It was clearly too late to turn back and chase Da Lao Hei now. Xiong Fei stomped his foot in frustration.
"Alas, Brother Li Tong, I didn't expect to fall into Da Lao Hei's trap in the end. We can only take it one step at a time."
Li Tong smiled faintly, "Brother, don't be afraid. They're just some regular soldiers, what are you so scared of? With me here, I'll ensure you break through."
Ma Biao, observing from his vantage point, could see clearly. The three had split into two groups. He didn't recognize Da Lao Hei or Li Tong, so he could only divide his men into two squads. He ordered them to pursue, leaving markers along the way.
Meanwhile, down the mountain.
Gao Tao was in charge of guarding the rear mountain.
With his extensive experience, Gao Tao immediately ordered his men to be on high alert the moment he saw movement on the mountain. Swords were drawn, bows were strung, and he commanded that anyone who appeared should first be hailed, and if they didn't stop, arrows would be loosed.
Upon seeing the signal flares from the rear mountain, Liu Rumei immediately left Ma Xiaoyi with a dozen men to engage these ruffians, while he led the main force to the rear mountain.
These ruffians, upon seeing the signal flares ascend, mistook them for signals from the government troops below, never imagining that Da Lao Hei had already escaped.
Da Lao Hei chose the left path because the terrain there was steep and densely vegetated, making it difficult for anyone on the mountain to track him. Additionally, there were a few shallow caves where he could temporarily hide.
However, it was clear that Da Lao Hei had underestimated the situation.
His pursuers were not government soldiers. They were brought by Ma Biao from the capital.
These were the elite, chosen from thousands, by Duke Huguo Liu Xiangnan. Not only were they skilled in martial arts, but tracking was also their forte.
Da Lao Hei weaved left and right, but he couldn't shake his pursuers. Instead, they drew closer, and he began to feel uneasy.
After a moment's thought, as he rounded a bend, he took off his pack, threw it into a cave on the left, and then, at the cave's entrance, he subtly drew a cross-shaped mark.
Li Tong and Xiong Fei were in even more dire straits. Neither of them was familiar with the mountain paths, making their progress slow.
They were soon pressed by their pursuers. Seeing a flat clearing ahead, Li Tong simply stopped and said to Xiong Fei, "This is the place. Let's deal with these tails first."
With that, he pulled out a long arrow from his back, drew his bowstring, and aimed at the path they had come from.
A figure in black appeared in the distance. Li Tong, without a word, loosed an arrow with a 'whoosh'.
The arrow, propelled by close range and great force, caught the black-clad man off guard. He realized something was amiss, but the arrow was already upon him. He desperately tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Barely managing to avoid a fatal blow, the arrow pierced his shoulder with a 'splat', and the force of the impact drove him back several large steps before he stopped.
His companions, seeing such a long arrow, immediately realized that Li Tong was ahead. They quickly fired a signal arrow with a repeating crossbow.
This was the signal that Li Tong had been found. Ma Biao, who was directing from a high vantage point, immediately rushed towards them.
Li Tong fired two more arrows in quick succession, wounding another black-clad man. The remaining black-clad men, seeing this, dared not advance and took cover where they were.
Li Tong laughed heartily, "Brother Xiong Fei, see? A bunch of cowards."
He repeated himself twice, but received no response. Li Tong turned to look, and Xiong Fei, who had been standing behind him, had vanished.
Seeing this, Li Tong stomped his feet in anger and cried out, "Xiong Fei, oh Xiong Fei, how could you be so heartless? I treated you like a brother, and yet you would betray me here."
He cursed, but at the same time, Li Tong realized the gravity of the situation. He had been betrayed by Da Lao Hei, and now by his sworn brother Xiong Fei.
It was clear that Xiong Fei intended for him to stall the pursuers here while he himself escaped.
"Fine," Li Tong thought, "It's just a few pursuers. I'll deal with them first."
Clearly, Li Tong had overestimated himself and underestimated the strength of his pursuers.
Soon, Ma Biao arrived. Upon seeing the long arrows protruding from the shoulders of his two injured subordinates, he secretly rejoiced.
Capturing Li Tong and bringing him back to the capital would lessen his own culpability.
He waved his hand and drew his long sword from his back.
Then, he stepped out from his hidden position.
Seeing another figure emerge, Li Tong loosed two arrows in rapid succession.
Ma Biao, skilled and brave, dodged the arrows with a slight sidestep. With a flick of his wrist, he actually caught the shaft of an arrow.
Seeing Ma Biao so casually catch an arrow he had shot, Li Tong inwardly realized he was in trouble. He had encountered a master.
But at this moment, he had no other choice. He threw aside his long bow and prepared to fight Ma Biao.
Li Tong was known as the Iron-Armed Divine Fist, and his hard skills were indeed formidable.
He calmed his mind, pointed at Ma Biao, and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? Dare you reveal your name?"
Ma Biao smiled faintly, "My name is Ma Biao."
Hearing the name, Li Tong's expression changed, "Are you Ma Biao, the Evergreen Swordsman?"
Ma Biao nodded, "It's what my friends in the martial world call me, I suppose."
"Great侠 Ma, we are strangers who met by chance. We had no quarrel, why are you relentlessly pursuing me today?"
Ma Biao let out a cold snort, "No quarrel? Then why did you shoot the Second Young Master?"
"Hahaha," Li Tong burst into laughter, "To think that the noble Evergreen Swordsman has become a lackey of the court."
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a blur before his eyes. Ma Biao had already attacked him.
Li Tong didn't hesitate. He adopted a stance and used his arm to forcefully block Ma Biao's sword.
Seeing this move, Ma Biao was somewhat surprised. The Iron-Armed Divine Fist was indeed well-deserved.
They exchanged blows for dozens of rounds, neither gaining the upper hand.
Ma Biao began to ponder. He wanted to capture Li Tong alive, so he held back some of his strength in his moves. However, Li Tong fought without restraint, using all his life-saving techniques.
With this disparity, it was difficult for Ma Biao to defeat Li Tong in a short time.
"Fine," he thought, "I won't waste any more time with you. I'll end this quickly."
With that thought, Ma Biao unleashed several moves, gaining the advantage. He then feigned an opening and thrust out a sword with seemingly little force.
Li Tong, unaware of the trap, thought he had seized an opportunity. With a loud shout, he stepped forward and clamped his hands onto Ma Biao's sword.
Seeing Li Tong fall into his trap, Ma Biao inwardly rejoiced. He reached into his懷 and threw something out, shouting, "Take this!"
A puff of white smoke instantly enveloped Li Tong.
"Oh no," Li Tong realized he had been tricked, but it was too late.
Moreover, he was downwind. The white smoke drifted with the wind, creating a dense fog within a radius of ten feet. He had no way to retreat.
Li Tong's body swayed twice, and finally, he collapsed to the ground with a 'thud'.
When the white mist dispersed, Ma Biao stepped forward and kicked Li Tong's body twice. He then squatted down, removed Li Tong's belt, and securely bound him.
It was at this moment that Liu Rumei arrived. Seeing that Ma Biao had already finished his work.
"Has his identity been confirmed?"
Ma Biao nodded, pointing at the sturdy bow on the ground, "He wounded two of our men. It is confirmed to be Li Tong."