Ma Biao stared at him coldly and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know why I'm looking for you?"
Xue Dahai shook his head like a rattle drum.
"Do you know who is in that coffin?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Dahai's expression changed drastically, and he frantically waved his hands, "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know any of these things you're talking about."
Ma Biao didn't speak, but turned to look at Gao Peng beside him.
Gao Peng sighed when he saw this, "Master Xue, I've confessed everything. You can't keep resisting."
"You." Xue Dahai glared at Gao Peng and finally let out a helpless sigh.
"Alas, what good will it do if I tell you? The person behind me is also of the official class. Can you afford to offend them?"
Looking at the arrogant Xue Dahai, Ma Biao wished he could chop off his head right then and there, but he hadn't finished asking questions and couldn't act impulsively yet.
"Xue Dahai, whether I can afford to offend them or not, you must know that I can cut off your head at any moment."
"I'll talk, I'll talk." Under Ma Biao's imposing presence, Xue Dahai had no choice but to lower his head.
"Since it has come to this, I will tell you then."
"Twenty li east from here is..." Before he could finish speaking, there was a sudden sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air. Before Ma Biao could react, he saw Xue Dahai's body tremble.
Immediately afterward, a flying dagger was seen stuck in Xue Dahai's temple.
Damn it, he's been silenced.
Ma Biao bent down, grabbed Xue Dahai by the collar, and asked loudly, "Quickly, where is it? Where?"
Xue Dahai's eyes opened slightly, and he stared at Ma Biao with his eyes slightly open, struggling to spit out three words, "Running Horse Mountain."
Ma Biao put Xue Dahai down and turned to Gao Peng, "Where is Running Horse Mountain?"
"My lord, you just go east along this road from the town, and you'll reach it in about twenty li."
After hearing this, Ma Biao strode back, turned around at the courtyard entrance, and said coldly, "I hope what you said is true."
This ice-cold tone startled Gao Peng, and he let out a long sigh after watching him leave.
"Who the hell did I provoke? I've gotten myself into such bad luck."
Ma Biao galloped away from Fengjia Town and joined Liu Ziming and the others. He said in a deep voice, "Let's go to Running Horse Mountain, quickly."
As he spoke, Ma Biao took out a charcoal pencil, wrote a few words on a piece of paper, took the pigeon cage handed over by someone nearby, attached it to his leg, and then released the carrier pigeon.
Ma Biao led the more than twenty people behind him towards Running Horse Mountain, while the carrier pigeon flew towards the capital, a hundred li away.
In the capital, close to the imperial palace, stood a mansion, majestic and grand, with a plaque at the entrance over three zhang high.
It bore the personal inscription of the current emperor, "Duke of Protecting the Nation."
Beside it stood a stone tablet, which read: Civil officials dismount, military officials dismount. This meant that everyone passing by had to walk past the entrance of the Duke of Protecting the Nation's residence, highlighting the noble status of the master of this household.
A carrier pigeon circled and landed. A middle-aged man in brocade robes quickly stepped forward, removed the bamboo tube from his leg, glanced at it, and hurried into the study.
In the study was Liu Xiangnan, the Duke of Protecting the Nation.
Liu Xiangnan's beard was already streaked with white. He was staring blankly at the map on the table. Seeing the man enter, he couldn't help but ask, "Liu Kai, is there any news?"
Liu Kai bowed slightly, "Ma Biao just sent a message. The second young master might be at Running Horse Mountain, and he has already rushed there."
Liu Xiangnan's expression paused. He looked at the map on the table again and said in a deep voice, "Running Horse Mountain is just a small hill. There is no strategically important place to defend. Why would they occupy it?"
Liu Kai also looked puzzled, "Your Highness is right. I also feel that although the vegetation there is dense, it is clearly not suitable for hiding."
Liu Xiangnan slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back. "You take a few men and go reinforce Running Horse Mountain."
Liu Kai hesitated, "Your Highness, if there aren't enough men, it might be futile. It's better to mobilize the Left Guard Camp..."
Liu Xiangnan's expression became solemn, "Are we not embarrassed enough? We have to rely on the Royal Guard to find a corpse. What face will Liu Xiangnan have then?"
Liu Kai opened his mouth, but finally bowed and retreated.
At this moment, Ma Biao had already arrived at Running Horse Mountain with his men.
Looking at the lush trees on the mountain, Ma Biao waved his hand and said to everyone, "Hide the horses and follow me into the mountain."
The men hid their horses in the roadside woods, leaving two to guard them, while the rest followed Ma Biao hastily into Running Horse Mountain.
Upon entering Running Horse Mountain, Ma Biao would stop every few steps to carefully survey the surroundings.
After walking for about a li, he suddenly showed joy. "Look, the traces of the carriage stopped here."
"Everyone spread out and search nearby. You will surely find something."
Hearing his words, everyone immediately scattered. Ma Biao scanned the area and walked towards a small hill ahead.
The small hill was overgrown with weeds and did not look conspicuous. At first glance, there seemed to be no flaws, but as Ma Biao circled it, his suspicion grew.
The more normal it seemed, the more abnormal it was. This small hill looked too normal, which made people suspicious.
However, after looking around, he couldn't find anything wrong.
Just then, someone suddenly ran over and bowed to him, "Military Advisor, Steward Liu has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Ma Biao did not delay and quickly walked down the mountain to greet him.
Seeing Liu Kai, Ma Biao cupped his fists in respect, "Greetings, Great Steward."
Liu Kai waved his hand, "Alright, no need for formalities. After receiving your letter, His Highness ordered me to come and assist you."
Then, he pointed to Running Horse Mountain and said, "Have you found anything?"
"We are still investigating. Great Steward, please come with me."
Ma Biao led Liu Kai to the small hill.
"Great Steward, I always feel that this small hill is not right. Please take a look."
Liu Kai circled the small hill twice and suddenly said to someone beside him, "Light a torch for me."
Someone lit a torch and handed it to Liu Kai.
Liu Kai held the torch and approached the small hill, moving slowly, bit by bit.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from somewhere, instantly sucking the flame into the small hill.
Seeing this, Liu Kai smiled slightly and made a mark there.
"Ma Biao, you, come and look again."
Ma Biao stepped forward and carefully examined it again. He couldn't help but exclaim, "The design here is very ingenious. If it weren't for the Great Steward's guidance, I wouldn't have noticed this gap."
Liu Kai nodded and waved to someone in the distance.
Soon, several soldiers rushed over.
These soldiers held various tools in their hands and aimed them at the gap, busying themselves with work.
Finally, with a creaking sound, a dark opening appeared on the small hill.
Seeing this, Ma Biao was dumbfounded.
"Great Steward, this, this..."
Liu Kai did not speak but pointed to the opening.