"What did you say?"
"Miss, we received news from the capital that the second young master's coffin has been intercepted, and everyone except Liu Ziming is missing." the guard replied, bowing.
Just then, Ma Biao walked in and clasped his fists, saying, "Miss, Chen Xiaobei is here, saying he has something urgent."
Without waiting for Liu Rumei to reply, Chen Xiaobei strode in, "Miss Liu, Lidong brought..."
Before he could finish, Chen Xiaobei realized the atmosphere in the room felt wrong.
Ma Biao gently patted his shoulder, "Miss already knows."
He then led Chen Xiaobei out into the courtyard, "Something big has happened to our Liu family. I'm afraid we can't help you."
Chen Xiaobei didn't understand what great event he was referring to, but from Liu Rumei's expression just now, he could see it was no small matter.
Even when Liu Yuanwu was shot, Liu Rumei hadn't been so distraught.
Chen Xiaobei looked up at the night sky and exhaled a long breath.
"Brother Ma, could you lend me a few repeating crossbows? I need to take people into the mountains."
Ma Biao nodded, "Yes, I'll have Zhang Qian take a few men to accompany you, but I really..."
Chen Xiaobei knew that having Zhang Qian bring a few men to accompany him was probably the limit of Liu Rumei's ability right now.
After sending Chen Xiaobei away, Ma Biao re-entered the room, "Miss, I've had Zhang Qian take some men to the mountains with Chen Xiaobei. Oh, and I lent him twenty repeating crossbows."
Liu Rumei nodded slightly, "I know. It's just that if they encounter Sima Wushuang, I'm afraid..."
Ma Biao certainly knew what encountering him would mean.
But they couldn't worry about that anymore. The most pressing matter was how to recover Liu Yuanwu's body.
"Miss, I'll immediately lead men to rendezvous with Liu Ziming and start investigating from the scene."
Liu Rumei nodded and looked at True Person Taiping.
"The matter of the dragon脈 cannot be delayed. Ma Biao, I can't accompany you."
True Person Taiping waved his hand, "Miss Liu, you go ahead and attend to your business. Just leave a few people to assist me with the dragon脈."
Ma Biao, however, clasped his fists, "No, the dragon脈 is the important matter. It concerns whether His Highness the Crown Prince can inherit the throne. There can be no negligence."
He then bowed to True Person Taiping again, "Miss is right. Please take care, True Person. Ma Biao takes his leave."
At this moment, Chen Xiaobei was already gathering people in the village.
Hearing that they were going to the mountains to find Lidong, the village guards were all eager and enthusiastic. Even Dachun rushed out.
Chen Xiaobei looked at Dachun, "Brother, you shouldn't go. And leave a few village guards for you. We'll all be gone, so you must protect the villagers."
Dachun patted his chest and said, "Brother Xiaobei, don't worry. Leave the home to me."
Chen Xiaobei led the group into the mountains in a hurry.
Without stopping.
As dawn broke, they arrived at the steep slope.
Just as they were about to descend using ropes, Zhang Qian suddenly pointed ahead, "Everyone be careful, there seems to be someone there."
Following his gaze, the forest was quiet, with nothing there.
Chen Xiaobei looked at Zhang Qian, "Brother Zhang, you might be too tired and seeing things. There's nothing there."
Before he finished speaking, a rustling sound startled several birds in the forest.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei's heart skipped a beat.
"It seems there really are people."
Zhang Qian's mind flashed back to the ambush of Liu Yuanwu. He felt a lingering fear.
Suddenly, he cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted towards the forest, "Hey, don't hide! We saw you, come out!"
As he spoke, the others also snapped back to attention and shouted in unison.
After shouting for a while, it turned out that their shouting did bring someone out.
The approaching person, while running towards them, shouted, "Brother Zhang, I'm Ma Xiaogang! I'm Ma Xiaogang!"
Ma Xiaogang.
Seeing him running alone, Chen Xiaobei suddenly had a bad premonition.
Indeed, before he even reached them, Ma Xiaogang's mouth had already stretched wide, and he was crying.
"Brother Zhang Qian, Brother Xiaobei, it's tragic! Too tragic!"
Zhang Qian quickly called out for people to lower ropes and pull Ma Xiaogang up.
Ma Xiaogang, upon reaching the top, slumped to the ground, "Brother Zhang, Li Chang Xiaobei, they're dead, all dead."
Chen Xiaobei's heart trembled. He gently patted Ma Xiaogang's shoulder, "Don't cry. Tell me what happened."
"Ma Xiaoyi, a few other brothers, and your villagers, Chen Lidong, were all shot dead."
With just these words, Chen Xiaobei's mind buzzed.
"Was it at the rope bridge?"
"Yes, right there. We were walking, and they attacked without a word, shooting arrows."
"If Brother Xiaoyi hadn't protected me with his life, we might not have escaped."
After listening to him, Chen Xiaobei stood up and gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
"Sun Jian, Sima Wushuang, I will never forgive you."
Zhang Qian raised his hand and patted Ma Xiaogang, "Alright, you go rest for now. We'll escort you down the mountain later."
After calming Ma Xiaogang down, Zhang Qian came to Chen Xiaobei's side, "Brother Xiaobei, what should we do next? Why don't we go back first?"
Chen Xiaobei shook his head.
"No, I'm not going back. I want to go and carry Brother Lichun back. I can't let him lie exposed in the wilderness."
Zhang Qian quickly stopped his impulsive idea, "Brother Xiaobei, don't be rash. Endure for a moment and the storm will pass. They are in the shadows now. If we go in rashly, the outcome will likely be the same as Ma Xiaoyi and the others."
After Zhang Qian's repeated persuasion, Chen Xiaobei gradually calmed down.
"Alright, then let me be quiet for a while."
Zhang Qian began to arrange for their descent, but Chen Xiaobei did not want to give up.
He thought about the situation carefully. The rope bridge, Sun Jian wanted to trap and kill Liu Rumei.
What way could he trap and kill Sun Jian?
Staring at the distant forest, Chen Xiaobei thought for a long time and finally made up his mind.
Right here, on this steep slope.
If they held this steep slope, Sun Jian wouldn't be able to descend either.
"Brother Zhang, I'm not going down the mountain. I'm going to guard here. This is the only way down. Sun Jian and the others will return sooner or later. I will kill Sun Jian here to avenge Brother Lidong."
"Can it be done here?" Before he finished speaking, Zhang Qian's eyes lit up.
It was indeed a good idea. They had spent days traversing the canyon and would eventually have to climb up. Guarding this steep slope was like being a single man guarding a crucial pass.
If they set up some ambushes and traps in the forest over there, would they still worry about not being able to defeat Sima Wushuang?
But their manpower was far from enough.
Hearing his concern, Chen Xiaobei shook his head.
"Don't worry, we'll have enough men. Liu Ce and the others should be coming down the canyon by now. If everything goes smoothly, they will rendezvous with us here."
Hearing his words, Zhang Qian couldn't help but nod. Chen Xiaobei's grasp of the overall situation was truly admirable.