Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Qingfeng stammered, his eyes darting around, and only said that he had gone to the outhouse.

Xiao Yi leaned back on the couch, his gaze sharp as a knife, taking in his unease.

This gentle breeze has followed him since childhood, and when he lies, his eyes always unconsciously dart to the upper left corner, a habit that has never changed over the years.

"What time is it now?" Xiao Yi asked calmly.

"Reporting to Young Master, it's just past the hour of You (5-7 PM)," Qingfeng replied, bowing his head.

"How long did I sleep?"

Qingfeng hesitated for a moment: "One...one day and one night."

One day and one night!

Xiao Yi suddenly sat up, threw off the covers, and was about to get out of bed.

To my surprise, my legs wobbled when they landed, and I saw stars.

He steadied himself by holding onto the edge of the bed, then gritted his teeth and said, "Change my clothes, I need to go to the bottom of the cliff."

Qingfeng hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, "Master, you have been unconscious for a day and a night, and the remaining poison in your body has not yet been completely controlled."

"You're too weak right now, you absolutely mustn't!"

"Tao'er and the young master are still at the bottom of the cliff, how can I rest?"

Xiao Yi pushed his hand away, his voice hoarse but undeniable.

He continued, "Qingfeng, wild beasts roam the mountains, and King Cheng's soldiers are at the foot of the mountain."

Another day and night passed, and they…”

He coughed twice, his voice slightly breathless, "They still don't know what's going on."

Qingfeng blocked his way: "Master, Elder Li instructed that you need to have another acupuncture treatment to completely control the poison in your body."

If you go out like this now, what if the poisoning recurs?

Elder Li said, "If I can't protect you properly, I can quit!"

Xiao Yi had already started putting on his outer robe. "I'll be careful, you don't need to worry. We'll just get back before Elder Li arrives, and make sure he doesn't find out."

"What are you afraid of if we get found out? I'll cover for you!"

Qingfeng was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.

He knew that if he didn't let his master go, his master would never give up.

But if the master goes there, there's no one at the bottom of the cliff, and no matter how the master searches, it's useless.

But if the truth were told to his master, he would definitely storm King Cheng's camp.

They still have a few hundred people left...

Too dangerous!

Qingfeng gritted his teeth one last time and said, "Master, actually... our people have already found Miss Tao'er and the young master."

Xiao Yi paused in his actions and looked up at him.

Qingfeng dared not look him in the eye, and quickly said with her head down, "It was a hunter family that saved them."

I……

I was just about to go pick them up.

This was the only reason he could come up with!

Xiao Yi looked at him quietly.

The gaze was so sharp that Qingfeng felt his scalp tingle and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

Xiao Yi's voice was soft, "Qingfeng, how many years have you been with me?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been eleven years."

Xiao Yi nodded. "Eleven years, then you should know what I hate most!"

Qingfeng knelt down with a thud.

"Master! I..."

He lay on the ground, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you, but Elder Li instructed that if you don't continue the acupuncture, the poison will seep into your bones, and from now on..."

"Speak!" Xiao Yi interrupted him, "Where are they?"

Qingfeng lay prostrate on the ground for a long time before finally squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth: "Young Master and the others have been... captured by King Cheng's men and imprisoned."

After a moment's hesitation, he added, "They are safe for now!"

There was a moment of silence around the tatami mat.

The next instant, Qingfeng felt a gust of wind sweep past him. When he looked up, Xiao Yi had already grabbed the long sword from the shelf and strode out.

Qingfeng scrambled to his feet and chased after him, "Master, where are you going?"

"Go down the mountain to save them!" Xiao Yi said without turning his head.

"But……"

"Qingfeng, that is my elder brother's only bloodline, I can't not go!"

"Miss Tao'er is a benefactor of our Xiao family, so I cannot refuse to go."

Xiao Yi stopped and turned around.

His face was still somewhat pale, but a fire burned in his eyes. "You've been with me for eleven years, you should know my temper."

If you stop me again today, you don't need to follow me anymore.

Qingfeng opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't say anything.

He silently followed.

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.

Two dark figures moved down from the dense forest behind Tiger Head Village, their footsteps so light they almost blended into the night breeze.

Xiao Yi's hand gripping the sword hilt had distinct knuckles.

He hadn't had a drop of water for a day and a night, and the poison was still inside his body.

His steps were unsteady, but his fierce determination kept him moving very fast.

Qingfeng followed behind, wanting to tell him to take a break several times, but when she met his cold and stern profile, she swallowed her words.

At the foot of the mountain, the camp where King Cheng stationed his troops could be vaguely seen.

The two men made their way to the outskirts of the camp and lay in ambush behind a rock.

Xiao Yi made a hand gesture, indicating that Qingfeng would flank from the left while he would sneak in from the right.

However, when they saw the situation at the camp, they were stunned.

Scattered wisps of smoke rose into the air.

Everywhere was charred black.

The neat camp that I had imagined was nowhere to be seen, replaced by scorched earth, tattered flags, and grain carts burned to their skeletons.

The air was filled with the smell of burning, and occasionally a faint scent of blood could be detected.

Xiao Yi's heart sank.

He had no time to think, and with a flash, he silently slipped into the camp.

A gentle breeze followed closely behind.

The camp was in a mess, with the remaining soldiers lying on the ground in twos and threes, some with wounds wrapped up, some unconscious, completely unprepared.

Xiao Yi's gaze swept across the room and locked onto a wounded soldier leaning against a wooden stake, his leg wrapped in bandages.

He made a hand gesture, and Qingfeng understood. The two of them then flanked him from the left and right.

Before the wounded soldier could react, Qingfeng had already grabbed his throat and dragged him into the shadows.

"Tell me, what happened here?"

Xiao Yi crouched down, his voice extremely low, but the dagger in his hand was firmly pressed against the wounded soldier's neck.

The wounded soldier trembled with fear: "No...don't kill me!"

I'll tell you everything!

"It's...it's a woman!"

The wounded soldier stammered.

"She had a child with her, and she was originally locked up."

Who knew she...

She set fire to the grain and fodder at night!

They even burned the main tent; many people died!

Xiao Yi's heart skipped a beat.

"And what about the woman?"

Were you captured by your prince or...?

He asked, pushing the dagger forward half an inch, and threatened sharply.

The wounded soldier desperately tried to shrink back. "She ran away..."

It disappeared in a moment!

She took the child and ran into the mountains!

We chased after them, but we couldn't catch them..."

Xiao Yi and Qingfeng exchanged a glance.

A look of surprise flashed in Qingfeng's eyes, while Xiao Yi's lips curved slightly.

"Did they burn all the grain and fodder?" he asked.

"They...they're all burned." The wounded soldier was on the verge of tears.

"The prince was so angry that he killed three people, and even Lord Liu was beaten."

What's the use of it?

"The food supplies are gone, and most of the soldiers have died. All that's left are us wounded soldiers..."

Xiao Yi sheathed the dagger and stood up.

As he gazed at the rolling mountains in the night, the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his chest for a day and a night finally dissipated.

Burn grain and fodder.

Running with the child.

This forced King Cheng, Xie Jingxing, to flee in a sorry state.

That little girl looks so delicate and weak, how could she do such a thing?

He truly possesses extraordinary courage!

Xiao Yi suddenly chuckled.

Qingfeng was startled: "Master?"

What are you laughing at?

Xiao Yi's smile faded, but a glint appeared in his eyes.

fine!

Let's get to work.

With a swift stroke, Qingfeng slashed the neck of the man from before. A muffled groan was heard, and the man collapsed to the ground, dead.

Under the cover of night, the two moved like ghosts through the dilapidated camp.

Those wounded soldiers were already demoralized, tired and exhausted, and they never expected that someone would launch a sneak attack under the cover of night.

By the time they realized what was happening, more than a dozen people had already collapsed.

The camp was in complete chaos.

"Enemy attack..."

"Someone's attacking!"

"Protect the Prince!"

Xie Jingxing was jolted awake from his sleep and rushed out of the makeshift tent with disheveled hair. He was met with figures flashing in the firelight, and his personal guards were being pushed back.

"Your Highness, let's go quickly!"

Liu Wei rushed over quickly.

"They must be bandits from Tiger Head Village!"

They're attacking!

This was actually Liu Wei's guess. For safety's sake, it would be best to escape with the prince.

Xie Jingxing's face turned ashen. He didn't care about his appearance and didn't even have time to put on his boots properly before Liu Wei and several other soldiers helped him stumble forward.

"Quick! Let's go! Back to the capital!"

The chaotic sound of horses' hooves rose and fell into the night.

Xiao Yi stood in the center of the camp, watching the group of people fleeing in a disheveled state, but did not give chase.

He turned to Qingfeng and said, "Let's retreat, back to Tiger Head Stronghold!"

The two figures quickly disappeared into the night.