The cramped space and harsh environment made the prisoners in the cell look exceptionally poor.
It was clear the bandits didn't care whether these people lived or died.
They likely only wanted obedient captives; as for those who died in the process, they paid no mind.
Seeing this scene, Su Qing couldn't help but shake her head.
At this moment, the people in the dungeon had also discovered Su Qing.
They saw Su Qing being brought in by the bandits and assumed she was just another ordinary woman they had captured.
For a moment, a hint of sympathy appeared in their eyes.
But sympathy was one thing; they could barely protect themselves, let alone help others.
However, just as they were sighing for Su Qing.
The bandit standing behind Su Qing suddenly dropped dead, collapsing without any warning.
At the same time, with a slight wave of Su Qing's hand, the tightly locked cell door suddenly swung open.
Everyone who witnessed this scene was somewhat stunned.
Their eyes revealed surprise, and a touch of bewilderment.
They couldn't quite grasp what had just happened.
How did that person die, and how did the door open?
Was it a haunting in broad daylight?
No one moved.
Some were likely still reeling, while others simply saw that no one else was moving, so they didn't dare to act rashly.
Watching the bewildered crowd, Su Qing raised an eyebrow slightly and said:
“I'm here to save you. You are free now, so come out quickly! Don't just stand there. Unless you truly enjoy the environment of this dungeon.”
Su Qing wasn't surprised by their astonishment.
It was perfectly normal for people to show such emotions when faced with extraordinary things they couldn't comprehend; it was human nature.
However, Su Qing couldn't wait indefinitely for them to collect themselves.
So, she had no choice but to speak up and remind them.
After hearing Su Qing's words, a woman couldn't help but ask, “Did… did you kill that bandit and open the cell door?”
Su Qing nodded slightly and said, “Naturally. Is there anyone else here besides me? Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. I truly came to save you.”
Su Qing thought the woman was frightened by her actions, so she offered a brief explanation.
After a moment of silence, the woman recalled the previous events and asked again, “Are… are you an Immortal?”
In the woman's worldview, for Su Qing to silently kill a bandit and open a cell door with a mere wave of her hand meant she was definitely no mortal; she had to be one of the legendary Divine Immortals, as only they could accomplish such miraculous feats.
However, Su Qing's answer was beyond the woman's expectation.
Su Qing chuckled and said, “I'm no Divine Immortal; I'm merely a Jianghu practitioner with some martial arts skills.”
If speaking of her true body, she was indeed a Divine Immortal.
But the one currently here was a Divine Sense Body.
Su Qing could naturally say with a clear conscience that she wasn't a Divine Immortal.
Moreover, in this mortal world, some highly skilled martial arts masters could indeed accomplish, to a certain extent, the things Su Qing had just done.
After hearing Su Qing's words, not many of the people present chose to believe her.
Because everyone preferred to believe Su Qing was a Divine Immortal.
After all, people only believe what they want to believe.
However, disbelief aside, no one was tactless enough to press further.
After all, she had saved their lives.
If she wasn't willing to elaborate on her identity, it would be somewhat improper to keep asking.
Although they were all poor peasants, they understood this simple principle.
“Alright, come out quickly.”
Su Qing didn't intend to continue explaining her identity.
If they wanted to believe, they could; if not, she was too lazy to say more. She let them speculate as they wished.
After speaking to the crowd, Su Qing turned and left the dungeon.
The environment in this dungeon was truly terrible.
Su Qing didn't want to stay there for another moment.
Seeing Su Qing turn to leave, everyone immediately followed, fearing they would be left behind.
Just like that, everyone followed Su Qing out of the dungeon and into the mountain stronghold.
Inside the stronghold, there weren't many living people left.
Most of the bandits had already been killed by Su Qing.
As for why it was only 'most,' it was naturally because there were also some innocent people in the stronghold.
Su Qing was not a bloodthirsty person; she only killed those who deserved to die.
However, even though only the wicked bandits were killed, the stronghold was still a bloody sight.
And the people who emerged from the dungeon, upon seeing this scene, couldn't help but feel a chill and a sense of dread.
Such a sight still had a rather significant impact on ordinary mortals.
However, these people had, after all, experienced life and death, and had witnessed their own kin being killed, so apart from the initial shock, they quickly calmed down in the face of all this.
Most even felt that these bandits deserved their deaths.
After all, it was these bandits who had caused their families to be broken and destroyed; now that the bandits were dead, it should naturally be a joyous occasion for them.
At the same time, everyone couldn't help but fix their gaze on Su Qing.
Because even if they were foolish, they knew… Su Qing had killed all these people.
Instantly, the idea that Su Qing was no mortal grew stronger in everyone's minds.
After all, she was just one person!
Su Qing didn't know what these people were thinking, nor did she much care; she was simply pondering how to deal with those she had rescued.
After a moment of thought, Su Qing had a plan. She said:
“Alright, you are free now, so go back to your respective homes!”
Hearing Su Qing's words, someone spoke up, saying, “Miss, our village has been burned down… where do we have left to go home to!”
“That's right… these bastards captured us and then burned our village. Now we have no idea where else we can go…” another person chimed in.
Everyone spoke one after another.
For a moment, the scene became somewhat chaotic.
Listening to their statements, Su Qing raised an eyebrow slightly; this was indeed something she hadn't fully considered.
She thought for a moment and then said, “In that case, you can stay here. All the bandits in the stronghold are dead now… so you won't be in any danger by staying here. Moreover, the stronghold is quite well-equipped with various things, so living here would be good. The only thing you'd need to do is clean up the bodies.”
When Su Qing dealt with the other bandits remaining in the stronghold, she had also briefly surveyed its environment.
It was indeed a suitable place to live.
After all, this stronghold was essentially just a larger village, with everything one might need.
Su Qing's words made everyone pause slightly.
They had originally thought Su Qing would take them away.
They hadn't expected Su Qing to simply tell them to stay.
After a moment of silence, some nodded slightly, accepting Su Qing's arrangement.
Firstly, they didn't dare to resist, and secondly, they felt that Su Qing's words indeed made some sense.
Since they were already homeless, they might as well stay here.
Conveniently, this stronghold had also become ownerless land.
However, some expressed the thought in their hearts that they wanted to follow Su Qing.
Naturally, Su Qing rejected them.
Su Qing definitely wouldn't take these people with her.
Firstly, because she herself didn't know where she was going next, it was naturally impossible to take these people along.
Secondly, these people were merely mortals; following her would only put them in greater danger.
And after being rejected by Su Qing.
They naturally didn't dare to voice their thoughts again.
After all, that would be rather ungrateful.
The person before them was no mortal.
If she truly got angry, their fate would likely be no better than that of the bandits.
When Su Qing saw that these people had finally quieted down, she nodded slightly.
Now that the arrangements for these people's departure or stay were made, there was nothing else to do here. It was time to return and continue on her journey.
However, just as Su Qing was about to leave.
A woman approached, carrying a child.
The bandit leader had taken several 'stronghold wives,' and this woman who approached was one of them.
Su Qing saw the woman and raised an eyebrow slightly, unsure what she wanted.
Just as her confusion grew, the woman, still holding the child, knelt directly before her.
She spoke, saying, “I beg Immortal Su to grant my wish!”
Su Qing was a bit bewildered by this sudden plea. What was it about, that she was being asked to grant it?
Also, how had she become an Immortal Su?
Su Qing frowned, then suddenly remembered that she had killed a few people in front of this woman.
She probably saw her casting a spell then?
But what puzzled her more was what this woman wanted from her.
Su Qing looked at the woman and asked directly, “First, tell me what this matter is. As for whether I agree or not, I can only decide after hearing what it's about.”
Su Qing wasn't a fool; she wouldn't agree to something without even knowing what it was.
While she might not be unable to do it, she didn't like this approach.
Hearing Su Qing's words, the woman not only wasn't disappointed but bowed even more deeply with the child in her arms.
She spoke, saying, “I wish to ask Immortal Su to send my daughter back to Linzhou City.”
Su Qing frowned upon hearing this. She didn't nod, merely watching the woman.
The woman continued, “I was originally the direct daughter of the Su clan in Linzhou City. But during an outing, I encountered these bandits and was abducted here, forced to become a wife… and… gave birth to this daughter.”
“I am no longer pure, and I have no face to return to the Su family in Linzhou.”
“But I don't want my daughter to suffer with me in this mountain stronghold.”
“Therefore, I wish to ask Immortal Su to send my daughter to the Su family in Linzhou for me.”
“They… they should consider the bond of blood and take in this child.”
“If Immortal Su agrees, I… I can tell Immortal Su where the bandits' treasures are hidden.”
With that, the woman bowed again, burying her head on the ground.
Su Qing listened to the woman's words, then sighed helplessly, saying, “Helping you isn't a problem for me… but how can you ensure that the Su family will confirm this daughter is truly yours?”
“I… I have prepared a letter. I believe they will know once they see this letter,” the woman said, hastily pulling out a handwritten letter from her bosom.
Su Qing felt a slight sense of helplessness.
She originally didn't want to agree to this; it was, after all, somewhat troublesome.
But she also had a soft spot.
No matter what, she was also a mother with a daughter.
The woman's thoughts inevitably touched her.
After a moment of thought.
Su Qing shook her head with a smile, then took the letter from the woman's hand.
“I will only deliver the child and the letter, but whether the Su family will truly accept this child in the end, I cannot say.”
Su Qing couldn't bear to crush the woman's hope.
But as the saying goes, 'Even close kin can become strangers after a long separation.'
This woman had certainly been held in this stronghold for more than three years; who knew if the Su family would still be willing to take in her daughter?
Moreover, who knew if the Su family had undergone any messy changes by now?
Three years was but a blink of an eye for her, but in the mortal world, it was enough time for many things to happen.
Therefore, Su Qing couldn't make any guarantees.
Hearing Su Qing's words.
The woman also paused slightly, a hint of hesitation appearing in her eyes.
However, this trace of hesitation was quickly suppressed.
She nodded firmly and said, “My father is a man who values family ties; if he sees this letter, he will surely take in this child.”
Seeing her so confident, Su Qing said nothing more.
She simply casually asked for the child's name.
“This child is named Su Qingyu…”
“That's a pleasant name.”
“Unfortunately, it has no deep meaning… it was the bandit who named her. But now that the bandit is dead, I haven't used his surname.” The woman smiled helplessly, her eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance as she looked at the child in her arms.
But in the end, she hardened her heart and handed the child to Su Qing.
Although this stronghold had everything, life here was destined to be difficult.
For this child, returning to that great clan would be a better outcome.
After all… there she could receive a better environment, a better education.
As for the future… whether this child would still recognize her.
She didn't know… and didn't dare to think too much.
Because it would hurt too much.
Su Qing took the child, who was less than a year old, then nodded slightly to the woman and said, “I will provisionally agree to this matter. As for the money and treasures, I am not interested. If you truly wish to repay me, then build a shrine for me and occasionally offer me incense.”
Hearing Su Qing's words, the woman didn't refuse in the slightest.
After nodding, she bowed to Su Qing again.
Su Qing no longer looked at the woman, turning instead and leaving the mountain stronghold.
“Honestly… I wasn't even planning to meddle, but I still couldn't resist!” Su Qing looked at the child in her arms, feeling a little speechless.
“But it's also fate; this child also has the surname Su.”
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