Avoiding the northern routes towards Yingzhou, Lin and the other took a detour around Jiankang Prefecture, stealthily crossing the Jin territory via a borrowed grain transport boat to Sizhou City. It was already April. Ouyang Xiu had once described it as a place where "Azure clouds veiled the sky, bamboo hues were pure; warm sun beamed down, floral scents were abundant." However, due to the heavy taxation and exploitation by the southern invading rulers, and the perennial floods caused by the Yellow River's diversion into the Huai, this once-great hub had become a desolate realm of scattered inhabitants and crumbling walls.
Throughout the journey, Lin Chaoying, still traveling by night and hiding by day, took refuge in the dilapidated Puzhao Wang Temple in Hexi. She listened as Gou'er reported the military situation ahead. Gou'er said, "Last month, the rebel army formed by farmers Zhang Wang and Xu Yuan in Haizhou killed the investigators sent by the prefectural and governmental offices and resisted the encirclement by the prefectural forces. The Jin soldiers have only imposed a tight blockade, cutting off local supplies." Lin Chaoying mused, "Given that Zhou Botong's pace is similar to ours, he should be around the periphery. Why haven't we found any trace of him?" Seeing Gou'er's ashamed and hesitant expression, she asked, "Is there anything else?" Gou'er replied, "I also heard that the Jin soldiers are pursuing individuals sent by the rebel army to contact boatmen for the grain transport and secretly deliver supplies into Haizhou." She further explained, "If we can connect with those people in Haizhou, we might learn what Zhou Botong is up to."
The Bian River flowed through the city into the Huai. To the west of the river lay Linhuai County, built in the Tang dynasty, and to the east stood the earth city built in the Song dynasty. The two cities were connected by the Bian-Si Bridge. Moving swiftly through the alleyways, as the pursuers crossed the bridge from Hexi to Hedong, they dispatched personnel left and right at every intersection, their pursuit like a tightening net and extending claws.
Silently following from behind, Lin Chaoying, navigating the rooftops, understood the situation at a glance. She whispered, "Room." She and Gou'er then flew towards the northwest. They bypassed their target: the six villagers ahead. As they landed gracefully before them, the tall, gaunt-faced, and long-chinned strong man in the front left immediately blurted out, "Holy Mother!" and knelt to pay respects. Lin Chaoying frowned, "Stop this foolishness. The Jin soldiers are pursuing us; follow me!" she said, leading them to the left. Gong Liang then turned to the man beside him, around fifty years old and in the center, saying, "Brother Ma, she is my savior. Only she can save us from this danger now!" Brother Ma, originally a poor farmer who had known Zhang Wang for a long time and possessed some basic martial arts skills, was entrusted with this leadership role, not based on talent or virtue. The other four were much the same. Thus, Xu Yuan, seeing Gong Liang's cleverness, chose him to accompany them despite his junior status.
Brother Ma sized up Lin Chaoying, dressed in black. He didn't question their masks, but being chased in a panic, he complied. They had not walked far before the pursuers caught up. Lin Chaoying blocked them with her sword while Gou'er continued to lead them forward. The soldiers hesitated slightly at the sight of Lin Chaoying in black, and only dared to surround her after the leader from the rear shouted orders. However, she was hardly their match. The leader attempted to signal for reinforcements with a flare, but she struck him unconscious with her "Silver Hair, Silver Silk." Gou'er's group was also being attacked by a small squad. She used her "Shrimp Whisker Hook" staff technique, whipping left, spinning right, and turning north. Yet, she couldn't fully prevent them from being attacked. She glanced sideways and saw one of them fall, causing her to worry. Suddenly, with a fierce roar, a short man among them hoisted a large stone vat beside him as a weapon, deflecting the soldiers' sabers and splashing water back at them. Gou'er was thus able to focus on fending off the attackers. Under the cover of the large stone vat, Brother Ma and the other two also succeeded frequently, finally breaking through the gap in the northeast corner and escaping successfully.
Gong Liang led everyone into a dilapidated hut that had been flooded and said to Gou'er, "This is one of the hiding places I found after searching the entire city." Brother Ma laid the injured He Wu on a makeshift wooden bed. The short man was praised by Zhang Er beside him, "If not for your divine strength, Brother Yao San, how easy would it be to escape and hide? Strength is always more useful than idle talk." The six of them used numbers as names to prevent their identities from being leaked. Gong Liang, as if he hadn't heard, continued to ask Gou'er, "Sister, could you provide some jade dew to heal Brother He Wu?" Gou'er reached into her embrace, took out a small bottle, and retrieved a pill. "This 'Five Eel Swim' is more effective for dispelling stagnant blood in the internal organs." Gong Liang took it and fed it to him. Brother Ma approached Gou'er and cupped his hands, "Young lady, we have now lost contact with… him. What should we do?" Gou'er replied, "There are ways to re-establish contact. Where is your food stored? Is it safe?" Zhang Er quietly stood behind Gou'er, signaling with his eyes to stop him, but Brother Ma felt it was fine to speak frankly. "We are all united in resisting tyranny. Hunger, we can endure, but we lack medicine and some supplies. We have hidden them in Hexi. Following Brother Gong Six's advice, we will go in the opposite direction. Once we evade pursuit, we will return to transport them." Zhang Er was exasperated and went outside. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Once we reunite with my mistress, she will surely have a good plan," Gou'er said. She then went to the bedside and asked Gong Liang, "Did General of Heaven look for you?" Gong Liang paused and retorted, "Are you looking for him?" Gou'er nodded. Gong Liang chuckled, "Perhaps he will only appear at the most critical moment." Yao San couldn't help but ask, "Who are you people? A god and a holy mother?" Gong Liang approached him and said, "I walk the righteous path and do righteous deeds, naturally I receive much help. Brother Ma, Brother Zhang Er are out alone. Shall Brother Tian Si and I go and take a look, and also survey the surroundings?" Brother Ma truly did not wish to be in Gou'er's company, but he could not refuse.
Zhang Er was even more reluctant to stay indoors. No matter how much Tian Si persuaded him, he wouldn't listen, preferring to stand outside by the moss-covered ruins. At this moment, he glanced sideways at Gou'er heading towards him, thinking she was trying to win him over. He snorted and walked further away. Gou'er paid him no mind, only scanning the horizon to see if Lin Chaoying had arrived. She pondered, "Day has begun to break, nearly four hours have passed since then... Could the secret signal be destroyed? But Mistress specifically instructed me to stay with them. She will surely find a way to meet." By this time, Tian Si and Gong Liang also came over, finding Zhang Er and Gou'er respectively. Gong Liang said, "Sister, I have cooked some freshly picked wild vegetables. Please have a taste. The Holy Mother is all-powerful and surely safe. Perhaps she has other arrangements en route and is delayed." Seeing Gou'er still shaking her head in refusal, he was helpless. At this moment, they heard Zhang Er shouting from the other side, "...Being led around by the nose by a woman for no reason. Humph! Perhaps she's even a Dark Swordsman! What's there to fear? You fear, but I don't!" As he spoke, he angrily strode out of the ruins. After only a few steps, he was startled to see several large trees before him, from which eight or nine objects fell. Upon closer inspection, they were all dead soldiers. In his panic, he saw Lin Chaoying, wearing a mask, descend slowly, making him feel as if his soul had left his body.
Gong Liang bowed respectfully with Gou'er and then gestured for her to enter the hut. Brother Ma stepped forward. Before he could ask, Lin Chaoying said, "The hiding place was discovered long ago. Fortunately, I moved it to another location first. When I arrived, I saw soldiers ambushing, so I dealt with them. They seemed to be waiting for reinforcements. We must leave immediately."
Brother Ma was surprised that Lin Chaoying had moved the items to a location only a street away. Zhang Er even said bluntly, "All this trouble just to move them so close." Gong Liang defended her, "Her excellent plan is precisely because no one expected it." Gou'er agreed with Gong Liang's words, noting that "the darkness under the lamp" makes many people overlook things. In her heart, she was indignant at Zhang Er's casual remark, thinking how difficult it was for her to secretly move three carts of goods alone, even if the distance was so short! Lin Chaoying, too lazy to bother, merely urged, "While the soldiers are searching elsewhere, let's hurry and leave the city."
In the Jin territory's Yingzhou New Army Training Camp, two quarters of an hour after dinner, Wu Nanyong arrived with sweet pastries, fruit, and clean clothes. Mao Ya waited outside the tent. After being admitted inside, they chatted for about fifteen minutes, and then she left with the used items and leftover dishes from the previous night. They had been striving to maintain this situation since arriving in Yingzhou.
Watching Wu Nanyong's receding figure, Mao Ya did not feel the usual sense of relief after her departure. Instead, her heart felt as if it were being stitched tighter and tighter by thread, making it difficult to breathe. This was all due to the dispatch she received that morning, which roughly stated: A masked woman in black is wanted. She, in league with a young girl, assisted Haizhou rebels in transporting supplies out of Sizhou and then stealthily returned to the chaotic region. "Didn't she go with that lunatic to find the Song pig? Why did she get involved in this mess? The Jin lord intends to dispatch naval forces to suppress them... What on earth are you thinking? Why can't I sense you at all now!" Alone, with her sword, she circled around the back of the camp and emerged. Not long after walking, she saw her waiting. She had never once relaxed herself, and naturally, she had never allowed him to feel relaxed.
Wu Nanyong lowered her head and gently persuaded, "Go back, it's dangerous." You should understand that I ask for nothing else, why are you still so unwilling to grant me a little?
Mao Ya also replied gently, "It is precisely because it is dangerous that I must go." I have tried my best to restrain myself, but I can never bear to let go.
Wu Nanyong explained the consequences, "If you go, everyone will be in danger." If this matter is exposed, the New Army, the Dark Swordsman, and the Youxu Cave will all be implicated.
Mao Ya knew there was no way to avoid it and said, "What about her danger? We are friends."
Wu Nanyong tilted her head and said, "Seven years ago, she already abandoned us."
Mao Ya pleaded almost desperately, "I will never reveal myself. Just protecting her safety from afar is enough. You should know this is all I can do."
This bit of pain of his did indeed bring her a little comfort. Based on her understanding, if she didn't let go at the appropriate time, even the little she held onto would be lost. Wu Nanyong could only say, "Do what you can, and remember I am here waiting for you."
Mao Ya bolted like a runaway horse, running swiftly through the woods, contemplating how to find a good steed as quickly as possible to catch up with Ying. She suddenly recalled the last expression on Nan's face, and guilt gnawed at her heart... Why did she say, "Do what you can"? My strength still needs... What strength do I possess to limit myself? Her heart grew even more anxious!