Isolated town in northern border region

The autumn hunt is scheduled for three days from now.

Xiao Lie stood in front of the desk at the Bingzhou post station, spread out a map, and pointed to the location of Langgu Mountain.

The mountain is not steep, but the forests are dense and the ravines are deep. If you really want to set up an ambush, there are hiding places everywhere.

He called Ledo.

"This map is not detailed enough and does not meet my requirements at all."

"Take a few brothers, disguise them as villagers going into the mountains to hunt, and walk around the outer perimeter of Wolf Gaze Mountain."

"Mark the boundaries, slopes, passes, and water sources of the hunting grounds."

Ledo nodded.

"Here you go!"

"This humble general will return before dawn."

After saying that, he turned and disappeared into the night.

After Ledo left, Xiao Lie sat back down at his desk and picked up his pen to write a letter to Xu De.

The letter was very short.

"I have arrived in Bingzhou and will enter Langgu Mountain in three days."

Where are you? If it's convenient, let's meet and discuss it in detail.

He folded the letter, stuffed it into a bamboo tube, tied it to a pigeon's leg, and opened the window.

The pigeons flapped their wings and disappeared into the twilight.

As Xiao Lie watched the grayish-white shadow shrink and disappear, he felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Even though he had already arrived in Bingzhou, Xu De was still sending messages by carrier pigeon and dared not show his face. He was probably being watched!

"Bisu, accompany me to see the princess."

Xiao Lie frowned, grabbed Bi Su, and left.

Bisu's short legs kept flapping.

"Your Highness! Slow down, slow down!"

As soon as Xiao Lie entered Jiang Min's courtyard, he got straight to the point.

"The autumn hunt in three days is likely a trap set by the Emperor of Chu for me!"

"Bisu has been by my side since childhood. Although she is called a maid, she is no different from a brother or sister."

"If I... sigh, never mind!"

"Please, Princess, help look after Bisu and take her away from the Kingdom of Chu!"

"From now on, the princess can receive all the technology of the Northern Frontier through Bisu."

No sooner had Xiao Lie finished speaking than Bi Su protested.

"Your Highness! Bisu is with you!"

"Whether in life or death, Bisu will be with you!"

Xiao Lie showed no mercy this time and pushed Bi Su away directly.

"What are you crying about? I'm not dead yet!"

Jiang Min waved her hand, dismissing the servants, personally poured Xiao Lie a cup of tea, and then got up to pull Bi Su to her side.

"Bisu, how will the Prince manage to navigate the mountains with you by his side?"

"You just stay with me at the post station and wait patiently. His Highness was able to pacify the northern frontier single-handedly, and he has hundreds of brave warriors by his side. What is there to worry about?"

"Look how angry you've made His Highness. I've prepared lotus seed soup in the kitchen. Go and get some to help His Highness cool down."

Bisu wiped away her tears, glanced at Xiao Lie with her head down, and turned to leave.

After sending Bisu away, Jiang Min's expression turned serious.

"Your Highness, knowing it's a trap, why are you still going?"

"Why exactly?"

Xiao Lie took a deep breath, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"The autumn hunt is the Chu Emperor's trump card, but it is also my opportunity."

"The Chu Emperor believes that I am in league with the Panlong Guard and the Mu family of Qingzhou."

"So he transferred Peng Xuan to Bingzhou, intending to wipe me and the Panlong Guard in one fell swoop at Langgu Mountain."

"But he doesn't know that I'm not on the same side as the Panlong Guard."

"I wish to use the Chu Emperor's hand to make the Panlong Guard appear."

"The people of Qingzhou who died unjustly must receive justice!"

Jiang Min was still somewhat worried.

"We can think of other ways; why take the risk ourselves?"

Xiao Lie shrugged.

"Actually, I am not concerned about the trap set by the Chu Emperor. My Trapped Camp is skilled in mountain warfare and wilderness survival. It would be difficult for the Chu Emperor's army to find my Trapped Camp in the deep mountains, let alone a dead end."

Jiang Min frowned and asked softly.

"Then why...did Your Highness entrust even Bisu to me?"

Xiao Lie shook his head silently.

"have no idea……"

"Perhaps it's an instinct honed on the battlefield, but I have a feeling this time won't be simple, and... I'm even a little uneasy."

Just then, Bisu ran over carrying lotus seed soup, with a pigeon perched on her shoulder.

"Your Highness! Doctor Xu has sent a letter!"

Seeing that Bisu was all smiles again in such a short time, Xiao Lie's annoyance subsided considerably.

"You! You were just crying like a little kitten, aren't you ashamed!"

Bisu wrinkled her nose, gave a soft snort, and handed the letter to Xiao Lie.

Where?

Xiao Lie opened the note.

"At noon, we met at the Great Buddha Temple in the west of the city."

Xiao Lie tapped Bi Su's forehead.

"You! I'm going out for a bit."

"You stay at the post station and tell anyone who comes that I am not here."

He changed into casual clothes, went out alone, and headed towards the Great Buddha Temple outside the city.

The Great Buddha Temple is located south of Bingzhou City. It has been in disrepair for many years and its incense is rarely seen.

A thick layer of dust covered the gray tiles, and several old cypress trees rustled in the wind.

Xiao Lie arrived early and sat down on the stone steps outside the temple to wait. The sun slowly slanted westward from its zenith, but the temple gate remained closed, and only his own shadow lingered on the stone path.

He stood up, walked to the temple gate, and knocked, but no one answered.

He pushed open the door and went inside. The main hall was empty, and the ashes in the incense burner were cold.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, a seven or eight-year-old novice monk peeked half his head out from the crack in the door of the side hall, his voice timid.

"Is your surname Xiao, benefactor?"

Xiao Lie turned around.

"Exactly."

The young novice monk ran out, carrying an old medicine box in his arms. The box was still covered in dirt, as if he had just brought it back from somewhere in a hurry.

He shoved the medicine box into Xiao Lie's arms.

"A benefactor with his face covered asked me to give you this, saying that you would understand once you saw it."

After saying that, he turned and ran, but stopped after a few steps.

"That masked benefactor also said... if Benefactor Xiao doesn't go, someone will suffer."

Then he disappeared into the side hall in a flash, and could never be found again.

Xiao Lie stood in the empty hall and remained silent for a moment.

Then he bent down and opened the medicine box.

Inside were Xu De's silver needles, mortar and pestle, several packets of dried medicinal herbs, and that apricot-yellow flag, the corners of which were worn and white.

There was a note on top, neatly folded.

He unfolded the note; the handwriting was unfamiliar and forceful, each stroke as if it had been carved.

"If you wish to find Xu De, three days later, at Langgu Mountain, Ergu Valley."

Xiao Lie's fingers tightened slightly.

Xu De has been kidnapped!

This is using Xu De as bait...

They were fishing for Xiao Lie himself!

He squatted down, placed the medicine box on his lap, and examined it carefully.

There were several fresh, narrow scratches on the lid, not like those made by a knife, but more like those left by some kind of short weapon.

There was a dent at the bottom of the box, as if it had hit something hard.

He pulled out the small apricot-yellow flag and clenched it in his hand.

Xu De once said that as long as it is erected on the busiest street in any prefecture, people who recognize it will come looking for it.

Xiao Lie decided to take a gamble.

If Xu De once used this small flag to seek help in Bingzhou, then those who helped Xu De should have some information.

Xiao Lie urgently needs more information.

Because he couldn't determine whether Xu De was kidnapped because he was investigating the Panlong Guard and the Mu family, or because of some other force.

If they were from the Panlong Guard, they could simply silence Xu De...

But if it were someone else, who could it be?