TRT -Chapter 35 Disaster Relief

Before I could even react, he suddenly flipped over, turning the situation upside down and pinning me firmly beneath him! Just as I lifted my leg to fight back, he trapped it with his knee. My hands were also pulled above my head and pinned down!

Damn it! He was holding down both my hands with just one of his!

He stretched out his other well-shaped hand and braced himself beside me. His solid chest pressed close as he said in a low voice,

“So… you’re a woman.”

Two people. This position. These words. This atmosphere. This situation.

This was clearly… the prelude to a forced kiss!

I stared nervously at his lips swaying in front of my eyes. While my mind was frantically debating whether he would kiss me right away or say something first, my face suddenly felt cool.

My veil was ripped off.

Great. Removing obstacles is usually the prelude to kissing. I—I was even more nervous now!

“You look pretty ordinary,” he said disappointedly.

………… = □ = …………

…Crack… crumble…

I heard the sound of myself turning to stone and then crumbling to dust…

My pinned hands trembled as they clenched into fists. My teeth ground loudly.

Me… me…

What?!

Me… me… me…

I’ll bite you to death—!!!! Aooo!!!!!!!!

Grant me power! I am She-Ra!!

Facts proved that an angry woman is the strongest creature alive.

When both groups finally worked together to pry me off that white-haired pretty boy’s face, his face was already bleeding. His neck, hands, arms, and shoulders were covered in overlapping bite marks. It was a horrible sight.

Anyone who didn’t know better would’ve thought he’d fallen into a trap.

The white-haired beauty’s eyes turned red. He drew his saber, ready to chop me up.

Guo’er tightly shielded me in his arms, holding his sword horizontally and glaring at him. I hid in Guo’er’s embrace, making beast-like growling noises, while my legs kept kicking wildly.

“I’ve never seen such a fierce woman!” The white-haired man wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand and said fiercely, “Don’t let me see you again! Otherwise… I’ll make you regret dying too slowly!”

Both groups were stunned.

Huh? Did that mean… he was letting us go?

“Hmph! A real man keeps his word. Since you’ve already taken the bell, I’ll honor the agreement. Leave.”

He turned around and sheathed his blade.

Wow. Didn’t expect him to be so straightforward.

“Boss—” his men tried to stop him.

“Enough! Do you want me to be a man without honor?” he snapped.

Then he walked straight toward me.

Guo’er stepped back protectively. The man reached out, but Guo’er blocked him coldly. The two exchanged several lightning-fast moves.

I was dumbfounded.

Finally, the white-haired man snorted and said, “I’ll remember your three life-saving warnings.”

Then he mounted his horse and rode away.

His men followed. Only the gloomy killer and the burly third brother circled me several times, sizing me up, before laughing and leaving.

What the hell did that mean?! (Angry)

After Ying helped Guo’er treat his wounds, we rushed toward the refugee area outside West Platform City.

“They’re from the Wind-Chasing Tribe,” Guo’er said while driving. “Silver skin is their trait. But golden eyes… that’s rare.”

“Why are they called Wind-Chasers?” I asked.

“They’re experts in horseback combat and breeding fine horses. Most of the best horses in the empire come from them.”

“So they’re powerful?”

“Yes. Especially in the past five years.”

He frowned deeply.

Five years ago, General Xiao and the Fourth Prince defeated the San Gu Tribe. Since then, the north fell into chaos. The Wind-Chasing Tribe quietly grew strong and unified most of the grasslands.

Now they were extending into the Central Plains.

“General Xiao…” A familiar figure surfaced in my mind.

I suddenly felt nostalgic.

Was Xiao Shou doing well?

You asked me to wait five years… but you didn’t know I’d return.

Would you still remember me?

We returned to the city in silence.

We organized relief work: setting up stoves, distributing food and mats, dealing with troublemakers, and comforting refugees.

By nightfall, everyone was exhausted.

For the first time, West Platform City was quiet at night—no crying.

But supplies were running out. They wouldn’t last three more days.

Officials were watching us. Rumors said the relief funds had been embezzled by Magistrate Liu, who used the money to make coffins instead.

Public anger was rising.

One day, while I was distributing porridge and buns, an uninvited guest appeared.

“Sir—”

“Get in line!”

“I’m not here for food…”

“Volunteers go right!”

“I’m not volunteering…”

“Then don’t bother me!”

“I have something to ask—”

I ignored him.

Then he started coughing violently.

Everyone stopped.

“Xiao Bai, go see what he wants,” they said.

We used aliases: Guo’er was Hei, I was Bai, Ying was Jin.

I helped the coughing man aside.

“What do you want?” I asked.

He looked up and studied me.

He was thin, pale, well-dressed, with gentle phoenix eyes.

He looked familiar.

“I’ve heard you’re the righteous hero who robs the rich to help the poor,” he said.

My face twitched.

“Is that why you called me out?”

I sneered.

“I don’t have time for fantasies. Goodbye.”

I walked away.

He coughed again.

A guard appeared and helped him.

“Why bother, Young Master?” the guard said.

The sickly man sighed.

“He’s not ordinary. I must meet him myself.”

Back at the shelter…

“Xiao Bai! Move that vat!”

“No hands!”

I turned—and saw him again.

“You again?!”

He grabbed my ladle and started serving porridge.

I stared.

“Go move the vat,” he said, smiling gently.

He worked all day without complaint.

By evening, everyone liked him.

We walked to a ruined wall.

“Who are you?” I asked.

He gazed at the refugees.

“Why do disasters always hurt common people?”

“Because the weak suffer most,” I said.

“Then why have a country at all,” he muttered, “if it only oppresses its people?”

I laughed. “So if you don’t want it, it’ll disappear?”

He froze.

“You’re right…”

After a pause, he asked, “What should be done?”

“Long pain or short pain,” I said lazily.

He leaned closer.

“Which?”

“Hey, you still haven’t answered me!”

He smiled mysteriously.

“My surname is Han. Call me Young Master Han. And I came for you… because you are Minmin.”

I froze.

He reassured me.

“A friend asked me to find you.”

Then he continued.

“Magistrate Liu embezzled relief funds. I plan to seize them and replace him. Will you help me?”

“Why should I risk my life for you?”

“You risked it for the refugees.”

He explained his plan and handed me a jade token.

“If you agree, come find me in Hidden City within three days. Your food will only last one more day.”

He left.

The sunset was blood-red.

I chased him and returned the token.

“Long pain cuts to the bone. Short pain cuts the flesh. Think carefully.”

Then I smiled.

“I’ll help you.”

Darkness fell.

He stood in the wind.

“Minmin… you really are…”

Lights lit up across the city.

Officials and beggars shared the same candlelight.

That decision—made at dusk—was the hardest to judge in my life.

It cost many lives.

It saved even more.

If I could choose again…

Sigh.

Where are there ever so many ‘ifs’ in life?