Yanran turned her head, only to hear a commotion behind her. Just when she managed to jump half a step forward, her leg was already being embraced by someone.

Yanran exerted a force, flinging the person away, but in that brief moment, the others joined in to attack her.

They had just secretly agreed on a strategy. They couldn't beat Yanran because their skills were inferior, but their strength definitely surpassed hers!

So they made good use of this point. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Feigning death, the smugglers on the ground didn't fight with Yanran, they would rather take a few hits from her just to desperately seize her.

Another smuggler lunged from the side, gripping Yanran's arm tightly. Yanran struggled once, but did not completely break free. In that extremely short time, those smugglers cooperated in perfect harmony. Several of them grabbed Yanran's hands and feet, while two others pressed down hard against her body.

Yanran couldn't move at all. She was even being smothered and nearly suffocating.

Jiang Cheng left to find the smugglers' gunboat, leaving Yanran to guard the captives. Sure enough, as soon as he left, those old cunning foxes plotted against Yanran.

They utilized Yanran's sympathy. Old Bit took the lead, using his pitiful appearance, pretending to want a drink, to lure Yanran.

Indeed, the inexperienced Yanran fell for it. As she fed Old Bit water, those vicious criminals still acted against her. They made full use of their strength and pinned Yanran firmly underneath them.

"Hahaha." Old Bit got up, laughing triumphantly, showing none of the old, weak, dying demeanor from earlier.

He looked at the tightly pinned Yanran and snorted coldly, "Brainless fool, what's the use of being good with hands and feet?!"

He undid his belt, and his two accomplices twisted Yanran's hands behind her back, tying her up.

They did the same to bind Yanran's legs and feet, then finally stuffed a cloth in her mouth.

Only then did they feel at ease.

Sighing with relief, those guys began to relax. They fawned over Old Bit, incessantly praising him for being crafty and clever, making Old Bit's face turn as red as a certain part of a monkey, enjoying himself while stroking his beard and laughing heartily.

Yanran, lying on the ground unable to move, blushed deeply, regretting her impulsiveness.

Jiang Cheng had reminded her repeatedly when leaving to be wary of those guys' tricks. How did she not consider their deep malice?!

Listening to the smugglers' chatter beside her, she wished she could just die.

Just as those guys tried to take Yanran away, a scream resounded.

The smugglers looked up startled, and the Little Flaming Firebird angrily flapped its still young wings, diving down with its sharp beak and claws, mercilessly attacking these vile people.

In the blink of an eye, the smugglers became a chaotic mess.

The Little Flaming Firebird incessantly attacked their faces and heads, pecking with its beak, scratching with its claws, sometimes letting out furious cries.

Handless, the smugglers turned chaotic under the Little Flaming Firebird's sudden assault, mingled with screams, flapping sounds, and curses. Many of them had scratches on their heads and faces, blood covering their faces. One unfortunate guy even had his eyes pecked blind by the Little Flaming Firebird, clutching his face and rolling on the ground.

The smugglers scattered, and the Little Flaming Crow landed down, starting to grab at Yanran's belt with its claws, but the belts were too sturdy for the Little Flaming Firebird to loosen them quickly.

The escaped smugglers returned, unwilling to abandon a heap of money, knowing perhaps this young girl was their key to survival.

Although they could run now, it was uncertain if they could survive and find their way back to the spaceship.

With more bargaining chips, they increased their leverage of control. They could see clearly the terrifying man was highly concerned about this girl in front of them, capturing her was crucial for negotiation with the formidable man.

So, they came back, now each with a wooden stick in hand, shouting wildly as they charged, forcing the Little Flaming Firebird to fly back into the air.

This time, with makeshift weapons, even the weakest ones, a wooden stick, the bird-like body was so fragile that even such crude weapons could potentially inflict fatal harm.

Yanran, immobile on the ground, was alarmed, not for herself but for the Little Flaming Firebird. She feared her precious would be harmed because of her.

Because the smugglers now had weapons, the Little Flaming Firebird's attacks couldn't effectively distress them. They waved wooden sticks, driving the Little Flaming Firebird away, making it only hover in the air, and some even picked up stones off the ground, hurling them at the Little Flaming Firebird soaring above.

One guy, with excellent aim, hit the Little Flaming Firebird's wing with a stone, causing distressed cries, but it stubbornly flew over their heads, unwilling to leave easily.

Now, the smugglers made a strategy, with a few dedicated to handling the Little Flaming Firebird, while one went to Yanran on the ground, wanting to carry her.

It seemed these people intended to take Yanran onto their vessel to return to their mothership.

Seeing them about to take her owner away, the Little Flaming Firebird's cries became particularly tragic, the wound on its wing continually bleeding.

Yanran, unable to move, witnessed it all, anger filling every fiber of her being, fury burning within her incessantly.

She felt as if she were about to explode, yet she couldn't move at all.

The world before her turned blurry, chaotic sounds echoed in her ears.

Yanran's consciousness dulled, the burning rage engulfing her awareness, she felt herself about to fall into a deep slumber.

The sorrowful cry of the Little Flaming Firebird reached her ears again, so clear and distinct.

The wound on the Little Flaming Firebird's wing, dripping blood, accidentally landed on Yanran's lips.

Yanran suddenly widened her eyes. Originally filled with blazing rage, as her consciousness teetered on the brink of sleep, the fury within her slowly calmed, yet it absolutely did not vanish. It rather concentrated in a part of her being.

With her eyes suddenly open, the concentrated anger within burst open violently.