Chapter 1603

The guards at the entrance and surrounding Yongquan Manor were very tight. Everyone drove the carriage into the grove, then unhitched the horses, put away the flags, and knocked the prisoner unconscious, stuffing him into a sack.

A strong wind blew, and the sleet came, hitting them right in the face.

Then, Dong Rui released the Snail Toad.

"Hurry!"

Half an hour later, the rain and snow subsided, rustling like silk.

Another carriage slowly drove near this forest.

No one got off, but a group of large moths flew out from the carriage window, gray and dull, flapping their gray wings into the forest.

About a quarter of an hour later, they flew back and squeezed into the carriage curtains again.

The carriage started moving again, slowly driving into the darkness.

Everywhere was yellow mud, and it was hard to find a patch of green.

Soon, it met another carriage by the creek, and a person climbed out, bowing to the opposite side: "Master, the disciple has returned."

The curtain on the opposite side was lifted, and Cao Wendao walked down and sat by the creek.

Two disciples were busy, digging a fire pit to start a campfire, fetching clean water, and finding a flat large rock to dry the water stains, spreading two layers of animal skin soft mats on it before inviting their mentor to sit.

It had just rained, and everywhere was water, everywhere were withered branches and fallen leaves, and everywhere was the smell of damp earth. But this place was only three miles from Yongquan Manor, and the forest was dense, with no high ground nearby, so even if they started a fire, people in the distance wouldn't see it.

On a winter night, the countryside after the rain was doubly cold.

Cao Wendao reached out to warm himself by the fire while asking the disciple who had just gotten off the carriage: "They aren't in the forest anymore?"

"The people are gone and the carriage is empty, the horses were also unhitched, and two are hiding in the jungle eating grass." The disciple replied, "Those few people are nowhere to be found."

"That means they returned to the manor." Cao Wendao stroked his chin, "Why didn't they drive straight back? Does He Xiao not want the Yao people in the manor to know about tonight's outing?"

As the "victim target," He Xiao went to track and counterattack the assassins; why was he afraid to make it public? Those Yao Nation guards would mostly be willing to be driven by him; once they caught the assassins and sent them into the palace, he could score another point for the Qingyang Regency.

Why was He Xiao unwilling to do this? What was he worried about? Cao Wendao pressed his forehead, silent for a long time.

The disciple asked with concern: "Master, are you feeling unwell?"

"Your Second Senior Brother is dead; these people didn't leave him alive."

The remaining disciples looked sorrowful, and one of them tentatively asked: "Master, what... what do we do next?"

They hadn't even made a move, and their side had already lost three people.

The opponent even seized the initiative, chasing them relentlessly.

If Cao Wendao hadn't acted according to the situation, he probably would have been blocked at Huixiang Inn by He Xiao long ago.

Having taken murder contracts for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a thorny target.

No wonder Qingyang wanted to entrust this task to him; she couldn't handle it herself.

"Wei Yishan will return west tomorrow morning to pick up Xiao An."

This was the best news he had received tonight.

The disciples were shocked, then overjoyed: "Xiao An is still alive!"

"Congratulations, Master!"

"Incredible, this is an unprecedented breakthrough!"

"Success? Before finding Xiao An, how can we talk about a breakthrough?" Cao Wendao said this, but a smile appeared on his face. Xiao An was not only alive, but judging by the tone of those people, her state was also very stable, both mentally and physically.

This was truly an incredible surprise!

"Hmph, I can also confirm one thing: Wei Yishan is our peer!"

This was the second piece of good news.

If Cao Wendao was only suspicious before, he was now certain.

"Although he didn't personally admit to being a puppet master, he is excessively knowledgeable about monster puppets and about us."

Only an insider can see the tricks.

Once Wei Yishan's style was revealed, Cao Wendao understood; this was one of his own!

"Wei Yishan leaving Yongquan Manor is our good opportunity. We must take down both this person and Xiao An!"

Killing two birds with one stone! Thinking about how much help these two would be to his research, Cao Wendao couldn't help but rub his hands.

As for the task target He Xiao, put him aside for now.

Anyway, he promised Qingyang to kill He Xiao, but he didn't say when.

One must wait for the most suitable opportunity, right? The disciples said one after another: "Since he isn't in the manor and isn't by He Xiao's side, it's easy to handle."

Wei Yishan spent all day in the mountain cellar, with nearly a thousand guards outside; even Cao Wendao felt it was thorny and impossible to kidnap him quietly.

Now that he was willing to come out himself, and was going on a long journey to pick up Xiao An, that was the best thing for Cao Wendao.

On this journey, how many opportunities would there be to strike?

A disciple asked: "Master, where is Xiao An?"

"I'm afraid only He Xiao and Wei Yishan know." Cao Wendao said in a deep voice, "They are also very interested in my research task; why?"

"Xiao An hasn't died yet; could it have something to do with this man surnamed Wei?"

The disciples all said: "A mere nameless puppet master, how could he have such ability? Xiao An's survival until now must be because Master's method is correct!"

Cao Wendao looked at them and gave a light hum.

A bunch of sycophants.

"Wei Yishan will set off for Zhu County tomorrow morning; that is the best route to take a boat back west besides Mangzhou." Cao Wendao pondered, "Once he gets on the mountain, it won't be easy for us to track him."

Traveling by boat on water has the characteristics of being hidden and difficult to track. In this season, rivers often have fog, thick fog.

As long as they encounter it once, they will lose track of this person.

Therefore, if they want to take down Wei Yishan, it's best to choose before Zhu County to isolate many unfavorable factors.

"At the pace of the Yangshan people, they can reach the south gate of Tianshui City within two hours of dawn, and then head west from there."

"We took this route to Tianshui City!" A disciple offered advice, "Heading west from the south gate of Tianshui City, the route perfectly avoids two post houses, so if they want to rest, they have to go to the nearest village or town."

Cao Wendao casually broke a branch and drew a simplified map on the ground.

"How can there be a village or town there? It's all self-built camps." The route south of Tianshui City was very poorly designed; it was clearly a main road and close to Tianshui City, but merchants and travelers had to walk seventy miles to get supplies.

Cao Wendao and the others certainly didn't know that the plan to add post stations had been completed seven years ago, but it had never been implemented.

The Yao King and the Yao Court were both very busy and rarely had the energy to glance here.

Of course, where there is demand, there is business. On this main road, there was a flat area by the river called Huilong Slope; someone had spontaneously built wooden houses there, which soon developed into a camp, supplying food, lodging, storage, and even commercial orders, but the conditions were certainly not as good as an official post station.

After walking seventy miles, most merchants and caravans would rest at Huilong Slope, feed their horses, and replenish food and water before setting off again.

(End of chapter)