Back in his own room, Hou Liu changed into ordinary clothes, stuffed all the silver he had saved over the years into his pocket, picked up his personal saber, hesitated, and then put it down.
Hou Liu strolled out of the room and headed towards the mountain stronghold’s entrance. Those he knew greeted him with smiles, and he returned their smiles, appearing completely normal.
After leaving the stronghold, he walked downhill. When the hidden sentries asked, he simply stated he was going out on official business on the orders of the Grand Chief.
It was normal to go out on business at this hour, so the sentries didn't suspect anything. Hou Liu successfully left Centipede Ridge. He turned back and let out a cold snort from the corner of his mouth.
"A bunch of fools who court death. If Yang Chun hasn't returned, something big must have happened. They're still having a feast? I don't want to be here to take a fatal blow with them."
Saying this, he touched the silver in his pocket, oriented himself, and headed towards Xiao Family Town.
Not long after turning a corner ahead, a flash of cold light suddenly appeared, and a long sword was placed at his throat, making Hou Liu jump.
Soon, Hou Liu was brought before Ma Biao.
Hou Liu clasped his hands towards Ma Biao and said, "Esteemed sirs, we have no past grudges and no recent enmities. What is this for?"
Ma Biao raised his hand and pointed at Centipede Ridge. "Is Li Tong up there?"
"This..." Hou Liu secretly cursed. He had been found out so quickly; he had indeed left too late.
"Gentlemen, there is no one called Li Tong on our Centipede Ridge?"
"Oh?" Ma Biao glanced at him sideways, then his gaze fell on his chest, which was bulging.
Someone next to him reached out and snatched the pouch of silver from Hou Liu.
Looking at the pouch of silver, Ma Biao let out a cold snort. "Where are you planning to go with so much silver?"
Hou Liu's mind worked quickly. "The Grand Chief ordered me to go to Xiao Family Town to buy some supplies for the stronghold, hence I brought some silver."
It was clear this excuse couldn't fool Ma Biao. He gestured, and someone stepped forward, grabbing Hou Liu and dragging him deeper into the nearby woods.
"We won't get anything from a mere underling. Just cut him down."
These words terrified Hou Liu. He quickly shouted, "Wait, esteemed sir, I'll talk, I'll talk."
But Ma Biao remained silent, so the actions of the two men did not stop. Hou Liu knew that if he didn't speak now, he might not get another chance.
Thinking this, he quickly shouted, "Li Tong, Li Tong is on the mountain."
Hearing this, Ma Biao waved his hand.
Hou Liu was brought back. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said to Ma Biao with lingering fear, "Esteemed great hero, that Li Tong is on the mountain, yes, it's him. Yesterday, at Green Ox Mountain, he shot an arrow through the heart and struck down a major figure from the capital."
Hou Liu deliberately concealed the fact that he knew Liu Yuanwu's identity.
Ma Biao didn't care about his little trick. As long as Ma Biao confirmed it was Li Tong, and that Li Tong was on Centipede Ridge, that was enough.
After saying this, Hou Liu bowed again to Ma Biao. "Esteemed hero, this is all I know. I have told you everything."
Ma Biao nodded. "Tie him up and keep an eye on him. Don't let him escape. We'll deal with him after we've dealt with Centipede Ridge."
Meanwhile, Yang Zhi returned to Hetou Village with a half-drunk, half-awake Yang Chun. The bumpy journey had lulled him back to sleep. By the time they returned, Yang Chun was mostly sober.
Yang Zhi brought Yang Chun before Liu Rumei and got straight to the point. "His name is Yang Chun, he is the second-in-command of Centipede Ridge, and my own elder brother. I implore Miss Liu to be lenient and spare his life."
Liu Rumei naturally understood the unspoken meaning in Yang Zhi's words. She turned to Yang Chun. "I ask you, was the incident at Green Ox Mountain your doing? Was it Li Tong?"
Yang Chun nodded, clasped his hands, and said, "Miss Liu, I repeatedly advised our Great Chief that the Liu family is not to be trifled with, but he wouldn't listen. Someone offered ten thousand taels of silver for the head of the Second Young Master. Our Great Chief was blinded by greed."
Hearing this, Liu Rumei frowned slightly. This was not quite what she had analyzed.
Hiring an assassin? Would the Imperial Tutor do such a thing? That was too easy to leave clues.
Furthermore, her second brother was showing signs of leaning towards the Imperial Tutor. Was it worth it for him to do this?
"Yang Chun, are you willing to lead me to the person who hired the assassin?"
Yang Chun nodded. "He's in Xiao Family Town. I'll take you there right away."
Liu Rumei nodded and beckoned Zhang Qian to come in. She briefly explained the situation. Zhang Qian, understanding immediately, went out with Yang Chun.
With everything arranged, Liu Rumei said to Yang Zhi, "Bring your men and accompany me to Centipede Ridge."
Upon hearing this arrangement, Yang Zhi was overjoyed, realizing that Liu Rumei now considered his Vermilion Bird Gang as her own.
Just as they were rushing towards Xiao Family Town, Chen Xiaobei was driving his cart towards the county town.
Although there was tension at Centipede Ridge, Xiao Family Town was unaffected. Therefore, Chen Xiaobei finished delivering his apples and leisurely headed towards the county town.
As he was traveling, he saw dust flying ahead, and a large contingent of soldiers approaching.
Chen Xiaobei quickly reined in his cart and pulled over to the side of the road to let the official army pass, as was customary.
To his surprise, the one leading the procession was Hu Fan, accompanied by a general in full armor whom he didn't recognize.
Hu Fan had clearly seen Chen Xiaobei and waved to him with a smile.
Upon seeing Chen Xiaobei, Hu Fan had an idea and reined in his war horse, beckoning Chen Xiaobei over.
Chen Xiaobei quickly ran over. "County Magistrate Hu, do you have any instructions?"
Hu Fan dismounted and pulled him a couple of steps aside, speaking in a low voice. "Brother Xiaobei, have you heard about what happened at Green Ox Mountain last night?"
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "I heard about a young master from the capital?"
Hu Fan sighed. "Yes, Liu Yuanwu, the second son of Duke Liu Xiangnan, was shot and killed at Green Ox Mountain."
Xiaobei thought to himself, I know about this. So they are leading troops for this matter. But this direction is not towards Hetou Village.
"County Magistrate Hu, I heard. Who would dare to do such a thing?"
Hu Fan shook his head. "Brother, I'm not talking about that."
"I'm talking about you?"
Me?
Chen Xiaobei looked bewildered and didn't understand what Hu Fan meant.
Hu Fan coughed. "Have you forgotten? You handled the land deed for Green Ox Mountain just a couple of days ago!"
Chen Xiaobei still didn't understand Hu Fan's meaning. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Alas, don't you think about it? Green Ox Mountain was originally a desolate mountain. Who would normally go to get a land deed for a desolate mountain?"
"Moreover, you handled the land deed, and immediately afterward, this second young master met with misfortune. If you were the Duke, what would you think? If you were the Emperor, what would you think?" Su Dan Novel Network
Hu Fan finished speaking and turned to leave. After a few steps, he turned back and said sternly, "If you are really taken in for questioning, you know what to say, right?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei felt his head grow several times larger, bigger than the water vat on the cart.