Before even stepping inside, I was intercepted by Ma Xiaoda, who must have somehow tracked down where I lived.

“Zhao Qian, the bandits are coming.

What are your plans?” “What else can we do? Make dinner first,” I replied casually.

Ma Xiaoda wasn't fooling around like he had been in the escape pod yesterday.

He was serious.

“Be serious.

Everyone knows those bandits are inhuman.

Once they break in, they’ll massacre the city.

Can you bear to watch the common folk be killed or dragged off as slaves?” Linglong couldn't stand Ma Xiaoda’s posturing.

She shouted, “Little Da, even if the bandits charge in, we still need to eat! How else will we have the strength to fight them? You don't even understand this basic logic—do you have a brain?” On the way over, Linglong had told him about the Flying Eagle Manor resisting the enemy.

He had come specifically to find people to resist alongside, and hearing the hint of a plan from Linglong’s words made him happy.

“So you guys have figured out a way to fight the bandits? Heh heh, that’s good.

I’m relieved.

This whole thing made me skip my meal earlier.

I’ll crash your place for a bite now; I’m sure the three fairy sisters won't mind.

Whoa, there’s an extra one! This one has more of a big-sister vibe.

Zhao Qian, is she the one you like? Hmm, you match well, but I think she looks more like my mother.

Don’t misunderstand, sister, my mother is very young and beautiful.” Ma Xiaoda’s words made Cheng Susu blush deeply, while Zhou Ni and Yun Yao were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Linglong, annoyed by Ma Xiaoda’s noise, turned and walked away.

Thus, Ma Xiaoda had no choice but to follow obediently behind me into the living room.

Before the two of them could even settle down, the noise from several retainers outside the door made them restless.

They seemed to be arguing about whether or not to tie Ma Xiaoda up, and their voices grew louder.

Ma Xiaoda, sitting in the living room, heard everything clearly.

He sprang up and rushed to the door, shouting, “I said I’m not leaving! Anyone who keeps nagging me will lose their head!” The men were instantly frightened into silence.

Finally, Bai Shi knelt before him and pleaded, “Young Master, merely sneaking out of the capital is already a grave offense.

If anything happens to you now, how can this old servant explain it to the Master? Please come with us.

Let’s slip out of the city before the bandits attack; it will be too late to leave otherwise.” Ma Xiaoda said solemnly, “What are you afraid of? I’ll be safe following Zhao Qian.

What did the five hundred bandits at Flying Eagle Manor do to us? They won't be able to come up with any new tricks with just five hundred of them.” Jing Lü also stepped forward, saying, “Young Master, the last time, the bandits mistakenly thought we were a wealthy household and tried to extort us, which is how we narrowly escaped with our lives.

For your safety, we absolutely cannot provoke them again.

Please come out of the city with us.” I turned to the men and said, “Right now, I’m afraid you couldn’t leave even if you wanted to.

Magistrate An and Head Constable Sun have already sent men to barricade the city gates.

Even for us, opening the gates is difficult.

Furthermore, there is only one official road outside the county seat, and five hundred bandits are blocking it now.

Can you escape with just your two feet?” The five retainers froze.

They had been so focused on ensuring the Young Master’s escape that they only knew they had to get out of the city.

But now the gates were blocked.

Even if they got out, they realized with a jolt that they had absolutely no plan for how to flee afterward.

Ma Xiaoda’s face hardened.

“No more arguments, right? If you want to live, you have to stick with Zhao Qian and the sisters.

They are the ones capable of protecting us.

You all stay outside obediently, and anyone who makes trouble again will be thrown right outside the city gate!” I knew Ma Xiaoda’s background must be extraordinary, but I didn't care about that.

Because I am not from their world, I don't care what kind of people they are.

As long as I can safely find the other five girls, I won't stay here any longer.

Whether they are princes and nobles or sons of officials, in my eyes, they are merely highly intelligent beings from the Twin Stars.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to discuss the next steps.

We now totaled eight people, plus the six from Ma Xiaoda’s group, making fourteen in total.

We originally had seven horses, but one was given to Magistrate An as a gift, leaving only six.

Yun Yao could fly with Linglong and Zhou Ni, and with Ma Xiaoda, each could have a horse, but the retainers couldn't be accommodated.

Speaking of retreat, Wa Hani’s expression was also grim.

I knew Chief Wa and the others had moved to Feiyu County seat.

Asking Wa Hani to abandon her father and leave would surely cause her distress.

But if we were to bring along the villagers… getting out of the city gate was still a question.

Besides, this wasn't an actual retreat yet; it was just preparing for the worst-case scenario.

Ma Xiaoda looked helplessly at his five retainers and said to me, “We were riding pigs, but who knew we’d run into bandits outside Flying Eagle Manor? They snatched the pigs, killed them, and ate them.” Jing Lü said, “Young Master, don't worry about us.

If the city falls, you must stick close to Zhao Qian and the others.

As long as you can get away safely, our lives are meaningless.” Ma Xiaoda jumped up.

“No way! Since I brought