
When Vande didn’t respond, Vienna panicked.
Right. Vande’s reason for kidnapping her was simple, he was a martial arts fanatic!
What did that mean? Obsessed with fighting for a hundred years!
Vande had long wanted to challenge the old Judd Alliance Leader. But Vienna’s father was too busy focusing on his second child to entertain the young hero’s challenges, always responding: “Kid, we’re not doing this!”
Enraged, Vande thought, Fine, if that’s how it is! And so, he kidnapped the man’s precious daughter.
“Really willing to let me go?”
Vande remained silent. Vienna, furious, flung his hand away and turned her head aside.
After taking two steps, Vande suddenly poked her waist, his ears turning red as he offered his hand again.
“Well… this matter isn’t entirely non-negotiable. We could… think about it some more.”
Vienna stared at him, her face instantly flushing crimson. She lowered her head and took Vande’s hand, acting all bashful.
“Well, well.”
Nina suddenly appeared from behind, giving the two red-faced lovebirds a deadpan stare.
“Get out of the way! Lovebirds!”
As evening fell, a few small lamps lit up in the village, their glow stretching into the distance, creating a quaint and charming scene.
For some reason, Vande seemed distracted. Vienna was just thinking of spending more time with him when he suddenly patted her shoulder and told her to go back first with Nina.
Before Vienna could even voice her thoughts, Vande had already walked far ahead, disappearing around a corner.
“What are you staring at? Let’s go.”
Over the past month, Vienna and Nina had grown quite close. Frowning, Vienna asked, “Do you think Vande went to meet a lover in secret?”
Nina shot her a look as if she were an idiot. “In the mind of a martial arts fanatic, anyone who can’t fight is just a pile of crap. Got it?”
Vienna grimaced. “Then what about me?”
Nina held up two fingers and replied flatly, “At most, two piles.”
Vienna was left speechless. Suddenly, Nina scooped her up and dashed off in the direction Vande had gone. The wind forced Vienna to clamp her mouth shut, and by the time they stopped, they were tucked away in a narrow alley.
“What are you—”
Before Vienna could finish, Nina covered her mouth and pointed behind them. Turning her head, Vienna saw Vande standing in the darkness with another person, speaking in hushed tones at a moderate distance.
After a while, Vande turned and left, leaving the other person alone in the alley.
“Who’s that? Let me see.” Vienna strained to peek forward when suddenly, she was shoved from behind and stumbled out into the open.
She whipped her head around to glare at Nina, but the girl just grinned at her before turning tail and running off. As she fled, she even mouthed a phrase: “All scoundrels and their mistresses must be punished, no matter how far they flee.”
Vienna’s heart nearly shattered. Trembling, she looked toward the figure approaching from the darkness. The person bent down slightly, revealing a familiar yet strikingly handsome face.
“What a coincidence, Miss Judd.”
Vienna blinked, then covered her face dramatically. “Don’t even try. Even if you have my body, you’ll never have my heart.”
Sam: “…”
The moonlight was exquisite. Vienna lay sprawled across the desk, motionless, while Sam sat leisurely nearby, his white robes fluttering gracefully in the breeze.
“Are bandits these days all so outrageously talented?”
Sam turned his head, slightly puzzled. Vienna stared at his breathtakingly handsome face, wishing she could gouge out her own eyes in frustration.
“With looks like that, you could easily coast by on your appearance, yet you insist on relying on your skills, relentlessly kidnapping people, so dedicated to your craft.”
Ignoring her sarcasm, Sam calmly poured himself a cup of tea.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll scream for help?”
Sam offered a sincere suggestion: “You really shouldn’t. Once people see our faces, they might not know who to rescue.”
Vienna choked back a mouthful of blood, her fingers digging into the desk as if she could tear it apart.
They were both handsome young men, how could the difference between them be so vast?!