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After Yi Wang's defeat, it was assumed by many that he and the Imperial Son-in-law would lead their 5,000 troops to join the State of Chen's army in Beiyang City or Ye City. However, according to scouts lurking outside Beiyang City and Ye City, no traces of the previous dynasty's army were found.
Meanwhile, Gu Changqing on the other side was desperately searching for Gu Jiao's whereabouts.
No one expected that Yi Wang's group would brave the snow and traverse the icy plain to reach a hidden “paradise.”
It was called a hidden paradise because amidst the snowy mountain ranges and icy terrain was a natural hot spring.
This treasure land had been accidentally discovered by the silverfox-clad man during a winter hunt. Located within the State of Zhao's borders, it belonged to no one, remaining an unclaimed land. For several months each year, it remained icebound, overlooked by the officials of the border who regarded it as an ordinary mountain range.
The silverfox-clad man had secretly built a stronghold here, and even Yi Wang was visiting this place for the first time.
To enter the stronghold, the carriage had to cross a wooden bridge.
As the carriage moved across the wooden bridge, Yi Wang, filled with apprehension, asked the silverfox-clad man, "Is this place really safe?"
The silverfox-clad man brushed off the snowflakes that inadvertently flew in from the window onto his silver fox fur cloak and confidently replied, "Uncle, rest assured. These mountains are treacherous and well-concealed. With the heavy snowfall we just had, our tracks have long been covered. The Gu Family Army wouldn't be able to find their way here."
Below the wooden bridge lay a bottomless abyss. Yi Wang couldn't resist peeking out the curtain, and his heart almost jumped out of his chest!
If this wooden bridge broke, they would all be smashed to pieces!
It wasn't until everyone crossed the wooden bridge that Yi Wang's tense nerves finally relaxed.
But the next moment, he heard his nephew say, "Feng Shi, cut down the wooden bridge!"
Yi Wang was astonished. "Zheng’er, why are you cutting down the bridge? Do you want us to be stranded here forever?"
The silverfox-clad man smiled reassuringly and said to Yi Wang, "Uncle, Gu Changqing, the young master of the Gu Family Army, is exceptionally cunning. I'm concerned that he might still find some clues and track us down."
Frowning, Yi Wang asked, "But didn't you say we wouldn't leave any clues?"
"This is a precautionary measure." Explained the silverfox-clad man with a smile. "As for the way down the mountain, Uncle, don't worry. There's a secret passage in the stronghold that leads from the mountaintop to the outside. Even I haven't used it. That's our real escape route."
Upon hearing this, Yi Wang breathed a sigh of relief. However, for a moment after the wooden bridge was completely cut down, he inexplicably felt a surge of worry again.
He couldn't determine if this apprehension stemmed from the wooden bridge itself or from other factors.
His gaze involuntarily fell upon the State of Zhao soldier.
There was a brazier inside the carriage, making the interior much warmer than the outside. The ice on the armor of the State of Zhao soldier had melted, leaving a puddle underneath ‘him’.
The visor on ‘his’ helmet was probably lifted during the fight, revealing a face mask underneath. However, the face mask was later ripped off by the subordinate of the silverfox-clad man.
‘He’ lay on ‘his’ side with the left side of ‘his’ face with a birthmark exposed.
The more Yi Wang looked, the more his brows furrowed.
"Uncle, we've arrived." The silverfox-clad man said to Yi Wang. He noticed that Yi Wang's gaze on the young man was off, so he asked, "Uncle, what's wrong?"
"I just feel like we should kill him." Yi Wang said, looking at Gu Jiao.
The silverfox-clad man smilingly said, "If he's of no use, it’s not too late to kill him."
"Your Highness, it's time to disembark from the carriage." A soldier reported from outside the carriage.
Yi Wang averted his gaze from Gu Jiao and got off the carriage.
After the silverfox-clad man got off, he spoke to his men, "Feng Shi."
Feng Shi cupped his hands, "My Lord."
The silverfox-clad man calmly instructed, "Take the person down, find a room to settle him, and get a physician to check on him. Make sure he doesn't die."
"Yes, my Lord!" Feng Shi responded respectfully.
Pausing for a moment, the silverfox-clad man cautioned, "Also, he's somewhat skilled. Be careful not to fall victim to any hidden traps or ambushes."
Feng Shi cupped his hands again and replied respectfully. "This subordinate knows what to do."
There were two hot springs at the mountaintop. Yi Wang's residence was situated near the larger one while the silverfox-clad man's residence was near the smaller one.
The silverfox-clad man first escorted Yi Wang to his residence, ensuring he was settled before returning to his own.
There were heavily armed guards both inside and outside the residences.
The silverfox-clad man looked at the two soldiers at the door and asked, "Is the princess inside?"
One of them answered, "Responding to Your Lordship’s question, Princess Ning'an has always been here."
The silverfox-clad man then asked, "Has she never gone out?"
The soldier shook his head, "No, never."
It was a stronghold capable of accommodating a force of ten thousand soldiers, with quite a large area. There was no restriction on Princess Ning'an's freedom, but she just never ventured out.
The silverfox-clad man nodded thoughtfully, "Understood. Guard the courtyard well and report any movements to me immediately."
"Yes!"
They all replied in unison.
The silverfox-clad man entered his own courtyard.
Meanwhile, Feng Shi settled Gu Jiao in a small cabin.
Gu Jiao's back basket was also brought over by a soldier.
"Deputy General Feng, what should we do with this basket?" The soldier asked.
Feng Shi personally dug out this basket from the snow along with the red-tasseled spear and handed it over to His Lordship. But His Lordship only took the red-tasseled spear, showing no interest in the contents of the basket.
Feng Shi glanced at it. Besides some hard rations, there was a shabby little box emitting a faint medicinal scent.
"Get rid of everything." Feng Shi said, paused, then added, "No, give me that box."
There might be some valuable medicinal herbs inside.
"Yes." The soldier took the little medicine chest to Feng shi and carried the basket away.
Feng Shi then sent someone to summon the accompanying physician.
While waiting for the physician to arrive, Feng Shi tried to open the little medicine chest but couldn't budge it no matter how hard he tried.
Feeling around the lid, he said in a strange tone, "It doesn't seem to be locked."
He then pulled out a dagger and attempted to pry open the lid by inserting it into the crevice underneath the lid.
There was a crisp sound of metal snapping. His dagger broke, but the lid remained intact.
"Frustrating piece of box!" Feng Shi stood up and impatiently kicked the little medicine chest with his foot. He looked at the broken dagger in his hand, wincing as he said, "The dagger my Lord gave me... I haven’t even used it twice..."
As he muttered to himself, the physician was brought in by a soldier.
Feng Shi pulled the blade stuck in the crevice of the box, cursing as he walked away, intending to see if this dagger could still be repaired.
After taking a couple of steps, he turned back and tossed the small broken box that broke his dagger into the brazier!
As for Gu Jiao on the bed, Feng Shi had never seen anyone freeze in such a state and still survive. However, since His Lordship had given the orders, Feng Shi found a rope and bound Gu Jiao's hands and feet.
The physician entered the room and bowed to Feng Shi in salute.
Feng Shi said in a cold voice, "His Lordship has ordered that no matter what, his life must be preserved. If you have any good medicine, use it on him."
"Yes, this humble one understands." The physician replied.
***
T/N: This will be my last update for this year. I’ll make up for the missed chapters and bonus chapters when I get back on Jan 2. Your support for the past years is greatly appreciated! Happy New Year everyone!
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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