Chapter 112: The Bizarre

The Ye family of Yancheng are grain merchants; the Third Young Master Ye once had his life saved by Quan Quan Aoyu, and the two are brothers who have risked their lives for each other—a fact known to very few. This grain supply was personally managed by the Third Young Master Ye. He used sleds designed by Jun Jun Zijin to secretly escort the grain; the sleds were modified from carriages, so the Third Young Master Ye did not take much time to make them.

On the day before Quan Quan Aoyu departed for war, the Third Young Master Ye rested during the day and traveled at night, when the heavy snow illuminated the darkness like daylight. The sleds slid through the deep snow, quickly leaving no trace, effectively concealing their movements.

On the very day Quan Quan Aoyu departed, Jun Jun Zijin ordered people to purchase grain and transported it out of the city in batches. Everyone would assume she bought the grain for Quan Quan Aoyu and the northern frontier army. Today, the Second Young Master of the General Who Guards the Nation, He He Donghai, claimed illness and did not attend court, but actually "quietly" left the city.

The Crown Prince's die-hard fan He He Donghai claiming illness would surely make Gao the Chancellor's faction suspicious, naturally leading them to investigate. Moreover, Jun Jun Zijin, while in the manor that day, sensed someone watching her, so she deliberately muttered to herself an ambiguous remark: "Fortunately, the snow has lessened; otherwise, it would surely affect the grain escort."

As expected, that person hurriedly departed and passed the message along through the resentful Gao Gao Shanshan.

Today, Gao the Chancellor received news that He He Donghai had quietly left the city, while Jun Jun Zijin used the Profound Heaven Qilin Token to mobilize a contingent of troops. He must be even more convinced that He He Donghai was escorting the grain she purchased that day and would surely take action.

At this moment, a black shadow flashed into the tent. Flying Eagle knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said:

"Master, the fish has taken the bait. Gao the Chancellor has dispatched forces to ambush at Black Wind Ridge, preparing to raid that batch of fake grain."

Quan Quan Tianchen's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness:

"If the Gao family truly maintains private troops, with this year's heavy snow, grain shortages, and massive consumption by the army, the situation is dire. In this freezing weather, carriage tracks in the snow are quickly buried by falling snow. If he manages to seize the grain, he certainly will not miss such a perfect opportunity."

Jun Jun Zijin took up the conversation, speaking softly, her voice carrying a touch of mockery.

"We are not afraid of him moving; we are afraid of him not moving. As long as the Gao family makes a move, they will surely leave traces. We will follow the vine to get to the melon."

They suspected the Gao family maintained private troops, but no one knew where they were stationed. This time, they would let the Gao family expose their own footprints.

Jun Jun Zijin turned to Flying Eagle and said, "Flying Eagle, do not startle the snake; protect He He Donghai well."

"Yes." Flying Eagle looked at her deeply, then received the order and departed.

Inside the tent, only Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Tianchen remained. He smiled lightly:

"It is late. Let us go; we depart now."

The two walked out of the tent; the cold, snowy wind brushed against their faces. Jun Jun Zijin squinted slightly. Quan Quan Tianchen swung onto his horse, and Jun Jun Zijin followed closely behind; her figure was slender yet upright. Following closely were Feiyan and Guazi. The group spurred their horses into a gallop; the sound of hooves was drowned out by the howling wind. The four moved silently through the dense forest like ghosts.

He He Donghai rode atop his horse, with a long convoy of grain carts behind him.

Night fell, the sky darkening. The snowy wind carried the damp, earthy scent of soil. Snow still drifted from the sky. The wheels crushed through the muddy mountain road, emitting a dull sound.

"General, ahead lies Black Wind Ridge," the deputy general whispered in warning.

He He Donghai nodded, scanning the surroundings warily. Black Wind Ridge was treacherous in terrain, often frequented by bandits.

A faint, cold smile curled He He Donghai's lips. Gao the Chancellor's forces were lying in ambush nearby. This escort mission was itself a trap. The grain was fake; the sacks on the carts contained nothing but straw and stones. The real grain had already been secretly transported to the front lines.

"Brothers, keep your spirits up!" He He Donghai shouted loudly, his voice echoing through the valley.

As soon as the convoy entered Black Wind Ridge, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from all sides. Immediately, a group of bandits dressed as mountain thieves charged down from the slopes on both sides. Their numbers were vast, blades flashing, and killing intent surged.

"Enemy attack! Protect the grain!" He He Donghai shouted, drawing his long blade and charging forward.

These mountain thieves moved with order and coordinated perfectly, clearly having undergone strict training. Their discipline was strict, and their combat power formidable.

Jun Jun Zijin and Quan Quan Tianchen, trailing behind, immediately recognized that these were not ordinary bandits but a disguised unit of soldiers.

The two exchanged glances, each seeing the answer in the other's eyes.

Amidst the flashing blades and clashing swords, He He Donghai deliberately slowed his movements, feigning inability to cope. While blocking attacks, he retreated until he was far from the convoy. He He Donghai shouted anxiously, "Protect the grain!"

But the bandits advanced like a force breaking through water; He He Donghai's anxiety was of no avail. Seeing the situation, the bandits immediately split off a group to charge the carts, driving them away at speed.

Once the grain was secured, the bandits did not linger in battle. "Retreat!" the bandit leader ordered, and the troops quickly withdrew into the forest.

Watching their retreating figures, He He Donghai's smile deepened. He raised a hand to wipe the blood from his face and whispered to the deputy general, "Proceed according to the plan."

By now, the sky had turned completely dark. Jun Jun Zijin and her group trailed the bandits from a distance. After chasing for about three double-hours, they arrived before a cliff, where the people and grain ahead had vanished without a trace.

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it could not be dissolved, as if even the air had congealed.

Jun Jun Zijin raised her hand to signal those behind to stop. Everyone dismounted; their boot soles stepped onto the soft snow, emitting a faint "crunch" sound. The cliff stood right before them. Thick snow covered the ground, a vast white expanse gleaming with a cold, pale light under the moonlight, chilling the heart.

"How could this be?" Guazi, behind her, whispered in shock, her voice tinged with unease and confusion. Her fingers gripped the short blade at her waist tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. She had clearly seen that group of bandits heading this way; how could they suddenly disappear? Her gaze swept the surroundings, trying to find a single clue, but apart from the sobbing cold wind and the boundless white snow, there was nothing.

Jun Zijin did not answer; her thoughts were entirely focused on the snowy ground before her. She crouched down, her fingertips gently brushing the surface. Horse hoofprints and cart ruts were clearly visible, yet they abruptly ended three zhang ahead. She stood up, her gaze scanning the cliff edge, her brows furrowing slightly. Her intuition told her there must be a mechanism here; novels from her previous life were always written this way.

The snowy wind swept past her temples, bringing a faint, elusive strange fragrance. The scent was very light, like some kind of medicinal herb, yet mixed with a rust-like metallic smell. Jun Jun Zijin's heart suddenly quickened; fine beads of sweat seeped from her palms. She instinctively tightened her grip on the dagger at her waist, her knuckles turning slightly white. This fragrance... she had smelled it somewhere before, yet she could not recall where at the moment. Countless images flashed through her mind, but she could never grasp that single clue.

Quan Tianchen stood beside Jun Jun Zijin, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze never leaving her profile. He watched her crouch down, her fingertips gently brushing the snow, her movements delicate and focused. A complex emotion surged within him, both worry and helplessness. After a few days of being together, he knew Jun Jun Zijin's nature; once she decided on something, she would never easily give up. Yet the situation before them was too bizarre; he vaguely felt a thread of unease. He stood silently beside her, his gaze vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

"Master, this place is too dangerous; we should leave here first," Guazi's words were not yet finished when Jun Jun Zijin had already stepped forward.