Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

However, at that very moment, the once quiet official road was suddenly filled with the thunderous sound of horses' hooves.

The sound came from afar, carrying a sharp, piercing sound, like a muffled thunderclap rolling across the road, making the dust underfoot tremble slightly.

The burly man, who was holding a rough stick and preparing to strike Ganmei's parents, suddenly stopped.

He frowned, his thick neck turning slightly as he glanced warily in the direction from which the sound of hooves was coming.

The sunlight slanted across his dark face, making the bulging veins and the sharp lines on his face clearly visible. The sudden commotion slightly diminished his fierce demeanor.

At the end of the official road not far away, billowing smoke and dust filled the air.

Four sleek, glossy warhorses, positioned in a horn formation, flanked a carriage made of ebony, galloping towards Pei County.

The carriage eaves were carved with simple yet exquisite cloud patterns, and the dark curtains hung low, exuding a solemn aura that kept strangers at bay.

At this moment, Gan Mei, her elderly and frail parents, and Zhang Dashanren's group of men stood blocking the way in the middle of the official road.

The carriage was extremely fast; its wheels crunched over the gravel on the road, making a "crunching" sound, and in the blink of an eye, it had already rushed up to the crowd.

The coachman tightened his grip on the reins, and the four warhorses neighed in unison, their front hooves rising high and then falling heavily back down, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Gan Mei's pupils suddenly contracted as she looked at the scene before her.

She could clearly see the sword hanging at the waist of the guard on horseback; the scabbard was jet black and gleamed with a cold, sharp light, clearly indicating that he was no ordinary guard.

This was her only hope of survival! Without thinking, Gan Mei suddenly broke free from the pull of the two vicious servants beside her, ignoring the painful pebbles under her knees, and knelt down directly in the middle of the road, her forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground.

"Help! Please, please save my family..."

Gan Mei's voice was choked with sobs, hoarse from excessive fear. She kowtowed heavily, blood quickly seeping from her temples. "We are villagers from a nearby village. We were robbed by bandits on the road..."

"Shut up!"

A loud shout interrupted Ganmei's pleas.

Zhang Dashanren's burly subordinate stepped forward, his thick right leg suddenly rising and kicking Gan Mei directly in the back with a whoosh.

Caught off guard, Gan Mei was kicked forward like a rag doll and fell heavily to the ground. The grain sack she was tightly holding rolled to the side, spilling out several handfuls of golden millet that mixed into the dust.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll kill your whole family right now!" The burly man glared down at Gan Mei with a fierce look in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

The burly man wasn't stupid.

The carriage before us was of extraordinary quality, and the guards were dressed in uniform black, their postures upright like pine trees. It was clear that this was not the ostentatious display of ordinary local gentry and wealthy merchants; the people inside must be important and influential figures.

But he wasn't too panicked—this was Pei County, their Zhang family's territory.

The Zhang family had deep roots in Pei County. Even the county magistrate treated their master with great respect and deference. He didn't believe that this outsider would dare to become an enemy of the Zhang family for the sake of a country girl.

So the burly man toned down his fierce demeanor and forced out a hint of respect, extending his hands in a cupped-back gesture as he said, "May I ask which distinguished guest has arrived ahead? This woman is a maid in our Master Zhang's household. Due to her insatiable greed, she stole grain from the Master's mansion and we have chased her here."

"I apologize for disturbing your entourage and blocking your path today."

As he spoke, the burly man waved to his men behind him, his eyes full of urging.

Upon seeing this, the servants of the Zhang family immediately stepped forward and dragged Gan Mei's elderly parents like dead dogs. The old couple were already trembling with fear, and now they didn't even have the strength to struggle. They could only let out weak whimpers as they were forcibly dragged toward the roadside.

Two other people quickly walked up to Gan Mei and reached out to grab her arm.

"You're talking nonsense! You're talking nonsense..." Gan Mei lay on the ground, her chest heaving violently, struggling despite the excruciating pain all over her body.

As she watched her parents being dragged away, tears mingled with the dust and streamed down her face. "This grain was borrowed from Zhang the Great Philanthropist, and I have a written agreement to prove it... How can you distort the truth like this!"

Ganmei struggled while loudly retorting.

Now that things have come to this, she can see perfectly well that these people in front of her are not some street thugs at all, but clearly the henchmen of Zhang Dashan, the philanthropist of the Zhang family.

As for why they did this, Gan Mei had a vague idea in her mind—it must be that kind man coveting her appearance and wanting to use the pretext of food to forcibly take her back to his mansion.

If they were captured by these people or if they were to have their food stolen, their family would be completely ruined.

Without grain, we can't farm; without farming, we can't harvest grain to return to Zhang the Great Philanthropist.

Moreover, if these people insist that she stole the grain, given the Zhang family's influence in Pei County, even if they take the case to the county government, they can still distort the truth and turn white into black, leaving her family with no way to defend themselves.

The burly man from the Zhang family kept his eyes fixed on the carriage, trying to peek at the people inside through the gap in the curtain, and pondering how to deal with them.

There was no movement from the stopped carriage. After a moment, a hand slowly emerged from inside and waved gently, as if indicating something.

The hand was slender and fair, with rounded fingertips and distinct knuckles, looking almost like a woman's hand. But looking closer at the sleeves, it was a dark brocade robe with dark gold patterns embroidered on the hem, clearly men's clothing.

This contradictory scene made the burly man frown even more.

Upon seeing this, two of the four black-clad guards surrounding the carriage immediately dismounted.

They moved swiftly, landing silently, like a feather.

Then, the two silently started walking towards the group from the Zhang residence.

Their steps were steady, each step seeming to tread on the hearts of everyone present, and the chilling aura emanating from them made the surrounding air seem to freeze.

The burly man immediately frowned, a sense of unease rising in his heart, but he remained defiant: "Is this esteemed person going to meddle in other people's business?"

He took a step forward, trying to intimidate the other party with his imposing manner, and warned, "Our master is a distinguished guest of Pei County government. It would be best if you, esteemed sir, didn't cause trouble for yourself, lest you damage our harmony."

As they were speaking, two guards from the Military Affairs Bureau approached the burly man.

The two men were slightly thinner than the burly man, but they stood tall and straight, their eyes sharp as eagles, staring intently at the burly man without making any unnecessary movements.

"You..." The burly man was about to say something more, trying to intimidate the other party.

Before he could finish speaking, two guards from the Military Affairs Bureau attacked simultaneously.

Their movements were as fast as lightning, so fast that no one could see the details, like two black afterimages.

Moreover, the two cooperated extremely well, as if they had been through countless trials. One of them reached out and precisely grabbed the strong man's left shoulder, while the other grabbed his right shoulder.

Immediately afterwards, the two men simultaneously pushed their arms forward and then pulled them down sharply—two crisp cracking sounds of bones breaking were heard, accompanied by the burly man's heart-wrenching screams. His two arms drooped down at an eerie angle, like broken willow branches, and could no longer move.

"Ah—my arm!" The burly man convulsed in pain, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat, his face ashen white. He endured the excruciating pain and roared at his men behind him, "Attack! All of you, attack! Kill these two reckless bastards!"

The dozen or so servants of the Zhang family who followed behind usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly because of the Zhang family's power. Seeing their leader injured, they were somewhat afraid, but driven by the burly man's roar and their inherent arrogance, they still grabbed the sticks and hoes in their hands and rushed forward, pouncing on the two guards.

However, the two guards from the Military Affairs Bureau showed no fear in the face of the surging crowd, their eyes remaining calm and undisturbed.

Two black figures nimbly weaved through the crowd, as if strolling in a garden. They used no weapons, only their fists and feet, and each strike was precise and ruthless, aimed directly at the opponent's vital points.

Each time someone was approached, a piercing wail would rang out, followed by the person collapsing heavily to the ground—some clutching their dislocated wrists, others clutching their broken calves, writhing and twisting on the ground in pain, unable to get up again.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the dozen or so arrogant servants of the Zhang family were all lying on the roadside, huddled together in dense crowds, their wails echoing throughout the official road. They had completely lost their former arrogance.

The plum tree by the roadside was completely stunned when it saw this scene.

She forgot to cry, forgot the pain in her body, and even forgot to struggle. She just lay on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the scene before her, her mouth slightly open, revealing an expression of disbelief.

Ganmei's parents were also terrified by what they saw. The elderly couple supported each other and huddled in the roadside bushes, not daring to utter a sound, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

The two guards from the Military Affairs Office only stopped their actions after everyone in the Zhang family had fallen to the ground.

They walked forward expressionlessly, dragging the wailing servants one by one into the ditch by the roadside as if they were carrying garbage, before turning back to the carriage and bowing respectfully.

Only then did the carriage slowly begin to move again, heading towards Ganmei. When the carriage reached Ganmei's side, the wheels gently came to a stop.

A slender hand lifted the curtain of the carriage from the inside, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

woman.

She really is a woman.

When Gan Mei saw Duan Liuqing in the carriage, her beautiful eyes were filled with surprise.

She never imagined that someone with such an impressive entourage and such capable subordinates would be a woman.

The woman was dressed in a black brocade robe, with light makeup, but her eyes and brows carried an innate nobility and a faint sense of aloofness, making people dare not look directly at her.

However, Gan Mei quickly realized what was happening, struggled to get up from the ground, knelt down by the roadside again, and lowered her head heavily, not daring to look any further.

Her hands gripped the grain sack tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

"Thank you... thank you so much for your help."

Gan Mei bowed her head, her voice still trembling slightly, and respectfully expressed her gratitude.

Duan Liuqing's beautiful eyes darted around, her gaze landing on Gan Mei kneeling on the ground, carefully examining her from head to toe.

Although the woman before him was dressed in rags, her face covered in dust, and she had a cut on her forehead, her beautiful features were still undeniable—willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a small and straight nose, naturally cherry-pink lips, and a slender and well-proportioned figure; she was a rare beauty.

After reading it, Duan Liuqing finally curled the corners of his lips into a meaningful smile.

“A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. No wonder…” Duan Liuqing’s voice was clear and cool like spring water, with a hint of laziness. “In chaotic times, it’s normal for someone with a face like yours to be coveted.”

Without a doubt, this was a compliment from Duan Liuqing.

Given Duan Liuqing's status and knowledge, ordinary women would never catch her eye. The fact that she gave such a high evaluation shows that Gan Mei's appearance was indeed exceptionally outstanding.

"Are you from Pei County?" Duan Liuqing asked, his tone flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Gan Mei, kneeling by the roadside, nodded silently, still not daring to raise her head.

"That's perfect. I'm going to Pei County soon. You can come with me," Duan Liuqing said casually.

Gan Mei was taken aback, and suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of astonishment and confusion, as if she hadn't heard Duan Liuqing's words clearly.

Before Gan Mei could even refuse, Duan Liuqing continued, "This so-called philanthropist from the Zhang family was only after your beauty."

Now you've begged me, and I've injured so many of his men. He definitely won't let this go easily.

“If you go home now, I guarantee that before dark, that Zhang the Philanthropist will bring even more people to your house.”

Duan Liuqing's tone was certain, "The fact that he's willing to lend you grain means he already knows everything about your family, including where you live and your parents' situation. Even if you want to run away now, it's too late."

"By then, it will probably be more than just coveting your beauty." Duan Liuqing's voice turned colder. "At that time, you will be at their mercy. Not only will your life be in danger, but your parents' lives will also be at risk."

"Follow me, and I'll give you a way to live."

After saying that, Duan Liuqing stopped talking and just looked down at Gan Mei kneeling by the roadside, waiting for her answer with a calm expression.

In fact, with Duan Liuqing's power, she could easily help Gan Mei get rid of the Zhang family, a potential threat. If she just gave the order, the Zhang family would disappear from Pei County in less than half a day.

But... she won't do that.

In the past, she might have softened her heart and meddled in this mess.

But Duan Yu once told her: Don't interfere with other people's fates easily, because every independent life has the right to make its own choices.

Excessive interference can not only disrupt the other person's life trajectory, but may also bring unnecessary trouble to oneself.

Of course, if this person is useful to her or the Grand Council, then that's another matter.

The fact that the plum tree is beautiful is itself a great value.

The Military Intelligence Bureau is currently in dire need of personnel, especially those skilled in intelligence gathering.

Men always like to approach or want to get close to good-looking women, and a woman with outstanding appearance can easily approach men in high positions, thus making it easier to obtain useful information.

Duan Liuqing recognized this point, which is why he extended an olive branch to Gan Mei.

Of course, the reason for giving the choice to Gan Mei was to see if she was smart enough to see the current situation clearly and make the right choice.

"I...I..." Gan Mei, kneeling on the ground, bit her red lips tightly, her heart in turmoil. She raised her head and looked at the servants of the Zhang family who were still wailing in the ditch by the roadside, then turned to look at her parents, who were huddled in the grass, trembling with fear. Her eyes were full of struggle and reluctance.

After a moment, Gan Mei seemed to have made up her mind. She took a deep breath, her voice firm: "I...I'm willing...but my parents, they..."

"Hehe." Duan Liuqing chuckled, interrupting her.

"Don't worry, your parents will be fine," Duan Liuqing said calmly. "I will send someone to take them to a completely safe place where there will be new houses, new farmland, and enough seeds and farming tools to ensure they can live a peaceful life."

"Don't worry about me lying to you." Duan Liuqing's tone carried a hint of frank indifference. "At least for now, you're not worth my effort to lie to you. But once you have your own value, things might change."

"Come on up." Duan Liuqing beckoned to Gan Mei, then turned to his two subordinates and instructed, "Send her parents away first, move them to Chang'an, and have the post stations along the way meet and arrange for them. Once they arrive in Chang'an, settle them in properly."

The two guards bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, sir."