Hearing his words, Sima Wushuang and the others were immediately invigorated.
"That's right, Master Daoist speaks the truth. Qingniu Mountain spans a hundred li; we're bound to find a new path."
"Right, let's head up the mountain."
The crowd chattered, heading back up the mountain along the path they had come.
Watching them leave, Chen Xiaobei beckoned his men to go down and drag Sun Jian's corpse up. The rest were unceremoniously tossed into a nearby ditch.
"This is the murderer of Lidong. I must take his head to pay tribute to Brother Lidong."
Hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, Zhang Qian couldn't help but feel a surge of respect for him.
A mountain dweller with such righteous valor was indeed worthy of admiration.
After waiting a while longer, Chen Xiaobei stood up again, ready to head downhill, but was stopped by Zhang Qian. "Hey, brother, where are you going?"
Chen Xiaobei pointed into the distance. "I'm going to find Brother Lidong's body."
Zhang Qian shook his head. "Brother, you're not the only one who lost a brother. Our brothers, Ma Xiaoyi and the others, were also left to rot in the wilderness."
"But, we can't take risks now. If we rush in and get ambushed, we'll be in a passive situation."
"Then what's your plan?" Chen Xiaobei asked him doubtfully.
Zhang Qian pondered for a moment. "I'll take two men and follow them to see where they are now."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely bring Lidong back for you."
Chen Xiaobei hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.
Zhang Qian and his men were highly skilled in martial arts and could hold their own against the enemy. As for himself, he could only rely on his repeating crossbow.
"Don't worry, I'll guard this place and won't let anyone escape," Chen Xiaobei vowed, patting his chest.
At this moment, a thousand miles away.
Fengjia Town.
Liu Ziming, after much pleading, finally welcomed Ma Biao.
Upon meeting, Liu Ziming began to weep. "Military Advisor Ma, I have already sworn a solemn oath to the Marquis that even if he grants me no soldiers or supplies, I will retrieve the second young master's coffin. Otherwise, I will..."
Ma Biao gently patted Liu Ziming's shoulder. "The Marquis didn't send you any men because he doesn't want more people to know about this."
"Think about it, if this matter gets out, how greatly it will affect the Marquis's reputation."
"That's why the Marquis spared no expense to bring me back from a thousand li away."
Liu Ziming nodded. "Military Advisor Ma, I understand."
"Let's go. Tell me in detail what happened that day."
Liu Ziming led Ma Biao out of Fengjia Town to the spot where he had been drugged and recounted the events meticulously.
Ma Biao listened, nodding repeatedly.
"It's clear you were already being targeted. Where were you staying?"
"We were staying at that inn, the Gaopeng Inn."
Ma Biao nodded.
"You all wait here. I'll go take a look."
Ma Biao galloped on his horse, returning to town and arriving at the entrance of the Gaopeng Inn. Seeing a potential customer, the young waiter eagerly stepped forward to hold his horse.
Ma Biao entered the inn. The innkeeper, a dark-faced middle-aged man, smiled and greeted him.
"Sir, are you here to stay?"
Ma Biao nodded and casually tossed a piece of silver. "A superior room."
The innkeeper was overjoyed and stepped aside. "This way, please."
The innkeeper led Ma Biao to the back courtyard and up to the second floor, opening the door to a room.
"Sir, does this room meet your approval?"
Ma Biao walked in with his hands behind his back. The innkeeper enthusiastically introduced from behind, "This room is airy from north to south, gets sunlight during the day, and has no mosquitoes or bugs at night. You'll be satisfied."
Ma Biao suddenly turned around, a long sword already at the innkeeper's neck.
The innkeeper trembled in fear, shaking his hands. "Sir, we have no past grievances, nor any recent enmity. Why are you doing this?"
"I ask you, did a horse caravan stay here a few days ago, carrying a coffin? Do you remember?"
A hint of surprise flickered in the innkeeper's eyes, but it was fleeting.
However, even the slightest change in expression did not escape Ma Biao's notice.
"I just want to know who you sold the information to?"
Looking at Ma Biao's cold gaze, the innkeeper still tried to play dumb. "Sir, I remember the horse caravan you mentioned, but they only stayed for one night and then left. I don't know anything else."
Not knowing anything else. The words sounded fine, but they were precisely the problem. Ma Biao said coldly, "It seems you know something happened to them."
I.
The innkeeper instantly realized he had spoken incorrectly and chose to remain silent.
Ma Biao pressed his sword forward again. "If you don't speak, don't blame me for being impolite."
"I know that person has a strong background. You're afraid of causing trouble, aren't you?"
"Then let me tell you, that coffin contained a royal relative. You've committed a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan. Would you rather offend him or the Emperor? Think carefully yourself."
Upon hearing this, the innkeeper immediately knelt down with a thud.
"I confess, I confess. It was all my foolishness."
Seeing that he had started to speak, Ma Biao withdrew his sword and sat down on a chair. "Speak, what exactly happened?"
"Before sunset that day, the horse caravan transporting the coffin had already settled in."
"Around dinnertime, Master Xue arrived. He gave me a silver ingot and asked me to discreetly find out when the horse caravan would depart the next day. I pretended to deliver water and overheard them discussing that they would depart at first light the next day, aiming to return to the capital before dark."
"So I told Master Xue."
"I don't know what happened after that."
Ma Biao nodded. "Good. Who is this Master Xue you mentioned?"
"Oh, his name is Xue Dahai. He's a scoundrel from our Fengjia Town. He usually makes a living by selling information."
"I shouldn't have been greedy and accepted that silver ingot."
After hearing his words, Ma Biao stood up and said coldly.
"Take me to find this Xue Dahai. If what he says differs from what you've told me, you're still dead."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare to lie." The innkeeper was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe and led Ma Biao out of the inn.
They walked not far down the street and turned a corner.
The innkeeper pointed to the house at the end of the alley. "Xue Dahai lives there."
Ma Biao nodded. "Go and knock on the door."
The innkeeper, trembling, stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate several times. "Master Xue, Master Xue, are you awake? It's Gaopeng."
After shouting several times, there was finally a response from within the courtyard.
"Old Gao, are you calling out to the souls this early in the morning?"
As the shout faded, the courtyard gate creaked open, revealing a bald head.
"Old Gao..." Xue Dahai started to say, but Ma Biao raised his leg and kicked him fiercely in the chest. Xue Dahai, caught off guard, staggered back several steps and fell backward with a crash.
"You scoundrel..." Xue Dahai cursed and was about to get up when Ma Biao's long sword was already at his neck.
The young man trembled in fear and his expression immediately changed. "Sir, let's talk. Let's talk nicely."