The Di Rong people cried out in alarm. The fireball landed and exploded with a "boom!" The coal dust ignited upon contact with the fire, turning into thick smoke and flying sparks that enveloped the nearby Di Rong people and their warhorses!

The scorching heat and acrid smoke startled the horses, causing them to rear up and scatter in all directions! The Di Rong army was thrown into chaos!

"Now! Go!" Lin Feng shouted, rushing out of the cave first. He fired a series of arrows from his powerful bow, shooting down two Di Rong cavalrymen who tried to intercept him.

Lei Bao and Yan Qing each led a team, charging out from different directions, unleashing a hail of arrows from their bows and crossbows at the chaotic enemy ranks. Then, without looking back, they raced towards the mouth of the gully along the predetermined route.

The Di Rong people were thrown into disarray by the sudden fire attack and the startled horses, and were then attacked by a hail of arrows, making it difficult for them to organize an effective interception.

Once they had managed to control the frightened horse and regain their footing, Lin Feng and the others had already scattered and disappeared into the ravines and rocks, taking advantage of the darkness and the terrain.

"Chase them! Don't let them get away!" the Di Rong leader roared in exasperation.

However, the Yan army had already broken up into smaller units and disappeared into the darkness. The Di Rong cavalry could not take advantage of their numbers in the complex terrain and could not catch up with them.

Lin Feng led more than ten personal guards, rushing all the way, quickly killing any small groups of stragglers they encountered, and never lingering in battle.

In less than a quarter of an hour, they had reached the vicinity of the ditch. In the distance, they could see the soldiers guarding the horses anxiously looking around.

"Mount up! Let's go!" Lin Feng mounted his horse and counted the number of people. Lei Bao, Yan Qing and others also joined in one after another. Although three more people were lost, the core members were still alive, and the prisoners were also safely brought out.

"Back to the city!"

Dozens of riders broke through the last darkness before dawn, speeding away towards Ironwall City. Behind them, from the direction of Crow Gully, came the angry and resentful shouts of the Di Rong people.

As dawn broke, the east gate of Ironwall City roared open, welcoming the returning troops who had fought their way back with crucial prisoners.

On the city wall, Han Tao watched Lin Feng and the others enter the city and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Although the night at Laoguagou was not a complete success, the capture of Feng An and Di Rong's liaison and the severe damage to Feng Kun's intelligence network were already a great victory.

As dawn broke, Ironwall City appeared exceptionally cold and solemn in the morning light after the snow.

Inside a secluded room in the garrison's compound, with its doors and windows tightly shut, the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood mixed with herbs.

On two simple wooden beds lay the unconscious Feng An and the Di Rong prisoner, respectively.

Lin Feng, Han Tao, Lei Bao, and Yan Qing stood in the room, watching the two men.

"Feng An cannot die." Lin Feng said, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable determination.

"He knows the details of Feng Kun's collusion with Di Rong, and may even know their next plan. We must get him to talk. Go and invite Miss Shen over; she is skilled in medicine and may have a way to keep him alive and make him speak."

"Yes," Han Tao replied, and was about to turn around.

"Wait a minute," Lin Feng called out to him, "and by the way... please ask Miss Xie to come over as well."

Han Tao was taken aback: "Commander, Miss Xie, she..."

"It's alright, let her come. Perhaps... she can see things that we can't." Lin Feng waved his hand.

Xie Wanqing warned last night and recognized the "Listening Wind Guard" mark. Although her doubts about the woman have not been completely dispelled, her knowledge may indeed be useful.

Before long, Shen Qingyi arrived first, carrying a medicine box. She carefully examined the wound, took the pulse, and looked at the eyes.

"His injuries are severe, he has lost too much blood, and his internal organs are damaged. Ginseng soup can only keep him alive for a while. We need to use acupuncture to treat his acupoints, but this method is dangerous. If he is already determined to die, or if his body is too weak, he may die immediately," Shen Qingyi said.

"What are the chances that I can bring him to his senses for a moment and get him to answer the questions?" Lin Feng asked.

"At most 30%. And even if they wake up, it's hard to say how long their consciousness will last," Shen Qingyi said.

"Thirty percent is enough. Do your best, and let Han Tao fetch any medicinal herbs you need," Lin Feng said decisively.

"Okay." Shen Qingyi said no more, opened the medicine box, took out gold needles and several porcelain bottles, and began to prepare.

At this moment, Xie Wanqing also arrived.

Upon entering, she first bowed to Lin Feng, then her gaze swept over the scene inside, lingering briefly on Shen Qingyi before finally settling on the two prisoners, especially the Di Rong prisoner, whose eyes flashed with a thoughtful expression.

"Miss Xie, thank you for coming over."

Lin Feng nodded to her. "This Di Rong prisoner is seriously injured, but he's very stubborn. Can you tell if there's anything special about him? For example, his clothing, accessories, or any special markings on his body?"

Xie Wanqing took a few steps closer, but not too close, and carefully examined the Di Rong prisoner by the light of the window.

"Sir, please look at his belt buckle and shirt trim," Xie Wanqing said softly. "That wolf-head belt buckle is made of a special stone. Among the various Di Rong tribes, only nobles of the Black Wolf tribe or warriors who have made great contributions can wear this stone ornament. And look at the shirt trim, the dark red patterns are usually only used by those of higher status in the tribe."

She paused, then continued, "Besides, although he tried his best to hide it, there seemed to be an old scar on the inside of his bound wrists. The shape... was somewhat similar to the 'Eye of Listening' mark on the iron plate that day, only more blurred."

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng, Han Tao, and the others immediately took a closer look. Sure enough, where the Di Rong prisoner's wrist was bound by rope, a twisted old scar was faintly visible. Although it was not clear, its general outline was similar to the "three dots on the pupil" mark!

"He's also a Listening Wind Guard?!" Lei Bao exclaimed in surprise.

"It might not be the Listening Wind Guard," Xie Wanqing shook her head, "but this mark might be a symbol used by Feng Kun to control or identify important collaborators. This person's status in the Black Wolf Tribe is probably not low; perhaps he is a leader, or even... an envoy directly contacting Feng Kun."

Although the Di Rong prisoner couldn't understand Chinese, he saw everyone's eyes focused on the scar on his wrist. A barely perceptible look of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly put on a fierce act, glaring at them and muttering a few curses in Di Rong.

"What did he say?" Lin Feng asked Han Tao, who was fluent in a few words of the Di Rong language.

Han Tao's expression was strange: "He called us...two-legged sheep, and said...the warriors of the Black Wolf tribe would never submit to the cowardly Yan people. When his tribe's iron cavalry tramples this city, he will...he will slaughter the entire city, leaving no one alive."

"You're about to die, yet you still have such a big mouth." Lei Bao grinned maliciously, clenching his fist.

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