In front of the Qingfeng Inn, Li Rui led everyone to busy themselves with packing. All the items had been neatly arranged, except for the last empty carriage that had not yet been arranged.

This carriage was purchased with joint funds from seven households of the Li family, while the other two families sold their own oxen and added a small amount of silver to buy the horse.

At first, they were reluctant to do so. They were unwilling to spend money to buy a car, and even more reluctant to replace their old cows with horses.

Because of Su Yin's suggestion and Li Rui's firm persuasion, they finally decided to follow the advice. So, several families worked together to pool together some money and bought an extra horse.

Just as they were discussing who should get on the carriage, suddenly there was a noise and a menacing team of cavalry came straight towards them.

The masked man at the front of the team had sharp eyes and instantly noticed Li Rui and others and the seven eye-catching carriages beside them.

His eyes quickly swept over everyone, finally stopping on the horses ridden by the Li family.

At this moment, Li Rui and his uncle, second uncle, and younger uncle did not know that they were able to get the four horses thanks to the group of people in front of them.

Li Rui was keenly aware of the gaze of the masked man, and he suddenly felt panic for no reason, and an indescribable sense of crisis surged in his heart.

These people definitely did not look like good people, especially when they stared at me, the inexplicable feeling of palpitations became stronger and stronger.

At this time, Mrs. Li, who was facing away from the pedestrians, was feeling dissatisfied with Mr. Li's family.

She said bluntly: "This horse was purchased by everyone! The elderly and children can ride in the carriage, and you young and strong people will be responsible for driving the carriage, and others who can walk can walk. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Just the sentence "We bought the horses together" successfully attracted the attention of the leading man and made him take his eyes off their horses.

Then, Mrs. Li urged anxiously: "Hurry up! Are you planning to stay here for one night?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Erpo noticed that the eyes of the people around her did not seem to be on her, but were looking back. She turned her head in confusion and instantly met the eyes of the group of people. Her heartbeat suddenly started pounding, a trace of fear flashed across her face, and she quickly closed her lips, not daring to speak again.

After the pedestrians stepped into the inn, Li Rui ignored the quarrel and noise in his uncle's house and hurriedly urged everyone to leave quickly.

He had been watching Su Xiaozhong from a distance, and after seeing Li Rui and the others leave safely, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s good that nothing happened. If something happened, my daughter would also be in trouble.

The people from the other three inns left Linzhou Prefecture one after another. Each team did not encounter each other, and each team changed horses.

Qingfeng Inn

There were crowds of people at the entrance of the inn, but no one dared to approach the second floor on the east side of the inn.

This floor has been completely reserved by a mysterious team of thirty people, and no one is allowed to approach it. Even the waiter in the inn can only stand at the stairs to deliver meals and dare not step beyond the limit.

An hour later, a subordinate gently pushed open the tightly closed door and walked into the room where the masked leader was.

He reported to the leader respectfully: "Sir, after some investigation, we have obtained some important clues. There is a group of people who are very consistent with the group we are pursuing. It is understood that this group of people came from the direction of Pingyang County. There are a large number of people, about nearly two hundred. They also brought more than ten carriages full of goods. Before that, they stayed in a foot shop in the south city."

"Before?" The masked man frowned slightly when he heard this, and a hint of dissatisfaction was revealed in his hoarse voice, "Where are they now?"

Facing the leader's questioning, the subordinate knew that what he brought was not good news, so he replied more cautiously: "Sir, that group of people... they have boarded a passenger ship today and are heading to Jiangnan."

"Jiangnan?"

The masked man muttered softly, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his head and stared at his subordinates below with a cold gaze, "Besides this, among the people who came from Pingyang in the past few days, have there been any special people who entered Linzhou Prefecture?"

There are a large number of people entering Linzhou Prefecture every day, and if anyone can be remembered, they must be someone with certain notable characteristics.

For example, this huge team of nearly two hundred people; or an extremely wealthy person, or a person with an extremely ugly appearance, all of these would be impressive.

The subordinate answered truthfully: "No one special."

"So when did this group of people enter the city?" the masked man continued to ask.

"They entered the city yesterday," the subordinate replied.

Went into town yesterday?

There's something wrong with this timing!

According to common sense, they should have arrived in the city the day before yesterday. But then again, there is no guarantee that there will be no accidents and delays along the way. After all, there are so many people and so many things to do, and the slightest mistake will delay the trip.

"When will they leave today?" the masked man asked again.

"Not long after we entered the city, the group left by boat," the subordinate responded.

In this way, the two sides were almost one step behind each other.

The masked man narrowed his eyes slightly, as if thinking about something. This group of people just entered the city yesterday, and they were able to evacuate quickly after noon today. I wonder if it was just good luck, or if there was another reason...

The subordinates lowered their heads, quietly waiting for instructions from their superiors.

The masked man hesitated for a moment and then ordered, "You lead 15 people and set off immediately. Stop the passenger ship before it reaches the next stop and investigate thoroughly."

"Yes, sir."

After receiving the order, the subordinate did not hesitate and quickly selected a team of fifteen people to chase the passenger ship that had already gone far away.

At the same time, in Baishan Hall, Su Xiaozhong had received the latest news from his subordinates who were secretly stationed in Qingfeng Inn. That mysterious team, fifteen of whom had already left Linzhou Prefecture and were heading to Jiangnan.

Su Xiaozhong narrowed his eyes and thought secretly in his heart.

These people are very cautious!

He released a smoke bomb, but the other side only sent out half of their personnel, and it was obvious that they had not completely fallen into the trap.

If they all leave, the distance between them going back and forth, one in the south and one in the north, will be very large. By then, even if they realize they have found the wrong people, it will not be easy to find their daughter and them again.

Unfortunately, the leader of this team was very difficult to fool and actually stayed in Linzhou Prefecture.

In this case, he could only start the second plan.

Since you don't want to leave, then stay in Linzhou Prefecture forever!