Gu Yanxi stepped out from behind the desk. "Where did you get the information?"
"From Zhu Ling." Yu Mu took the water Wang Hai offered again and drank it in one gulp, then briefly recounted the important events that had occurred in Jin Yang after his master's departure.
From his plain narration, Gu Yanxi imagined how A Zhi must have appeared when issuing commands—undoubtedly with such authority that people completely forgot she was a woman. "So Jin Yang is fully under control now?"
"By the time I left, everything was already under the young mistress's command."
Gu Yanxi seemed to smile faintly. "We depart for Songzhu in half an hour. Wan Qi, bring all personnel from Pengkou along."
"Yes."
Gu Yanxi swiftly wrote another letter, sealing it using the Seven Constellation Bureau's customary method. "Wang Hai."
"At your command."
"Send someone to deliver this to Commander Sun. Quickly." Songzhu was already quite close to Shou'ai Pass. After all, one must close the gates to beat the dog, wasn't that so?
Songzhu County was famous for its bamboo. The bamboo produced here was straight, long, and remarkably flexible, making bamboo products like mats and baskets highly popular everywhere. Consequently, this was a relatively affluent county—the moment one entered Songzhu territory, the boats and various waterside structures immediately distinguished it from Pengkou.
Gu Yanxi stood at the bow of the boat. The wind was strong today, whipping his cloak fiercely, yet he seemed unaffected by the cold. With his hands clasped behind his back, he surveyed the surroundings. This was merely a transit point for the Chao Li Tribe; for convenience, they would certainly choose a location near the docks. It was entirely possible that one of the buildings in sight was their silver hoarding site. They would inevitably be cautious and wary of unfamiliar faces.
"Wang Hai."
"At your command." Wang Hai, who had been standing by, immediately stepped forward.
"Go ashore later to contact our people here. I need a detailed breakdown of all local factions. Also, find a few local informants."
"Yes."
Finding a group of people who had long integrated into the local population was no easy task. Gu Yanxi first deciphered the spiderweb-like power structure of the area, then pried open the mouths of the local informants. By cross-referencing both sources, he finally uncovered some clues.
Those living near mountains live off the mountains; those near the sea live off the sea. Songzhu enjoyed the advantages of both geography and thus had no shortage of fishing enterprises. From the start, Gu Yanxi focused his attention on fishing businesses that required going out to sea to fish. Based on time estimates and the informants' accounts, he narrowed it down to two establishments—Linji Fishing Company and Zhenxi Fishing Company.
"Dai Chun, you're familiar with this area. Find out which one is more likely. I need results before nightfall."
Dai Chun was the head of the local Seven Constellation Bureau. Understanding the urgency of the matter, he left without another word to investigate.
"Notify everyone to prepare for action tonight."
"Yes."
Clutching the silver hairpin he always carried in his sleeve, Gu Yanxi closed his eyes to rest. Tonight would be a fierce battle, and he also needed to assess the current combat strength of the Chao Li Tribe through these individuals.
The moon was dark and the wind high; layers of thick clouds completely obscured the moonlight. A group of black-clad, masked figures silently surrounded Zhenxi Fishing Company. Gu Yanxi made a gesture to Shaoyao, who understood immediately. She scaled the wall, crouched as she leaped onto the roof, then lay flat and still, blending seamlessly into the night—barely noticeable unless one looked closely.
Right after, Wang Hai led fifteen men into action. They vaulted onto the wall, crouched down, and extended their hands. The sixteen men waiting below grasped their hands and leaped into the courtyard.In the darkness, faint shadows of figures could still be glimpsed along the base of the wall.
Gu Yanxi finally ascended the wall, gripping a longbow in hand. He drew the string taut and loosed an arrow directly toward the main hall.
The proximity made the whistling sound of the arrow especially urgent. The windows shattered completely, a clear declaration of intent.
Yet the other side showed no panic at this arrow. The doors of the main hall and the east and west wing rooms swung open simultaneously, revealing their occupants fully dressed and orderly.
Gu Yanxi sensed something amiss. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, coalescing into one: Lin Ji and Zhenxi were connected—they had been exposed during the investigation!
They had to seize the initiative!
Gu Yanxi drew his bow again. A single arrow served as the command to act.
The sixteen archers positioned atop the walls released their arrows in unison. The sixteen fighters in the courtyard moved with seamless coordination, immediately lashing out with long whips at those who had dodged the arrows as the first volley ended. Just then, the second volley arrived.
Archery was also a forte of the Chao Li Tribe. Though positioned lower than the Seven Constellation Bureau, their skill was no less formidable. Another group wielding long blades significantly diminished the effectiveness of the Bureau’s whips, resulting in a stalemate from the outset.
Not a word was spoken between the two sides. Both knew the other’s identity—their conflict was one of life and death, rendering any exchange superfluous.
Gu Yanxi stowed his bow, drew his longsword, and launched himself into the fray, targeting the enemy leader.
The opponent showed no intention of retreating either. As Gu Yanxi moved, he swung his long blade to meet the attack. The two were instantly locked in a fierce struggle, each growing more astonished the longer the fight dragged on.
Gu Yanxi prided himself on his extraordinary combat skills, believing few in Daqing could match him to this extent. If even an ordinary Chao Li Tribe chieftain possessed such ability, Daqing was in grave danger.
Unbeknownst to him, his opponent was thinking the same. As a warrior of the Chao Li Tribe, he was born with immense strength and had rarely met his match within the tribe. Never did he expect to encounter such a formidable adversary on a simple mission to retrieve supplies!
This man must not be allowed to live! The same thought arose in both their minds, and their strikes grew even more ruthless.
Unnoticed on the rooftop, Shaoyao had been gauging the wind direction. Only now had it shifted favorably. She hurriedly uncorked a vial and scattered a cloud of medicinal powder—the same concoction used previously at the Yu residence. She dared not make it any stronger; while the Chao Li Tribe could withstand it, even their own side, having taken antidotes in advance, would suffer. Such was the difference in constitution between the two peoples.
Though the powder couldn’t incapacitate anyone, the enemy’s reactions noticeably slowed. In a duel between experts, even a slight delay could be fatal. Seizing the opportunity, Gu Yanxi thrust his sword into his opponent’s abdomen. The man retreated to evade, but as the next strike came, he could only watch helplessly as the blade pierced his chest.
With a twist of his wrist, Gu Yanxi shattered the man’s heart. The towering figure staggered forward two steps before collapsing like a mountain.
Yet this did not deter the Chao Li Tribe; instead, it fueled their ferocity. Those nearest to Gu Yanxi abandoned their original opponents and converged on him. Just then, the clashing of weapons echoed from beyond the courtyard walls.
Gu Yanxi dispatched one man with a flick of his sword and leaped back onto the wall. As expected—Lin Ji and Zhenxi were one and the same. Reinforcements from the Lin family had arrived.
Switching his sword for a whip, he ensnared one man and hurled him down with brutal force. The sheer ferocity of the move gave even the Chao Li Tribesmen pause, before they collectively surged toward him, intent on eliminating the greatest threat first.Wang Hai quickly selected a few men to jump down, shifting the direction of their arrows to coordinate with this side.
The battlefield split into two fronts, and the scales of victory that had just tilted toward the Seven Constellation Bureau were once again balanced.
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