The next day, Su Fan received another invitation from the Third Prince, asking him to visit the Clear Spring Pond to admire the flowers.
The Clear Spring Pond was located ten li outside Tianlong City, a natural spring pool surrounded by lush grass and wild flowers, offering a pleasant scenery.
Su Fan's eyes lit up. This was the perfect opportunity to take Qi Ling out!
Su Fan also guessed why the Third Prince was looking for him.
The Second Prince had met with him yesterday, and the Third Prince was likely impatient to inquire about the results.
"I'll be there soon," Su Fan told the servant who delivered the invitation.
"Understood, Young Master Su. The Third Prince said he would be waiting for you at the city gate," the servant replied before leaving.
Su Fan hurriedly began his preparations.
He quickly prepared a carriage and had Qi Ling disguise herself as a coachman to accompany him, hoping to avoid being discovered by those monitoring him.
However, the scar on Qi Ling's face was still quite noticeable. Anyone seeing a coachman with such a long scar would likely become suspicious.
Fortunately, no one knew what the murderer of Xu Fengnian looked like.
After everything was ready, Su Fan drove the carriage towards the city gate.
"Once we get there, don't say much. Just act like a coachman," Su Fan instructed Qi Ling.
Qi Ling nodded slightly.
Wearing a straw hat, she drove the carriage towards the city gate.
Su Fan soon arrived at the city gate, where the Third Prince's carriage was already waiting.
"Your Highness, I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Su Fan had Qi Ling stop the carriage beside the Third Prince's and pulled aside the curtain to speak to the prince.
"No matter, let's go."
The Third Prince waved his hand dismissively, signaling his guards to proceed.
A prince's entourage was not just a few people; it included numerous guards and soldiers.
Outside the city was not as safe as inside, especially after the son of the Grand Commandant had recently met a tragic end outside the city. For the Third Prince's safety, guards and soldiers were essential.
The city guards at the gate dared not stop the Third Prince's convoy, and Su Fan felt reassured following behind them.
"Halt!"
A sharp shout startled Su Fan inside the carriage.
Damn it! They found out?
Su Fan frowned, realizing how troublesome it would be if they were discovered.
The gate guard found the carriage driver somewhat suspicious. In this heat, wearing a straw hat was unusual and hard not to question.
Especially during this period of strict enforcement, where all suspicious individuals were to be investigated.
"What is it?"
The Third Prince noticed the commotion behind him and pulled aside his window curtain to look back.
"It's nothing, Your Highness, please don't be angry. My subordinate was being impolite."
The captain of the gate guards immediately plastered a smile on his face and addressed the Third Prince.
"What the hell is wrong with you!"
The captain of the gate guards unceremoniously kicked the soldier who had stopped Su Fan's carriage.
"You dare to stop the Third Prince's carriage?"
The captain of the gate guards said with a furious expression.
If you want to die, don't drag me down with you! I want to live a few more days!
"Young Master, my subordinate was ignorant. Please proceed."
The captain of the gate guards smiled at Su Fan.
Su Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's fine, let's go."
Su Fan certainly didn't care. The most important thing was to leave Tianlong City as quickly as possible and get Qi Ling out.
Qi Ling also breathed a sigh of relief.
Being caught was one thing, but she feared implicating Su Fan.
The soldier looked wronged.
Wasn't the order from above to thoroughly investigate any suspicious individuals?
Had he done something wrong?
After the Third Prince's convoy had left, the captain of the gate guards expressionlessly found the soldier.
"Learn your lesson from now on. When you stop someone, check their identity. You think you can afford to offend the Third Prince's friends? Don't end up dying without knowing why, and dragging us down with you!"
The captain of the gate guards reprimanded him with a stern face.
The soldier looked dejected.
Was he wrong for diligently following orders? Life in the city was too difficult. He wished he could go home and farm.
Having only recently entered the city from the countryside through connections to become a guard, he suddenly felt like quitting.
"Your Highness, you all go ahead. I have a stomachache and need to relieve myself."
Halfway there, Su Fan suddenly feigned a stomachache, asking the Third Prince and his entourage to go on ahead.
The Third Prince glanced at Su Fan and didn't think much of it.
"Let's go."
After the Third Prince's convoy had gone far ahead, Su Fan finally had Qi Ling change her clothes.
"Long Die!"
Su Fan shouted into the woods by the roadside.
Long Die quickly emerged from the trees.
"Go to Ghost Cry Valley and find Cheng Yaoyin. I've already spoken to him, and he will take you in."
Su Fan had made arrangements for Qi Ling to go to Cheng Yaoyin. Cheng Yaoyin was a bandit himself, an adversary of the Tianlong Dynasty, and it would be much safer there than in the city.
"Okay. You two be careful."
Qi Ling nodded, picked up her luggage, and signed to Su Fan.
"Don't worry about us. Hurry along now."
Su Fan waved goodbye to Qi Ling.
After Qi Ling left, Su Fan had Long Die put on the coachman's clothes and then drove the carriage to catch up with the Third Prince and his group.
By the time Su Fan arrived, the Third Prince was already seated in a temporary pavilion set up by his guards, drinking tea.
"Your Highness truly knows how to enjoy himself."
Su Fan's mouth twitched as he spoke.
Setting up a temporary pavilion just to admire the scenery was beyond him.
"What did he say to you yesterday?"
The Third Prince clearly had no interest in idle chatter and got straight to business.
"What else could he say? He asked why you value me so much."
Su Fan spoke truthfully, without any concealment.
"And how did you answer?"
Xiao Zhihong continued to ask.
"I said you valued my strength. He didn't believe it and wanted to recruit me to work for him."
Su Fan replied.
"Did you agree?"
Xiao Zhihong looked at Su Fan and asked.
"No, I said I would consider it."
Xiao Zhihong frowned, appearing displeased.
"Didn't I tell you to accept his recruitment? Why did you disobey my orders!"
Xiao Zhihong was very unhappy with Su Fan's unilateral decision.
"He has always wanted to know why you value me so much, and his recruitment was to find out the reason. I haven't thought of a good reason yet. If it were purely about strength, he wouldn't value me so highly, and I wouldn't have the chance to kill him. So, I temporarily declined his offer and am waiting for a suitable opportunity."
Su Fan explained.
Xiao Zhihong frowned slightly.
Su Fan's reasoning was sound, but he felt it was a waste of time.
"So, when will you complete the task? I can't wait for you for too long."
Xiao Zhihong said impatiently.
Su Fan could even detect a threat in Xiao Zhihong's tone. It was clear that if Su Fan's answer was not to his satisfaction, he might take action against his friends.
And his friends still in the city were Long Die and Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was currently missing, and it was highly likely he had been captured by the other party.
"That depends on whether I get an opportunity to prove myself. As long as I show him my capabilities, he will naturally come to me."
Su Fan said to Xiao Zhihong.
He was merely employing a delaying tactic. He did need an opportunity, but it was an opportunity to kill them.