152 The Journey North 12

"Hmmmph! I have no desire to waste any of my time with scoundrels like these!" Li Changhai declared when he pulled the head of his glaive back, and started to clean the blade, ignoring the somewhat shocked expressions on the faces of the quartet at his side.

His words seemed to be directed at the Bodyguards at his side, as well as Qin Feng and Lieutenant Wei, who had seemed somewhat astounded by his apparent nonchalance. But the lieutenant had simply given the Second Ducal Prince a quick bow, before starting to move off towards the wagons once again.

As for Qin Feng, he merely shrugged, and sagged immediately after that. After all, he was more concerned about his injuries, rather than the fact that Li Changhai had tossed away a chance to find out more about his enemies. Or perhaps, he had already expected this Iron Fire Mountain Sect to make a move towards him?

Then he received another surprise, when the Bodyguard who had taken Pudgy Cheeks' sword stepped forward to return that weapon into his hands.

The large man laughed when he saw Qin Feng's confusion at that. "You were the one who took him down, so that should be your prize. Just consider us holding it for you earlier, to allow for a smoother interrogation," he explained.

That was a reasonable explanation, so Qin Feng didn't hesitate to receive the weapon with a smile. The common long sword that he had been using had suffered scratches along its surface, and chips to its edge. So he was more than pleased to get his hands on a better weapon.

A loud cry echoed through the field, just as he bent down to search for what else Pudgy Cheeks had been carrying. Looking up, he noted that the rest of the soldiers had already dealt with the remaining assailants who had been dressed in Barbarian garb. And that Lieutenant Wei had returned to the remaining scouts, and were sending them off to check on something.

By the time he was done recovering what he could from the first corpse, out of the four that he had slain, the Second Ducal Prince and his Bodyguards had also finished checking their original assailant's body. When Qin Feng shifted to the rest of his kills, he was close enough to the trio to hear Li Changhai sigh. But before he could ask the Prince what was the matter, they were interrupted by the cheering of the remaining escorts.

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Which was enough to make the two young men smile, and nod at one another. Then the two of them turned to watch the soldiers raising their weapons up in the air and cheering. It looked like they were more than pleased at having survived the assault.

However, an angry look soon returned to the Second Ducal Prince's face. And Qin Feng didn't miss the exhaustion which his pair of Bodyguards wore. Clearly, things weren't as simple as just another raid. And it was also obvious that the danger wasn't altogether over yet.

Well, that was something for the Prince to worry about, Qin Feng told himself. And quickly moved to search the rest of his kills. If they were going to get into more fights later on, he would have to make sure that he had a few spare weapons!

*

Li Sanlang wore a somewhat bitter smile upon his lips as he walked back towards the remnants of his hundred strong bodyguard, leaving the injured Qin Feng behind him. To be honest, he was more than pleased that he had only lost nineteen of his men. Oh, there were another five or six with somewhat serious injuries, but they looked like they would survive. At least, that was what Lieutenant Wei Xuanran had reported.

That meant that he would probably arrive at his father's city with close to three-quarters of the escort that his Uncle, the Marquis, had provided. Not too terrible a loss, he decided. He would have preferred to have made the trip without any such ambushes, but it was clear that his father's enemies had already painted a target on him.

Part of him was annoyed that he was being used to upset his father, while another part of him was glad that he had showed off his worth, as a warrior. But he would have to stay in the Ducal City for a good while, and take on more Bodyguards, as a result of this.

And it was rather obvious that he was not going to be allowed to lead a troop of soldiers, like his brother, in the upcoming Summer campaign to hunt the Barbarians either.

Which meant that he wasn't going to have a chance to show off what he had learned after all. Despite all of his practice and all of his anticipation. Still, the Barbarians did not appear to be preparing for an attempt to storm into the Kingdom come Summer. Otherwise, why would they have launched such a strange assault from the Southern Woods?

Strangely, all that he felt was relief, rather than disappointment.

Which was enough to make him sigh to himself, when he realised it. Perhaps what his grandfather said was true: he wasn't meant to be a warrior like his older brother! No doubt, the First Ducal Prince would be more than eager to rush forth with his own special troop, his Blue Steel Riders, to sweep up the Barbarians, once he hears about the change in their tactics.

Well, he didn't have a whole Sect targeting him when he does so, did he?

A soft grunting sound from one of his Bodyguard made Li Changhai look up then. Just in time to spot the lieutenant in charge of his escort return. No doubt with a proper report of his findings. Especially on how the enemy had managed to surprise his troop.

Lieutenant Wei wore a grim expression as he pointed to both sides of the trail, once he was close enough to report. "They have dug pits around this spot, and made sure not to disturb the grass too much. And hid in those pits until they were ready to spring their ambush. That was why our scouts had missed it," he reported quietly.

Li Changhai looked somewhat surprised by that report, but nodded at the lieutenant to continue, when he saw that the man still had something to say.

"The second group had located their own hiding places - similar pits, a little further away from the trail, and on the other side. I believe that they were waiting for a chance to strike at you and you alone, Prince. To assassinate you. They clearly had not expected you to rush off to fend off the enemy yourself."

"Then ... I had spoiled their plan?"

"Indeed, your Highness. And you turned back in time too, to spoil any chance they had of mixing themselves into that crowd, so that they can isolate you. Hence, they were forced to come out of hiding, to confront you directly.

"Besides that, I think they were not expecting you to have such a strong bodyguard at your side. At least, not someone who is a cultivator, who is so skilled with the sword."

Li Sanlang turned to look at the lieutenant, but was somewhat surprised to see no indication that Wei Xuanran was joking on the latter's face. Instead, the man seemed almost proud that the Second Ducal Prince had taken such a step.

Which was enough to make the Prince blink distractedly. And turn to stare at Qin Feng, who was still busy searching the bodies of the slain assassins.

* * *