"Where should we find Xiao Man?"

"Head west."

In the mountains and forests, under the cover of night, Zhang Xia traversed the woods, silently estimating Xiao Man's speed and direction: "If the Life-catcher General discovered something at East Fort Gully and then changed course, they might catch up with Xiao Man at Yaozi Gou... Xiao Man is in danger."

She seemed like a living map as she continued, "Pass through that mountain pass ahead, take a turn to the south, and you'll get to Yaozi Gou. Don't worry about me, you need to increase your speed by thirty percent. I'll catch up with you later."

Chen Ji did not speak. He leaned forward slightly; as he charged, he stirred up a wind that wrapped around the leaves, pulling them from the branches to form a faint whirlwind behind him.

When Chen Ji neared Yaozi Gou, three Brass Sword Seeds were already poised to strike from his sleeve.

At this time, Chen Ji saw arrows embedded in the ground and trees, all of them were Double-tailed Feathered Arrows.

His heart sank.

The more feathers an arrow has, the more accurate it is.

But feathered arrows are expensive, and ordinary archers would only carry Double-tailed Feathered Arrows. Only the elite of the elite carry arrows with three tail feathers.

Chen Ji stood next to a large tree, rubbing the tail feathers of the arrows... These were the Life-catcher General's arrows; he had already been here.

He looked down at the bloodstains on the ground, squatted down, and used his finger to touch the blood, rubbing it between two fingers.

Damp, the fight had just ended not long ago, within thirty minutes.

He had arrived one step too late.

Chen Ji slowed his steps, cautiously scanning his surroundings as he headed south.

He followed the blood trails south, one, two, three... along the way, there were at least twenty patches of blood, yet no bodies were seen.

Chen Ji's mood grew heavier: The main forces of the Life-catcher General must have caught up with Xiao Man and the little monk. Were these bloodstains from Xiao Man and the little monk?

He walked further south, feeling slightly relieved: There were no corpses of Xiao Man or the little monk here.

There was no need for the Life-catcher General to capture Xiao Man. If Xiao Man was defeated, he should have been killed and his body discarded, and having no body meant there was no harm done.

Strange.

What exactly happened here?

Lost in thought, Chen Ji walked up a low hill to get a better view of the distance.

But just as he reached the hilltop, he exhaled deeply, seeing characters engraved conspicuously on the ground: "Mr. Chen, I have rescued them. Can I finally have the honor to drink with you now?"

Signed: "Jiao Tu, wishing you well."

At this moment, Zhang Xia approached from behind: "What happened here?"

Chen Ji pointed at the inscription on the ground: "It's Jiao Tu and Yun Yang. The two managed to stick to their plan outside Chongli Pass to save Xiao Man and the little monk. But who knows what realm these two have reached to be able to join forces and repel over thirty Life-catcher Generals."

Zhang Xia glanced at the inscription, calmly saying: "Do not entangle with her."

Chen Ji turned to her: "Hmm?"

Zhang Xia was silent for a moment before explaining: "Jiao Tu is putting on a show for Yun Yang. This person enjoys gaining attention everywhere and Yun Yang, out of jealousy, has killed many, becoming well-known for it. If you get too involved with her, it will likely provoke Yun Yang's jealousy."

Chen Ji nodded: "I understand... but now where should we find Xiao Man?"

Zhang Xia closed her eyes to think for a moment: "They haven't gone far. If I were Xiao Man, I would head in the direction of 'Temple Gully', where it's the flattest, but they would encounter 'Zhengou River'. Zhengou River is rapid and stretches over ten miles with only one suspension bridge. They might not know where the bridge is and will surely be trapped at the riverbank... We must find them before the Night Patrol."

The two set off southward, but hadn't traveled a few miles before Xiao Man's voice came from afar, angrily shouting: "This is the Jing Dynasty envoy, Princess Liyang, escorted back to the capital by the Inspector General of the Imperial Camp, make way!"

Only to hear Hong Zuer's voice ring out as well: "Little girl, step aside, this person cannot live."

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia exchanged a glance, immediately taking down their horn bows from their backs, nocking arrows onto the bowstrings, and swiftly advanced.

...

...

In the mountains and forests, Hong Zuer and dozens of Night Patrol had Xiao Man and the others surrounded. They rode their warhorses back and forth beside Xiao Man, the little monk, and Princess Liyang.

Hong Zuer aimed his bow distantly at Princess Liyang, but Xiao Man, pulling the little monk, stood guard in front and behind Princess Liyang, tremblingly saying: "This is a court envoy you want to usurp?"

Hong Zuer coldly said: "Stand aside. Hong doesn't wish to harm innocents. Leave Princess Liyang and you two may go."

As soon as the words fell, a distant whistling sound arose.

Hong Zuer suddenly turned his head and saw two arrows heading straight for him. He deflected the first arrow with a swing of his bow, but the second arrow hit precisely on his swinging path, breaking his horn bow in half.

He looked down at the broken bow in his hand, solemnly gazing at the approaching Chen Ji: "Excellent archery."

Chen Ji pulled out another arrow from the Arrow Quiver and nocked it, cautiously approaching.

He looked at the other Night Patrol, coldly saying: "I am the Inspector General of the Imperial Camp, carrying a secret decree from Your Majesty to escort the Jing Dynasty envoy back to the capital. All of you are meritorious officials of the Ning Dynasty. If you cease now, I can act as if nothing happened and disclose not a word."

The Night Patrol reined in their steeds, slowing their pace until coming to a halt.

Yet they did not retreat, but instead stood quietly mounted in the night, collectively overlooking Chen Ji and Zhang Xia.

In the darkness, dozens of Night Patrol rested their hands on their swords, resembling waves of mountains.

Gao Yuan of the Longevity Army calmly said: "Mr. Chen, you haven't stayed at Chongli Pass, you don't know what Yuan Cheng means to us. Some have lost fathers because of him, some have lost brothers, some have lost sons. Jing Dynasty scoundrels have made us hate Yuan Cheng to our very bones. Any Night Patrol falling into Jing hands faces execution by slow slicing, neither able to live nor die."

Another Night Patrol intoned: "In the winter of the 25th year of Jianing, Yuan Cheng marched south and challenged us outside Chongli Pass. That scoundrel captured eleven of our Night Patrol, made them into 'living dismembraments', and placed them in jars below Chongli Pass."

Gao Yuan spoke solemnly: "Mr. Chen, I've heard of you. Households Commander Yang praises you highly, which is why I'm telling you this. You may think it's just Hong Zuer who wants to kill Yuan Cheng? No, it's not just Hong Zuer's business; we all wish to eat his flesh and break his bones."

Chen Ji took a deep breath: "I know your hatred is immense, but the Jing Dynasty envoy is someone the court wants. It's my duty not to let harm befall them."

The two sides stood at a standoff.

In the next moment, Chen Ji slowly moved forward, entering the encirclement under the watchful eyes of all the Night Patrol, instructing Xiao Man and the little monk: "You two go first, leave Princess Liyang to me."

Xiao Man was about to leave but then gritted his teeth: "I won't leave."

But just then, a scream came from the northwest, and the forest lit up with flames that swiftly spread across the mountains like a dragon.

Everyone turned to look, seeing a blade gang several meters long cutting through the night sky like a brightened belt.

Gao Yuan's expression grew grim: "The Divine Machine Camp and the Yulin Army encountered that Female Assassin."

"Silence!" Hong Zuer dismounted, placing his ear to the ground and listened quietly for a moment, then looked up drastically: "There are many coming, not just the Female Assassin."

Gao Yuan immediately turned his horse northward: "In the face of external threats, we kill the enemy first!"

Hong Zuer hesitated.

Gao Yuan yelled angrily: "Hong Zuer, we are Night Patrol!"

Hong Zuer laughed self-mockingly, then gave Chen Ji a deep look before mounting his horse again: "Kill the enemy first!"

Chen Ji was slightly stunned, he didn't expect these Night Patrol to immediately set aside their hatred and turn to fight the enemy when faced with external threats.

Hong Zuer reined his horse, spun it in place, and sneered at Chen Ji: "Boy, give me the bow, and claim your merits!"

Chen Ji was silent for two moments before tossing the horn bow across the air.

Hong Zuer caught the horn bow with an outstretched hand, pressed his legs against the horse's side, and the warhorse dashed toward the northwest like an arrow released from a bow.

...

Sorry for the short update today, I'm catching a flight.