Chapter 199: Twin Sisters (Please Subscribe, Please Vote)

This time, they were being sent by the slavers as concubines to a high-ranking official. They had thought their lives would pass by just like that. But who could have foreseen the cruel tricks of fate? When the slavers' caravan reached the borders of Green Cloud Mountain, several hundred bandits suddenly sprang out of nowhere. The slaver's fifty-plus guards were killed along with the slaver himself, all the goods were seized, and the two sisters became the bandits' spoils of war.

"Sister, I'm scared." Murong Huang looked at the ferocious bandits all around, listening to their wild laughter, and curled herself into Murong Feng's embrace, as if only this could give her a shred of security.

Murong Feng gently patted Murong Huang's back and soothed her, "It's alright, Sister is here. Don't be afraid."

Though Murong Feng was also terrified of what was to come, she could not afford to panic. If she lost her composure, her little sister would only become more frightened. They should have been young ladies of noble birth, but fate had been cruel. Under the pressures of life, sixteen-year-old Murong Feng had no choice but to be strong, because she was the elder sister, and she had to protect her little sister.

"Stop staring. Let's just keep watch. When the Chief takes his brides, we might even get a few cups of wine!" One of the two sentry bandits patted his companion on the shoulder.

"This is the first time I've seen women this pretty, and they're twins to boot. Can the Chief handle both of them?" the thinner sentry bandit said, withdrawing his gaze with a lecherous look.

The plumper sentry bandit heard his companion's words and laughed lewdly, "If I were the Chief, with two beauties like that in my hands, I'd never leave the bed. Heh heh heh—"

"Excuse me, is this the road to Green Cloud Stronghold?" A voice suddenly came from behind the plump bandit, cutting off his laughter.

"Damn! Where the hell did you come from?" The two bandits were startled by the sudden voice behind them. Turning around, they saw a young man in coarse white robes standing before them.

"Fuck! Who are you? You nearly scared me to death!" the thin bandit cursed loudly.

"Boy, what are you doing on Green Cloud Mountain? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? Don't you know Green Cloud Stronghold is a bandit den? Hahaha!" the plump bandit laughed. Every day they kept watch two li from the stronghold, and aside from bandits, rarely anyone came up the mountain. Today, some reckless young fool had wandered up, so of course they had to have some fun with him.

"So I didn't take the wrong road after all!" the white-robed youth said with relief. He took a single step and passed the two sentry bandits, appearing more than ten meters away.

"Thud! Thud!"

Two sounds of bodies hitting the ground came from behind. A gentle breeze passed, birds sang and insects chirped—as if nothing had happened at all, save for the two corpses on the ground with their necks twisted broken.

"Big Brother, I'm back!" As soon as the three chiefs entered the stronghold, the one in front announced loudly.

"I know, I know. What are you yelling about? So loud, are you wailing for the dead?" A burly man with an ordinary face—looking like a simple farmer, except for the cold gleam in his eyes—walked out with a group of bandits behind him.

This man was the chief of Green Cloud Stronghold, Zhang Fan, a second-rate master of the blade. It was precisely because of him that this lawless group of bandits could be kept in line.

"Big Brother, Third Brother is just a rough fellow. Even if you tell him, he'll forget by next time." A middle-aged man holding a folding fan stepped out, looking more like a scholar than a bandit. Ye Yuan, the second chief of Green Cloud Stronghold, had originally been a scholar. But after offending a man of power and influence, he had no choice but to take refuge with the bandits. Yet with his wits, he had devised strategies for the stronghold and eventually rose to become the second chief—the stronghold's military advisor as well.

"I, Old Black, was just born with a loud voice. You know that yourself, Big Brother. Heh heh heh." Third Chief Black Bear scratched the back of his head and laughed. "Big Brother, Second Brother, on this trip down the mountain I caught us a fat sheep and grabbed two pretty little girls, just right for Big Brother to take as brides. There were also some bamboo slips and such—Second Brother might like those. I had the boys haul everything back. But don't any of you dare fight me over the fine wine later."

"You fool!" Ye Yuan shook his head helplessly. This Third Chief Black Bear was bold and fierce, but just a bit dull.

"Little girls? Let me see what the ones you brought back look like. Don't tell me they're like last time—that fat woman with a waist as thick as a barrel." Zhang Fan simply could not endorse Black Bear's aesthetic. In Black Bear's eyes, only sturdy, well-built women good for bearing children were fit to be wives.

"Big Brother, I'm sure it's right this time. The boys all said those two girls were pretty. Old Black does think they're a bit skinny, but they're twins! You'll definitely like them, Big Brother." Black Bear said with absolute certainty.

"Twins! Take me to see them right now." After hearing Black Bear's words, Zhang Fan could hardly contain himself. If even the other bandits thought they were pretty, then it couldn't be wrong. And twins, at that. Zhang Fan's lonely heart was already stirring with anticipation.

"Big Brother, follow me!" Black Bear chuckled dumbly and led Zhang Fan and the others to the cage where the two sisters, Murong Feng and Murong Huang, were being held.

"Big Brother, do you think these two girls are fit to be your brides?" Black Bear pointed at the frightened sisters and asked Zhang Fan.

The moment Zhang Fan laid eyes on Murong Feng and Murong Huang, he was struck dumb. Especially with Murong Huang's tear-streaked face, so pitiful that any who saw her would feel compassion, and Murong Feng, biting her silver teeth, her face pale, yet glaring at him with defiance. Two identical faces, yet each with their own distinct charm—his heart stirred even more.

"Beautiful, so beautiful! Third Brother, you did well this time. From now on, the two of them are the brides of Green Cloud Stronghold. Hahaha!" Zhang Fan patted Black Bear's shoulder and laughed heartily with joy.

"What are you standing around for? Why haven't you brought the two ladies out? I'm getting married today—marrying both ladies! Everyone drinks wedding wine, and we'll make a proper celebration of it!" Zhang Fan called out to his men, and the two sisters were released from the cage.

"Great Chief, I am willing to marry you, but can you spare my little sister?" Murong Feng stood in front of Murong Huang. Though her face was pale, she summoned her courage to ask.

Hearing this, Zhang Fan was momentarily taken aback, then laughed, "Didn't think the little lady would be one who values loyalty and love. I like that! Hahaha!"

After laughing for a while, he looked at Murong Feng with a playful, teasing gaze, a smirk curling at his lips, "But I prefer a dragon with twin phoenixes. I'll take both of you as wives. Don't worry—I won't mistreat either of you. Hahaha!"

When Murong Feng heard Zhang Fan's words, though she had prepared herself, she still felt a wave of despair wash over her. She held Murong Huang, who was trembling uncontrollably, biting her silver teeth in helpless fury.

The two of them were like little lambs fallen into a pack of wolves. In this chaotic world, two beautiful women without any power to protect themselves—that beauty itself was a fatal burden.

"Huang'er, don't be afraid, don't be afraid." Murong Feng felt her sister trembling ever more violently in her arms, felt the despair growing ever deeper, and silently prayed in her heart: "Someone, save us. Whoever you are—even if I must become a slave or a servant—"

"Boys! Take the ladies down and have the old women of the stronghold dress them up nicely for me. I want to see two of the most beautiful brides when I enter the bridal chamber. Hahaha!" Zhang Fan laughed triumphantly. For him, today was a day of great joy. He had never been with women of this caliber before, and today it was one dragon with twin phoenixes—just thinking about it, it felt like the ultimate pleasure of the mortal world.

"Ladies, please don't make things difficult for us. This way, please." The two bandits, upon hearing Zhang Fan's order, spoke to Murong Feng and Murong Huang with deference. After today, these two would be Zhang Fan's brides, and lowly lackeys like them dared not offend them. Otherwise, if the new brides decided to settle scores in the future, it would be their own misfortune that followed.