Chapter 85: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain

Early the next morning, Jiang Xiaomu arrived at Pei Dongyong's small courtyard.

Pei Dongyong was currently hugging a wine gourd, snoring loudly asleep, with a few dry grass stalks stuck to his face, looking just like an old beggar.

Jiang Xiaomu rudely kicked him.

"Constable Captain, wake up! The sun's already drying your backside!"

Pei Dongyong jerked awake, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and asked in a daze:

"Huh? What time is it?"

"We should head to the county office now!"

Jiang Xiaomu said irritably.

Pei Dongyong then remembered his promise to Jiang Xiaomu from last night, quickly got up, washed up, and the two headed together to the county office.

County Magistrate Li Wenqing saw Pei Dongyong and was overjoyed.

"Constable Captain, you're finally back! Our county is in dire need of someone like you!"

Li Wenqing eagerly grasped Pei Dongyong's hand.

Pei Dongyong scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said:

"County Magistrate, you flatter me; I only did what little I could."

At that moment, the clerk entered holding a wooden box.

"Constable Captain, here is your sword and your badge; please take care of them."

Pei Dongyong took the box, opened it, and saw inside lay his former official sword and constable's badge.

He stroked the scabbard, a complex expression flashing in his eyes—ten years...

Just then, a bailiff rushed in, panicked, and said:

"Report! Sir, a carriage just left the city heading east!"

"It appears to be loaded with many goods, seeming suspicious!"

Jiang Xiaomu and Pei Dongyong exchanged a glance, simultaneously feeling an ominous premonition.

"Constable Captain, we must not delay; let's chase quickly!"

Jiang Xiaomu said in a low voice.

"Good!"

Pei Dongyong hung his sword at his waist and picked up the badge.

The two mounted swift horses and galloped toward the east city gate.

Outside the east city gate, the official road wound its way into the distance.

Jiang Xiaomu and Pei Dongyong followed the official road all the way, finally spotting the carriage beside a grove of trees.

The carriage was parked at the roadside, with no one guarding it.

"Constable Captain, watch out for a trick!"

Jiang Xiaomu warned.

Pei Dongyong nodded, drew his sword, and cautiously approached the carriage.

He lifted the carriage curtain, peered inside, and was instantly stunned.

The carriage interior was empty, containing nothing.

"What's going on? Did we chase the wrong target?"

Pei Dongyong asked doubtfully.

Jiang Xiaomu also felt it strange, dismounted, walked around the carriage once, and carefully observed the surroundings.

Suddenly, he noticed some mud stuck to the carriage wheels.

The mud was darker than the surrounding soil and gave off a faint fishy odor.

"Constable Captain, look!" Jiang Xiaomu pointed at the mud on the wheel and said:

"This mud is suspicious!"

Pei Dongyong leaned in for a closer look and also smelled the fishy odor.

"This… this reeks of blood!"

Just then, a sound suddenly came from the woods.

"Who's there?!" Pei Dongyong shouted sternly.

The woods were utterly silent, with no reply.

Jiang Xiaomu and Pei Dongyong exchanged a glance, then slowly approached the woods, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Suddenly, a black figure darted out of the woods, wielding a gleaming dagger, and stabbed toward Jiang Xiaomu!

Jiang Xiaomu had been prepared, sidestepped the dagger, and kicked the black figure in the chest.

The black figure screamed, flew backward, and crashed heavily to the ground.

Jiang Xiaomu stepped forward, pinned the black figure underfoot, and demanded sternly:

"Speak! Who are you? Why did you attack us?"

The black figure struggled to rise, but Jiang Xiaomu kept it firmly pinned, unable to move.

Suddenly, he gritted his teeth, and his body began to convulse violently.

A stream of black blood welled from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin onto the dust.

"Oh no! He's taken poison!"

Pei Dongyong exclaimed in shock.

The black figure had ceased struggling, only its chest rising and falling faintly—clearly it would not survive.

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes turned icy; this black figure was so ruthless even toward himself.

He stood up, walked to the carriage, and kicked open the wooden crate on it.

Clatter!

The wooden crate shattered on impact, revealing several heavy stone blocks inside.

"Stone?"

Jiang Xiaomu frowned tightly, "This..."

Pei Dongyong also froze, stepped forward, carefully examined the carriage, and after a moment of thought said:

"Mr. Jiang, we may have fallen into a trap."

"This carriage is a decoy; the real carriage has probably slipped away right under our noses."

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes flashed with a cold glint as he scanned the surroundings, thinking to himself:

"To go to such lengths with a feint east, attack west—what are they trying to conceal?"

"Could it be just to toy with us?"

"Constable Pei, is there anything unusual around here?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked.

Pei Dongyong carefully observed the surrounding terrain, then mused:

"This forest has complex terrain with many small paths, making it easy to hide one's tracks."

"Moreover, look..."

He pointed to some barely noticeable wheel tracks on the ground and said:

"These wheel tracks are fresh, but they have been deliberately covered up."

"If not examined closely, they'd be hard to notice; it seems the other side planned this in advance."

Jiang Xiaomu followed the direction of Pei Dongyong's finger and indeed found some subtle traces.

"A smell of blood?" Jiang Xiaomu's heart tightened.

"It seems the cargo on this carriage is anything but ordinary."

"Mr. Jiang, what should we do now?"

Pei Dongyong asked.

Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment, then said:

"Since the other side has set up such a meticulous scheme, rashly pursuing them would likely lead us into a trap."

"Better to return to the county office first and discuss our next move."

Pei Dongyong nodded, and the two mounted their horses, galloping toward the county office.

After returning to the county office, Jiang Xiaomu immediately summoned all the bailiffs and gave a detailed account of what had happened today.

"Constable Pei, take your men and carefully search the official road to see if you can find any other clues."

Jiang Xiaomu ordered.

"Yes!"

Pei Dongyong received the order and departed.

At that moment, a somewhat weary voice sounded:

"Mr. Jiang, this matter is probably more complicated than we imagined."

Jiang Xiaomu turned around and saw County Magistrate Li Wenqing walk in, his face filled with worry.

"Sir Li, what are your thoughts?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked.

Li Wenqing sighed, walked to the table and sat down, then slowly said:

"Mr. Jiang, we have been led by the nose by the other side."

"You see, there may be their spies in this city."

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his deep eyes.

"This county magistrate looks frail, but his mind works quickly."

"Sir Li's words are absolutely correct," Jiang Xiaomu said in a low voice:

"These bandits know the city's terrain so well that they could sneak out of the city and still lure the tiger away from the mountain."

"This shows that someone must have tipped them off in advance."

"Moreover, this person knows our movements inside out."

Li Wenqing set down his teacup, brows furrowed:

"Exactly so, but who in this city could be their insider?"

Jiang Xiaomu did not answer; he simply walked to the map, his gaze sweeping over the city's streets and alleys as he quickly analyzed in his mind.