Qin Xiaomei slowly pushed open the door, her face pale, looking somewhat frail and pitiful, lacking any of the commanding and sharp aura of a Guard Captain.

"My lord, Observatory Master Song, I-I won't speak nonsense."

Qin Xiaomei's voice carried a tremor, evidently scared.

Song Wood's gaze roamed unchecked over her body, admiring the alluring figure beneath the thin veil, yet he said, "I trust dead people a bit more."

Qin Xiaomei's delicate frame trembled, her expression full of terror, and she looked to Tan Wujiu for help.

"How about this, swear a venomous oath."

Tan Wujiu said indifferently.

Song Wood laughed, "Seems like Lord Tan is tender-hearted, can't bear to do it."

Qin Xiaomei hesitated slightly, then submissively knelt on the ground, softly saying, "I, Qin Xiaomei, swear to the heavens, if I reveal what I saw today, may I face divine punishment and meet a miserable end!"

Song Wood looked down at Qin Xiaomei nearby, his expression indifferent and unmoved.

Qin Xiaomei bit her lip lightly, continuing, "If I break this vow, any male child I bear will become a slave for generations, and any female will be a prostitute forever!"

Hearing this, Song Wood's expression finally eased.

Such a vicious oath, it seemed Qin Xiaomei wouldn't dare speak recklessly.

Song Wood said, "In truth, even if you speak of it, I won't admit it. Cai Yin's body is already ashes with no evidence left. Only the three of us know about this. With Lord Tan as my witness, guess, will others believe us or you, a wanton woman?"

"The Observatory Master is right."

Qin Xiaomei nodded quickly.

Seeing her so sensible, Song Wood was finally at ease, bade farewell to Tan Wujiu, and turned to leave.

After Song Wood left, Tan Wujiu also headed outside.

When he reached the courtyard gate, he paused, glancing sideways, "Melt down Cai Yin's sword, leave no evidence."

"Yes."

Qin Xiaomei bowed her head in agreement.

After a long time, the courtyard was silent and empty, then Qin Xiaomei slowly raised her head, staring blankly at the pile of ashes scattered on the snowy ground in the courtyard.

After a while, Qin Xiaomei stood up, went inside to dress, donned a large robe, and walked out.

She picked up the chipped long sword from the ground, hiding it under her robe, and headed to the blacksmith's shop.

In no time, Qin Xiaomei arrived at the blacksmith's, handed over the Cyan Dragon Sword, and said in a low voice, "Please melt this sword."

Old Zhang took the sword, glanced at it, somewhat surprised, and asked, "This sword is perfectly fine, why melt it?"

"No questions needed, just melt it."

Qin Xiaomei did not explain, urging him once.

Old Zhang said nothing, tossing the Cyan Dragon Sword into the molten iron.

Watching the Cyan Dragon Sword gradually dissolve in the crucible, Qin Xiaomei finally turned and left.

In a distant corner, Tan Wujiu stood in the shadows, silently witnessing this scene.

...

On the official road from Wu'an County to Changze County.

Xiao Xun and others ran for dozens of miles at full speed before gradually slowing down.

Keeping at full speed all the time, the warhorses underneath couldn't endure it.

"Should be fine now, right?"

In the heavy snowfall, Xiao Xun looked back, only seeing a vast darkness, not a single ghostly figure.

Du Yinfeng said, "Don't worry, Young Master, with the Gang Leader delaying that Grandmaster, he surely won't catch up."

"I'm not worried about him, but about Chen Tang!"

Xiao Xun frowned, recalling the look Chen Tang had just given him, a bit agitated in his heart.

It was a kind of look a predator gives its prey.

Although Xiao Xun knew Chen Tang was not his match, that look still made him uneasy.

Too much happened tonight.

Even now, he was a little dazed.

How could this be?

With such thorough preparation, clearly having the upper hand, why did it end in such a complete failure?

Where did that One Step to the Clouds come from?

Why did it have to appear in Wu'an County?

Du Yinfeng consoled, "Rest assured, Young Leader, we have over three hundred men, even if that Chen Tang comes, he's no threat, what storm can he, alone, stir up."

At this moment, a faint tremor came from the ground!

Xiao Xun immediately became alert.

Someone behind is chasing, and it's not just one rider!

"Go, go!"

Xiao Xun hurriedly maneuvered his warhorse, rushed past everyone, and sped up.

Most of the Black Water Gang hadn't reacted yet.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a sharp blade sliced through the air, reaching in an instant.

Thud!

A Feathered Arrow pierced the back of a Black Water Gang personal attendant's head, causing him to fall from the horse and die instantly!

"Zheng Yu, Dai Guan, you stay, check the situation at the back, do everything possible to stop anyone trying to pursue the Young Leader!"

Du Yinfeng immediately left about a hundred men in place to block the pursuers while he rushed toward Xiao Xun.

Speaking of which, another Black Water Gang attendant was shot dead!

The remaining Black Water Gang members quickly scattered, lying on the snowy ground, trying their best to hide their forms.

Those carrying bows and arrows began to draw and shoot backward, attempting to counterattack.

But their Feathered Arrows disappeared into the deep night, like a stone into the sea, with no response.

The sound of hooves came closer and closer!

Soon, the Black Water Gang saw a team of light cavalry come riding through the snow, exuding murderous intent, each carrying bows and knives, fully equipped.

Even at full speed, this group maintained formation, completely unyielding, comparable to the disciplined and well-organized formal army!

Compared to them, the Black Water Gang appeared like scattered soldiers.

Fortunately, these light cavalry were not numerous.

"Kill!"

The Black Water Gang members hidden on both sides of the road cried out and swarmed forward.

"Fire!"

Li Boxiong pointed a finger.

The light cavalry quickly slowed down, stopped on the official road, rapidly forming a formation, and shot a round of arrows at the Black Water Gang on both sides!

During the chase earlier, what they held were merely One-Stone Bows, unable to perform long-range kills like Chen Tang.

Moreover, in the heavy snow and dense night, everyone's vision was obstructed, unable to clearly see people, and dared not act rashly.

They could only get closer to perform an arrow barrage.

Woo-woo-woo!

Hundreds of arrows shot towards both sides of the road, in coordination with the repeating crossbows of the Vermilion Bird Guards, over a hundred Black Water Gang members fell instantly!

By the time the Black Water Gang approached closely, more than half were dead or injured!

"Put away the bows, dismount for close combat!"

Li Boxiong shouted softly.

Everyone dismounted and drew their swords to confront them.

Even in close combat, the Black Water Gang had no chance of winning.

Just Chen Tang alone was enough to instill fear.

Furthermore, there were a dozen Vermilion Bird Guards, giving them a numerical advantage as well!

...

Knowing there were pursuers behind, Xiao Xun couldn't care if his horse was tired, didn't dare delay, and led the group to run with all their might.

They ran for dozens of miles.

Among the group, some horses were already foaming at the mouth from exhaustion.

Some horses let out a wail, collapsed to the ground convulsing, clearly unable to continue.

After all, these Black Water Gang horses were mere ordinary horses without load training, rarely running like today, unlike battle-hardened warhorses.

Running over a hundred miles at full speed, some horses couldn't keep up anymore.

Xiao Xun had no choice but to slow down.

The Black Water Gang members who lost their horses could only run to keep up.

They hadn't gone far when the ground trembled again, and the faint sound of hooves emerged from behind!

"Damn it!"

Xiao Xun cursed, gritted his teeth, "These people are like haunting ghosts, won't they give up!"

Du Yinfeng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, ruthlessly said, "Young Leader, why don't we turn back and fight them, we won't escape if we don't cut them off!"

Xiao Xun clenched his fists, about to speak when a black flash pierced through the night, instantly killing a nearby Black Water Gang personal attendant!

Seeing this person's tragedy, Xiao Xun unclenched his fists, swallowed hard, mounted his horse, and urged, "Quickly go, quickly go!"

Du Yinfeng seemed to have made a decision, said in a deep voice, "Young Leader, you go ahead, I'll stay with the brothers to hold them off, we hope..."

"Okay!"

Before Du Yinfeng finished speaking, Xiao Xun agreed immediately, nodded quickly, said, "Hall Master Du, loyal and righteous!"

After mounting, Xiao Xun also grabbed another seemingly energetic horse, set off together, rushed towards the front, soon disappearing into the vast night.

Du Yinfeng was somewhat stunned.

For a moment, he even thought his decision was rather foolish.

Another black flash shot over, someone in the crowd fell.

No time to think, the pursuers had arrived!

Du Yinfeng took a deep breath, shouted, "Brothers, let's fight!"

"Right, killing these pursuers is our only chance of survival!"

A Black Water Gang personal guard from a military background said in a deep voice.

"Kill!"

The Black Water Gang shouted.

Even if not for the escaped Young Leader, for themselves, they had no choice but to fight to the death!

...

Xiao Xun continued alone, ran for another dozens of miles.

The horse beneath him was already exhausted.

Fortunately, before leaving, he brought another horse along.

This horse, not burdened, had run for dozens of miles and still seemed to have energy.

Xiao Xun mounted this horse, continued to flee forward.

At this time, dawn broke.

Unknowingly, Xiao Xun had been fleeing for almost an entire night!

At some point, the heavy snow had stopped.

Xiao Xun was exhausted, having no time to rest all night, the mental pressure was greater, almost suffocating him.

In a trance, he felt a surge of sadness.

From birth until now, he's always had everything he wanted, commanding people, even in Pingzhou of Qian Country, he could do as he wished, never so miserable?

How did it come to this?

Chen Tang!

It was this person!

Ever since meeting him in Changze County, everything went wrong!

Thinking of this, Xiao Xun hated with gritted teeth.

"Just you wait, I, Xiao Xun, will be back!"

Xiao Xun ran another dozens of miles.

The second horse was also exhausted.

Fortunately, Changze County was just ahead.

Xiao Xun could already see the faint smoke rising in the air ahead.

As long as he reached Changze County, he'd be saved!

There was another branch station in Changze County.

Hundreds of people were stationed there, all refreshed Black Water Gang brothers!

Among them were some experts.

Since last time this station was attacked by Chen Tang, Du Yinfeng even dispatched several Sixth and Seventh Grade experts to guard!

Chen Tang and others had traveled a long distance, having experienced several fierce battles.

The brothers at the Black Water Gang branch, by taking advantage of rest, could certainly stop the pursuers.

Moreover, Changze County was already very close to the Three Thousand Snow Ridges.

He could change to a fresh vigorous horse and rush back to Black Water Country!

Facing the faint morning glow from the east, Xiao Xun seemed to see a glimmer of hope, lifting his spirits, dashed towards Changze County.

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