Chapter 349: The First to Undergo Reform Through Labor

Just as the knife’s tip was half a foot from the target, Feng San suddenly felt something block the back of the blade.

At the same time, a bell rang out.

“Ding-a-ling…”

The crisp sound of the bell exploded in the silent night like a thunderclap.

Feng San froze on the spot, almost scared out of his wits.

In his life of countless petty thefts, he had never encountered something like this.

“Who?”

A woman’s sharp voice accompanied by the sound of her abruptly getting up.

What frightened Feng San even more was a blinding light suddenly shining directly into his eyes.

The light was so intense it was as if someone had shoved the midday sun into this cramped carriage.

He instinctively shut his eyes and raised his hand to shield himself.

“Ah—”

The strong flashlight in Han Lei’s hand illuminated a figure, startling her greatly.

As her scream pierced the night sky, she raised her leg and kicked, hitting the person squarely in the stomach.

Feng San cried out, staggered back, and stumbled over something in his panic.

“Ding-a-ling…”

The bell rang joyously again, as if mocking his foolishness.

Feng San tripped over the cart board, wildly swinging his knife only to cut through the air.

Since leaving Jingzhou, beggars and refugees had been everywhere, so Han Lei, afraid of the dangers of sleeping in the wilderness, made extra precautions given the complexity of the people around.

For the past few nights, she’d set up a simple alarm net with fishing line she bought, tying one end to two small copper bells hanging on the cart wall.

Even while sleeping, she held a strong flashlight in her hand, ready to see in the dark at a moment’s notice, and it finally came in handy tonight.

“Brother San! What’s going on? Come out quick!”

The thug guarding outside the carriage heard the commotion and called out anxiously. The other thugs also watched the swaying carriage with worry.

Upon hearing Han Lei’s scream, Da San’s pupils shrank and he charged over with an electric baton.

Many nearby sleeping refugees and beggars were also awakened by the scream and scrambled to rush forward with Da San.

Inside the carriage, Feng San had lost his wits.

He was like a headless chicken, crashing around the cabin, his eyes blinded by the glaring light, ears filled with the growing footsteps and shouts.

Fear slithered up Feng San’s spine like a cold snake. He struggled frantically to get up but was suddenly punched in the face.

“Ouch!”

Feng San cried out again, his hand lost grip, and the knife fell onto the carpet. Han Lei quickly kicked the knife out of the carriage.

Han Lei stepped forward and stomped hard on his thigh, causing Feng San to scream like a slaughtered pig. Her flashlight shone straight into his face.

“Speak, who are you?” Han Lei demanded, her eyebrows furrowed fiercely.

Feng San never imagined his luck would be so rotten, that a common carriage would hide such traps.

He hadn’t even done anything yet, and was already confusingly taken down by a seemingly delicate girl.

He covered his face with both hands, the pain in his thigh causing his lips to twitch, rendering him speechless for the moment.

At this time, Da San and the refugees’ shouts came from outside.

“Who are you people?”

“Thieves!”

“Beat these damned thieves.”

“Damn it, kill them.”

The thugs guarding the carriage saw the bad situation and tried to run, not expecting Da San to have already turned on the flashlight on the electric baton.

The sudden bright light illuminated the thugs trying to escape. Having never seen such light before, they were momentarily stunned.

Though it was only two seconds of delay, it was enough for them to lose the best chance of escape.

The awakened refugees quickly surrounded them, blocking their path.

Da San reached them, and without a word, wielded the electric baton, knocking two down. The remaining thugs desperately resisted, but they were no match for Da San.

Having battled for years, Da San, though he walked with a limp due to a severe leg injury, had survived a near-death battle after his wound became badly infected, which led to him being reported as a casualty, but Han Lei later treated him well enough to not hinder his normal movement.

The thugs didn’t last long, quickly subdued by Da San’s electric baton with the help of the surrounding refugees.

Then Da San loudly asked into the carriage, “Miss, are you alright?”