Chapter 108: Another Encounter, Jiuling Trading Firm

The child nodded, preparing to spur his horse to greater speed.

"Young Master," Yingdie suddenly rushed out, blocking the path of the child's horse. Her face was etched with as much anxiety as Chu Junhan’s. "Take me with you!"

Yingdie and Tang Chen had grown up together in the Liaozhou military camps, practically childhood sweethearts. Hearing that something had happened to Tang Chen, she was more frantic than anyone else.

Chu Junhan frowned slightly, glancing back at Yecheng. With only ten thousand soldiers stationed there, this was a precarious gamble; the last thing they could afford was a major mishap. Yecheng had to be defended!

"Sister Yingdie, you cannot go. Yecheng is essentially an empty city now; you must stay and help Mother hold the fort."

The child's gaze was resolute, carrying a weight of authority that brooked no argument. Yingdie gritted her teeth and stepped aside.

"Hyah!"

With the thunderous sound of hooves, two riders—one large, one small—galloped toward Kangding. Neither looked particularly composed.

"My Lord, should I disguise myself and infiltrate the city to scout for Ziyun’s whereabouts?" The youth had delicate, picturesque features and a gentle, handsome face.

"That trick likely won't work anymore. Let's not get you captured as well," the child replied, eyes fixed straight ahead. He was focused entirely on the journey, wishing he could fly to Kangding this instant.

"Then what shall we do?"

"I have my own methods."

…………

Night fell. With enemy troops looming outside the walls, Kangding was on high alert. The air was thick with the suffocating silence of a city awaiting an imminent battle.

A young girl darted about, looking left and right like a common thief, crouching low as she navigated the desolate, empty streets.

As she reached the South City Street, intending to head toward the military barracks, a plaque caught her eye. She stopped in her tracks and whispered, "Jiuling Trading Company? Why is there one in this city, too?"

Without a word, she instinctively drifted toward the closed storefront.

Knock, knock, knock. A light, rhythmic tapping echoed through the silent street.

"Who is it?" The door creaked open a sliver, and an eye peered out from the gap.

"Buying intelligence!" The girl pressed against the door, her voice pitched slightly higher, her movements practiced and fluid.

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened a bit wider, and a voice from within prompted, "Come in."

The girl nimbly slipped inside, her eyes bright in the darkness, shimmering with anticipation.

The shop assistant fumbled at the counter and lit a candle. The flickering flame revealed the interior, which was identical to the one in Changming City—down to the very attire of the attendant.

"Little guest, what kind of intelligence are you looking to purchase?" The assistant wore the same professional, artificial smile as the one in Changming, the curve of his lips exactly the same. If not for the fact that their builds and faces were different, Chu Junhan would have suspected they were the same person.

Chu Junhan shook her head and forced a smile of her own. "Shopkeeper, you remind me of someone."

"Oh? Who might that be?" the assistant replied, his smile unchanging.

"The shopkeeper of your Jiuling Trading Company in Changming City."

"Ah," the assistant acknowledged, maintaining his smile without offering any further comment.

The smile on Chu Junhan’s face stiffened. "Is that all you have to say?" she muttered through gritted teeth. It seemed that trying to build rapport was not going to work.

Feigning ignorance, the assistant bowed slightly with practiced respect. "The little guest has yet to say what intelligence she wishes to buy."

"Oh, I need information on where Tang Chen is being held."

The assistant paused for a moment, processed the request, and then asked with the same constant smile, "Do you want the specific details, or..."