Chapter 188: Urgency

"You should return to the main camp; leave the rest to us."

Chai Wu said to Zhong He.

Following this, he pinched his lips and made a "chirping" sound.

Just then, three figures appeared from their hiding spots, each spaced about fifty meters apart.

"You still had a trick up your sleeve," Zhong He said in surprise.

Chai Wu smiled, "This is to deal with the kind of situation you encountered."

Having said that, he patted Zhong He on the shoulder, instructed him to meet up with a Flame Guard member at a location in the city, and then headed straight toward the direction of the Yuan Family soldiers.

Zhong He glanced at Chai Wu and returned to the main camp.

He was worried that being away for too long would arouse suspicion.

Moreover, he still had to tell his young master the news that Yan Wang had sent men.

On this side, Chai Wu and his three companions continued to move while maintaining their spacing.

Before long, they found the Yuan Family soldiers.

Seeing them enter a manor, Chai Wu frowned.

He was hesitating on how to scout these people.

Suddenly, he heard a burst of military commands shouting from within the manor.

Then, several thousand people emerged from the manor, walking unsteadily through the deep snow as they headed north.

Chai Wu frowned and continued to track them.

At noon the next day, he discovered the Yuan Family soldiers stopping in front of a small mountain.

Then, the Yuan Family soldiers one after another changed out of their military uniforms, put on ordinary civilian clothes, and hid in the mountain forest.

There were also soldiers who put on strange armor and then wore their clothes over it.

"It seems they are going to ambush someone?" Throughout the journey, they had not discovered any other Yuan Family spies.

The Flame Guard members gathered around Chai Wu.

Chai Wu nodded, "It's just that I don't know who it is."

His eyes darted around as he kept thinking about how to capture a live prisoner to ask.

Just at this moment, he saw a soldier who seemed to need to relieve himself, leaving the group of soldiers and ducking into the woods to find a secluded spot.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes; he had made his decision.

The purpose of Yan Wang sending them to Fanyang was to uncover the Yuan Family's conspiracy.

If they returned empty-handed, what meaning would their coming here have?

It would also be a blow to the reputation of the Flame Guard.

For this reason, even if there were sacrifices, he had to uncover this matter.

Thinking of this, he told his thoughts to the three of them.

The three nodded.

However, they decided to wait for a better opportunity; after all, bravery is not recklessness.

They watched the Yuan Family soldiers like hunters.

Two hours later, the four of them, including Chai Wu, lying in the snow were nearly frozen to death.

Just then, they suddenly saw a soldier climb over the mountain and reach the back side of the mountain.

Chai Wu immediately led the three of them to quietly climb over under the cover of the woods.

To avoid being discovered during this tracking, they had urgently torn up white cloth when they left the city.

This was basic common sense for a Flame Guard member—camouflage.

So now, the four of them were even less likely to be discovered by the other side under the camouflage of the white cloth.

Having successfully climbed over the back of the mountain, Chai Wu left one person to keep watch, while the three of them crept toward the Yuan Family soldier.

At this time, the Yuan Family soldier who had reached the back of the mountain was still looking for a spot.

While looking, he complained, "It's freezing to death, and these bastards are the same, relieving themselves everywhere; there isn't a single clean place."

Just then, a patch of bushes appeared in his field of vision.

He was delighted, immediately stepped through the snow to hide behind the bushes, and took off his pants.

With his eyes closed, the soldier looked comfortable, leisurely humming a Fanyang ditty.

But as soon as the tune was finished, he suddenly felt his mouth being covered, and three people appeared, simultaneously pinning him to the ground.

A Dagger was pressed against his throat.

"Speak, what are you doing here?" Chai Wu said coldly.

The Yuan Family soldier was so scared his face turned pale.

But with his mouth covered, he could only make muffled sounds.

"I will only give you one chance; if you don't tell the truth, this Dagger will slit your throat." As Chai Wu spoke, he pressed the Dagger with force, drawing a line of blood on the soldier's neck.

Then, the hand covering the soldier's mouth relaxed slightly, allowing the Yuan Family soldier to make muffled tones.

The Yuan Family soldier was extremely terrified and hurriedly said, "Mo Di, it's to kill Mo Di; in these two days, Mo Di will pass through here."

Chai Wu was startled; he increased the force of his hand covering the soldier's mouth and signaled to his companions.

The Flame Guard member understood and choked the Yuan Family soldier's neck.

Once the Yuan Family soldier had no breath left, Chai Wu and the Flame Guard member lifted the soldier's corpse and threw it down the mountain, creating the illusion that the soldier had slipped and fallen to his death.

Then, they walked backward, smoothing out their footprints.

Once far away from the Yuan Family soldiers, Chai Wu said: "You return to Fanyang with me to inform General Zhong, and you two return to Yancheng to tell His Highness about this."

Lulong Mountain is much closer to Fanyang than to Yancheng.

In the view of Chai Wu, by the time Yan Wang finds out, it will be too late.

Right now, the only person who can save Mo Di is Zhong Li in Fanyang City.

Although he has obtained the intelligence and completed his mission.

But to watch Mo Di be ambushed and killed by the Yuan Family, would that not also be a dereliction of his own duty?

He must be flexible and adapt to the situation.

"Yes, Deputy Commander," the Flame Guard member said.

Having said that, they parted ways and left.

The next morning, extremely exhausted, Chai Wu arrived at Fanyang City.

Along the way, he ran whenever he could, having nearly depleted all his physical strength.

Upon contacting the Flame Guard member in the city, he had the member immediately send the news to Zhong Li.

That day, Zhong He had already contacted the Flame Guard member upon returning.

They had agreed on a method for transmitting intelligence daily.

When the appointed time arrived, the Flame Guard member carried a load of radishes, calling out to sell them all the way to the front of the main camp.

Hearing the peddling, Zhong He came out of the main camp, feigning an intent to buy radishes.

At this moment, the Flame Guard member gave the news to Zhong He.

Zhong He remained composed, took the radishes, and returned to the main camp.

"What, Yuan Li wants to kill General Mo?" After hearing Zhong He's words, Zhong Li trembled with rage.

He had always revered Mo Di in his heart; in his view, it was Mo Di who had guarded the peace of Yanzhou at Yanguan all these years.

Now Yuan Li actually wanted to kill Mo Di; this was simply tantamount to treason.

If Mo Di died, who else could hold Yanguan?

Clenching his fists, Zhong Li slammed a fist onto the table and shouted, "We absolutely cannot let Yuan Li succeed."

Then, he said, "Immediately summon all the Zhong Family disciples and the commanders; we are going to save General Mo."

Zhong He acknowledged the order and turned to go out.

Before long, more than ten Colonels appeared in his room.

"Yuan Li is devoid of Dao and actually plots to ambush and kill General Mo Di. Who is willing to follow me to fight out of Fanyang and save General Mo?" Zhong Li's gaze was burning.

The commanders were shocked upon hearing this, and one said, "Where did this news come from?"

"It was discovered by my own scouts; it is absolutely true," Zhong Li said. "The matter is urgent and allows no time for deliberation. Who is willing to follow me?"

"This subordinate is willing to follow you, my lord," one commander said.

"This subordinate is also willing," another commander said.

The dozen or so commanders expressed their stance one after another, though the expressions on the faces of some commanders were quite hesitant.

Zhong Li saw this in his eyes and said nothing.

"Good. Since that is the case, everyone return to muster your troops and horses, and set out with me," Zhong Li said.

After acknowledging the order, the commanders turned to leave, at which point Zhong Li gave Zhong He a look.

Zhong He nodded and said to the Zhong Family disciples, "Take those few down."

The Zhong Family disciples immediately seized the few commanders who had just been hesitant.

"Everyone, this matter cannot afford any mistakes. Since you are hesitant, just stay in this room for the time being," Zhong Li said, then had the Zhong Family disciples tie the people up and stuff their mouths with cloth.

Following that, he mobilized the troops and horses and charged out of the main camp.