"I-I don't know…"
Qiao Xuan fixed him with a cold stare, making the man's scalp prickle. "I genuinely don't know! Our orders were to bring Madam here. We're kept in the dark about everything else…"
"Seems reasonable that someone like you, toiling away at menial tasks, wouldn't be privy to much information. I'll take your word for it. Consider yourselves fortunate; the heavens are merciful. Your lives won't be forfeit today."
Walking up to him, Qiao Xuan produced a dagger from her spatial storage and sliced through half of the rattan. Calmly, she instructed, "Free yourself and put in some hard work. Two hours should suffice."
The man hadn't expected such leniency from Qiao Xuan. With a glimmer of hope, he nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, thank you, Madam Shao!"
Qiao Xuan sneered and moved away. The man, relieved but cautious, hurriedly started freeing himself, fearing she might change her mind and dispatch her men to finish the job.