Chapter 17

Yang Yanzong’s face was as dark as ink, cold and freezing. He grabbed the audacious woman and threw her onto the deck.

Su Ci awkwardly accepted it. Fine, let it be cold, as long as he didn’t ignore her.

Yang Yanzong shouted, “Turn around, to the left!”

The sound of water splashing, and Su Ci had just gotten out of the water when Yang Yanzhen and the others managed to escape the sudden attackers and swam to the nearest speedboat, being pulled out of the water.

At Yang Yanzong’s command, seven or eight speedboats immediately turned and entered the left-hand fork!

This was a small waterway between two main rivers, crisscrossed and overgrown with reeds. After winter, the reeds were sparse and yellow, broken and fallen. Everyone kept their bodies low as the speedboats silently glided through, and only the faint rustling sound could be heard.

The night was pitch black, the atmosphere silent and tense, with enemies hidden in the darkness who had just ambushed them. Su Ci lay at the stern, not moving a muscle except for her eyes. The people around her held knives, scanning the surroundings, the air so tense it seemed frozen.
These were unknown enemies, but definitely not the emperor’s forces. Their clothing, weapons, and scale were different. They had suddenly attacked and gained the upper hand. But Yang Yanzong was indeed a capable person. The speedboats moved quickly and silently under his command, avoiding at least two ambushes along the way. In the pitch-black night, Su Ci’s sharp ears suddenly caught the sound of water being paddled ahead.

The sound of paddles suddenly grew louder, and there was a clear rustling in the grass behind them. Su Ci turned her head sharply and saw at least a dozen shadows rushing towards them. At the same time, the speed of the boat she was on suddenly increased, speeding forward. Lin Yichu, Yang Yanzhen, and several other boats had disappeared at some point, but now they suddenly appeared on both sides, surrounding the attackers. With a sudden “boom!” they crashed into the unfamiliar speedboats ahead!

The sound of fighting erupted!

In the chaos, Su Ci tightly grabbed the boat’s railing. The impact of the collision pushed the speedboat towards the shore. She seized the opportunity to roll into the grass. Behind her, A Kang was unsteady on the swaying boat and was about to get injured. She quickly gripped the railing and tried to stabilize the boat.

A Kang narrowly avoided a fatal blow. Yang Yanzong glanced at her, his long sword slashing swiftly and cutting down two enemies in an instant. He had already figured it out. The people they encountered must have just escaped an imperial ambush on the other main river. But were they from the Fourth Prince’s residence or the Seventh Prince’s?

The river wind howled, blowing away the clouds. In the faint moonlight, the leading speedboat emerged from behind the dense, withered grass and reeds at the bend. A man wearing a black jade crown and a deep purple robe with tight sleeves appeared briefly. His face was as fair as jade, his eyes sharp, and his expression was cold and murderous as he stared intently in their direction.

With just one glance, Yang Yanzong recognized him, “Ji Yuanhao.”

The adopted son and confidant of the Fourth Prince, this man also served as a strategist. He was the most troublesome figure in the Fourth Prince’s residence.

Ji Yuanhao moved his hand, and seven or eight short arrows shot straight toward Yang Yanzong’s face, chest, and other prominent targets on the boat.

Yang Yanzong shouted, his long sword vibrating. Su Ci only saw a flash of silver light, and all seven or eight short arrows were knocked down. Yang Yanzong bent backward, raised his hand, and with a “whoosh,” a steel sleeve arrow shot straight toward Ji Yuanhao’s forehead.

Ji Yuanhao reacted quickly, leaning back to the side, narrowly avoiding the arrow as it grazed his cheek.

The two sides met in a narrow path, fighting fiercely. However, Yang Yanzong did not linger in battle. After a successful strike, he immediately retreated, and Su Ci quickly rolled back onto the boat.

Ji Yuanhao relentlessly pursued. Both sides weaved through the narrow waterways filled with reeds, chasing each other closely. The silent battle continued until the middle of the night.

At the edge of the marshy water network, after a final clash, Ji Yuanhao received a whistle signal from Zhang Yong. The speedboat quickly arrived, and Ji Yuanhao stepped ashore, surrounded by scattered corpses. “Are they all dealt with?”

Zhang Yong nodded, “The numbers are about right.”

Ji Yuanhao’s sharp eyes scanned the ground. His eyes were incredibly keen, and in the dark grass and among the bodies, his gaze suddenly paused.

Ji Yuanhao bent down and turned over a corpse dressed as an enemy. In the faint starlight, a very familiar face appeared. Zhang Yong exclaimed, “Qu Sheng!”

There were many people brought along this time, including the Fourth Prince’s secret guards. Zhang Yong didn’t know all their names but recognized their faces. He was shocked and quickly checked seven or eight more bodies. There were indeed enemies, but also three of their own men.

Ji Yuanhao straightened up, “Well done, Yang Yanzong!”

This trick of shedding the cicada’s shell was executed beautifully.

Ji Yuanhao and his men had arrived slightly earlier than Yang Yanzong, with more manpower. They had encountered the emperor’s ambush earlier and escaped earlier. Upon noticing the commotion on the other side of the river, Ji Yuanhao immediately ordered a stealthy ambush.

No matter whose side they were on, they were all enemies. It was essential to eliminate the competition in advance. This was the first time Ji Yuanhao faced Yang Yanzong directly. He threw down the blood-stained handkerchief, and the opponent’s difficulty was as expected, but the final result was even more surprising.

Zhang Yong gritted his teeth, “Master, let’s chase them!” They couldn’t have gone far in this short time!

Ji Yuanhao raised his hand to stop him, “Don’t chase.” He squinted, “Don’t forget what we are here for.”

They couldn’t waste any more time here. Zhang Yong reluctantly stopped. But it was impossible for Ji Yuanhao to let Yang Yanzong go. He waved, “Pang Si, Pang Wu, you go.”

The Pang brothers were excellent trackers, “Catch up to them, find them, and spread the news.”

“Yes!”

…

Ji Yuanhao wanted to use Yang Yanzong as a target to attract the emperor’s forces and the Seventh Prince’s firepower. How could Yang Yanzong fall for that?

The group quickly changed clothes and boarded the speedboat again, keeping their bodies low as they silently sailed through a short gap. Soon, they abandoned the boat and went ashore. Using all their strength, they ran forward with the team. Su Ci couldn’t let anyone carry her; everyone was already exhausted.

Su Ci inadvertently looked back and saw Yang Yanzong suddenly stop. His hand moved, a flash of silver, and he slit the throats of two people in front of him! The two men stared in shock, clutching their throats as they silently fell, and he kicked them into the water.

Su Ci recognized these two people as those sent by the prince’s residence. She suddenly remembered the note Ji Chen had slipped into Yang Yanzong’s hand.

—Were they the heir’s people?

Yang Yanzong would rather kill by mistake than let one go. Su Ci swallowed. She had seen a lot by now and was gradually getting used to it, no longer as shocked as the first time. Her adrenaline was pumping, and she didn’t even feel cold in her wet clothes.

Yang Yanzong turned his head and met her wide, round eyes. His face was stained with blood, and he looked murderous. He snorted, turned around, and walked away. Su Ci pretended not to hear and quickly followed him.

“Where are we going?” Su Ci asked several times, and when she didn’t hear an answer, she didn’t get angry. She continued to ask in a small voice, persistently buzzing like an annoying fly.

Yang Yanzong frowned impatiently and finally spoke, “Disguise and continue south.”

“Oh, oh.”

Although Su Ci could be a bit annoying, her medical skills were very proficient and efficient. The group ran for several miles and quickly found a suitable farming and hunting village. They stopped in a sheltered spot, and some people went out to buy clothes, shoes, and hats and arrange for carriages and horses, while Su Ci immediately started bandaging the wounded. Her two large bags were intact and had been brought out.

Su Ci rummaged through the contents and breathed a sigh of relief. She had brought along the semi-finished product she had painstakingly purified before departure. It wasn’t guaranteed to be safe, but better to have it just in case.

Su Ci checked the bottles and seals, which were all intact. She quickly repacked them, took out soap to wash her hands and disinfect them, and also had a large bottle of alcohol. She had estimated the alcohol content through distillation, unsure if it was accurate, but having it was better than nothing.

Yang Yanzhen covered his arm, eyes wide, “You even carried a big bottle of water!”

No wonder it was so heavy; it almost strangled him while running.

Su Ci glared at him, “It’s not water. This stuff is important!”

As she bickered with Yang Yanzhen, she quickly opened the disinfectant and threaded the needle. Once the bottle was opened, everyone knew it wasn’t water due to the strong alcohol smell. Yang Yanzhen’s wound wasn’t deep, so she didn’t waste her catgut. With swift movements, she cleaned the wound, stopped the bleeding, disinfected it, and bandaged it all in one go.

After finishing with Yang Yanzhen, Su Ci immediately went to the more severely injured. She had treated Yang Yanzhen first to prevent others from being shocked. With an example set, there was no need for further explanation. They were all men, and none of them cried out in pain. Su Ci’s swift and skillful stitching was something they had never seen before, but the results were immediate. There were no fractures, only muscle punctures and cuts. Some were more challenging, but Su Ci managed to handle them well under the limited conditions. Everyone had heard of her before, but this was the first time they had seen her in action. There was no doubt about her skills, especially since Yang Yanzong had personally arranged for her. Any reservations they had quickly disappeared.

Su Ci was very beautiful but unexpectedly cheerful, straightforward, and not shy. It didn’t take long for her to become familiar with everyone. By the time Yang Yanzong returned, she had even made a few new friends.

Yang Yanzong didn’t seem to like her, but Su Ci pretended not to notice, maintaining a natural and generous attitude. She even handed him a cup of boiled water.

Yang Yanzong had gone out with his sword earlier, looking murderous. When he returned, his hands were stained with fresh blood, likely from dealing with loose ends.

Su Ci noticed and quickly handed him and A Zhao a wet towel.

Yang Yanzong wiped his hands and glanced at her. This woman was indeed very bold. It hadn’t been long since the incident at the military town of Shilin, and now she wasn’t afraid at all. He threw the towel back at her and stood up, “Get ready, we’re leaving soon!”

Lin Yichu and the others, who were lightly injured or uninjured, quickly brought back clothes and horses. They swiftly changed clothes, disguising themselves as a returning escort team.

As a woman, Su Ci had a bit more trouble changing clothes. While Lin Yichu was busy, she quickly slipped behind the trees and rocks behind Yang Yanzong to change. No one dared to go behind him, not even for convenience. It was freezing, and now she felt the cold, wet clothes sticking to her skin. But her body was warm from running in the winter, so she probably wouldn’t catch a cold. While squatting and changing, Su Ci listened to Yang Yanzong talking ahead. Next, they would head to Shangzhou, targeting a man named Feng Shang.

This man was originally the Commandant of the Wuchuan Great Silver Mine—the state-owned silver mine that was being illegally excavated. He was in charge of the stationed troops and all related affairs. After the incident, he fled, but unfortunately, he was unlucky. He got caught for a crime during his escape and was imprisoned. However, his whereabouts were only recently discovered because he used a false name and household registration during his escape. This man, in collusion with the Liu brothers, was involved in the illegal mining of the state-owned silver mine. According to reports, he has a private mine token, which is likely a kind of secret key.

Yang Yanzong’s two main objectives for this trip are the private mine in the hands of the Liu brothers and the important piece of evidence—the account book.

Feng Shang may not have the account book, but he definitely knows about the private mine. Most importantly, through this man, they can find the Liu brothers. Now, they need to be precise and fast!

Without resting, as soon as they finished disguising, Yang Yanzong immediately ordered them to set off. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Su Ci noticed that now everyone in the team was their own people, and none of the ones sent by the prince’s residence were left. Additionally, they found Zhao Yuan on the way, who was already dead. After being ambushed by the emperor, it was unclear which group they encountered next, but they were completely wiped out before they could even start their mission.

Yang Yanzong frowned, checked Zhao Yuan’s breath and his fatal wound, and without wasting any words, said, “Quick!”

Someone had gotten ahead of them. They must catch up!!