Chapter 77: Make Sure Song Jiuyuan Doesn’t See the Sun Tomorrow

“Master.”

The shadow guard beside the Sixth Prince spoke softly, “Song Jiuyuan has incredible luck. The people we sent last time didn’t manage to harm him at all.”

“Someone in exile can still live so comfortably—do you think that’s reasonable?”

The Sixth Prince’s gaze turned chilling, his eyes sharp like cold blades. The shadow guard was so terrified he didn’t dare look him in the eye and immediately admitted his mistake.

“I apologize, Master. I failed in my duties. None of the men I sent returned.”

“Useless!”

The Sixth Prince almost shouted in fury. He glanced at the Grand Tutor’s carriage behind him and forcefully suppressed his irritation.

“He’s just one man. You can’t even handle a group of elderly, women, and children. Do I keep you around just to eat?!”

“Rest assured, Master. This time, I will make sure Song Jiuyuan doesn’t see the sun tomorrow!”

After being reprimanded, the shadow guard wished he could kill Song Jiuyuan on the spot just to report back with his head.

“Come back!”

The Sixth Prince looked at the mountains in the distance and said coldly, “Let the people from Black Wind Village take action. And if anyone dares to interfere, kill them all. Tell them to be swift and ruthless.”

“Yes!”

The shadow guard received his order and left. With Black Wind Village involved, Song Jiuyuan would end up dead in the hands of bandits. No one would suspect a thing.

The Sixth Prince withdrew his sinister expression and turned toward the Grand Tutor’s carriage with a smile on his face.

…

“Madam Song, you’re right. I do need to take better care of my health. We’ll head out first.”

Lin Tingyu’s face was pale, and he lightly coughed into a handkerchief.

Over the past few days, he had sensed that Madam Song didn’t particularly like disobedient patients. When Hua Xiao left, he had felt a wave of relief and realized that he might have caused Madam Song some distress.

Though reluctant, reason ultimately prevailed.

Seeing how thin Lin Tingyu looked—almost like paper—Jiang Wan kept a stern face as she instructed, “If you trust me, keep using the prescription I gave you before. You’ll recover soon.”

They had been on the road constantly, so Lin Tingyu hadn’t even had the chance to get the medicine, let alone take medicinal baths. No wonder he wasn’t improving.

“Of course I trust you.”

Lin Tingyu gave a slight smile, inexplicably tinged with sorrow.

“Master Lin, your body is weak. You should find a place to rest as soon as possible,” Song Jiuyuan said suddenly.

His unexpected comment surprised both Jiang Wan and Lin Tingyu.

Lin Tingyu had done his own investigations while traveling with them. Being a smart man, he quickly realized that Song Jiuyuan had likely been exiled for standing in someone’s way.

No matter what, he respected Song Jiuyuan, who had once contributed to Dafeng.

“Thank you for the advice. This is farewell, then.”

Lin Tingyu gave Jiang Wan a deep look before pulling down the curtain of his carriage, hiding the helplessness in his eyes.

The carriage clattered away, leaving behind only the exiled group on the road.

“Mother, the wind is so strong,” whispered Chen Wenhao from the cart, shrinking into Madam Chen’s arms.

“It’s okay. Mother will shield you from the wind,” Madam Chen replied, unaware that anything was amiss, assuming it was just the weather.

But Jiang Wan had a faint sense that something was wrong. This wind… didn’t feel like usual.

Dirt and sand were whipped up by the wind, hitting her face painfully.

“With wind this strong, is it going to rain?” Song Jiuli asked with a frown, pulling her clothes tighter around her. Everyone huddled together.

Jiang Wan pulled a few cloths from her basket and handed them out. “Wrap your hair and face. There’s too much dust.”

She wrapped her own hair completely as an example, which the others quickly followed. Even those walking ahead saw them and copied the method for protection.

“Song Jiuchi, you know how to shoot arrows, right?”

Jiang Wan held a bow she was polishing. It was newly made—not as good as her old one, but decent enough.

“Yes,” Song Jiuchi nodded firmly. His horseback archery had been learned from his older brother and was quite skillful. He just hadn’t had the chance to use it since exile.

“Good. This one is yours. Keep it hidden for now.”

She placed the bow under the cart. After all, they were exiles—showing weapons too openly would only draw unwanted attention.

“I need one too.”

Song Jiuyuan spoke quietly, his gaze lingering on the bow Song Jiuchi had hidden. He hadn’t expected her first gift would be for his younger brother.

“Are you sure your hand can still draw a bow?”

Jiang Wan’s question left Song Jiuyuan filled with regret. He shouldn’t have let his emotions flare earlier.

“I can.”

He looked at her stubbornly. Jiang Wan sighed and began making a bow for him too.

“This bow isn’t as good as the ones you used before, but it’s more than enough for self-defense.”

Jiang Wan was mindful of the threat from Black Wind Village but didn’t want to take risks. She had to prepare in advance.

Seeing the Sixth Prince earlier had confirmed her suspicions. That dog would surely send someone to act soon.

“I like it very much,” Song Jiuyuan said softly, gently running his finger over the rough bow. His heart was full of joy.

This was the most cherished gift he’d ever received.

“I’ll carve some more arrows,” Jiang Wan said as she continued working, with Song Jiuli helping on the side—much more sensible than before.

Even when Song Madam and Song Jiuli prepared lunch, Jiang Wan didn’t have time to help. Her focus remained on preparing weapons.

“Sister-in-law, drink some soup first,” Song Jiuli offered her a bowl of chicken oil mushroom soup, mixed with fresh minced meat. It smelled delicious.

“Okay.”

Once it cooled a bit, Jiang Wan gulped it down quickly. During her break, Song Jiuyuan also took up a dagger to carve arrows.

Ren Bang saw all of this, but since they were about to pass through Black Wind Village, he felt an ominous unease and didn’t stop them. He simply pretended not to see.

“Mother, I want some meat,” little Song Yang said pitifully, looking at their pot of food. Song Third Madam quickly pulled him back.

“Don’t you see the knives in their hands? You’ll get hurt.”

Her eyes were full of resentment, but she dared not act rashly. She hugged her son tightly.

Song Yang had no choice but to bury his head and cry. Jiang Wan heard but coldly ignored it.

She had no interest in getting involved with the Song family anymore. She knew exactly what Song Third Madam was scheming—trying to play the sympathy card.

Just like Song Jiuli now, who glanced at Jiang Wan with a conflicted expression after hearing the child’s pitiful sobs.

“Jiuli, don’t be foolish!”

Song Madam tugged on her, and she finally lowered her gaze to hide the pain in her eyes. She couldn’t drag them down again.

“Pack up. Let’s move,” Jiang Wan ordered coldly.

Ren Bang and the others up front had already packed, leaving Song Jiuli and Song Madam no time to dwell. They hurried to clean up the cookware.

The once flat road had narrowed significantly. Up ahead was a mountain pass, and Jiang Wan’s heart began pounding.

If she were part of Black Wind Village, this is where she’d launch an ambush.

And sure enough, Jiang Wan and her group, who were at the rear of the procession, had just cautiously entered the pass.

The people in front were just about to leave the valley when—just as Ren Bang was starting to let his guard down—a flurry of footsteps suddenly echoed.

They were surrounded in an instant!