Chapter 9

Chapter 8: Outside the Beishan Road, an Arrow Comes from the South

"Even if they are looking for a rendezvous, the choice of location is very important. If it were up to me, I would rather set the rendezvous point on a major road than at Songgu Ridge."

Ning Que looked at the prominent ink dot on the hand-drawn map and said, "They chose to take the Beishan Road, but they didn’t consider that although it is a single path, it has a seven-mile stretch on both sides that is entirely dense forest, making it extremely easy to set an ambush."

After saying this, he fell silent for a moment, put the hand-drawn map inside his clothes, and shook his head in self-mockery. "It seems that the so-called guide, besides leading them into the Beishan Road, is more about confusing the enemy. That idiot princess never trusted General Ma, and naturally, she doesn’t trust me either."

"One idiot leading a group of idiots." Thinking about the possible ambush in the Beishan Road and the uncertain support forces, his mood became increasingly heavy and dejected. He lowered his voice and said fiercely, "After staying on the grasslands for nearly a year, she hasn’t become any smarter. I really don’t know where her reputation for wisdom comes from."

With a metallic sound, Ning Que drew the three knives from their sheaths, which still had some rust, twisted open the water bag to wet the whetstone, and began to silently sharpen the blades. After entering the Beishan Road, there might be several bloody battles. Sharpening the knives before the battle might be a bit late, but at least it could calm his mind.

"If we separate from them when we enter the Beishan Road, what about the questions you want to ask that old man?" Sang Sang asked somewhat bewildered.

"Surviving is the most important thing." Ning Que lowered his head and sharpened the knife, his movements slow, powerful, and determined. "As long as we can survive and reach Chang'an, there will always be a chance to learn those things. If we put our lives in the hands of these idiots, there will be no chance at all."

The further south they went, the warmer the climate became. Logically, the scenery outside the carriage window should have become more vibrant and green, but because the convoy entered the vast Min Mountains, the green grass gradually disappeared, replaced by tall trees lining the road. The leaves had not yet fully turned green and still retained the sternness of the previous autumn and winter.

As the temperature in the world slightly dropped, a tense and oppressive atmosphere also enveloped the entire convoy. Everyone knew that the powerful figure in Chang'an who dared to plot against the princess, if he wanted to prevent the princess from returning to the capital safely, the Min Mountains between the border and the prefectures would be his last chance.

In a tense state of vigilance and searching, the convoy traveled for several days and finally reached the outer area of the Beishan Road entrance. Looking at the dense forest that blocked the sky, most of the people in the convoy did not show the same worried expression as Ning Que; instead, they seemed more relaxed.

The elegant maid had been chatting with Sang Sang less and less over the past few days, spending most of her time in the second carriage. When she got off the carriage that evening, there was even a faint smile on her face.

When she decided to leave the grasslands, she had already sent messengers into the empire. Although it was impossible to reach Chang'an in a short time and have the court send a large army to support them, the messenger had enough time to contact her loyal subordinates.

Ten days ago, after receiving the urgent reply from Gushan County, she decisively decided to enter the Beishan Road. She believed that the young commandant of Gushan County, Hua Shanyue, should already be leading his personal troops close to the southern exit of the Beishan Road.

Having been away from the Tang Empire for only a year, she firmly believed that her loyal subordinates were still loyal to her. Even if some had been bought off by the woman in the palace, Hua Shanyue would never be bought off, because... the look in his eyes was always so gentle.

When the convoy was still about thirty miles away from the agreed rendezvous point, it began to set up camp and rest in the twilight. Traveling through the dense forest at night was a very risky move, and some of the guards even suggested that the convoy wait outside the Beishan Road entrance until Hua Shanyue's troops came to support them.

She was still considering this suggestion, but no matter how she looked at it, she and Xiaoman were now very safe. So a smile reappeared on her elegant face, and the suppressed laughter and joy returned to the camp.

In the twilight, a simple tent was set up alone outside the circular carriage formation. The head of the princess's guards had raised questions, but the owner of the tent insisted on staying there and refused to move into the carriage formation formed by five carriages and cabinets.

"Staying too close to their formation, if something happens, how can we run in time?"

Ning Que explained with a slight mockery. He tied the large black umbrella with grass rope and had Sang Sang carry it, then tied the knot into a very beautiful small flower.

Sang Sang looked up, seeing the light stubble on his chin, and asked, "If we run away, what about them?"

Ning Que was checking if the bowstring was damp. Hearing her question, he turned his head and looked at the little servant girl's dark face, remaining silent for a long time before saying seriously, "You might have forgotten what happened when you were little, but I haven’t."

"I dug you out from a pile of dead bodies, and when I was little, I also went through things that most people can't even imagine."

"Sang Sang, you must always remember this: we have worked very hard, very hard... even risking our lives to continue living in this world. Since we have worked so hard to survive, we cannot easily give up our lives."

After saying this, Ning Que did not explain further, put the sharpened knife back into the sheath, tied it with grass rope, and tested the distance between the sheaths to make sure it was just right, then carried it on his back.

Sang Sang did not ask any more questions and began to silently pack their belongings, testing the straightness of each arrow with her small hands. She knew that the moment the night fell, it would be the time for her and Ning Que to head into the vast Min Mountains. She was not afraid because, when she was little, she had traveled through such dark forests many times on Ning Que's back.

At this moment, Ning Que's hand, which was holding the sheath, stiffened slightly.

The door of the simple tent was lifted by a hand, and the maid walked in. The smile on her elegant face immediately turned cold.

She had come to chat with Sang Sang but unexpectedly saw the master and servant packing their belongings, easily guessing their intention to leave.

"What are you planning to do?" She stared coldly at Ning Que's face and said, "At this moment, your actions are hard not to be suspicious."

Ning Que fell silent for a moment, then laughed, preparing to explain. Suddenly, his ear twitched, the dimple on his cheek disappeared, and he became unusually serious. He quickly put the three knives on his back and rudely pushed the maid out of the tent.

The camp was outside the Beishan Road entrance, not covered by dense forest, and was bathed in the last twilight, warm and comfortable. But at this moment, it seemed to be stained with a layer of blood red.

The wind blew through the forest that had just awakened in spring, whistling and moaning, as if ghosts were crying. Ning Que frowned, looking into the depths of the forest, listening carefully to the details in the moaning sounds, and suddenly shouted loudly, "Enemy attack!"

The杂音 in the moaning wind finally revealed the truth. An arrow shot out of the forest like lightning, whistling mournfully, and aimed at the luxurious carriage in the carriage formation!