Black Belly Wife

The one who looked to be the leader of the bandit looked over Nie Qing with disdain, then waved at him to make himself scarce, "Your cloths are worse than ours, robbing you will ruin our reputation. Go away and stop meddling, nobody is going to rob you."

Nie Qing seemed offended by the bandit's words, he gave Murong Yun Shu a stern look.

Murong Yun Shu was baffled, wasn't my fault that you dressed dowdily, what you staring at me for?

I wouldn't seem as dowdy if it wasn't for you! Nie Qing gave her another stare in displeasure. Did you really have to adorn your carriage with silver and gold? Even the silk curtain that was more expensive than his entire outfit was fitting with gold trimmings. It was as though she wanted to attract the bandits purposefully!

That was true that Murong Yun Shu was trying to draw out the bandits purposefully, but that was a month ago. She "disguised" her carriage that way for the sole purpose of luring out bandits Feng Ling and her brother at Mount Hua Tuo. Then she figured she had already spent all the money in decorating it, there was no reason for such a luxurious carriage to go to waste, so she rode it all over town flaunting and drawing attention everywhere she went...

Alright, so she was fully responsible for their running into the bandit today.  Murong Yun Shu seemed to mindlessly reached up and touched her aquamarine Chinese zither-shaped earring on her right ear. She felt the stretched strings on the Chinese zither model flickered and lowered her hand. Calmly and with a hint of overbearing attitude of a rich person,Thshe said "Go ahead, name your price."

The bandits thought they had ran into some sort of freak, but a pretty one at that. They took some time to discuss among themselves before the head of the lead bandit raised one hand and said "Five thousand taels."

Before Murong Yun Shu could respond, Feng Ling already exclaimed, "What the hell? Five thousand taels? This is robbery!"

Murong Yun Shu cast her a weak stare, "This is robbery."

Oh oops. Feng Ling stuck her tongue out in embarrassment and quietly moved to the side. It was the fault of Murong Yun Shu's elegant, business-like mannerism, it made her thought they really were in the middle of negotiating a business deal.

"Five thousand taels is a bit much. All you've done was chopped down a true, and paved a portion of a road. Throwing in labor, a hundred at most."

The bandits were shocked beyond words, did she really think this was a business negotiation?

"Yeah! One hundred taels, take it or leave it!" Feng Ling chimed in.

"Oh yeah? Let's see about that! We never claimed we are good guys!" All the bandits draw their weapons and prepared to strike.

Feng Ling immediately jumped and hid behind Murong Yun Shu, shivering she whispered into her ear, "Murong, just give them the five thousand taels. It's not like you don't own a bank."

Murong Yun Shu was irritated, "Hey! I thought you know kung fun, why are you hiding?"

Feng Ling blushed and stammered, "My brother advised me that if there's trouble in the way, I should go around it. My kung fu is only good enough for the like of Nie Qing...."

Nie Qing was just about to defend her "look at her petite size, she can't fight these roughnecks sizes of bear and tigers." But decided against it after hearing her "only good enough for the like of Nie Qing" comment.

Murong Yun Shu rubbed between her brows, she thought Feng Ling, being the only member of jianhu on the team, would be of some help. She didn't expect her to be a half ass. Then again, she should have known better. Judging by how much Feng Ling loved to stick her nose where it didn't belong, she would have meddled way sooner if she had any real abilities....

It looked at those one side would have to go down before they could strike a deal. With no other options, Murong Yun Shu signed and reluctantly raised her hand and grabbed the Chinese zither earring.

"Miss...." Lu'er stepped summoned up enough courage to step forward to remind Murong Yun Shu that now's not the time to be calm.

Murong Yun Shu ignored her. She seemed awfully relaxed whens he closed her eyes and rubbed her earring.

Her calmness perplexed the bandits and made them hesitate. Did she know some sort of magic trick that would allow her to summon some sort of spirits?

Nie Qing and Feng Ling turned and looked at Lu'er at the same time, was your mistress alright?

Lu'er was just as confused as everyone else. Her mistress was never normal, but never this abnormal...

While everyone was still puzzling over what was going on, rustling and hissing noises surrounded them. Then, a piercing scream, "SNACK!" Feng Ling jumped up and down in fear, screaming at the same time, as though snakes were climbing up her body.

"What snaked....." Nie Qing didn't finish he words. He was scared speechless, his face pale, and he started puking uncontrollably.

"Nie Qing!" Feng Ling rushed over to help out the still vomiting Nie Qing.

The bandits were just about to make fun of how cowardly the rich were, scared by merely some snakes before they realized the snaked continced to come out of the grass, cracks between rocks, and the trees. They were scared shitless.

"Snakes, all kind of snakes, so many snakes...." the bandits were in tears as they ran away.

As their screams got farther and farther away, Murong Yun Shu finally opened her eyes. Coincidentally, the snakes had all returned to their burrows.

"Let's go," said Murong Yun Shu apathetically. She didn't even looked at the other frightful people as she turned and got back into the carriage.

 The crowd exchanged looks, was she going to explain to them what had just happened?

***