Liu Ce naturally understood Liu Rumei's intention; considering candidates meant she didn't want Ma Biao to go. Otherwise, they would have simply ordered Ma Biao and his men to return.
Keeping Ma Biao was for dealing with Sima Wushuang as well as for handling any potential top-tier Daoists. With Ma Biao and the numerical advantage, they might have a sliver of a chance.
Liu Ce bowed and said, "Miss, I think it would be best to send Zi Ming and Zi Liang, the brothers. They are both cautious and skilled in martial arts, capable of handling ordinary situations."
Ma Biao agreed with this suggestion. "That's acceptable. Perhaps Zhang Qian can accompany them back."
Liu Rumei shook her head. "There's no need to make a grand show. The fewer people, the better. Let Zi Ming and Zi Liang take a few others."
Ma Biao exchanged a look with Liu Ce, then bowed again. "We will arrange it immediately. They will depart first thing tomorrow morning. Miss, please rest early."
The two bowed and withdrew. Liu Rumei, however, took some spirit money and entered a side room.
She lit the spirit money with a candle, placed it on the ground, and watched it burn as tears streamed down her face.
"Second brother, you traveled far and endured hardship, only to meet such a tragic fate. Alas, it's all my fault for being willful; I shouldn't have avoided seeing you."
"Now that we are separated by life and death, take good care of yourself over there. I will fulfill my filial duties to father on your behalf."
"Oh, and I have caught the killer."
"I will send him to the capital with them and decapitate him before your grave, to bring peace to your spirit in the heavens."
After reciting her lament, Liu Rumei stood up and turned to Xiao Qing beside her. "Tomorrow, make the medicine stronger. Let him sleep for at least three days and three nights, so he doesn't cause any trouble for Zi Ming and Zi Liang."
Xiao Qing nodded. "Miss, don't worry. Let him sleep for five days and five nights; I guarantee there will be no issues."
The next morning, Hetou Village became bustling.
Liu Rumei personally called Liu Zi Ming and Liu Zi Liang into the house.
"Each of you will take four men. Each person must carry at least three repeating crossbows. Ensure you have enough provisions for the journey. Do not depart until after sunset, and only travel when the sun has risen again."
"During the day, it will be a bit of hardship, but you will eat your own rations."
"At night, you must sleep in shifts and keep a close watch on Li Tong. Absolutely no mistakes should occur."
Liu Rumei's instructions were very detailed. Liu Zi Ming and Liu Zi Liang nodded in agreement, one by one.
"Alright, you may go. When you see my father, explain the situation here clearly to him. Tell him that once I resolve the crisis here, I will return to the capital to beg his forgiveness."
After sending off Liu Zi Ming and Liu Zi Liang, Liu Ce and Ma Biao also organized their men, and as agreed the previous night, the majority of the manpower retreated to the county town.
Only Liu Rumei, her maids, and twelve guards remained in Hetou Village.
These twelve guards also had to take turns with Yang Zhi to guard Sun Jian's subordinates, and others had to accompany Chen Xiaobei's village protection team to guard Hetou Village. When all this was factored in, the twelve men were just enough.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaobei was busy preparing to head to the county town. Today, he had already asked Chen Xiaobo to deliver goods to Xiaojia Town, as he himself needed to go to the county town to buy gunpowder.
As he walked, Chen Xiaobei pondered.
The experiment with the firecrackers last night was very successful, so he intended to continue making them, and on a larger scale. Small firecrackers placed on Qingniu Mountain wouldn't be visible from below.
Even a firecracker placed at the mountain god's temple would need to be as thick as Qiao'er's arm to be seen.
If he were to go even bigger, perhaps even thicker than his own arm wouldn't be visible.
So, what to do?
Under the current circumstances, it was impossible to keep increasing the thickness indefinitely.
What then? Chen Xiaobei suddenly thought of beacon fires.
Yes, beacon fires. The ancients used beacon fires to transmit messages.
Beacon fires were passed from one to another.
He could also make the firecrackers relay each other, which would reduce his manufacturing difficulty.
That's right, the crucial point now was the mountain god's temple.
With these thoughts clear, Chen Xiaobei felt much more at ease.
At this moment, in the dungeon of the Liu residence, Xiao Cui'er was tied to a cross-shaped wooden frame.
A ladle of cold water was poured on her, and Xiao Cui slowly opened her eyes.
She squinted, trying to adjust to the dim environment and confirm where she was.
Ma Biao, standing nearby, let out a cold snort. "Enough, stop looking."
Startled by the sudden voice, Xiao Cui'er showed a brief moment of panic, but she quickly regained her composure.
Watching Ma Biao pace before her, Xiao Cui'er remained calm, saying nothing, even closing her eyes for a while.
After a long while, Ma Biao finally spoke.
"Miss Xiao Cui, don't blame me for not warning you. What you've done is a crime punishable by death for nine generations. I only want to know who hired you to assassinate my second young master."
Xiao Cui'er shook her head again. "I don't know. I'm just a messenger. As long as someone offers a price, I release the information, and then someone responds!"
Ma Biao inwardly sneered. It was the same old routine of feigning innocence and ignorance, but he wouldn't let her get away with it so easily.
Thinking this, Ma Biao raised his hand, took a leather whip from the side, and swung it. "Since you refuse to speak, I'll help you remember."
Seeing the whip, a flicker of panic crossed Xiao Cui's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Sir, I truly don't know the buyer's identity."
Ma Biao showed no mercy. He swung the whip, cracking it dozens of times, causing Xiao Cui to yelp in agony.
However, Xiao Cui proved to have some backbone. Despite her screams, she refused to utter another word.
Ma Biao felt a trace of admiration for Xiao Cui, but this was not the time for it. He threw the whip aside.
He said to two of his subordinates nearby, "Since she won't talk, she's no longer valuable. She's yours."
The two men exchanged glances, their faces alight with joy.
As they approached with menacing grins, Xiao Cui's voice began to tremble with fear. "Don't, don't come near me. What do you want?"
The man on the left didn't reply. He reached out, grabbed Xiao Cui's collar, and tore it with a ripping sound.
"Ah!" Xiao Cui screamed.
Suddenly, the man stopped and turned to Ma Biao. "Military advisor, look."
Ma Biao, who was about to leave and didn't want to witness this scene, stopped and turned at the cry. "What is it?"
"She's from the Lotus Gate!"
Ma Biao was shocked. He quickly stepped forward and saw a vibrant lotus flower tattooed on Xiao Cui's left shoulder.
Ma Biao stared at Xiao Cui for a long time, then coldly asked, "Are you a subordinate of the White Lotus sect leader?"
Xiao Cui suddenly found her courage and snorted, "You know then. If my master finds out you've treated me like this, he will never let you go."
"Hahaha." Ma Biao threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"Xiao Cui, threatening me is useless. No one knows you are imprisoned here, not even your master."
The small spark of defiance in Xiao Cui's eyes instantly extinguished.
Ma Biao waved his hand, and along with the two men, he walked out of the interrogation room.
"Military advisor, why aren't you continuing the interrogation?"