Cheng Liang turned and looked at her, "So it's a woman."
The young girl tilted her head playfully, "Why can't it be?"
At this moment, Liu Kai also came before him and said in a deep voice, "You'd better do as we say, or you'll lose your life."
Cheng Liang looked somewhat disappointed, "I never thought you guys could actually make it all the way here."
After speaking, his expression became a little dim.
Seeing his expression, Liu Kai knew that the other party was undergoing a fierce ideological struggle.
So he had to add more fuel to the fire and make him decide.
Thinking of this, Liu Kai sneered again, "I'll count to three. If you don't give the order, you'll be useless to me."
As he spoke, Liu Kai put his little finger in his mouth and let out a whistle.
The subordinates brought by the young girl, who were hiding in the dark, immediately appeared, holding repeating crossbows in their hands.
Seeing so many of them, Cheng Liang finally let out a helpless sigh to the sky.
"Forget it. Facing a powerful enemy, in order to protect the lives of my brothers, I have no choice but to make this decision."
After speaking, Cheng Liang waved his hand at the people behind him, "Get out of the way and let them pass."
The subordinates, hearing the general's order, naturally complied.
After all, no one would be foolish enough to risk their own lives.
Liu Kai waved his hand, and his followers, surrounding Cui Fugui, passed by rapidly.
The young girl took Cheng Liang all the way down the mountain for more than a mile. When Liu Kai and his men were gone, she raised her hand, knocked Cheng Liang unconscious, kicked him to the side of the road, and left triumphantly.
When the soldiers found him and woke Cheng Liang up, the young girl and her group were long gone.
Cheng Liang, ignoring his dizziness, immediately said to the person next to him, "Quick, send a signal, tell them on the mountain that someone has escaped."
While ordering someone to send a signal to the mountain, Cheng Liang led his men in pursuit.
Whether they could catch up or not, they had to make a show of it.
Soon, the news reached Zhu Meng's tent.
Upon hearing that someone had descended the mountain, Zhu Meng was greatly alarmed and quickly ordered an investigation. Soon, the news came back that everyone else was accounted for, except for Chen Xiaobei's father-in-law, Cui Fugui.
Also missing was the old servant A Xiang, who had just come up the mountain.
After hearing the report, Zhu Meng was so angry that he slammed the table, "No wonder this A Xiang voluntarily came up the mountain. So that's how it is."
"Quickly notify our brothers at the foot of the mountain, and make sure to intercept them."
It wasn't until dawn that the young girl and Liu Kai, along with Cui Fugui, arrived at the foot of Qingniu Mountain.
Looking at the sentry post in the distance, Liu Kai still ordered his men to hide in the woods, while he and the young girl walked over boldly.
The guards at the post saw the people approaching, wearing their armor, and didn't pay much attention. They only asked loudly as a formality, "Hey, which unit are you from?"
Liu Kai cupped his fists, "We are from the Grand Marshal's command, sent down the mountain on official business."
"Did you encounter any villagers on your way? We heard someone escaped the mountain last night!" the guard asked loudly.
This was within Liu Kai's expectations. The communication between the mountain and the foot of the mountain must be very convenient and fast.
He chuckled, "What? You guys don't know yet? That person was caught long ago. A few villagers running around like headless flies, how far could they get?"
Hearing Liu Kai's words, everyone laughed heartily.
As they spoke, Liu Kai and the young girl had already reached these guards.
There were a total of six guards on duty.
Liu Kai twisted the handle and put it behind his back, then held up three fingers and gestured to the left. The young girl behind him understood immediately. This was a signal to her that she would deal with the three on the left.
The young girl coughed lightly, which meant, "I understand."
Getting a response from the young girl, Liu Kai immediately took a large step to the right and then flung his hand.
Two throwing knives shot out.
Then Liu Kai leaped forward and pounced on another person.
The young girl was even more formidable. She leaped forward directly, her hand moved, and three guards fell instantly.
Looking at the young girl's skills, Liu Kai's heart was also stirred.
Even in his prime, he wouldn't have been much better than this.
With a flick of her wrist, she killed three people. And they were three well-trained soldiers. This level of skill was not something ordinary people could possess.
After killing all the guards on duty, the young girl whistled, and her subordinates immediately rushed over.
Then, using the same method, they breached the second sentry post.
It wasn't until about half a stick of incense after they left that someone discovered something was wrong.
As the sky brightened, the news reached Qingniu. Two posts at the foot of the mountain had been breached, which meant Cui Fugui had descended the mountain.
Meanwhile, in Qingniu City.
Zhu Jianyui was strolling in the courtyard after getting up.
Suddenly, a soldier ran in hastily, kneeling on one knee, "General, Daoist Master Jueding went out of the city to pursue the black-clothed men last night and has not returned."
Hearing this, Zhu Jianyui was stunned.
"What did you say?"
"General, it's absolutely true. There are guards outside the city. You can ask them."
Soon, a petty officer who had led the team out of the city to pursue them was brought in.
Zhu Jianyui looked at him, "Tell me exactly what happened."
"General, last night the Daoist Master pursued the black-clothed men out of the city and told us to follow. But after we followed for more than ten miles, we lost their trail."
"We searched until dawn without any clues, so we hurried back to report to you."
Zhu Jianyui frowned after hearing this. Daoist Master Jueding was the backbone of their group.
If he wasn't here, the morale would surely be shaken.
Thinking of this, he said in a deep voice, "You go back first. Do not mention this to anyone, especially do not discuss it privately. I will explain the situation to the Grand Marshal and have him send a commander to take charge."
Zhu Jianyui actually knew very well that Daoist Master Jueding was likely in grave danger after not returning all night.
Therefore, reporting to Zhu Meng as soon as possible was the best course of action.
Just as he finished making arrangements, someone else rushed into the courtyard.
"General, please hurry and see! Outside the city, outside the city, Daoist Master Jueding he..."
Zhu Jianyui followed the person and rushed to the city gate, where the scene before him instantly made him panic.
Under the city, Daoist Master Jueding was tied up on a cart. Beside him were Liu Rumei and others.
In the rear, providing support, were Prince Xiao Jingyun and the commanders of the two armies who had come to aid the king.
Liu Rumei looked up and saw Zhu Jianyui, still politely cupped her fists, "General Zhu, it's been a long time."
Zhu Jianyui replied politely, "Miss Liu, it's been a long time."
Then, pretending to be ignorant, he pointed to Daoist Master Jueding, "Miss Liu, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Rumei smiled calmly, "General Zhu, let's be straightforward. I've come today to persuade you to surrender the city."
"Daoist Master Jueding is the culprit and has already been captured by us. If you can turn back from your erroneous path and pull back from the brink, His Royal Highness the Prince has said that bygones can be bygones."
Upon hearing Liu Rumei's words, Zhu Jianyui was actually tempted.