Just as Yan Mulin was having a headache, he heard someone exclaim, "Why does it look like smoke?"

"That's our mountain..."

"Oh no, this is a diversionary tactic."

...

Yan Mulin suddenly looked up and saw thick smoke billowing from the hilltop he was responsible for guarding.

Thinking about how he had brought most of the guards with him, he almost vomited blood.

He didn't care whether the miners had escaped or not, and turned to run back.

But by the time he led his men back, the mountain had already been engulfed in flames.

The soldiers watched as the entire mountain was engulfed in flames, and all the workers and craftsmen on the mountain disappeared without a trace. They were all devastated.

Their main task on this hilltop was to guard the workers, prevent them from escaping, and protect the armory.

But now, not only are all the workers gone, but the entire armory has been destroyed. Can the prince spare their lives?

Previously, they had even planned to send a message to Prince Rui.

But now, no one has moved.

As Prince Rui's private soldiers, how could they not know what kind of person he was? Since reporting to Prince Rui would mean certain death, they might as well seize the opportunity to escape before he discovered it.

Therefore, no one mentioned sending a message to Prince Rui. Instead, they grabbed their weapons and ran down the mountain to fetch their families.

Jiang Tangtang and Lu Shiyan hid together in a large, leafy tree. Seeing the guards' movements, Lu Shiyan said to Jiang Tangtang, "I'll have the black eagle escort you back to the valley, and the white eagle will follow. If anything happens, have the white eagle deliver a message to me."

Jiang Tangtang asked instinctively, "Where are you going?"

Lu Shiyan said, "Go and subdue this group of people."

Jiang Tangtang took out a bag of steamed buns from her spatial storage and gave it to him, saying, "Then be careful on your way."

Lu Shiyan looked at her, reached out to tidy her hair, and then took the steamed bun, saying, "Be careful too."

Jiang Tangtang didn't think much of it at first, but seeing him looking at her like that, she felt a little reluctant to part with him.

But thinking that he had a lot to do back in the valley, he suppressed his reluctance and said, "You should go now!"

Lu Shiyan said, "You go first, I'll watch over you."

Jiang Tangtang felt a surge of joy again.

She rode the black eagle and flew towards the valley.

Lu Shiyan kept watching them until Jiang Tangtang and the two eagles completely disappeared into the sky. Only then did Lu Shiyan turn his gaze away and fly towards the foot of the mountain.

Yan Mulin and his group had just reached the foot of the mountain when they were stopped by Lu Shiyan, who suddenly appeared.

Everyone tensed up and drew their swords, ready to attack at any moment.

Lu Shiyan said, "Don't be nervous, everyone. I'm here to help you."

"The fire on the mountain was arson." Yan Mulin looked at Lu Shiyan and said with certainty.

He gripped the knife hilt tightly, but did not rush forward immediately.

He was mentally assessing whether all of them together could defeat the excessively handsome man in front of them.

Lu Shiyan stood there casually, as if he hadn't seen his movements at all, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you're going to pick up your families now, right? Have you thought about where to settle them after you pick them up?"

His question surprised everyone.

In their haste, they didn't have time to think about anything else. Their only thought was to escape with their families and save themselves. They didn't consider anything else.

Lu Shiyan continued, "I imagine none of you would want to spend your lives on the run, would you? You will inevitably have to find a new master in the future. This dynasty is riddled with problems; who can you turn to?"

Prince Duan? He and Prince Rui are mortal enemies. Leaving aside whether he'd accept you, the fact that you have a handsome young man in your family makes you need to be careful. That prince is quite capricious; if he takes a fancy to someone, he won't care whose child the young man is.”

Yan Mulin had indeed planned to lead his men to join Prince Duan, but they were also aware of some of Prince Duan's quirks.

The fact that Marquis Changping had sent people everywhere to help him collect handsome young men was only something he could keep secret from ordinary people. He couldn't hide it from these people, of course. It's just that before, things had happened too...

"As for Prince Jing, with his cruel nature..."

Lu Shiyan analyzed for them, point by point, the disadvantages of seeking refuge with Prince Jing, and the problems their families might encounter after siding with either of the two princes. Finally, he spoke of the benefits of following him.

Yan Mulin asked, "Is what you're saying true? Do you really have a way to settle my family without them being discovered?"

Lu Shiyan replied, "Of course."

Although Yan Mulin already had a guess about Lu Shiyan's identity, he still asked, "And who are you, sir?"

Lu Shiyan said, "I am Lu Shiyan, and I am currently leading troops in Puzhou to resist the bandits who have invaded our country."

Yan Mulin bowed to Lu Shiyan and said, "Lord Lu, from now on we are your subordinates. Please give us your guidance."

Although it was frustrating, since he had already joined Lu Shiyan's cause, he had to leave a good impression on him.

Yan Mulin is also a pragmatic person.

After thinking it over, he took the initiative to tell Lu Shiyan the location of Wang Tieli and the other craftsmen's families, and added, "That is Prince Rui's estate. It is full of Prince Rui's people, and many of them know kung fu."

But thinking about Lu Shiyan's move when he appeared in front of them just now, they felt that their reminder was really unnecessary.

With his skills, he wouldn't even give those people a second thought.

Yan Mulin's guess was correct; Lu Shiyan indeed didn't take those people seriously. His only problem was managing so many children and women on the road. But it wasn't unsolvable.

While Lu Shiyan was arranging the rescue, Jiang Tangtang had already returned to the valley.

Riding a black eagle, she was faster than Fang Dayong and the others. Therefore, instead of going to the earthen fortress, she had the black eagle take her up the mountain first.

She decided to find a place first to take out the iron ore, timber, and other materials.

There's no need to rush to mine the mine, but the houses need to be built first.

With that in mind, Jiang Tangtang went back to the cave where she had previously discovered the iron chain. She placed some timber that could be used to build a house, as well as daily necessities such as water tanks, into the cave.

Then, she can use the excuse of divine blessing to make everyone believe that the gods helped them send these things over.

If everyone believes this reason, then the iron ore and timber on the mountain can all be explained using the same reason.

After Jiang Tangtang finished her work, Fei Hu finally brought Fang Dayong and the others to the valley.

The reason they were able to reach the valley so quickly was because Lu Shiyan and Jiang Tangtang found a route that was less likely to be detected and was also a relatively short one.

That is, the river in the valley.

After following Flying Tiger through countless circles in the mountains, they finally reached a river, and then boarded a bamboo raft and drifted all the way to the valley.

Looking at the tall earthen houses in the valley, the workers who came with us all felt like they were in a dream.