The mountain path was winding, and at night, galloping recklessly was asking for death.
Despite their urgency, Jin Feng and his group could only restrain themselves, keeping the warhorses at a slow trot.
It was mid-month, with a bright moon illuminating the path clearly, no torches needed to see Monkey scouting ahead.
On any other day, sharing a saddle with a beauty might have been romantic, but now, both Jin Feng and Tang Dongdong were consumed with worry for Tang Xiaobei, with no room for stray thoughts.
However, the saddle was designed for one rider. Two people had to press close to fit, and in thin summer clothes, Jin Feng found it torturous.
He tried to control himself, but at his vigorous age, it was beyond his will.
Tang Dongdong noticed his discomfort. At first, she didn’t understand, but recalling Guan Xiaorou’s private talk about bedroom matters, she quickly realised.
Her face flushed red.
Thankfully, sitting in front of Jin Feng in the dark, no one could see.
Instinctively, she shifted forward.
But the saddle was small. Where could she go?
Her fidgeting only made things harder for Jin Feng.
When the group paused to rest, Jin Feng had Tang Dongdong sit behind him for the next leg.
In front, she could grip the saddle’s iron ring. Behind, she had no choice but to wrap her arms around Jin Feng’s waist.
Jin Feng gave a wry smile. Though the sensation on his back was even more pronounced, at least Tang Dongdong wouldn’t notice his reaction.
“We need to build that cableway soon,” Jin Feng thought during a stop at Black Wind Ridge.
With a cableway, the journey could be halved. A fast ride from the county could reach Xihewan in half a morning.
Instead, they rode all night, arriving at the county town only at dawn.
The city gates remained sealed, but Big Liu and Lieutenant Xiao were waiting on the tower. Seeing Jin Feng, Xiao ordered the guards to open the gate.
Big Liu lowered his head, confessing, “Master, I’m sorry. I failed to protect Miss Xiaobei. I let her…”
Alan, beside him, also hung her head.
“What’s the use of saying that now?” Jin Feng cut Big Liu off, asking coldly, “Any news on Xiaobei?”
“None yet,” Big Liu shook his head.
“Muluan,” Jin Feng turned to Qing Muluan.
Qing Muluan nodded slightly, giving Amei a look.
Amei understood and rode off.
When Jin Feng had asked Qing Muluan to investigate Scribe Zhou, he learned her brother had many informants in the county.
Normally, Jin Feng wouldn’t trouble Qing Muluan to use her brother’s network, but with Tang Xiaobei’s safety at stake, he couldn’t hold back.
During a rest stop, he had discussed with Qing Muluan that if they arrived without finding Xiaobei, she would help.
Amei was quick. Jin Feng’s group had just reached the inn and hadn’t finished hearing Big Liu and Alan’s account when she returned.
Since informants involved Qing family secrets, Jin Feng sent Big Liu and the others out before turning to Amei.
“Any news?”
“You were right, Master. I checked with the Zhou family informants. They didn’t take her,” Amei said. “But Madam Zhou holds a grudge over Xiaobei beating Zhou Dewu and planned a kidnapping. They arranged people but haven’t found the chance to act yet.”
“Zhou Dewu insulted Master and Xiaobei publicly while drunk. Xiaobei beating him was deserved. If it were me, I’d have killed him!” Qing Muluan said coldly. “The Zhou family dares plan revenge? They’re tired of living!”
“We’ll deal with the Zhou family later. Finding Xiaobei comes first,” Jin Feng said. “Is the information reliable? Could the Zhou family have taken her without the informants knowing?”
“No,” Amei shook her head confidently. “I met three Zhou family informants in different positions. If the Zhou family took Xiaobei, no matter how secretive, they’d have noticed something.”
“Your brother placed so many informants in the Zhou family?” Jin Feng glanced at Qing Muluan, amazed at the Qing family’s network.
Three informants in just the Zhou family. How many did Qing Muluan’s brother have across Xichuan Circuit?
Were there any around him?
Jin Feng felt a chill.
“Zhou Changlin once controlled the Jinchuan magistrate through Scribe Zhou. My brother had to keep a close eye,” Qing Muluan explained. “Other families don’t need as much attention. Training a good informant is hard.”
Sensing Jin Feng’s concern, she added, “Don’t worry, Master. My brother wouldn’t place informants around you. Qinghuai and I are the best informants.”
“Thanks for that,” Jin Feng said, slightly reassured.
Knowing it wasn’t the time to dwell, he asked Amei, “Any other leads?”
“No. The culprits were very clean. After the Zhou family, I met other informants from various circles. None knew who took Xiaobei,” Amei replied.
“This is tricky,” Jin Feng said, rubbing his chin in thought.
He’d brought the veterans to the county for potential conflicts.
Many wealthy gentry, including the Zhou family, kept house slaves.
If the Zhou family got desperate, the veterans were Jin Feng’s leverage.
But Guangyuan was much larger than Jinchuan. Most veterans, new to the city, couldn’t navigate it to search. They’d likely get lost before finding Xiaobei.
Without leads, bringing all of Xihewan’s people to Guangyuan would be useless.
It’d be like punching air, doing no harm to the enemy but risking self-injury.
“Master, I’ll have Amei notify all our informants in Guangyuan to search for Xiaobei,” Qing Muluan suggested, seeing Jin Feng’s troubled look.
“That’s not enough,” Jin Feng shook his head. “We need to mobilise the masses!”
“Mobilise the masses?” Qing Muluan asked, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Amei, have people post notices offering a reward for leads on Xiaobei and the masked man. Three hundred taels for information that helps us find her. One thousand taels for safely returning her!” Jin Feng stood up.
People leave traces, like geese leave calls. No matter how clean the culprits were, they must have left something behind.
How many informants could the Qing family have?
The power of the masses is boundless!
