Eagles circled, their cries ceaseless.
The Turkic Eagle, leading the elite of the Eagle Division, moved through the forest, quickly approaching the location where the eagles circled.
The Turkic Eagle made a gesture, and the soldiers halted, fanning out around the perimeter. They kept a wary eye on their surroundings while closing in on their target.
The eagles' persistent circling indicated that the person in the forest had not moved. Either they were unaware that the eagles were raised by their Eagle Division, or they felt they had nothing to fear.
The winter forest offered little cover. Without green trees to obscure the view, the desolate landscape made everything starkly visible.
Beneath the eagles, there was no one.
Only the fishing line, reflecting golden light under the sun, and the sound of the wind whistling, rustling the copper bells with their tinkling melody.
The Turkic Eagle's pupils constricted, and he ordered a search.
They began a grid search, using the fishing line's location as the center.
Miles away, on the official road.
Nan Shiying, leading Xiaoman, strolled leisurely towards the entrance of Changming Mountain.
...
Situ Kong and Shen Xing sprinted until they reached the foot of a cliff.
"The eagles didn't follow?" Shen Xing looked up at the azure sky, stunned.
Situ Kong's expression flickered. He lowered his gaze to his feet, his mind racing. As they had started heading towards the cliff, he seemed to recall Feng Luan, at the same moment, picking up her sister and galloping in the opposite direction.
Eagles were better at spotting living things. If she truly intended for them to distract the Eagle Division's scouting eagles, she should have remained still.
Therefore, she wasn't trying to make them draw away pursuers!
So what was she trying to do?
Shen Xing received no reply. He turned to look at Situ Kong, seeing him with his head down, lost in thought. After a moment, Shen Xing said, "Let's take a detour back to the marketplace, and immediately board a boat back to Linyuan."
Situ Kong looked up at Shen Xing.
Shen Xing continued, "I don't know what exactly happened here, but I imagine even if Young Master Wei and his sister were captured by the Eagle Division, they wouldn't be in mortal danger. At most, they'd be taken back to the Eagle Division's camp."
"With just the two of us now, we can't rescue Young Master Wei and his sister. So the best course of action is to return to Linyuan and contact Young Master Wei's family as soon as possible, so they can find a way to rescue them."
Situ Kong studied Shen Xing for a long time. He couldn't have been unaware of the events at Changming Mountain. Considering the current situation, Situ Kong didn't believe Shen Xing could fail to deduce the cause of the upheaval. Return to Linyuan? Situ Kong was certain that Shen Xing had no intention of letting him disembark alive!
"His surname isn't Wei," Situ Kong said abruptly.
Shen Xing blinked slightly, about to ask, but Situ Kong didn't give him the chance, continuing on his own, "Her surname is Feng, and her given name is Luan!"
The name, formed by the combination of two characters, instantly sprang into Shen Xing's mind.
Feng Luan?
Feng Luan!
"Feng Luan of Medicine King Valley?" Shen Xing exclaimed!
Shen Xing had heard Feng Luan's name many times. Although Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce was only in a minor position, its intelligence was quite thorough.
Situ Kong nodded.
"Put away your little schemes. If you don't want to die, and you don't want your entire family to perish, then follow me into the mountain!"
Having his intentions exposed by Situ Kong, Shen Xing's expression changed drastically. He had advised Situ Kong to return because he wanted to lure the latter into a trap, and then, using the time difference before the news reached Wucheng, escape with his wife and children.
His plan was good, but it was all predicated on the assumption that the other person was merely the son or grandson of a marquis or a powerful official. The martial world was vast; he didn't believe the other person could have far-reaching influence. Yet, this person was Feng Luan.
Medicine King Valley stood aloof, uninvolved in politics or national wars. Whether in the martial world or in the imperial court, they held an extraordinary status. If he were to leave today, he would truly be without recourse, with nowhere to hide in this vast world.
Damn that Li Dazui!
Shen Xing cursed Li Dazui again in his heart. If not for that scoundrel, how could he have provoked such a person?
Now, his life and fortune were completely in that person's hands.
Shen Xing took a deep breath and looked up at the cliff before him!
...
"Stop!"
Nan Shiying and Xiaoman were stopped at the entrance.
The Eagle Division soldiers, with their fierce eyes, scrutinized Nan Shiying and Xiaoman. They had received orders from their general to completely seal the entrance to Changming Mountain. Today, let alone people, not even a fly would be able to get into Changming Mountain.
"The mountain is sealed today, no one is allowed in!"
"Hurry and leave!"
As he spoke, he placed his saber horizontally in front of Nan Shiying.
The soldiers of the Liao Frontier were burly. Clad in armor, they resembled brown bears.
Facing the menacing Eagle Division soldiers, Nan Shiying's delicate face showed a shy smile. She reached into her chest and then pulled out a dagger.
The scabbard of the dagger was inlaid with gems of varying sizes, and the hilt of the dagger held a red gem as large as an adult's thumbnail.
Nan Shiying held the dagger up with both hands.
"Sir, please grant us passage!"
The entrance to Changming Mountain was not a single path, but a mountainside.
The Eagle Division had established a rudimentary outpost around the mountainside.
The wooden palisade was three meters high, with only one gate for entry and exit. The scout on the wall, seeing the circling eagles through his telescope, confirmed that the person who had alerted the eagles was still trapped in the dense forest. These two people before them looked like young masters and ladies who had run away from home. Upon seeing the dagger she produced, the soldier's eyes lit up.
The gems on this dagger alone were enough to ensure they would never want for food or clothing for the rest of their lives.
The soldiers exchanged glances.
Changming Mountain was already very dangerous. If someone accidentally died inside, it would be easily explained!
The saber that had been blocking Nan Shiying's path suddenly lifted. The sharp edge of the blade, with the resulting gust of wind, grazed her cheek, bringing a stinging sensation.
Nan Shiying sighed.
With a flick of her wrist, the dagger was drawn. With a "swish," the dagger pressed down on the saber from above, sliding down its length. At the hilt, Nan Shiying twisted her wrist. The dagger locked onto the saber, and Nan Shiying pressed down forcefully.
The soldier felt the saber in his hand instantly become as heavy as Mount Tai. He was pulled forward, stumbling backward onto his back.
Nan Shiying then withdrew the dagger from the hilt and thrust it upwards.
"Pfft!" With a sound, the dagger pierced the soldier's throat, and blood sprayed towards the sky like a fountain.
The moment Nan Shiying made her move, Xiaoman slipped a sleeve arrow from her sleeve. The sleeve arrow was engraved with a wolf howl totem.
The sleeve arrows produced by the Wolf Division had a short range but were immensely powerful. At close quarters, they were capable of piercing a person through.
Xiaoman aimed the sleeve arrow at one of the soldiers and pressed the button. The sleeve arrow broke through the air, piercing the soldier's chest and embedding itself into the wall behind him.
After hitting her target with a single shot, she didn't reload another arrow but discarded the sleeve arrow she held and took out another from her chest.
She aimed and shot!
This change happened in the blink of an eye. Before the sentry could even sound the alarm bell, the soldiers at the entrance were all dead.