In the deep forests of Red Mountain, near the Qinghe Palace, a small squad of soldiers with thin figures, clad in ragged leather armor and cotton clothing, quietly dispersed.
They crawled soundlessly along the forest floor like ants, numbering twenty in total.
Each of them held machetes, daggers, and even short axes, all rusted and poorly maintained weapons.
Leading the group were two individuals.
One had a scar on his chin, tall and robust, the leader of this rebel band turned mountain bandits, Huang Jude.
At thirty-two, he had diligently practiced Iron Tiger Skill from a young age, and upon reaching the limits of his martial arts, he rebelled against the oppressive Spirit Court, rallying his fellow villagers to form a militia.
Unfortunately, the military power of the Spirit Court was unimaginably strong at this time.
These poorly equipped amateurs stood no chance of winning, and after a clash, the rebel army scattered.
In their desperate flight, Huang Jude led them across an entire Lu Mansion's territory to arrive at Pingyu Road.
Beside Huang Jude was the second-in-command of this battered army, Sima Guangtu.
Sima Guangtu, over fifty, had a pale face, long beard, blue eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a prominent nose, unmistakably of overseas Huxi descent.
Indeed, he was a Huxi person.
Previously, when the Spirit Court attacked all directions, it plundered craftsmen wherever it went, and he was among them.
Seeing Huang Jude's uprising, Sima Guangtu thought he could seize the opportunity to escape his misery, but little did he know.....
"Sima, you're older, more experienced, and full of ideas. Keep a close watch these days. This mission must succeed without fail!" Huang Jude rubbed his palms together, blowing breath on them as he spoke.
"As long as the people in the Profound Heart Hall cooperate well, this task isn't difficult. We just need to be wary of the soldiers sneaking from other directions." Sima Guangtu spoke with practiced ease.
"Alright, last time we had a small skirmish with the soldiers, and we lost the last bit of good stuff. This time, we absolutely cannot slip up again." Huang Jude said.
This time, of the twenty people he deployed, he had one at the fourth grade, two at the second grade, five at the first grade, and the rest were ordinary soldiers.
Moreover, though they had certifications from before, after prolonged hunger and cold, everyone was exhausted and starving, and their physical conditions had deteriorated significantly.
But besieging a few kids was still manageable.
The main focus was on that third-grade Xiao Rong. It depended on whether Xiao Rong's senior disciple was up to the task.
If the ambush succeeded and they coordinated to press forward, in the end, Xiao Rong would definitely not even have the chance to escape.
"Alright, make some marks around here, then let's go back and find a place to rest. We'll come back at night." Huang Jude, having confirmed the location, turned and led the group back.
*
*
*
Rumbling.
The rolling thunder spread through the night sky from the evening, traversing from close to far, crossing Qinghe Palace and rushing into the distance.
The accumulating clouds blurred the discernment between darkness due to nightfall or the gathering storm.
Xiao Qingying sat at her window, gazing at the winding peach tree by the corridor, her delicate face slightly melancholic.
Since the disappearance of her attendant two days ago, her father had confined her, forbidding any excursions.
Outside the door, her new follower Zhang Rongfang was stationed, with Senior Sister Zhao Dachong watching from further afar.
With her martial arts at merely Muscle Forging, escaping was impossible.
"Sigh....I wonder how Xiaoran is doing now....?"
Xiaoran was the nickname of her previous follower. Although Xiao Qingying could be a bit willful at times, she was still clear on right and wrong.
It was likely that Xiaoran met trouble because of her, and she was acutely aware of this.
A cool breeze wafted through the window, blowing into the room.
Suddenly, a withered leaf flipped and flew in, landing on her desk.
"Huh?" Xiao Qingying focused her gaze; it was not a leaf at all, but a piece of paper folded to resemble one.
She gently held the paper, cautiously looking around, before standing up to close the window.
In the dim remnants of light filtering through the window's lattice, Xiao Qingying unfolded the paper.
'Dear Xiaoying: I have been investigating Xiaoran's disappearance these days and have found some clues. Be wary of those around you.
There's another urgent matter, not suitable for letter. Meet me at the mountain gate's Ascending Immortal Bridge at three-quarters to Hai hour tonight.'
"It's Brother Wuyou's handwriting!" Xiao Qingying's face lit up with joy upon seeing the letter.
She couldn't believe Chen Wuyou would mean her any harm, given all those tender moments and sweet promises. If he didn't genuinely care, why would he spend so much time and effort on her?
"Three quarters to Hai hour, then?" Xiao Qingying always felt Brother Wuyou was wronged, and the real culprit might be someone else.
She didn't linger on the thought.
Looking at the letter on the table, Xiao Qingying carefully picked it up and put it in her pouch.
Without another glance, she folded it small.
'It's all about timing tonight.'
Brother Wuyou must have uncovered some vital information to reach out to her.
Rumbling.
The sky grew darker, more oppressive. A crack of thunder suddenly illuminated the entire bedroom.
Time slowly passed, but it was unclear how long had gone by.
Late at night, Hai hour.
Though lying on her back as if resting, Xiao Qingying slowly opened her eyes, looking towards the window.
Outside, flashes of lightning cut through, accompanied by rumbling thunder.
'The time has come.... Time to set out.'
Xiao Qingying quietly rose from bed, quickly donning her attire, and finally picked up a small, pre-prepared parcel.
Crack.
Lightning and thunder resounded again.
Xiao Qingying donned her boots and silently approached the door.
Outside the room was a semi-open corridor.
At this moment, large raindrops fell on the corridor, pounded by the wind.
Xiao Qingying observed the weather, feeling a bit anxious, but her admiration and trust in Brother Wuyou squelched her fear.
Creak, under the thunder, any sound was entirely masked.
Leaving the room, Xiao Qingying tread lightly and quickly, jogging into the corridor.
Following the corridor forward, she soon reached the general residence of the various acolyte disciples.
After passing through several alleys, Xiao Qingying arrived alone at the front area of the Profound Heart Hall.
The Ascension Bridge is also located here.
At this moment, Chen Wuyou is quietly waiting here. Waiting for Xiao Qingying to arrive.
In the nighttime, the wind was strong, and the raindrops were heavy. The fierce wind made the trees in the palace grounds sway wildly, like laughing demons.
The light from the main hall, the Profound Heart Hall, illuminated the small buildings around it, casting ever-changing shadows.
Xiao Qingying jogged quickly, running all the way towards the Ascension Bridge near the mountain gate.
She had to see her brother as soon as possible; otherwise, if the caretakers around her discovered her, it would not be good.
If her father found out she was secretly meeting Wuyou, her grounding might last even longer.
She ran to the edge of the Ascension Bridge in one breath, standing by the side of the bridge arch, noticing no one was there to guard it, the dark bridge surface was empty and she felt a little scared.
"Wuyou brother?"
She called softly.
Unfortunately, the wind was too loud, and the large raindrops hit the ground with loud splashes, so her voice couldn't travel far.
On the Ascension Bridge, besides her, there was only the Welcoming Daoist on duty at the distant mountain gate, with the flickering light in the gatehouse.
"Brother? Where are you? I'm out?" Xiao Qingying quietly called out.
She looked around and saw no one.
The wind and rain gradually intensified, the thunder grew louder, and the moonlight was completely obscured.
Xiao Qingying looked around and suddenly saw a person leaning in the darkness inside the bridge arch.
"Wuyou brother." She hurriedly approached the figure.
Whoosh.
The person was suddenly swayed slightly by the wind.
When she got closer, she realized it was a ragged raincoat propped up with a stick.
Xiao Qingying looked disappointed and was about to turn around and leave.
"Come out quietly from the mountain gate, I'm waiting at the entrance. Hurry, don't let anyone see you, there are bad people watching you!" Suddenly, Chen Wuyou's voice reached her ear.
"Wuyou brother!?" Xiao Qingying was instantly delighted, knowing that her beloved Wuyou was indeed waiting here for her.
Without hesitation, she ran towards the mountain gate.
Outside the mountain gate, in the dense woods on both sides, four or five shadowy figures were quietly lurking, waiting for the signal from Chen Wuyou ahead.
Chen Wuyou had already stood next to the gatehouse, holding a black umbrella, glancing at the Welcoming Daoist who had already fallen asleep.
Everything was ready.
Watching Xiao Qingying briskly run towards him in the rain.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face.
The figure in the wind and rain, like a little black butterfly, fluttered towards him.....
Suddenly, a shadow rushed out diagonally from behind, hitting the little butterfly head-on.
Whoosh.
The little butterfly fell halfway, tumbling to the ground.
"Huh?!"
Chen Wuyou was slightly stunned, seeing Xiao Qingying being picked up and carried off by someone.
His heart tightened, and he wanted to chase after them, but at this point, they were more than twenty meters apart, and it was impossible to catch up in time.
Xiao Qingying herself was also hit into a daze, feeling dizzy.
Just now, she suddenly felt a trip underfoot, and she fainted.
She didn't know how much time had passed. When she regained her senses.
She found herself leaning in a warm and firm embrace.
"Senior Sister Xiao? Are you alright?" A familiar voice came to her ear.
Xiao Qingying shivered all over, almost about to cry out.
But she suddenly realized, wasn't this voice the one that always followed her around, Zhang Rongfang??
Forcing herself to endure the pain at the back of her neck and head, she wiped the rainwater and hair from her face to look carefully.
Indeed, the one carrying her back was Zhang Rongfang, the person her father had sent to protect her.
"Why did you suddenly appear?? You scared me!?" Xiao Qingying's chest heaved rapidly, her delicate face pale.
"What happened to me just now?" She asked, puzzled.
Zhang Rongfang shook his head silently.
He had just sensed something was wrong and observed carefully, only to find Xiao Qingying sneaking out.
Originally thinking that with such bad weather, being cold and with heavy rain and strong winds, he could have a good sleep. Unfortunately, this Senior Sister Xiao really didn't let anyone relax.
"Senior Sister Xiao, what are you doing coming out for a walk so late?" Zhang Rongfang looked around; apart from them, there wasn't a person for tens of meters.
Couldn't this little girl have been trying to run away secretly just now?
His expression became slightly dangerous.
Before he could find a way to sever ties with the Xiao family's father and daughter, no matter how unwilling he was, upon Xiao Rong's orders, he had to step forward to protect Xiao Qingying.
If anything happened to Xiao Qingying now, he would definitely be held accountable.
At that time, unless he could abandon his Daoist status, beat up everyone around, and escape from Qinghe Palace, then get hunted; otherwise, he had to protect this person.....
"Can't I come out for a breather?! Why do you care?!" Xiao Qingying was startled, her delicate face paling, vexed.
"Senior Sister, please understand, if something happens to you, the master might beat me to death alive. For your safety and mine, I have to keep a close watch on you, sorry." Zhang Rongfang explained seriously.
"You don't have to do this, if my father asks, I can honestly tell him it was my own decision to come out for some air. I guarantee it won't implicate you." Xiao Qingying replied with equal seriousness.
"Sorry, Senior Sister." Zhang Rongfang remained unmoved.
Just now, this little girl was almost out of the mountain gate, whoever believes her words would be a fool.
"Besides, Senior Sister, you were lying on the ground for quite a while, and I only found you when I noticed something was wrong and looked around. Otherwise, in such cold weather, with the wind and rain.... a chill would easily enter your body and cause trouble."
He sighed deeply.
"I think... I was hit by someone?" Xiao Qingying touched the back of her head; it was so cold, and that spot only ached faintly now.
"Huh?? Who would dare cause trouble in Qinghe Palace? No, we need to hurry back and get you checked, to see if there's any harm."
Zhang Rongfang immediately 'worried'.
"Senior Sister, did you see who hit you?"
"No..... I.... have a bit of a headache...." Xiao Qingying moaned slightly.