C87 Everyone Was Moving

In the dead of night, a soldier spurred a famously swift beast out of the encampment, racing towards Qing territory.

Moreover, a stone within the tent glowed brightly as the envelope resting upon it was incinerated by the light, turning to ash. Meanwhile, in the Qing residence, an identical formation produced an envelope of its own.

Qing Yangde, having just concluded his task, breathed a sigh of relief. Without his considerable cultivation, he would likely be sporting dark circles under his eyes the following day.

Elsewhere, Lee Yu, having returned to his carriage, was already deep in slumber, thanks to Cui's attentive care.

At dawn the next day, Lee Yu observed the soldiers already working in teams to dismantle the defensive structures.

As the army prepared to depart, Lee Yu sat in his carriage, flanked by three vigilant companions.

"Young Master, you must include me next time!" Cui implored, her eyes wide with anticipation. Lee Yu had previously silenced her with the excuse of exhaustion, but she wasn't about to let that stop her from speaking her mind.

Little did she know that Lee Yu, summoned for a meal, had stealthily slipped away with Qing Yangde. The County Duke had given strict orders for them to guard him without fail, yet here they were, having allowed an escape so soon.

'This won't do at all!' she thought. If this behavior went unchecked, who's to say it wouldn't happen again?

Lee Yu, growing weary of Cui's relentless nagging, repeatedly apologized and vowed there wouldn't be a next time, narrowly escaping further reprimand.

"Then, Young Master, if you must go out again, please remember to take me with you!" Cui insisted upon hearing Lee Yu's assurances, her smile returning, the previous sullenness gone.

Including her meant the two others would come along, thus shielding her from any potential punishment.

She had grown accustomed to responding to Lee Yu's call, naturally taking her place in the carriage, a move that had nearly resulted in a severe scolding.

A woman listening to their exchange furrowed her brow. How could they assign such a maid to attend to Lee Yu?

'Such a lack of professionalism! It's utterly disgraceful!'

But to her surprise, Lee Yu, though his brow was furrowed, showed no sign of annoyance. He simply appeared resigned and, ultimately, acquiescent.

Cui and Lee Yu had spent a considerable amount of time together. Lee Yu inherently lacked a sense of hierarchy, resulting in their relationship resembling that of a doting sister looking after her younger brother with great care.

Cui was acutely aware of this dynamic, fully understanding it, which explained her persistent behavior. Otherwise, her training at Qing's would have strictly forbidden such actions.

Who would tolerate a bodyguard who became a nuisance?

At the rear of the military procession, more than ten prison carts held the key bandits. They were to remain there until the next encampment, where they would be handed over. Those bandits not confined to the carts had been rendered immobile and left to the mercy of the pillaged village, their fate all too predictable.

"We're doomed!" exclaimed Qing Gao Yang, his eyes resting on a nearby prison cart.

The vast, orderly ranks stretched out before him, seemingly endless. With such a formidable number of troops, it was as if half a legion was present.

Would a force led by the County Duke's son need to curry favor with a mere City Lord? If they confronted the City Lord, he would likely cast them aside without a second thought.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged man incessantly whispered to himself, "Daddy will save me, Daddy will save me!" Qing Gao Yang couldn't help but shake his head at the sight.

What a completely ineffectual individual.

It was astonishing that such a man, infantile in his ways, could be the darling of the influential City Lord's Mansion.

Qing Gao Yang mused that if it were his own father, he would certainly have seized the opportunity to have another child while still young.

In the following prison cart, the bandits' cries filled the air. Many of them could commit atrocities with ease, viewing others' tragedies with detachment. Yet, when faced with their own dire circumstances, they were overwhelmed with remorse.

Others remained stoically silent. Many were drifters who had fled from other cities after causing trouble, only to be drawn to Qing Zhi Ming's wealth and capabilities, eventually rallying to his side.

They tolerated a man in his thirties, not for his maturity, but because they recognized that Qing Zhi Ming likely hailed from a significant lineage, prompting them to bet on his prospects.

'The City Lord's sole heir might just be our ticket to survival!'

These individuals were united by a common purpose.

Trailing far behind the massive procession, a handful of figures stood amidst the treetops on a small hill. This vantage point not only provided effective concealment but also allowed them to survey the scene unfolding within the group below.

"It's certain that our target is among them."

"If my suspicions are correct, Qing Yangde is leading this 'battle'. What are your thoughts?"

Each person maintained a distance from the others, their identities carefully hidden and their voices disguised.

"The intelligence suggests Qing Yangde is at the helm. With two key players present, I believe it's worth taking action!"

"Are you confident in your sources? I think further observation is necessary. We have a long journey ahead, and startling the quarry prematurely would be unwise."

The one challenged merely snorted, offering no further comment.

These individuals represented various factions, and their observations and reports would shape their families' perceptions and strategies regarding Qing's group. Exercising extreme caution was imperative.

It's possible that elsewhere, members of the Qing's and other factions were mingling, deliberating whether to strike at another family.

Yet, no concrete plan emerged from their discussion, only the reminder: "The mountain is distant, and there's plenty of time to dig pits."

Meanwhile, in another part of the city.

In a grand estate at the urban core, a city lord adorned in lavish attire, his temples touched with gray, was in a rage. He had just destroyed the third costly vase, and two maids had been dragged away and executed for breathing too loudly.

The remaining guards and maids trembled, each fearing they might be the next to suffer his wrath.

It took some time, but once the City Lord's wife entered the courtyard and dismissed the onlookers, leaving just the couple, the usually composed lady broke down in tears.

"How is our son doing?"

"How dare you ask! Spoiling him as you do, it was only a matter of time before trouble ensued!" The man's face was livid with anger. "Didn't I instruct that, with the clan engaging in the Hundred Clans Assembly, he should keep a low profile and avoid stirring up trouble? Why on earth did you let him out again?"

"Well, he was so bored at home, I thought a little outing wouldn't hurt. How could I have known he'd run into trouble?"

Qing Yuanxun didn't utter another word. With a dismissive flick of his sleeve, he commanded in an icy tone, "Ming Yan, take a team and seize the chance to retrieve him. The rest..."

In a secluded corner of the courtyard, a taciturn man acknowledged with a nod before swiftly taking his leave.