Forty-nine
The night was as dark as ink, and the stars and moon were nowhere to be seen. Fifty miles west of Youzhou City, a dense birch forest rustled softly in the night wind, like countless whispers. A road wound its way through the forest, leading to the precipitous Luoyan Gorge in the distance.
Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, like two shadows blending into the night, silently lurked at the edge of the woods, their sharp eyes fixed on the direction the official road was heading. They had chosen this spot, located between the Wei Prince's mansion and Luoyan Gorge. Although the terrain wasn't as treacherous as Luoyan Gorge, the dense forest made it easy to hide and launch a surprise attack. More importantly, their opponents would never expect them to act here.
According to the ambush map provided by Yelü Yao and the intelligence verified by the caravan owner, the convoy transporting the "special goods" would depart from the villa at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Zhan Bai and his companion had already laid an ambush there before Yinshi (3-5 AM), quietly waiting for their prey to appear.
"Cat, how credible are you saying about that little princess of Liao?" Bai Yutang asked telepathically, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. Even now, a sliver of doubt lingered in his heart.
Zhan Zhao's gaze remained calm as he replied telepathically, "The ambush locations marked on the map match the terrain of Luoyan Gorge, so it doesn't seem fake. If she intended to harm us, she wouldn't need to go to such lengths; she could simply wait for us at Luoyan Gorge. However, we must remain vigilant and be extremely cautious."
Time passed slowly in the silent wait. The eastern sky gradually turned a pale white, and birds began to chirp in the woods. Scattered early-morning merchants also began to appear on the official road.
At the beginning of the morning, a muffled sound of wheels and hooves approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the early morning. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang immediately held their breath and stared intently.
A procession of about twenty people approached along the official road. Leading the way were four Khitan warriors on tall horses, their expressions fierce, their eyes scanning the roadside warily. In the middle were three carriages covered with heavy tarpaulins, pulled by magnificent horses; the deep ruts indicated the heavy loads they carried. Four guards walked alongside each carriage, hands on their swords. At the rear of the procession were four knights bringing up the rear.
Judging from their attire and imposing manner, they were undoubtedly guards of the Prince of Wei's residence.
"It's them!" A hint of excitement flashed in Bai Yutang's eyes.
Zhan Zhao nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as he quickly scanned the entire group, assessing their strength. The guards were all quite skilled, especially the eight knights, whose temples were bulging, clearly indicating they were experts in internal energy cultivation. A direct confrontation was definitely not the best strategy.
"Proceed according to plan," Zhan Zhao said in a low voice.
Their plan was not to launch a direct assault, but to create chaos, sneak into the carriages to inspect them, and if they found their target, quickly seize it and evacuate.
As the group was about to enter their pre-set ambush range, Zhan Zhao made a hand gesture. Bai Yutang understood and silently took out several dark, egg-sized spheres from his pocket—these were his specially made "fog bombs," containing spicy smoke and a trace amount of sleeping potion.
Just as the knight at the front of the group was about to step over a dead branch lying across the road, Bai Yutang flicked his wrist, and several fog bullets, like locusts flying swiftly, were accurately thrown at the front, middle, and rear positions of the group!
"Puff puff puff!" Several soft popping sounds rang out, and thick, pungent white smoke instantly filled the air, enveloping most of the team!
"There's an ambush!"
"Protect the cargo!"
Suddenly, the shouts of alarmed and angry Khitan warriors and the neighing of frightened horses echoed through the smoke! With visibility obstructed and men shouting and horses neighing, the ranks instantly descended into chaos!
The instant the smoke burst open, Zhan Zhao moved! Like a cheetah that had been poised for a long time, he transformed into a wisp of green smoke and, under the cover of the smoke, silently pounced on the middle carriage that seemed to be the most heavily guarded! He did not draw his Juque sword, lest the reflection of the sword light reveal his whereabouts.
The guards beside the carriage were coughing incessantly from the smoke and frantically brandishing their weapons, completely unaware that a figure had approached like a ghost.
Zhan Zhao gathered his inner strength at his fingertips and pointed out with lightning speed. The two guards who had their backs to him collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound. He lowered his body and slid under the carriage like a fish. With a flick of his wrist, a dagger as thin as a willow leaf appeared in his hand. He silently cut a foot-long gash in the thick oilcloth.
A peculiar smell, a mixture of sheepskin and ink, wafted from the crack. Zhan Zhao's heart skipped a beat; that smell… it was from maps and old letters!
Without hesitation, he darted into the carriage through the crack like a nimble cat.
The carriage was dimly lit, containing several sealed wooden crates. Zhan Zhao quickly opened one, and inside was indeed a rolled-up sheepskin map! He unfolded a corner, revealing a detailed map of the border defenses of Hebei Circuit in the Song Dynasty, with meticulous markings! He then opened another smaller crate, which contained neatly stacked letters. He pulled one out and quickly glanced at it; it was a secret letter between the remnants of Prince An and Yelü Zongzhen, containing information about the transfer of intelligence, funds, and plans to overthrow the Song Dynasty!
The evidence is conclusive!
Overjoyed, Zhan Zhao didn't dare delay and immediately picked up the wooden box containing the secret letter. The box wasn't large, but it was quite heavy. Just as he was about to retreat the way he came, he suddenly heard a sharp shout from outside the carriage!
There's someone under the car!
Oh no! We've been discovered!
Presumably, someone noticed the unusual condition under the carriage amidst the chaos.
Without hesitation, Zhan Zhao stopped hiding and instantly drew his Juque sword. The sharp sword energy cleaved a large hole in the roof of the carriage! He carried the wooden box and soared into the sky!
"There it is!"
"Grab him!"
As the smoke cleared slightly, the guards below immediately spotted Zhan Zhao emerging from the roof. They roared angrily, and arrows and hidden weapons rained down on him! The eight knights also rode up and surrounded him, their swords flashing!
Zhan Zhao was in mid-air with nowhere to grab hold of him, and he was about to be swallowed up by the rain of arrows!
At this critical moment, several streaks of cold light shot out from the woods, accurately deflecting the arrows and hidden weapons aimed at Zhan Zhao's vitals! It was Bai Yutang who made the move!
"Cat! Catch!" Bai Yutang shouted, throwing the remaining fog bombs in his hand at the knights who were closing in!
Another burst of smoke erupted, startling the horses and causing them to fall over, instantly creating a gap in the encirclement.
Zhan Zhao was able to catch his breath. He lightly tapped the head of a knight's horse with his toes, and his body rose again, like a roc spreading its wings, and flew towards the woods beside the official road!
"Chase him! Don't let him get away!" the guard leader roared in exasperation.
The surviving guards and knights dismounted or used their agility to rush into the woods.
However, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang had already planned their retreat. After reuniting, the two did not linger in battle. Relying on their superb lightness skills and familiarity with the terrain, they quickly left their pursuers some distance behind in the dense birch forest.
"Did you get the goods?" Bai Yutang asked as he ran.
"Got it!" Zhan Zhao patted the wooden box he was carrying, his tone filled with a sense of triumphant excitement.
"Excellent! Now let's see how Yelü Zongzhen can argue!" Bai Yutang exclaimed happily.
The two dared not linger and sped southeast along the pre-arranged route, where caravan members and horses were waiting to meet them.
However, they underestimated the speed of the Prince of Wei's reaction and the importance he placed on this shipment. They had barely traveled ten miles when they heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves and the barking of dogs behind them!
"It's hunting dogs! They've come after us with their hunting dogs!" Bai Yutang's expression changed slightly. In the forest, hunting dogs are extremely good at tracking.
"Let's split up!" Zhan Zhao decided immediately. "You take the box and head east to attract the pursuers' attention! I'll head south and try to lure the hunting dogs away!"
"No! It's too dangerous!" Bai Yutang objected.
"No time for argument! The evidence in the box is more important! Trust me!" Zhan Zhao's tone was resolute and brooked no argument. He shoved the wooden box into Bai Yutang's hands, then took out the brocade pouch given to him by Xuan Yuan Tianyi from his robes, poured out some specially made powder, and sprinkled it on himself and the surrounding tree trunks. This powder had a peculiar smell that could interfere with the hunting dogs' sense of smell.
Bai Yutang knew this was the best solution at the moment, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! Be careful! We'll meet at the usual place!" With that, he picked up the wooden box, turned around, and dashed into the depths of the dense forest to the east.
Zhan Zhao continued south, deliberately making noise to lure the pursuers and hunting dogs towards him.
Sure enough, the barking of dogs and the sound of horses' hooves rapidly approached from behind. Zhan Zhao took a deep breath and used his lightness skill to its fullest extent, weaving through the trees, sometimes leaping onto the treetops, sometimes disappearing into the bushes, trying to shake off his pursuers.
But the pursuers were numerous and clearly quite familiar with the forest. With the help of the hunting dogs, they remained like leeches, clinging tightly to their backs.
A thrilling chase through the forest ensued. Arrows whistled past their ears, and severed branches fell in a flurry. Zhan Zhao, with his exceptional skills and quick wit, narrowly escaped being surrounded time and again.
However, human strength has its limits. After continuous high-intensity escape and fierce battles, coupled with the forced increase in internal energy to quickly shake off pursuers, Zhan Zhao gradually felt his breathing becoming labored, and a wound on his left arm from a stray arrow began to burn painfully.
This can't go on! We must find a way to get rid of them completely!
Zhan Zhao scanned his surroundings and spotted a swiftly flowing mountain stream not far ahead. A thought struck him, and he had an idea.
He suddenly accelerated, rushed towards the ravine, and jumped off the cliff without hesitation!
"He jumped into the ravine!"
"Quick! Go around to the downstream area!"
The pursuers reached the edge of the cliff, only to see white waves churning below; Zhan Zhao was nowhere to be seen. Some of them immediately chased downstream along the ravine, while others began searching for a path to the bottom of the ravine.
However, Zhan Zhao did not go downstream. In the instant he leaped down, he spotted a crevice in the middle of the cliff face, hidden by vines. He plunged his giant sword into the crevice to steady himself, then clung to the slippery cliff face like a gecko, concealing all his presence.
The clamor of the pursuers came from the cliff above and downstream, gradually fading into the distance. The hunting dogs paced anxiously and barked at the edge of the cliff, but ultimately could not descend to the bottom of such a steep ravine.
Zhan Zhao held his breath and remained focused until the sounds outside completely disappeared and he was certain that the pursuers had gone far downstream. Only then did he slowly breathe a sigh of relief. The icy stream water soaked his clothes, and the water made his wounds ache even more.
He had to leave this place as soon as possible and reunite with Bai Yutang. However, at this moment, he had exhausted his internal energy and was injured, so his condition was not good.
Carefully descending the cliff face, Zhan Zhao plunged into the waist-deep, icy ravine. Enduring the biting cold and the pain from his wounds, he struggled upstream against the current for a distance before finding a secluded riverbank to disembark.
He leaned against a boulder, breathing heavily, his face pale from blood loss and the cold. He took out some wound medicine from his pocket, sprinkled it on his wounds, and swallowed a tonifying pill prepared by Xuan Yuan Tianyi. He then circulated his internal energy to regulate his breathing, hoping to recover some strength as soon as possible.
Just then, a faint rustling sound, different from the sound of wind and water, came from behind the bushes not far away!
Someone's there!
Zhan Zhao instantly became alert, silently gripping the Giant Sword in his hand, his sharp gaze fixed on the source of the sound.
The bushes rustled, and a figure cautiously peeked out. It wasn't dressed as a Khitan warrior, but as an elderly Han Chinese man in coarse cloth clothes, dressed like a hunter, holding a wood-chopping knife in his hand, his face showing a look of surprise and uncertainty.
The old man was startled when he saw Zhan Zhao leaning against a boulder, soaking wet and with an injured arm, and instinctively raised his wood-chopping knife.
"Who...who are you?" the old man asked nervously, speaking in Chinese.
Zhan Zhao carefully observed the old man and saw that he walked unsteadily, not like someone who possessed martial arts skills. The wood-chopping knife in his hand was just an ordinary tool for chopping wood. Although his eyes were panicked, there was no murderous intent in them, which reassured Zhan Zhao.
"Don't be afraid, old man." Zhan Zhao sheathed his sword and tried to make his tone sound calm. "I am a merchant from the south. I encountered bandits on the way and barely managed to escape here. I was a little injured."
He did not reveal his true identity, but stories of merchants being robbed are common in this area.
The old man looked at Zhan Zhao with suspicion. Seeing that although he was in a sorry state, he had a righteous air about him and did not seem like a villain, so he relaxed his guard a little: "So you've been robbed... These days are not peaceful." He sighed and put away his wood-chopping knife. "Is your injury... serious? My thatched hut is not far ahead. I have some herbs that I can help you bandage it."
Zhan Zhao's heart stirred slightly. He did indeed need a place to rest, treat his wounds, and recover his inner strength. This old hunter seemed simple and honest; perhaps he could rely on him for the time being.
"In that case... thank you very much, sir." Zhan Zhao bowed and expressed his gratitude.
With the old hunter's help, Zhan Zhao arrived at a simple thatched hut not far upstream in the mountain stream. The old man indeed found some herbs to stop bleeding and reduce inflammation, crushed them, and applied them to Zhan Zhao's wounds. He also gave him some dry food and hot water.
While Zhan Zhao circulated his internal energy and adjusted his breathing, he chatted with the old man and learned that he was a Han Chinese who had moved here many years ago to escape the war. He made a living by hunting and gathering herbs and was extremely familiar with the surrounding mountains and forests.
"Old man, do you know the shortest way to get to Song territory from here in the southeast direction?" Zhan Zhao asked tentatively.
The old man glanced at him and said in a low voice, "Guest, do you want to go back to the south? The Liao people have been cracking down hard lately, and there are checkpoints on both official roads and ordinary paths. However... I know a hidden path for gathering herbs that can bypass several checkpoints and lead directly to the Blackwater River on the border. Once you cross the river, you'll be in Song territory."
Zhan Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this; it was truly a glimmer of hope! "Please enlighten me, sir!"
The old man pondered for a moment and said, "The guest doesn't seem like a bad person, so I'll help you this once. Once you're better, I'll take you for a while. But that road is difficult to travel, and... I can only take you to a place where you can see the Blackwater River."
"That's enough! Zhan... I am deeply grateful!" Zhan Zhao said solemnly. With this secret path, he could avoid the Liao soldiers' layers of checks, meet up with Bai Yutang as soon as possible, and bring the crucial evidence back to the Song Dynasty!
He sat cross-legged, focusing all his energy on healing his injuries. He needed to recover as quickly as possible; time was of the essence. Yelü Zongzhen would not let the loss of such crucial evidence rest so easily; the subsequent search would only intensify. He had to escape Liao territory before the enemy laid a trap!
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