Chapter 16

The Southern Pacification Office's originally planned ambush time was indeed midnight, but the scouts trailing along the way reported that the Southern Barbarian rebels might arrive an hour early, so the Office changed its original plan.

Zou Zhen still lay in the infirmary of the Cang Medical Hall, naturally unaware of the latest plan adjustment.

Besides, they didn't know Jiang Yunzhou would come, so they didn't verify the information's accuracy further.

Thus, when the paper man Jiang Yunzhou rushed to the Jade Stele Forest, the Southern Pacification Office's people had already set up their ambush.

Seeing this strange man arrive at midnight in the desolate wilds and leap onto the top of the stele forest tower, they naturally assumed he was most likely the awaited Southern Barbarian rebel.

Yang Hanlu was quite calm, raising his hand and speaking coldly:

"Don't act rashly; we can't yet confirm whether he's a Southern Barbarian rebel. Even if he is, he's alone—likely he came early to scout the situation."

Everyone thought it reasonable, so no one acted rashly; they merely watched the black-clad man on the tower by moonlight.

It must be said, this person's lightness skill is indeed superb.

Only after entering the Jade Stele Forest and climbing to the tower's top did they notice.

Jiang Yunzhou also felt doubtful, thinking: Could it be that the Southern Pacification Office changed their plan, or were they delayed by something?

Should I hide or not? If I hide, wouldn't I be mistaken by the later-arriving Southern Pacification Office people as an accomplice?

After a moment's thought, just as he was preparing to retreat back to find Zou Zhen to verify the information, he suddenly saw a flock of birds startled from the woods beside the Jade Stele Forest.

Not only Jiang Yunzhou, but the Southern Pacification Office personnel lying in ambush nearby also noticed, all holding their breath and focusing.

Immediately thereafter, more than a dozen black-clad men wearing single garments and masks burst out of the woods.

Although they too wore black, they were not as neat and tidy as the paper man Jiang Yunzhou; their waists had many loose bits, looking as if rags were tucked into their belts.

When those dozen men charged out of the woods they weren't panicked, but upon looking around and seeing the black-clad swordsman standing in the center of the Jade Stele Forest, they were startled and quickly assumed a defensive stance.

The leading white-haired masked man lowered his voice and asked:

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

Before the paper man Jiang Yunzhou could ask, the Southern Pacification Office's Yang Hanlu and others hidden in the dark were already dumbfounded.

"They don't know each other? Then where did this black-clad swordsman come from?"

"Moreover, his appearance looks just like the one Jiang Yunzhou said he saw in the city."

Jiang Yunzhou thought: Good question... but how should I answer?

Looking at the rags and medicine bottles on their waists, these fellows are surely Southern Barbarian rebels; I originally intended to find the Southern Pacification Office people to learn the situation.

But I didn't expect the Southern Pacification Office people not to come; instead, I alone encountered the Southern Barbarian rebels.

No need to panic; even if we fought, I don't know who would win, but even if I couldn't beat them, my lightness skill is such they couldn't catch me.

But if we outright turn hostile, we won't be able to pump out any useful information.

Jiang Yunzhou's brain raced, while the paper man stood atop the high tower striking a cold, mysterious pose.

Not knowing this person's identity, neither the Southern Pacification Office nor the Southern Barbarian rebels dared act rashly; they silently watched the paper man Jiang Yunzhou strike a pose in the moonlight.

At that moment a name popped into Jiang Yunzhou's mind.

"Zhang Erhe."

This is the name of the Southern Barbarian rebel killed by the paper man today; anyway, the news probably hasn't spread yet.

"So you're saying Zhang Erhe was killed by you?"

"???"

Jiang Yunzhou thought: These fellows' information is surprisingly quick; it seems they already know Zhang Erhe was killed.

Regarding that question, Jiang Yunzhou did not give a direct answer, but instead coldly countered:

"What's your relation to Zhang Erhe?"

That almost amounted to admitting that he himself killed Zhang Erhe.

At the same time, the Southern Pacification Office people on the other side of the Jade Stele Forest naturally heard this exchange, each showing an expression of sudden realization.

The officer beside Yang Hanlu whispered:

"It's him, Commander Yang; he must be the black-clad swordsman who struck down two Southern Barbarian rebels at the Cang Medical Hall."

Yang Hanlu had always doubted this person's existence, but seeing him now with his own eyes, he couldn't help but believe what Jiang Yunzhou had said earlier.

I had thought it was Jiang Yunzhou who killed those two and then staged the scene.

The Southern Barbarian rebels had originally sent Zhang Erhe and another to enter the city early to set up an ambush, agreeing to meet in the south of Shangyang City, but they never expected to hear that both had already been killed, completely disrupting their plan.

Seeing the black-clad swordsman approach with ill intent, the leading white-haired man raised his hand and said:

"Who exactly are you? Why are you opposed to us?"

"Obviously, it's to hone our technique proficiency on you."

"Sorry, I'm an official envoy."

This time not only did the Southern Barbarian rebels frown, but the Southern Pacification Office people hiding on the other side of the Jade Stele Forest also showed puzzled expressions.

"An official envoy?!"

"The Pacification Office oversees officials; if he were truly an official envoy, how could they not know him, especially someone so distinctive?"

"Moreover, for him alone to face so many Southern Barbarians and dare reveal his identity as an official envoy—if he weren't seeking death, he must be exceptionally skilled and bold."

"Commander Yang, have you seen this person before?"

Yang Hanlu shook his head and speculated:

"I've never seen him, but since he killed those two Southern Barbarian rebels at the Cang Medical Hall, he's likely an outsider discovered by some commander."

Another officer murmured:

"Really bold—facing so many Southern Barbarian rebels, one person dares to announce his identity."

And that officer just now seemed to have figured something out, saying with sudden realization:

"Wait a minute—if he were one of ours, he ought to know our deployment, so his solo reckless incursion might be an attempt to help lure the snake out of its hole?"

Yang Hanlu made a silencing gesture and said:

Not impossible, don't act first.

The Southern Pacification Office arrived here ahead of time precisely to set up a trap, preparing to wipe out the Southern Barbarian rebels in one fell swoop.

Originally the plan was to send someone out as bait, but considering the Southern Barbarian rebels are skilled with poison and very dangerous, and their acting is poor, easily causing a backlash, Yang Hanlu arranged to observe silently.

But I never expected that at this time, a stranger who nobody knows would show up.

Upon hearing the other side claim to be an official, the Southern Barbarian rebels also became wary and looked around; the white-haired man's brows furrowed slightly, but he soon calmed down.

I've dealt with officials too many times; that lot, to avoid startling the snake, always strike first then announce their names, whereas the black-clad swordsman before me, claiming to be an official while alone, is most likely bluffing and waiting for reinforcements.

The white-haired man was indeed not mistaken; Jiang Yunzhou really is bluffing in hopes of learning more information.

But he didn't expect that the black-clad swordsman before him didn't know that reinforcements were hidden nearby.

Thinking that the person before him had ruined his entire plan, the white-haired man's anger flared, and he raised his hand, saying:

"Seize him!"

As soon as his words fell, over a dozen experts behind him leapt onto the stone tablet and charged at the paper effigy Jiang Yunzhou.