Chapter 516: Chapter 516 Secret Passage

Vermilion Bird received a report from the Hidden Guard about Si Yuzhang’s hiding place, and before setting out, he reported it to the Master and Madam.

Zhan Lan heard the voices of the two outside the door and immediately walked over.

In her past life, Si Yuzhang killed her mother and brother Zhan Heng, and even had Little Black beaten to death. No matter what, she would never let him go easily.

“Take me there.” The hatred in Zhan Lan’s eyes fell into Mu Yan’s gaze. Her grandfather had died in Lianbian City, a debt related to Si Yuzhang, along with the previous schemes of Si Yuzhang and Si Yao against her. Zhan Lan would not let him off easily.

Since Madam wanted to go with him, Vermilion Bird was hesitant. He looked at Mu Yan, as he usually needed the Master’s consent for such dangerous matters.

Especially in matters concerning Madam, which were of utmost importance.

Mu Yan lowered his eyes. As long as Vermilion Bird reported that the person had been found, it meant that the person was already under control and could not escape.

“Lan’er, there are things I must prepare before tomorrow’s ceremony. Can you go with Vermilion Bird?”

Mu Yan knew that Zhan Lan was determined to kill Si Yuzhang with her own hands, so he let her handle it as she wished.

Zhan Lan curved her lips, “Alright.”

…

Zhan Lan, Vermilion Bird, and the Hidden Guard headed to the outskirts together.

In the moving carriage, Zhan Lan looked at Vermilion Bird, “Vermilion Bird, you got injured during the campaign against the Western Rong, didn’t you?”

Vermilion Bird instinctively replied, “Hmm… Madam, I wasn’t injured.”

He quickly changed his words, and Zhan Lan noticed his embarrassment. Even Mu Yan was injured, not to mention Vermilion Bird.

But Vermilion Bird would never let her perceive it.

“You all have worked hard on this journey. This is just a small token from me.”

As she spoke, Zhan Lan handed several silver notes to Vermilion Bird.

Vermilion Bird immediately declined, “Madam, this is what I should do.”

Zhan Lan smiled, “Take it, the twenty thousand silver notes are just a small token from me.”

Vermilion Bird nodded, “Madam, the Master has already rewarded us.”

Zhan Lan firmly placed it in Vermilion Bird’s hand, “Take it and give those who died a proper burial, let the wounded heal properly, and distribute the rest to everyone!”

Upon hearing that, Vermilion Bird could not refuse anymore. He nodded, “Yes, Madam!”

Vermilion Bird was touched, knowing that Madam had surely seen those few deceased Hidden Guards when they were in the Western Rong. He murmured, “Madam, most of us are orphans with nowhere to go. If the Master hadn’t taken us in back then, we might have died long ago. For the Master and you, dying is worthwhile.”

Zhan Lan nodded, knowing that although Mu Yan had a difficult childhood, he was fortunate to have a group of loyal Hidden Guards.

Especially Vermilion Bird, his most capable subordinate, or rather, their relationship had long surpassed that of master and servant.

“Vermilion Bird, you must all live well. You are no different from family to Mu Yan. If anyone were to die, he would grieve and be saddened.”

Vermilion Bird was touched to the core by Zhan Lan’s words, and he nodded, “Yes, Madam.”

As long as there is war, there will be deaths. Yet, even with so much blood on her hands, she still longed for a peaceful life.

She longed for peace, but some people didn’t wish that for her. She would show no mercy in eliminating these hidden threats.

In the carriage, besides Zhan Lan and Vermilion Bird, Little Black lay on the cushion, its shiny eyes watching Zhan Lan and Vermilion Bird.

Vermilion Bird didn’t understand why Zhan Lan brought Little Black, but Madam must have had her reasons for doing so.

An hour later, the carriage stopped at the East Suburb Hunting Ground.

“Madam, Si Yuzhang is hiding in that wooden hut. Our Hidden Guards have been monitoring him. Si Yuzhang once came out to pick some wild fruits before returning to the hut.”

Zhan Lan surveyed the surrounding terrain, “Be careful, Si Yuzhang is no fool. He didn’t hastily flee Ding’an City; he must have a purpose.”

Si Yuzhang was cunning. Many of Si Jun’s tactics were learned from this Imperial Uncle, and they were both equally insidious and treacherous.

She didn’t believe Si Yuzhang would willingly hide in the wilderness, and he wasn’t one to sit still in the face of impending danger.

“Don’t worry, Madam, everything has been arranged. He can’t escape.” Vermilion Bird nodded.

No matter how cunning the prey, it always shows its tail sometime. Bringing Madam out meant being fully responsible for her safety.

Soon, the Hidden Guards surrounded the wooden hut where Si Yuzhang was hiding, but when they rushed in, he wasn’t there.

Zhan Lan frowned, “There might be a secret passage inside the hut.”

Other than that possibility, there’s no explanation for how a living person could vanish into thin air inside the house. Si Yuzhang can’t earthbind and escape under the guards’ watchful eyes.

While the Hidden Guards were investigating, suddenly a large net fell from the treetops, while arrows were shot from a hidden location.

Zhan Lan quickly dodged, and Vermilion Bird yelled out, “Protect Madam!”

“Yes!”

The Hidden Guards counterattacked the assassins, firing their crossbows at them.

In an instant, the commotion ceased, and the Hidden Guards moved forward, leaving a field of corpses.

“Madam, there’s no sign of Si Yuzhang!”

“Search! Do not miss any place within five miles!” Zhan Lan commanded coldly.

“Yes!”

The Hidden Guards immediately started combing the area.

Vermilion Bird entered the hut to carefully check for any secret passage, and sure enough, there was one under the floorboards, but its mechanism was inside, making it impossible to open from the outside.

“Madam, there’s indeed a secret passage in the hut, and Si Yuzhang has escaped.” Vermilion Bird looked at Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan walked towards the wooden hut, and Little Black, who was not far away, ran over and rubbed against Zhan Lan’s leg.

Zhan Lan petted Little Black’s head and entered with it. Since Si Yuzhang stayed in the hut for so long, there must be something he had used inside.

Zhan Lan was thrilled to find two pieces of clothing belonging to Si Yuzhang in the hut. He had fled so quickly that he didn’t have time to take them.

Zhan Lan placed the clothes under Little Black’s nose and said, “Little Black, lead me to find this person.”

Zhan Lan knew that Little Black was best at tracking and had deliberately trained it in this skill before.

It was likely that in the previous life, Little Black had tracked her mother and Zhan Heng’s scent when they were locked in a smoke-filled house, risking its life to save them from the flames.

Unfortunately, her mother and Zhan Heng still perished.

Little Black seemed to understand Zhan Lan’s words, sniffed intently, and then quickly dashed out of the hut.

Zhan Lan mounted her horse and followed closely behind Little Black.

Zhan Lan looked back at Vermilion Bird, “Leave someone here to guard this place, in case Si Yuzhang escapes again from here!”

“Yes, Madam!”

Vermilion Bird, with part of the Hidden Guard, followed Zhan Lan.

He finally understood why Madam brought Little Black along.

Vermilion Bird had mistakenly thought Zhan Lan brought Little Black because of its tracking ability, but Zhan Lan just wanted Little Black to witness the enemy’s demise!