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

In the private room of the inn in the south of the city, the air was stagnant, with only the occasional crackling sound of the oil lamp's flame. Yun Yao sat on a wooden stool by the bed, carefully wiping the cold sweat and bloodstains from Uncle Fu's forehead with a damp cloth.

Her movements were gentle, her eyes lowered, the candlelight flickering on her pale yet delicate profile, outlining the shadows of her long, thick eyelashes. Yet, deep within those beautiful eyes, which should have been brimming with fear, lay a calmness beyond her years, and a hint of barely perceptible sharpness. Occasionally, she would pause, listening intently to the sounds outside the window—the streets at night were far from peaceful; the distant sounds of a night watchman's clapper, the barking of stray dogs, or the incoherent slurring of a drunkard could be heard. Each unusual sound caused her slender back to tense instantly, only relaxing slowly when she was certain it was safe.

This woman, who called herself "Yun Yao," was far more vulnerable and helpless than she appeared. The brief fight in the alley during the day, the instantaneous deaths of her two loyal guards, and the ruthless determination of the Di Rong people—all these made her truly smell the scent of death. But what terrified her more than death itself was the consequence of falling into the hands of the Di Rong. It would mean a humiliation far worse than death, and a potentially devastating upheaval that she could not bear.

Lin Feng's appearance was like a bolt of lightning striking from a desperate situation—sharp, abrupt, yet carrying a powerful force that inexplicably reassured her. His calm and decisive killing, the clean and efficient handling of the scene, the experience in choosing a hiding place, and the calm yet scrutinizing gaze he had during their conversation... all told her that he was no ordinary border soldier, and might even be more than just a simple "hunter."

"Does he want something from me?" Yun Yao unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress. A generous reward? Perhaps. But in this man's eyes, there was none of the greed, awe, or flattery that ordinary people would show upon seeing her face or guessing her possible identity. He seemed to be evaluating a "matter," weighing the pros and cons, and then making the most advantageous choice. Escorting her away from Linyuan County seemed more like a "transaction" to him, or rather, an "investment."

This actually reassured her somewhat. Having an ulterior motive is easier to control than having no motive at all. What she feared was the kind of "kindness" without any reason or a deeper calculation.

"Miss..." Uncle Fu let out a weak groan from the bed, his eyelids trembling.

"Uncle Fu!" Yun Yao quickly bent down and grasped the old man's withered hand. "You're awake? How are you feeling? Don't move, you've injured the back of your head."

Uncle Fu struggled to open his cloudy old eyes, adjusting to the dim light. When he saw that it was Yun Yao, his eyes flashed with urgency: "Miss... are you alright? Those thieves..."

"It's alright, Uncle Fu, we're safe for now." Yun Yao reassured him in a low voice, briefly recounting the attack during the day, Lin Feng's rescue, and their current situation, omitting her many speculations about Lin Feng.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu burst into tears, struggling to sit up and bow in apology: "This old servant is incompetent and failed in his duty to protect you, causing you to suffer such great danger... If it weren't for that brave man..."

"Uncle Fu, this is not your fault." Yun Yao pressed him down, her tone firm. "The thieves were too cunning and fierce. The most urgent thing is to leave this place as soon as possible and contact the prefectural government. That brave man Lin has agreed to escort us for a while."

Uncle Fu, panting, still looked worried: "Is this person...reliable? We've only met by chance, why would he risk such danger?"

Yun Yao was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "We have no other choice right now. This man is observant and decisive, no ordinary brute. Since he agreed, he must have some confidence. Besides..." She glanced at the small porcelain bottle on the table, "He left behind some excellent wound medicine, and his words suggest he harbors a deep hatred for Di Rong. Perhaps we can use it. We just need to be careful."

Uncle Fu sighed deeply and said nothing more, but held Yun Yao's hand tightly, his cloudy eyes filled with self-blame and lingering fear.

Meanwhile, in the small courtyard west of the city.

Lin Feng sat under the old locust tree in the courtyard, using the moonlight to go through the route for tomorrow one last time. In front of him lay the simple sheepskin map, his fingers slowly moving across it.

"We can't go through the east or north gates. The official roads there are flat, but there's a lot of foot traffic, making us easy targets for surveillance and easy for cavalry to pursue," he muttered to himself, as if organizing his thoughts. "The south gate is chaotic, and the guards are lax, but outside the city is a gathering place for refugees, with complex terrain, making it easy to set up an ambush. The west gate is closer to the military camp, so the checks might be a bit stricter, but not far outside the city, we can turn into the western mountain path. Although it's rugged and difficult to travel, it avoids the main road, making it easier to conceal our movements..."

His finger finally touched a thin line that meandered towards the northwest mountains after leaving the city through the west gate.

"We'll take the Western Mountain Road. We'll be among the first to leave when the city gates open at dawn, before daybreak. Ah Yue," he looked up at Ah Yue, who had been standing quietly beside him, "You're fast and have good eyesight. Once we're out of the city, you'll go ahead for half a mile, scouting the way. Watch out for any signs of ambush or if anyone is following us. I'll drive behind you, keeping a distance where you can see the back of the car. If anything unusual happens, use bird calls as a signal: three rapid calls are a warning, two long, slow calls are a safe signal."

A-Yue nodded, indicating that she had made a note of it.

"As for the master and servant," Lin Feng continued, "Miss Yun Yao can walk, but she's probably too weak. The old servant is unconscious and needs to be transported by cart. I've already rented an old mule cart with a canopy; it's not very conspicuous. I'll keep some miscellaneous items on it for concealment. If we're attacked, your primary task is to protect the cart and retreat deeper into the mountains. Don't fight head-on; focus on stalling and delaying. I'll handle the pursuers."

"Understood," A-Yue replied softly.

Lin Feng added, "Unless absolutely necessary, do not alert the government troops, and especially do not reveal Miss Yun Yao's identity. Our goal is to escort them away, not to make enemies of the entire Linyuan County."

He then provided some more details...

After finishing, Lin Feng stood up: "I'm going to the inn to finalize the details with Miss Yun Yao. Keep an eye on the house and be vigilant in the latter half of the night."

A-Yue nodded, picked up the hunting fork, and walked back into the shadows under the eaves, as if she had merged into the darkness.

Lin Feng changed into dark clothes, quietly climbed over the courtyard wall, and disappeared into the night.

Instead of taking the main road, he weaved through rooftops and alleyways, eventually arriving at the back alley of the inn in the south of the city. He lurked in the shadows opposite for a long time, observing to make sure no one was watching him, before vaulting over the low back wall of the inn like a ghost and landing in the courtyard.

The backyard of the inn was quiet, except for a faint, yellowish light shining from the window of the innermost room. Lin Feng walked to the window, flicked his fingers, and gently tapped three times in a specific rhythm.

The room fell silent instantly; even Uncle Fu's heavy breathing seemed to have stopped. After a moment, Yun Yao's hushed voice came through: "Who?"

"Lin Feng".

The door latch clicked softly, and the door opened a crack. Yun Yao's pale yet composed face appeared behind the door. Seeing that it was indeed Lin Feng, she visibly relaxed and stepped aside to let him in.

Inside the room, Uncle Fu had struggled to sit up halfway and leaned against the headboard. Although he was weak, his eyes were much clearer. He nodded to Lin Feng, full of gratitude.

Lin Feng placed the package on the table: "Two sets of clothes, some dry food, dried meat, and medicine for wounds. Tomorrow morning, at 3:45 AM, I will be waiting in the back alley in a mule cart. Get ready in advance. When you hear three long knocks and two short knocks on the wall, come out and get in the cart immediately. Do not light any lamps or make any noise."

Yun Yao took the package; it felt heavy in her hand, and her heart warmed slightly. She solemnly said, "Yun Yao has remembered it. Everything is up to Mr. Lin's arrangements."

"I have chosen the route. Also, just in case, you need to disguise yourselves. Miss Yunyao, please change into coarse cloth clothes, and on your face... it would be best to smear some soot to cover your appearance. Uncle Fu should do the same."

Without the slightest hesitation, Yun Yao nodded in agreement: "Okay."

"When we leave the city tomorrow, if we are stopped for questioning, just say that a distant relative of mine is sick and we want to take him to the prefectural capital for treatment. Keep quiet and I'll handle everything," Lin Feng continued. "This is the worst-case scenario. If all goes well, we should be able to leave the city quietly."

"Brother Lin's thinking is thorough; Yun Yao admires him," Yun Yao said sincerely. This man is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also so meticulous in his thinking, having considered all the possibilities.

"Furthermore," Lin Feng's gaze fell on Yun Yao's face. Although she tried her best to conceal it, her overall demeanor could not be completely hidden by her coarse clothes. "Miss Yun Yao, I'll ask you one last time: is that 'uncle' in the prefecture truly reliable? Is this trip to seek refuge, or is it like walking into the lion's den? If you trust me, there's no need to hide anything. This concerns the lives of all of us."

Yun Yao met Lin Feng's sharp gaze, her heart tightening. She knew that any further evasiveness now would cost her her last resort. She took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and lowered her voice to almost nothing: "Brother Lin, it's not that I'm deliberately concealing anything. The person I'm going to seek refuge with is an old friend of my father's, the current Prefect of Qingzhou, surnamed Zhou, named Wen Yuan. Uncle Zhou is an upright official and a sworn brother of my father; he would never harm me. However… my identity is special, and if it were revealed, it might bring him great disaster, so I dare not speak plainly. But I, Yun Yao, swear to heaven that I have not lied! My trip to the prefecture is solely for protection; I have no other intentions!"

The Prefect of Qingzhou! Zhou Wenyuan! Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. The Prefect was a high-ranking official in the prefecture, second only to the Governor and the Chief Secretary. This person was actually the daughter of an old friend of the Prefect? ​​This identity was far more "troublesome" than he had expected! No wonder the elite Di Rong troops wanted to capture her; this was no longer just a personal grudge, but likely involved a covert war between two countries!

He gave Yun Yao a deep look, seeing resolve and honesty in her eyes. At this moment, by sharing such crucial information, she was entrusting her life and fortune to him.

"I have also heard of Prefect Zhou's reputation; he is indeed a man of integrity." Lin Feng nodded slowly, not pressing for her specific identity. "In that case, we must be even more careful. The Di Rong people have captured you; their intentions are likely far-reaching. The journey after tomorrow may not be peaceful. Miss Yun Yao, Uncle Fu, please be prepared."

"Thank you for your help, brave man Lin!" Yun Yao and Uncle Fu said in unison.

Lin Feng didn't linger any longer. After checking the doors and windows one last time, he said to Yun Yao, "Rest well and conserve your energy. Meet me in the back alley at 3:45 AM." With that, he vanished from the room in a flash, silently disappearing into the night, just as he had come.

Yun Yao closed the door, leaning against it, her heart still pounding. Telling Lin Feng the name "Zhou Wenyuan" was a gamble. But for some reason, a voice inside her told her that this silent and powerful man might be someone she could entrust her with. At least, he hadn't shown any greed or fear when he heard the name "Biejia," only his gaze had become more serious, and his thoughts more profound.

"Miss, this brave man Lin is no ordinary person," said Uncle Fu on the bed in a hoarse voice.

"I know, Uncle Fu." Yun Yao walked to the table, opened the package, and inside were two sets of worn-out coarse cloth dresses, rough but clean. There were also sturdy dry rations and several packets of herbs. "He's all we can rely on now. Sleep well, get enough rest, tomorrow... there's still a long road ahead."

She blew out the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness. Only the cool moonlight from outside the window shone through the paper windowpane, casting a hazy glow.

At the beginning of the Yin hour (3 a.m.), Lin Feng had returned to the small courtyard in the west of the city.

"Is everything ready?" Lin Feng asked.

Liu Yun handed him an even larger bundle, which contained more dry food, water pouches, and some emergency supplies. "Yes, husband, A-Yue, you... must be careful." Her eyes were filled with unconcealed worry.

Shi Xiu then slipped a gleaming dagger into Lin Feng's bag and whispered, "For self-defense."

Lin Feng nodded and said, "We'll go first. You can set off a day later, following the marks we left behind. Be extra careful on the road." He then squeezed Liu Yun's hand tightly and patted Shi Xiu's shoulder. Then he looked at A Yue: "Let's go."

Instead of going through the main gate, the two climbed over the wall again. They arrived at the side gate of the carriage shop, which they had agreed upon beforehand. There, a slightly worn covered mule cart was parked. The driver was a taciturn old man who charged double the fare and was only responsible for driving the cart to the designated location without asking why.

Lin Feng drove the cart himself, with A Yue sitting on the other side of the shaft. The mule cart bypassed the main street, taking the narrow alleys, and headed towards the back alley of the inn in the south of the city.

We arrived precisely at 3:45 AM.

Lin Feng got out of the car, walked to the back wall of the inn, and knocked on the wall three times (long and two short) as agreed.

A moment later, the back door opened silently. Yun Yao, dressed in a dark brown coarse cloth dress, had her face smeared with ash, and her hair was loose, casually tied back with a strip of cloth. Although it couldn't hide her delicate features, she looked much more ordinary than the aristocratic young lady she had during the day. She helped Uncle Fu, who was also dressed in coarse cloth, his face smeared with ash, and still weak, and they walked out quickly.

Lin Feng stepped forward and helped Uncle Fu into the carriage. Inside, there was a thick layer of dry straw and an old quilt. Yun Yao also crawled in and sat down close to Uncle Fu.

"Let's go." Lin Feng shouted in a low voice, jumped onto the carriage shaft, and flicked the reins. The old mule started moving, and the mule cart started again, heading towards the west gate.

Ah Yue had already gotten off the bus and disappeared into the shadows of the street ahead like a ghost, going ahead to scout the way.

The sky remained pitch black, with only a faint sliver of dawn breaking over the eastern horizon. The city gates were not yet open, but a short queue had already formed, mostly farmers and merchants heading to the early market, or people like them in a hurry. The guards yawned, sleepily checking the travel permits and goods.

The mule cart slowly approached. Lin Feng stuffed a fake travel permit (obtained by Steward Liu for emergencies), which he had prepared beforehand and which bore the faint mark of the Fenghuo Camp, along with a few copper coins, into the hands of the guard.

"Sir, please do me a favor. My elderly relative has fallen seriously ill, and I need to rush to the prefectural capital to seek medical help." Lin Feng lowered his voice, his tone carrying just the right amount of urgency.

The guard weighed the copper coins in his hand, then glanced at the road permit in the lantern light. The words "Beacon Fire Camp" on it made him pause. He glanced at Lin Feng's leather armor and waist knife, then waved his hand without asking any further questions: "Let's go, let's go, hurry up!"

The mule cart creaked and groaned as it drove out of the West Gate. The dim yellow lantern light on the city tower was gradually left behind, and ahead lay the official road shrouded in the deepest darkness before dawn, and the faint outline of the undulating Western Hills in the distance.

Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief; the most dangerous hurdle was temporarily over.

The sky gradually brightened. A ray of morning light pierced the darkness, illuminating the path ahead and the unknown dangers hidden among the mountains.

The escort mission had only just begun. Unbeknownst to Lin Feng, less than half an hour after they left the city, a group of knights dressed in ordinary clothes but with sharp, piercing eyes arrived at the inn in the south of the city. The leader, looking at the empty room and the barely perceptible traces of blood wiped from the floor, had a grim expression.

"Chase them! They haven't been out of the city long! Split up and search! We must find that woman! Dead or alive!" The cold voice, with the distinctive guttural quality of the Di Rong people, echoed in the empty room.