In the Empire of Yang 3

Li Changhai considered the story that Lin Liushui had let out, and thought it was rather believable. The mines were in that direction, and since everyone should already know that Du Yan was a skilled Weapon-smith, it would not be a surprise that the three of them were searching for some sort of ore that could seriously improve their own weapons.

And the mines were a good way to the East, so that should keep anyone up to mischief well away from their trail.

Still, the Second Ducal Prince could not help but wonder if they were being a little too optimistic about this whole thing. The number of coincidences that he had come across on this journey of his had been a little much, hadn't it?

From Du Yan's father shifting to Ningfei Town, and Qin Feng meeting with Xu Yanzhi, it was as if some entity shifting things behind the scene, to get them to head in the direction that they were going. And Li Changhai wasn't certain if it was true, or if his own suspicious nature had just kicked in once again?

Didn't his mother warn him that it would happen? That he would begin to see enemies everywhere, and to suspect everyone and everything? She had said that was what happened to his Uncle, back in the day. Was this how it starts?

Then he let out the breath that he had not noticed he was holding in, and shook his head at himself. It was far easier to be the rakish, gruff Li Changhai that he was role-playing at Chuanshui Town, than to worry about all of that intrigue nonsense. That was just the sort of thing that his older brother liked, wasn't it? Well, he didn't care for it at all.

Perhaps that was why he was more comfortable in the South, with his maternal grandmother and her family. Those people there were more relaxed, and he did not have to worry about them having their own schemes or playing political games while he was there.

Besides, thinking about all those plots and schemes that they might have gave Li Changhai a headache. Why would anyone bother to do something like that? Unlike the quick-witted Lin Liushui, who took all of that to be just a game, the Second Ducal Prince was not the sort to enjoy hoodwinking his enemies, so this was more of chore to him!

So it was easier, for him to put on that simple soldierly persona, so that he didn't have to come up with any of those convoluted schemes himself. Fortunately, neither Lin Liushui nor Du Yan had made any issue of it. And Wei Xuanran, together with the rest of his soldiers, had been more than happy to see him keep his armor on.

The only one who seemed ambivalent to his disguising himself like this was Qin Feng, who didn't seem to care too much about it. Or it may be the fact that he was a little too distracted with his own problems, to bother with the Second Ducal Prince's.

Honestly, Li Changhai found it a little hard to believe that the youngest in his group had actually managed to capture the eye of the Snow Swallow Palace's prized disciple like that. And was putting in so much effort, to hold onto Xu Yanzhi's attention. Perhaps there was more to their meeting in the South, that Qin Feng had not mentioned.

Or was this the reason why his maternal grandmother had cautioned him about the young man, back when he was thereabouts?

But she had also told him to keep Qin Feng close at hand, and that he was a friend worth making. So it had been rather confusing for Li Changhai back then. And he had to admit that his grandmother's advice had held true.

"Be careful. We are being watched."

Li Changhai looked up then, and found the other two pretending to keep their eyes on the road. But the signal that Lin Liushui was giving him directed him to the tall grasses to the left, and it did not take him very long to spot the ones that were hiding in the same.

And he frowned, the moment that he realized that they were clad in the robes that greatly resembled what Xu Yanzhi had been wearing, when she came to fight against Qin Feng! And that there were at least twenty of them. Little wonder then, that they had been so quickly spotted.

Lin Liushui seemed rather startled to see them too. As though their appearance was completely out of his expectations. "They look like disciples of the Snow Swallow Mountain Palace, for sure. But what are they doing here? It is still a good distance to their Mountain, and they usually do not come out in such numbers. At least, not as far as I know," he muttered to the other two.

"I have no idea either. Maybe we should ask?"

"That is a little risky. It might give away our plans, to visit their Palace. And your relationship with Xu Yanzhi." Lin Liushui gave Qin Feng a reply to his careless suggestion that clearly a provocation of sorts. His insipid smile further teased the youngest of the trio.

Qin Feng made a growling noise at that. And snapped at Lin Liushui at once, before the Second Ducal Prince could cut in. "What do you mean by that? What does this have to do with Xu Yanzhi? Are you trying to be funny here?"

Li Changhai was a little surprised at that. Then he considered what he had gone through, these last two, three days hiding away from Lin Liushui's family, and knew that Qin Feng was probably feeling a lot worse. This was supposed to be a leisurely, relaxing trip for him, wasn't it?

And why did Lin Liushui have to mention the girl's name? Especially when he knew what it was like, to be separated from his own beloved? Did he really intend to pour salt into Qin Feng's open wound like that?

But before he could do anything to alleviate the situation, the women from the group ahead had already moved! And swiftly jumping out to surround the three of them on horseback, as well as spreading out to cover all of their routes of escape! What was this? Had they fallen into a trap?

By the time that they realized that the women had them surrounded, it was already too late! And they could only hold their breaths, as they wondered why these Snow Swallow Palace disciples had actually done so.

One of them even stepped forward, and had her hand on her sword hilt too, as she brazenly demanded answers of the men!

"Speak! Who are you? And how do you know our Elder Sister Xu Yanzhi? Answer swiftly!"

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