Leitao gently pulled Meng Xiaoyu into his arms, holding her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. He stroked her back with tender, rhythmic movements, as if he could soothe away all her pain. Turning his gaze toward the other women, he spoke in a firm yet gentle voice, "Everyone, do not be afraid. We are here to rescue you, and we are going to take you home now."
With that, Leitao carefully helped Meng Xiaoyu to her feet. Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan also stepped forward to assist the other weakened women. The cave was narrow and the ground rugged, but the group moved slowly and arduously, supporting one another. As they walked, Leitao remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings for any sign of a bandit ambush.
Just as they were about to exit the cave, a sudden clamor of footsteps and voices echoed from the entrance. Alarmed, Leitao signaled for everyone to stop. He shielded Meng Xiaoyu and the other women behind him and whispered to Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan, "Take care of them. I’ll go check the situation."
Chapter 280