Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The mule cart creaked and groaned, carrying a family of five (including Shicao'er) and their meager belongings, and arrived in Linyuan County in the afternoon.

Lin Feng didn't go directly to the rented courtyard in the west of the city. Instead, he took his family to see Li Kui. This was the first step in establishing himself in the county town—paying his respects and letting Li Kui get to know him, showing that his family was under his protection.

Li Kui was supervising the soldiers' drills on the parade ground outside the barracks when he saw Lin Feng arrive with his family. He was very welcoming. With his loud voice, he introduced Lin Feng to the officers' families in the vicinity of the barracks. They all knew that the newly arrived Lin Feng was Li Kui's good brother, a hero who had returned from the northern border, and a ruthless man who had hunted down a tiger on his own.

"Brother Lin, sister-in-law, the courtyard is all ready, just move in! If you need anything, just tell your sister-in-law, or come to the camp to find me!" Li Kui patted his chest.

Shi Xiu and Liu Yun quickly bowed and thanked them. A Yue also bowed slightly.

After saying goodbye to Li Kui, the family arrived at a small courtyard in the west of the city, right next to the military camp. The courtyard was indeed small, but the walls were high and thick, and the doors were sturdy. The three main rooms inside were somewhat old, but the roofs and walls were intact, and the window paper was newly pasted, clearly indicating that Li Kui had arranged for them to be tidied up beforehand. There was also a well and an old locust tree in the courtyard, making it far better than the dilapidated house in the mountain village.

"This place...is so nice." Liu Yun looked at the tidy courtyard, her eyes a little red. After wandering for so long, she finally had a decent, safe place to stay.

Shi Xiu was also very satisfied, especially when he saw the well and the sturdy courtyard wall: "It will be much more convenient to fetch water in the future, and the courtyard wall is high, so it's safe."

Lin Feng unloaded the items from the mule cart, and the family began to pack up.

Busy until evening, the new home finally took shape. Liu Yun used the grain and smoked meat she had brought to cook a simple dinner. The aroma of the food wafted through the small courtyard, creating a rather cozy atmosphere.

After the meal, Lin Feng called Shi Xiu, Liu Yun, and A Yue together.

"It's safer here than in the village, but not absolutely." Lin Feng's voice was calm. "Although Captain Li promised to take care of us, we ourselves need to be more careful. Liu Yun, you are meticulous. From now on, you will be mainly responsible for the household chores and interactions with the neighbors. Remember, talk less and observe more, don't argue with anyone, but don't be overly humble either. Shi Xiu, you are strong and familiar with the wild. From now on, you will be responsible for the heavy work at home, as well as going out to collect firewood and dig for wild vegetables (if needed), but try to go in groups and don't go too far. A Yue," he looked at the silent woman, "you are the most skilled and alert. The safety of the house, especially at night, is entrusted to you. If there is any emergency while I am away, you can go to the city defense camp to find Captain Li, or go to the county government office to find Steward Liu, and just say that you are my family member."

The three women listened attentively and nodded.

"I'll be back at camp in about ten days," Lin Feng continued. "In these ten days, besides settling in, we also need to familiarize ourselves with the town. I'll visit Steward Liu and buy some household supplies. Don't stray too far from this area unless absolutely necessary, and be especially careful around unfamiliar faces."

"Don't worry, my husband, we understand," Liu Yun said softly, her eyes filled with reluctance and worry. Shi Xiu and A Yue nodded silently as well.

Over the next few days, Lin Feng and his family began their new life in the county town.

Lin Feng first visited Manager Liu, bringing some high-quality mountain products (mainly smoked meat and medicinal herbs he had reserved) to thank him for his previous introduction. Seeing that Lin Feng had indeed moved to the county town and was on good terms with Li Kui, Manager Liu became even more enthusiastic, saying that if Lin Feng needed anything in the county town, he should feel free to come to him.

Lin Feng used the remaining money to purchase more daily necessities. He also made a special trip to the blacksmith Zhang Tie to retrieve the arrowheads, hand axes, and machetes he had previously ordered, and commissioned several smaller but sharp daggers for Shi Xiu and Liu Yun to use for self-defense. A Yue received a short-handled hunting fork that Lin Feng had specially chosen for her, one that was more suitable for her hand.

That afternoon, Lin Feng bought some needles, thread, and salt from the market in the south of the city.

He turned onto a shortcut back to the west of the city. A sudden sound, out of place with the languid afternoon, pierced the silence like an icicle.

First came the rapid, chaotic sound of horses' hooves, followed by the heavy thud of a body falling to the ground, and then the sickeningly faint "hiss" of a sharp weapon slicing through flesh. He knew that sound all too well; he had heard it countless times in the cold nights of the borderlands.

Lin Feng's steps did not falter in the slightest, but his entire body tensed instantly. He slid to the side, silently pressing himself against the shadows of a wall, his gaze like lightning, shooting towards the source of the sound.

Deep in the alley, about thirty steps away, the scene was chilling.

Two glossy, robust horses snorted restlessly, their reins dragging on the ground. On the ground, two men dressed as guards in dark brown short jackets lay twisted in a pool of blood, a thin, red line on their necks, already lifeless. The attack was ruthless, a single, fatal blow.

The perpetrators of this tragedy were three men dressed as merchants. They stood in a triangle, cornering a woman against the wall. The woman, dressed in a pale blue silk dress and a moon-white vest, had a slender figure. She leaned against the cold wall, holding a short, jade-inlaid sword about a foot long, its tip trembling slightly, pointing it at her enemies. Her face was veiled by a light gauze of the same color, obscuring her features, but her forehead was smooth, and her eyes, though filled with terror, shone with an astonishing brightness, like the moon reflected in a cold pool, carrying a forced composure. At her feet lay an elderly man in a silk robe, resembling a steward, lying on the ground, blood on his forehead, his life hanging in the balance.

What made Lin Feng's pupils suddenly contract were those three "traveling merchants".

Their clothing was that of standard merchants from Yan, but their eyes were cold, like those of hungry wolves in the wilderness. Their grip on their swords, thumbs pressed firmly against the hilt, was the standard starting stance for a backhand slash by Di-Rong cavalry. Their footwork subtly formed a battle formation. Even more jarring were their low, guttural shouts, deliberately muffled, but a few key words—"Grab," "Don't kill"—were in authentic Di-Rong language.

The elite Di Rong troops! Disguised and infiltrating the county town in broad daylight, to ambush and kill a vulnerable woman?!

In a flash, countless thoughts raced through Lin Feng's mind. Who was this woman? Those two guards who were killed instantly were definitely not weak... The strength of this group of Di Rong people far exceeded that of ordinary people.

To manage or not to manage?

Reason screamed sharply: Mind your own business. This water is too deep, too murky. My return is imminent, my wife and daughters have just been settled…

However, something deeper surged and roared in his blood. It was an indelible mark etched into his bones, the very spirit of the Chinese army—how could he tolerate foreign invaders bullying women and children on his homeland?! Ye Qingli's warning still echoed in his ears. The Black Wolf Riders had infiltrated, their intentions far-reaching. Could this group before him be theirs?

In the instant Lin Feng's mind raced, the battle situation became increasingly precarious. A Di Rong man grinned maliciously as he deflected her short sword, while another, like a ghost, reached out and grabbed a vital point on her shoulder! A third man warily guarded the flank, his sharp gaze sweeping across the alleyway, his eyes meeting Lin Feng's as he lurked in the shadows!

The Di Rong man's eyes flashed with anger, and he opened his mouth to shout.

It's now!

Lin Feng moved. Without roaring or hesitating, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey, he sprang from the shadows! The iron-backed bow on his back was already in his hand, the vibrating hum of the bowstring deliberately suppressed. A fine iron arrow tore through the air, carrying the sigh of death, aimed straight for the throat of the Di Rong man who was about to warn him!

"puff!"

The arrow pierced his Adam's apple with pinpoint accuracy. The Di Rong man's eyes bulged out, he made a hoarse sound, his scimitar clattered to the ground, and his body crashed to the ground.

This sudden and fatal blow caused the other two Di Rong people to abruptly halt their attack and turn around in horror.

The woman seized the fleeting opportunity, her short sword leaving a deep, bone-revealing gash on the arm of the Di Rong man who was grabbing at her shoulder, while her delicate body leaped backward.

"There's an ambush! Kill him!" the wounded Di Rong man roared, and he and his companion, one on each side, charged at Lin Feng like two mad beasts!

Lin Feng discarded his bow and drew his sword. The moment the thick-backed cleaver was unsheathed, it seemed as if even the light in the alley was sucked away for a moment. Facing the attack of two fierce Di Rong experts, his face was expressionless, his eyes frighteningly calm.

He slammed his left foot forward, landing on a depression in the flagstone, and used the momentum to slightly tilt his body, dodging a powerful diagonal slash from the Di Rong man on his left. The blade grazed the leather armor, sending sparks flying. At the same time, his cleaver moved upward in a clean, almost ruthless arc, aiming straight for the Di Rong man on his right, whose exposed ribs were exposed by the swing of his blade!

The Di Rong man was caught off guard and couldn't swat back his sword in time, so he desperately twisted his body.

"Sizzle—!"

The blade pierced flesh, and blood spurted out! Though it didn't hit a vital spot, it left a bloody gash over a foot long on his ribs, deep enough to expose the bone. The Di Rong man screamed and staggered.

The Di Rong man on the left had a bloodshot eye, and his swordsmanship became even more frenzied. Lin Feng, however, did not fight him head-on. Instead, he changed his footwork, dodging and weaving through the narrow alley, his cleaver targeting any openings. In just a few breaths, the Di Rong man had been stabbed several times. Lin Feng spotted an opening and struck the man's wrist hard with the back of his blade.

"Crack!" The wrist bone shattered. The scimitar slipped from his hand.

Lin Feng kicked him, sending him flying into the wall. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, and he was clearly beyond saving.

The last wounded Di Rong man, his eyes filled with fear, roared and lunged at the woman beside him, as if fighting a cornered beast.

"Watch out!" Lin Feng shouted sharply, throwing his machete out of his hand!

The cleaver spun and slammed heavily into the Di Rong man's back. The Di Rong man fell forward, his scimitar falling to the ground. The woman, still shaken, instinctively thrust her short sword forward—

"Thud." The tip of the sword pierced his back.

In the alley, a deathly silence returned, broken only by the thick, pungent stench of blood. Sunlight slanted in through narrow gaps in the high walls, illuminating the swirling dust and the pool of blood on the ground that quickly turned dark red.

Lin Feng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, walked to the corpse, drew his machete, wiped away the blood, and sheathed it. His movements were steady, but the slight rise and fall of his chest revealed the strain on his mind.

He walked over to the two guards, knelt down to check their breathing, and shook his head. He then looked at the unconscious old man, checked his pulse, and examined his pupils and the injury to the back of his head.

"How is he?" A clear but slightly trembling voice sounded beside me.

Lin Feng looked up. The woman had already approached, her light veil falling away to reveal a pale, almost transparent face. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like autumn waters rippling across the surface. Even though her hair was slightly disheveled and her cheeks were stained with blood, it couldn't conceal her stunning beauty and the noble air about her. She looked to be no more than sixteen years old, but her gaze was calm and composed.

"He suffered a severe blow to the back of his head, resulting in bruising, but his breathing and pulse are stable. He is not in immediate danger of death and needs to rest," Lin Feng said succinctly, his voice slightly hoarse from the fight.

The woman visibly breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze towards Lin Feng filled with complex emotions—the relief of surviving a disaster, the grief over the loss of her guards, the gratitude for Lin Feng's rescue, and a hint of scrutiny and wariness.

She curtsied gracefully, her posture elegant: "I am Yun Yao, and I thank you for saving my life, brave man. If it weren't for your righteous intervention, I would probably be in grave danger today." Her voice was clear and melodious, like jade striking jade, gentle and graceful.

"Lin Feng." Lin Feng gave his name, stood up, glanced at the corpses of the Di Rong people, and frowned slightly. "We can't stay here any longer. These people are elite Di Rong soldiers in disguise. They must have a backup plan, and their accomplices may soon find us."

Yun Yao's pretty face paled even more. She glanced at the unconscious Uncle Fu, then at the alley entrance, a resolute glint in her eyes: "What Warrior Lin said is absolutely right. However… Yun Yao originally intended to go to the prefectural capital to visit relatives, but all her guards have perished, and Uncle Fu is… I wonder if Warrior Lin could…" She paused, then gritted her teeth and said, "Could you allow Uncle Fu and me to hide for a while, and then find someone to escort us? Yun Yao will forever remember your great kindness and repay you handsomely in the future!"

After she finished speaking, she looked earnestly at Lin Feng with her bright eyes.

Lin Feng gazed at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, his mind racing. Saving her was instinctive, but what to do next required careful consideration. This woman's identity was shrouded in mystery, and her involvement was far-reaching; taking her along would be a huge problem. But if he simply ignored her… Besides, she mentioned "seeking refuge with relatives in the prefecture"... the prefecture?

Risks and opportunities coexist.

In just a few breaths, Lin Feng had made his decision.

"I know a secluded inn in the south of the city. The owner doesn't ask where you're from. You can take refuge there for a while," Lin Feng said in a deep voice. "But you need to leave immediately and clean up any traces. Can you leave? I need to deal with these corpses first."

A glimmer of hope instantly appeared in Yun Yao's eyes, and she nodded hurriedly, "I can walk!" She glanced at Uncle Fu, "It's just that Uncle Fu..."

"I'll carry him on my back." Lin Feng said no more and quickly got to work.

"Follow me, try to walk quickly, and watch your surroundings," Lin Feng said to Yun Yao, and took the lead to the other end of the alley. He did not return the way he came, but chose a more secluded and circuitous route.

Yun Yao bit her lower lip, lifted her skirt, and quickly followed.

After navigating through streets and alleys, avoiding crowds, and wandering around for a full quarter of an hour, Lin Feng finally led Yun Yao to a relatively chaotic area in the south of the city. They eventually arrived at a small, fairly clean-looking inn with a backyard.

Lin Feng asked Yun Yao to wait a moment, and then went to knock on the door. After a short while, an old man with gray hair and cloudy eyes opened the door a crack.

"I need a quiet room in the back courtyard for at least three days. I don't care about your background or your business. The room rate will be doubled." Lin Feng handed over a small piece of silver, his voice calm, his gaze carrying an unquestionable meaning.

The backyard was quiet, with only two or three side rooms. The old man opened the innermost room, which was simply furnished but clean, with a window facing a narrow alleyway inside, secluded and hidden.

Lin Feng settled Uncle Fu on the bed, and Yun Yao followed him in. After closing the door, she seemed to finally feel relieved, leaning against the door to catch her breath, her face pale.

"It's safe for now," Lin Feng said in a low voice, walking to the table and washing the blood off his hands and face with water.

Watching his steady movements, Yun Yao took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. She walked to the bedside to check on Uncle Fu, and seeing that his breathing was steady, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. Turning to Lin Feng, she once again curtsied, this time with even greater solemnity.

"Brave Lin, I am deeply grateful. I will remember your kindness forever." She raised her head, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. "If it weren't for you today, Uncle Fu and I would have met our demise. But... I am truly at peace knowing that you have been dragged into this calamity."

"These Di Rong traitors are committing atrocities within the borders of my Great Yan. No man with any sense of honor would stand idly by." Lin Feng dried his hands, turned around, and looked at her calmly. "Miss Yun Yao, let's not beat around the bush. Those men are elite Di Rong soldiers, well-trained, with a clear objective: to capture you. Who exactly are you? And why have you attracted their pursuit?"

Yun Yao trembled slightly, biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, a struggle flashing in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she spoke softly, "To be honest, brave warrior, Yun Yao... is not an ordinary woman. I fled from the north, and my family had a past feud with the Di Rong. This time I came south to seek refuge with distant relatives in the prefecture, but I did not expect my whereabouts to be exposed..." Her words were half true and half false, but the sorrow in her voice did not seem fake.

Lin Feng didn't press further. "Although this place is secluded, it's not a place to stay for long. The Di Rong people failed in their first attack, so they must have a backup plan. You need to leave Linyuan County as soon as possible."

Yun Yao nodded, her worry deepening. "Yun Yao understands. But... Uncle Fu is seriously injured and unconscious, and all his guards are gone. I am but a woman... Brave Man Lin, Yun Yao knows this matter is dangerous and shouldn't speak again. But I truly have nowhere else to turn. Brave Man, your martial arts are superb; could you possibly help Yun Yao one more time? Just escort me and Uncle Fu out of Linyuan County to find a safe place, or perhaps contact our relatives and friends in the upper prefecture! Yun Yao swears that she will repay this kindness with everything she has!"

As she spoke, she even knelt down to bow.

Lin Feng stepped forward to help her up. "Miss Yun Yao, there's no need for that," he said thoughtfully. "I do have urgent business to attend to and will need to leave Lin Yuan soon. However, it's convenient for me to escort you away from this troublesome place. But you must plan carefully, and," his gaze sharpened, "you must tell me frankly, Miss, who your relatives and friends are in the prefecture? Are they reliable?"

Yun Yao felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze. After a moment of contemplation, she lowered her voice and said, "In the prefecture... I can find an uncle who is a family friend. He is an official in the prefecture and has a good reputation. He should be able to protect me. However, please forgive me for not being able to reveal his name for the time being. It is not that I do not trust you, but that the matter involves many people. But I can swear that I am not lying and will never harm you."

His words were earnest, and his eyes were glistening with tears, but his noble bearing and decisiveness made him impossible to underestimate.

Lin Feng stared at her for a few seconds, then slowly nodded: "Alright, I trust you. But this journey is dangerous, so you must follow my instructions. You and the old man will rest here for now; I will bring you medicine, food, and a change of clothes. We will set off early tomorrow morning. How to leave the county town, which road to take, and when to depart—all of this will be under my command. Can you manage that?"

"I'll leave it to you, brave warrior!" Yun Yao replied without hesitation.

"Your arm injury needs to be treated as soon as possible." Lin Feng took out the small porcelain bottle Ye Qingli had given him from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is top-quality wound medicine. Treat it yourself. I'll come again tonight to discuss the specific details. Until then, don't go out, and don't answer any knocks from anyone."

"Yun Yao understands, thank you for your help, brave warrior."

Lin Feng said no more, turned around, opened the door, and left quickly.

Silence returned to the room. Yun Yao walked to the table, picked up the porcelain bottle that still held Lin Feng's warmth, and clutched it tightly in her hand. She walked to the window and looked out into the deepening twilight through the gaps in the window paper.

Lin Feng took a detour back to the small courtyard in the west of the city. He observed from a distance for a long time before entering through a side door. He briefly told his family about the rescue, omitting the details, only saying that the female maid who had been chased by enemies had been settled elsewhere and that he needed to escort her away the next day.

"Ah Yue, you'll come with me tomorrow," Lin Feng arranged.

As night deepened, Lin Feng, by the light of an oil lamp, began planning his route out of the city the next day, including ambush points and retreat strategies. His instincts as a special forces soldier from his previous life made him accustomed to preparing for the worst.

The night was long and fraught with danger. But a faint glimmer of hope had quietly been lit in a dark corner of the county town.