Chapter 167
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Xu Wenze waited alone in the prison cell, anxiously concerned for everyone. He pondered about what else he could do to assist them.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside; someone had arrived.
However, based on the recent patrol times, it shouldn’t be so soon.
Xu Wenze felt a moment of tension, immediately positioning himself in front of the cell door. He held a dagger concealed behind his back, trying to block the view of the unconscious figure lying on the bed as much as possible.
Before long, a figure appeared at the door—it was unexpectedly the patriarch.
Xu Wenze forced himself to maintain a calm demeanor as he locked eyes with the patriarch.
The patriarch, who had just experienced the pain of losing a younger brother, appeared extremely gloomy. He reached out and opened the cell door.
“What are you planning?” Xu Wenze stepped back.
“Let’s go, Young Master Xu.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“If Young Master Xu wants to stay alive, speak less nonsense.”
“Where are the others?”
The patriarch didn’t bother to answer directly; he looked at Xu Wenze with some impatience.
Xu Wenze hesitated for a moment. Considering that the patriarch hadn’t mentioned taking Chu Lishu along from the moment he entered, if he could leave without raising suspicion and continue buying time for the others, he might delay sounding the alarm.
With this in mind, Xu Wenze took a step forward, preparing to leave.
However, he noticed that the patriarch was heading towards the direction of the impostor.
Xu Wenze quickly reached out to stop him. “He was just poisoned, not in good health, and has fainted. If you want to take him along, I can carry him on my back.”
The patriarch gave Xu Wenze a cold look. “Who said I’m taking him? Since my brother is already dead, as the elder brother, I naturally want to send the one he liked to accompany him!”
Xu Wenze’s face changed in an instant, but the patriarch had already rushed toward the impostor. He reached out, grabbed the person’s neck, and lifted them. With a crack, the person didn’t even have time to react before their neck tilted.
As the person’s head tilted, the patriarch realized something was wrong.
At that moment, the sound of a shooting arrow came from behind.
On the Master’s side, there were no more clues to follow. Chu Lishu, along with Lin Qingyang, left the garden, intending to find the Dai siblings. Suddenly, the sky was filled with the sound of shooting arrows from outside.
It seemed that Xu Wenze had been discovered.
Chu Lishu instructed Lu Yi to bring a map to assist the Dai siblings in dismantling the explosive device.
Meanwhile, Lu Shi followed Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang, rushing back towards the prison cell.
When they arrived, they coincidentally met Huo Luo and Yue Chen, who had also rushed to the scene. Their efforts had paid off; they had captured the informant who was burying the final fuse. Huo Luo and Yue Chen opted for a straightforward approach, kidnapping and threatening the informant. However, the informant only knew about this particular location. They had to prioritize eliminating the fuse crisis. With this approach, unless someone lit the fuses at each hidden point simultaneously, there wouldn’t be a consecutive detonation.
Combined with Chu Lishu’s findings, the crisis of the explosive device was considered resolved.
As for the escape route and hostages, they learned from the informant that the group didn’t want to attract too much attention and had insufficient manpower. Therefore, they directly took the hostages to dig through the final escape tunnel. This explained why everyone was currently inside the secret passage.
In reality, only a small number of people knew about the existence of the tunnel, with most of those wearing masks being kept in the dark.
After all, if everyone wearing a mask knew about it from the beginning, the large number of people might lead to leaks. It seems they wanted to wait until the operation was completed before gradually relocating their people.
The secret passage was actually located on a cliff not far from the prison cell.
When the four arrived at the prison cell, they found the lifeless body of the person who had been strangled.
“It’s the patriarch,” Chu Lishu instantly deduced. If it were someone else who discovered the situation, they wouldn’t have directly attacked their own people.
Yue Chen nodded in agreement. “Xu Wenze has been taken away.”
Not finding Xu Wenze’s body did bring some relief to the group. However, Chu Lishu and Yue Chen couldn’t shake off a subtle sense of unease.
Why would the patriarch take Xu Wenze away?
Considering their respective statuses, they had more valuable hostages at their disposal. Since the decision seemed to be to let everyone die here, there was no need to specifically take Xu Wenze away.
Could it be they wanted to use severe methods to extract information about their whereabouts?
There’s no need to take him away, right?
However, the momentary puzzlement about this matter only flashed through Chu Lishu’s and Yue Chen’s minds. Soon, the group focused on searching for the secret passage.
The best-case scenario would be finding both the patriarch and Xu Wenze already in the tunnel. Even if they weren’t there, they could set up an ambush.
As they approached the secret passage, they saw masked individuals continuously entering and exiting a cave. The entrance was covered with vines, resembling green curtains that completely concealed the cave. Without getting closer, it was impossible to see what was inside.
The area outside the cave was a large open space, precisely the training ground where they claimed the patriarch’s men were practicing. It served as a perfect cover for their activities in opening the secret passage.
“I’ll go in alone,” Huo Luo observed for a moment before speaking.
“We’ll go together,” Yue Chen immediately said.
Huo Luo frowned slightly. “You’ll be in the way.”
Yue Chen, a bit irritated, said, “I know I’m in the way, but since the Master and the patriarch likely set up this secret passage together, there’s a high probability that it has traps. We’d better not alert them by being too hasty.”
Yue Chen then looked at Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu nodded; it was highly probable.
Huo Luo had no choice but to take Yue Chen with him to sneak in first, while Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang stayed outside for the time being.
Lin Qingyang felt uneasy, worried about Xu Wenze’s safety. Just as he was about to discuss it with Chu Lishu, he saw Chu Lishu furrow his brows slightly, looking towards the opposite direction, which was the entrance of the fort.
At this moment, Lin Qingyang also sensed that something was amiss. The once quiet mountain seemed to be growing noisy.
Before long, a voice echoed in the darkness.
It was Lu Yi who returned with the news.
Apparently, the Eldest Prince led an army in an attack, and they somehow missed encountering the patriarch.
Lu Yi saw the patriarch and Xu Wenze. They must have received an urgent message after leaving the prison cell, prompting the patriarch to take Xu Wenze to find the Dai siblings. Fortunately, Lu Yi noticed in time and warned the Dai siblings, preventing the patriarch from discovering their activities with the explosive device.
The patriarch dispatched Dai Heng and one of his men to lead a thousand troops, consisting of half of their own people and half from the fort, to confront the Eldest Prince’s forces. Afterward, he took Xu Wenze towards the Master’s garden, likely for discussions. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t find the Master there.
Half of the explosive device crisis was resolved, and it should be quickly dealt with now that the patriarch’s men weren’t causing interference. However, the Eldest Prince’s forces were advancing at a decent pace, and it seemed there would be a direct confrontation soon. Dai Xueyang mentioned she would finish dealing with the explosive device, go find her brother, and take advantage of the chaos to escape.
With Lu Yi’s report concluded, he fell silent.
“Why is it happening so quickly?” Lin Qingyang asked, “Even if Mu Huichun’s medical skills are superb, the imperial troops shouldn’t have arrived so soon, right?”
“They probably just brought the remaining forces in the camp for an attack. The Eldest Prince’s temperament is such that once he regains the ability to act, he won’t endure in silence, waiting for rescue. The patriarch likely knows this, which is why he continues to send people to resist instead of hastily escaping. He believes that, combined with the mechanisms in the mountains, they can withstand a second attack,” Chu Lishu explained.
“The Eldest Prince is indeed reckless. Although there should be a considerable number of soldiers left in the military camp, possibly even twice as many as in Wu Xin Fort, they must be physically and mentally exhausted, with numerous wounded. They would also be afraid of this mountain. Doesn’t it amount to leading soldiers to their deaths? He just wants to vent his anger,” Lin Qingyang commented.
“He does want to vent his anger, but it’s not just sending them to die. There must be others assisting him. With such a quick attack, there’s undoubtedly someone skilled in traps and mechanisms supporting him. If it weren’t for the mechanisms in the mountains, capturing this place would be just a matter of time.”
As they spoke, suddenly, they heard the noise of a large group of people approaching.
The two of them hid on the side, silently observing. They were surprised to see the patriarch leading a group of followers briskly walking towards the cave.
Xu Wenze, with his hands tied, was being dragged along and pulled directly into the cave.
Observing Xu Wenze’s condition, it seemed like he hadn’t suffered any harm, and Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Around fifty people entered this time, and they had no idea how many people were already inside the cave.
“What about Huo Luo and Yue Chen?”
“Huo Luo is highly skilled in martial arts; they must have heard the commotion early on. They should be fine.”
“What should we do now?”
“Since part of the patriarch’s men have left the fort, and another part has entered the cave, this place should be safe. You stay here, and I’ll…”
Chu Lishu’s words were interrupted as Lin Qingyang grabbed his arm, staring at him with wide eyes.
Chu Lishu couldn’t continue his words and quickly compromised, “You can come in, but if I feel the danger is too much for you to handle, you must listen to me. Otherwise, I’ll have to knock you out.”
Lin Qingyang nodded decisively, appearing very obedient, but Chu Lishu couldn’t shake the feeling of mistrust. However, there was nothing more he could do.
Chu Lishu led Lin Qingyang into the cave. Faintly, they could hear the sound of footsteps ahead, but soon a loud crash echoed, and the sound disappeared.
The noise, resembling the falling of a giant stone, unsettled them. Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang hurriedly ran towards it, only to find a stone door blocking the passage in the secret tunnel.
“What’s going on? They close the door even when they’re working inside?” Lin Qingyang questioned.
Chu Lishu’s expression changed. “I misspoke earlier. It seems the deaths of the Second Masterand the Master have deeply affected the patriarch. He’s abandoning this place.”
Lin Qingyang quickly grasped the situation. “So, he sent his brothers to their deaths, trying to block the Eldest Prince, and he’s escaping with only a few people?”
Chu Lishu sneered, as if recalling something. “Well, it’s not the first time he’s done something like this.”
Deserters are people who abandon their comrades to escape. What’s strange about him abandoning his own brothers again?
The patriarch probably felt he couldn’t control the current situation. Taking so many people with him would make them an easy target, so he chose to abandon them. That’s likely why he closed the secret passage, blocking any potential pursuers.
“What should we do? Can this door still be opened?” Lin Qingyang asked.
After observing for a moment, Chu Lishu realized that the door was sealed from the inside, making it impossible to open from the outside.
Chu Lishu pulled Lin Qingyang back a few steps.
Soon, two figures descended in front of them. It was Lu Yi and Lu Shi, dressed in the same attire.
With their backs to Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang, the two of them knelt down side by side, hands pressing into the ground like iron palms, and effortlessly lifted the stone door.
Lin Qingyang watched as the two men trembled, clearly struggling with the weight of the stone door. They managed to lift it halfway, and Chu Lishu rolled inside without hesitation.
Startled, Lin Qingyang was about to follow when the door made a clattering sound. Lu Yi and Lu Shi instantly breathed a sigh of relief. The immense door slowly lifted off their shoulders, revealing Chu Lishu standing on the side of the mountain wall. He had found the mechanism to open the door.
Following that, the group continued forward, with Lu Yi and Lu Shi leading the way.
However, they quickly encountered a new challenge as numerous passages appeared before them.
The secret passage was built upon the complex natural cave system within the mountain itself. Once the artificial traces were lost, it became challenging to determine which passage led to the correct destination.
After observing for a while, they swiftly identified the right path because Yue Chen had left them clues.
They continued to track, encountering various traps and mechanisms. Safe passage required following the correct steps, but this didn’t pose a challenge to their group. Soon, they heard voices, indicating they had caught up with the main force.
Along the way, they also encountered some masked individuals lingering behind, but Lu Yi and Lu Shi silently took care of them.
Ahead, the passage forked.
One of the paths had the sound of hammering, indicating ongoing excavation.
The four of them followed the sound, reaching a corner where they carefully observed the situation inside a vast space. Dozens of people were taking turns digging the walls. Xu Wenze was tied up not far away, his head hanging low, making it impossible to see his expression or understand the situation.
Nearby, in a recessed hole, vague movements of heads could be seen.
Lu Yi and Lu Shi found spots on the rock wall with hollow spaces above, climbed up, concealed their figures, and began to approach for a closer observation.
In no time, Lu Yi, near the recessed area, gestured to them. The people there were indeed the hostages.
However, upon a thorough observation of the area, they didn’t spot the patriarch or some of the fort’s subordinates. There was also no sign of Yue Chen and Huo Luo.
It was evident that they must be in another location.
Once Lu Yi and Lu Shi came down, Chu Lishu reorganized their plan.
Lin Qingyang was assigned to hide in the upper hollow space, constantly observing the progress and the situation of the hostages. In case of any issues, he would alert the others promptly.
Chu Lishu, accompanied by Lu Yi and Lu Shi, went in search of the patriarch, Yue Chen, and Huo Luo.
The situation here was clear. Although there were dozens of enemies, they were mostly cannon fodder. Many of the fort’s subordinates who were present at the banquet were absent. It was evident they were elsewhere, the conditions of which were unknown but certainly unsafe. Therefore, Lin Qingyang didn’t insist on joining the search.
He needed to ensure that when the system warned him, he had enough time to find Chu Lishu. Under normal circumstances, he, lacking martial skills, didn’t want to burden them.
So, Lu Yi escorted Lin Qingyang to the upper hollow space, choosing a position extremely safe. Even if Lin Qingyang noticed something unusual and shouted, it would be impossible for the enemies to reach him in a short time.
However, Lin Qingyang could clearly see the situation below. He first attempted to look at Xu Wenze, but Xu Wenze kept his head lowered throughout, doing something unclear.
Looking back at the recessed area, it was truly a miserable sight.
The usually arrogant and domineering nobles were currently in a sorry state. Their clothes were torn and tattered, their hair disheveled like beggars. Both their hands and feet were chained, and though they struggled, they couldn’t utter a word because their mouths were gagged.
Yuan Ye and the Third Prince were exchanging blame, obviously reproaching each other. The other captives were sitting dejectedly on the side. Cheng Yi was even crying in a corner. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel speechless for a moment.
Meanwhile, as Chu Lishu and his group approached, someone emerged from the other side of the cave.
Acting on Chu Lishu’s instructions, Lu Yi and Lu Shi directly kidnapped the person for interrogation, confirming Chu Lishu’s suspicions. The patriarch, along with other subordinates, was discussing the escape plan in another cave. After Chu Lishu confirmed the situation, he came out. It seemed that some members inside were dissatisfied with the patriarch leaving some brothers behind and wanted to argue, causing a commotion.
However, it was evident that they didn’t reach any conclusion through the argument, and soon someone rushed out in a hurry. Since they were coming out one or two at a time, even if they had martial arts skills, they wouldn’t be a match for Lu Yi and Lu Shi. Therefore, they were assassinated one by one.
At this point, there was no need to spare anyone’s life.
Just as everything was going smoothly, suddenly someone covered in injuries ran out, shouting, “There are enemies…”
Just as three words were half-shouted, Lu Yi immediately silenced the person. Meanwhile, the sounds of a scuffle echoed from inside the cave but quickly subsided. It seemed that both Huo Luo and Yue Chen had taken action.
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