Ma Wangkun was gravely injured. Han Zhi had shown no mercy, using brutal methods his father, Han Zhengqing, had taught him on the battlefield to discipline deserters. Ma Wangkun had been tortured to the brink of death, lying on the bed barely breathing.

  Ma San's eyes reddened instantly. Though people called them heartless bandits and demons, they'd turned to banditry only out of desperation. After countless battles together, they'd come to see each other as family. Now, seeing Ma Wangkun tormented so viciously by Han Zhi, Ma San wanted nothing more than to tear Han Zhi apart.

  The physician counted on his fingers as he spoke to Song Chuyi about Ma Wangkun's condition, "I'm afraid it's not looking good. It might be wise to prepare a coffin to ward off bad luck. All we can do now is give it our best and leave the rest to fate."

  Han Zhi was always one to keep only useful people around. Although Ma Wangkun refused to confess the mastermind behind everything, as Han Zhi mentioned back in Tongzhou, he still served as a potential bargaining chip. Yet, even so, Han Zhi had shown no mercy in his treatment of Ma Wangkun—this only showed how deep Han Zhi's resentment truly was.

  Song Chuyi lowered her gaze, her eyes clouded and unreadable. After a long moment, she finally looked up and softly replied, "Understood," then instructed Qingying to see the physician out.

  Standing before her, Ma San seethed with pent-up rage, his eyes bloodshot. Finally, he couldn't hold back and roared, "Miss, you have to avenge him!" Ma Wangkun had always been the most honest among them—not just the simple-minded kind of honesty like Ma Yongfu, but genuinely sincere. He never pushed himself to the front for a share of the loot when they were bandits. Whatever he was given, he accepted without compint, even letting others take from him without a fuss. In the tough times in Fujian, he had fought hard even when he could barely walk, pulling others along with him.

  Ma San's eyes were red, his usual fierce face twisted with emotion for the first time. "He still has a son to raise... and a daughter yet to marry..."

  Instinctively, he believed Song Chuyi would avenge Ma Wangkun. Despite her youth, being only about a third of their age, she was someone they felt they could rely on.

  Song Chuyi turned to gnce at the tiny specks of dust illuminated by the sunlight outside the window, her eyes as clear and sharp as polished jade, the bck and white of her gaze so distinct it sent a chill down one's spine.

  "Revenge will be had." She looked at Ma San and, in a rare dispy, gave him her word. "If Ma Wangkun doesn't survive, I'll make sure Han Zhi goes to the grave with him!"

  Her uncle had once told her that to gain these men's loyalty, she needed to appeal to their emotions, not through power or greed. Had they not been forced into banditry by their families' destitution, they would never have turned to such a life. Later, they fought fiercely in the battles off the Fujian coast because Cui Shaoting had promised to care for their families.

  Song Chuyi understood that to keep these skilled and loyal men on her side, she had to prove she could protect them and, at the very least, ensure she would seek justice for them when necessary.

  Ma San's eyes bzed with fury as he spat on the ground and asked about her next pns. "Miss, st time, you instructed us to go to Shuzhong, but that pn was spoiled by that scoundrel. Are we still going?"

  He had heard that Song Chuyi had a younger brother she cherished dearly. When she had prepared to send them to Shuzhong to escort Song Yan back, he realized she was serious about trusting them and making them her own. He wasn't a fool; had he been, he wouldn't have survived so long in the service of someone as shrewd as Cui Shaoting. Working for Cui Shaoting was good, but it kept them on edge constantly, with their lives on the line. Only since following Song Chuyi had he realized how fortunate it was to have a leader who truly cared. His family was now settled comfortably, living better than the young masters and dies of smaller households, and every mission they completed came with generous rewards.

  Song Chuyi nodded, "We're definitely still going. I hadn't originally pnned for Ma Wangkun to go to Shuzhong, so now he can stay behind to recover. I'll find another physician for him and try every possible treatment. Whether it works or not, that's a separate matter."

  In her past life, she had shared loving days with Shen Qingrang, learning to manage finances, serve her in-ws, and master the necessary etiquette. Those skills had long been etched into her bones. Since her rebirth, she'd further honed these abilities under Old Lady Song, and First Lady Song, blending all she'd learned into her unique approach to leadership. She knew precisely how to secure people's loyalty.

  Ma San was momentarily taken aback, then genuinely knelt before Song Chuyi with heartfelt gratitude. "Miss is truly benevolent; we will be forever indebted."

  Song Chuyi motioned for him to rise. "On your way to Shuzhong, follow my previous instructions: rest during the day, travel by night. I'll give you a route map, and I'll also send a copy to our contact there. If you find it safe to proceed together, do so. Don't worry about taking extra time—safety is the priority. Once you return, I'll arrange legitimate identities for all of you, which will make your work much easier."

  Ma San took the banknotes and route map from Qingying, tucking them into his coat and responding firmly, "Miss, don't worry. As long as a single breath remains in any of us from Ma Family Vilge, we'll ensure the young master returns safe and sound."

  He was sharp enough to understand her underlying message—they had effectively broken with Han Zhi, and if Han Zhi couldn't deal directly with Song Chuyi, he might target her younger brother, so they needed to be extra vigint.

  But for these men, trouble was nothing new; they'd once been driven to desperate measures just to survive. Now, they only needed to complete the tasks Song Chuyi assigned, allowing them to live comfortably and secure their families' safety—a deal that was well worth it.

  Seeing that he understood, Song Chuyi nodded. "Prepare and leave the city at dusk when the crowd is thickest. Be careful, don't let Han Zhi's men catch sight of you, and follow Young Master Ye's group."

  Ye Jingchuan would send a group out this evening to Tongzhou to escort his two younger sisters back to the capital tomorrow, providing the perfect cover. Song Yan's situation couldn't be deyed any longer; if they waited too long, it could complicate matters. He needed to return to take the upcoming examinations—there was no room for mistakes at such a critical time.