He was walking along when suddenly someone rushed out from the front and grabbed his reins.
The sudden movement startled Chen Xiaobei, and just as he was about to speak, the person removed their straw hat and whispered, "Brother Xiaobei, it's me."
Chen Xiaobei then saw that the person was none other than Sun Jian.
Seeing Sun Jian, Chen Xiaobei's heart sank. What he feared had come to pass.
Big Black was beheaded yesterday, and he thought things might calm down for a while. But it seemed that wouldn't be the case.
However, Chen Xiaobei quickly regained his composure and cupped his fist at Sun Jian, "Brother Sun, where have you been lately?"
Sun Jian raised his hand and pointed towards a nearby alley, "Brother, let's talk in private."
Chen Xiaobei followed Sun Jian a few steps into the alley.
"Brother Xiaobei, I heard my men are being held in your Hetou Village. Is that true?"
Chen Xiaobei was quite surprised. How did Sun Jian get such information?
But it was clear that since Sun Jian asked, he must have a reliable source.
"Some people have been detained, but they aren't letting our villagers near. I don't know who they are."
Sun Jian was clearly not entirely satisfied with Chen Xiaobei's answer. He chuckled, "Alright, brother, you don't need to be afraid. I'm just asking."
Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, "It's a miracle if you're just asking." He must have other intentions.
"Brother Sun, this isn't about being afraid or not. I honestly don't know. If I did, wouldn't I tell you?"
After saying this, Chen Xiaobei quickly changed the subject, "By the way, Brother Sun, the iron chain bridge is almost done, just needs wooden planks. When do you think you'll go up the mountain to take a look?"
Sun Jian nodded and pretended to be relaxed, "I'm here to find you about that. Just go ahead and lay the planks. I'll give you all the silver you need."
He then took out a banknote from his sleeve, five hundred taels of silver.
Sun Jian was indeed generous.
Xiaobei didn't stand on ceremony, took the money, tucked it into his embrace, chatted for a while longer, and then cupped his hands in farewell.
Watching him walk away.
Sun Jian took a few steps forward, approached a carriage nearby, bowed respectfully, "Hero Sima, this is Chen Xiaobei, the village chief of Hetou Village."
A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted.
A man in white leaped out of the carriage.
He was tall and fair-skinned. Dressed in white, he looked elegant and graceful.
This man was Sima Wushuang, the personal bodyguard of the National Preceptor Sun Yuliang.
Sima Wushuang looked in the direction Chen Xiaobei had disappeared, his lips twitching slightly. "This kid clearly wasn't telling the truth."
"Hero Sima, what do you think we should do?"
Sima Wushuang sneered again, "Our target is True Man Taiping. Don't make a move on this small fry yet, lest we alert the enemy."
"But if my brothers aren't rescued, I'm short on men," Sun Jian said with a troubled expression.
"Isn't it just Qingniu Mountain? How many men do you need? As long as the few of you guard the iron chain bridge, the fish will naturally come to us. Understand?"
Sun Jian clearly feared Sima Wushuang and kept bowing his head in agreement.
Sima Wushuang waved his hand, "Alright, you may go. I will find you at Qingniu Mountain later."
Sun Jian looked like he had been granted a reprieve. He nodded and bowed repeatedly, then quickly ran off.
After Sun Jian had run far away, Sima Wushuang returned to the carriage and lifted a corner of the curtain, speaking softly to the person inside, "Daoist priest, do you think my arrangement is proper?"
Inside the carriage sat a Daoist priest with white hair and beard.
This person was the supreme Daoist priest that Liu Rumai greatly feared. As expected, he had arrived.
The supreme Daoist priest nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and said unhurriedly, "You did well. If the other party reacts, it means this mountain brat has leaked the news."
"Daoist priest, isn't that what you wanted?"
Hehe, the supreme Daoist priest gave a dry laugh. "This will make them nervous."
"After they become nervous, they will relax. That is when people are most tired, and that will be our best opportunity to act."
After speaking, the supreme Daoist priest closed his eyes slightly and fell silent.
Sima Wushuang got into the carriage and flicked the reins.
The horse broke into a trot, not too fast, not too slow, and left the alley.
As he was walking along, he met someone coming towards him. It was Hu Laoqi.
Hu Laoqi and his companions had escaped from Xiaojia Town to Qingniu County. After a day of living in fear, they found nothing unusual, so their courage grew. Furthermore, the wound on his finger indeed needed treatment, so they temporarily stayed in the county town.
Today was Hu Laoqi's day to change his dressing at the pharmacy.
As he was walking, he suddenly caught sight of Sima Wushuang in the carriage.
Sima Wushuang would obviously not recognize a petty henchman like him, but Hu Laoqi recognized him. After all, he was a world-renowned swordsman.
After brushing past Sima Wushuang, Hu Laoqi stood still and turned his head slightly to look back.
Several thoughts flashed through Hu Laoqi's mind like lightning. Yes, that was right. Sima Wushuang was the personal bodyguard of National Preceptor Sun Yuliang.
When this news spread, the entire martial world was in an uproar. Who would have thought that a world-renowned swordsman would join the government and become the National Preceptor's personal bodyguard?
A thought struck Hu Laoqi, and he followed Sima Wushuang. Seeing him check into the most luxurious hotel in the county town, the Guibing Building, he then hurried back to the inn.
"Liu Mazi, Cao Bei, get up quickly. I have something important to tell you."
Liu Mazi and Cao Bei were still asleep. He stirred them up until they finally sat up groggily.
"Brothers, guess who I saw on the street just now?"
"Seventh Brother, who was it? Tell us quickly."
"Sima Wushuang, the number one swordsman in the Central Plains."
Liu Mazi's eyes showed a hint of disappointment. "Seventh Brother, what does he have to do with us?"
Hu Laoqi chuckled, "Have you forgotten? Sima Wushuang is now the National Preceptor's personal bodyguard. Liu Rumai and the National Preceptor are locked in a bitter struggle. Does Sima Wushuang's presence mean the National Preceptor has also arrived?"
"Seventh Brother, what do you mean?" Cao Bei was also confused by his words.
"Brothers, don't we want to kill Yang Zhi? Don't we have ready manpower right in front of us?"
"But we've already asked Xiaocui'er to find someone."
Hu Laoqi chuckled, "Alas, you two are too rigid. If Sima Wushuang can help us get this done, then we can go find Xiaocui'er to get our money back and live a carefree life. Wouldn't that be great?"
"But, but, Sima Wushuang doesn't know us. How would he kill Yang Zhi for us?"
"Isn't that simple? Do you know why the National Preceptor came to Qingniu County?"
"Of course, it's for the dragon脉. Haven't you heard? The several families are fighting over it. One wants to protect the dragon脉, and the other wants to destroy it."
Hu Laoqi slapped his thigh, directly hitting his wound. The pain made him flinch. "Isn't that it? We can just say that Yang Zhi and those two little wenches are guarding the dragon脉."