Chapter 264: Encirclement

"This is far too much." Looking at the ten thousand-tael bank notes in her hand, Shi Lan felt overwhelmed. A single note of this denomination was equivalent to ten thousand taels of gold, and Xiao Xie had just stuffed ten such notes into her grasp—a staggering total of one hundred thousand taels of gold. That amount was more than enough to sustain the entire population of Mount Shu for several years.

Xiao Xie hooked his finger under Shi Lan’s chin, pulled her slender waist closer with his other arm, and said with a playful smirk, "If you feel so guilty about it, why don't you just marry me? Once you become my wife, everything I own will naturally belong to you anyway!"

"Brother Xiao, you're teasing me again," Shi Lan said, casting a sideways glance at him with a hint of coy reproach.

"Hahaha..."

***

"The rebels have already obtained the machine-crafted bronze disk, and the secret of the Black Dragon Scroll will soon be deciphered. Do you two have any countermeasure?" Fusu asked General Meng Tian and Li Si inside the general's mansion.

"This subordinate failed in my duty to protect and has no excuses. Please punish me, Your Highness," Meng Tian said, dropping to one knee to plead guilty.

"General Meng, please rise. The issue at hand is not about assigning blame, but rather what solutions you can propose," Fusu said hurriedly, stepping forward to help Meng Tian up.

"This subordinate will double the troop strength and thoroughly encircle and annihilate the rebels' lair," Meng Tian declared decisively.

"Oh? You are that certain?"

"The clue for this raid came from an informant planted deep within the enemy's ranks," Li Si replied respectfully.

"Oh? Someone on the inside?"

"Indeed."

"Good, very good," Fusu said with a satisfied nod.

Warhorses galloped furiously out of the city gates, led by Meng Tian and Xinghun. Their target was the secret stronghold of the Mohists. Countless horses kicked up billows of dust across the desolate landscape.

***

Because the Black Dragon Scroll was about to be decoded, Master Ban and his companions had specifically contacted Xiaoyaozi and his group from the Taoist school to meet at the Mohists' secret stronghold outside the city, as gathering in Songhai City itself presented too many inconveniences.

"Leaders, our friends from the Taoist school have arrived," a Mohist disciple announced as he led a cloaked figure into the grand hall to address Master Ban and the others.

The cloaked figure lifted his hood, revealing a familiar face—it was none other than Xiaoyaozi.

Gao Jianli hurried forward to greet him. "Master Xiaoyao."

"Leader Gao, it is good to see you," Xiaoyaozi nodded in return.

"Just call me Little Gao. Where are Master Xiaoyao's attendants?" Gao Jianli asked with a hint of curiosity.

"I had them remain outside with the Mohist brethren to maintain a perimeter and keep watch," Xiaoyaozi explained. He then turned to Master Ban and said, "Master Ban, it has been a long time."

"Indeed. Ever since we parted ways at the Mohist City of Mechanics several months ago," Master Ban stroked his beard and sighed with emotion.

Xiaoyaozi stepped closer and cupped his fists in greeting, "Everyone."

"Master Xiaoyao," the others returned the gesture.

"It has been far too long. Seeing each other once is no easy feat," Xiaoyaozi remarked with a touch of sentiment. Then, looking somewhat puzzled, he asked Master Ban, "Master Ban, why is your Grand Master not here?"

"The Grand Master has other pressing matters to attend to and will arrive a bit later. He sent us here to welcome you first," Master Ban explained, handing a bamboo slip to Xiaoyaozi.

"Is this the contents of the Black Dragon Scroll?" Xiaoyaozi asked in surprise as he examined the text on the bamboo slip.

"Precisely," Master Ban nodded.

"Ying Zheng is coming to Songhai!"

"That is correct."

"The Floating Island has been completed, and Ying Zheng can no longer remain idle in Xianyang Palace."

"Therefore, the day the Floating Island sets sail will be the exact moment Ying Zheng arrives in Songhai."

Xiaoyaozi continued his questioning, "Have the people from Mount Shu also arrived in Songhai City?"

"Yes, our Grand Master has already made contact with them."

"So many people have gathered here solely because of the Floating Island. What on earth was this Floating Island built for? And who is Lord Cloud?" Xiang Liang asked curiously.

"Lord Cloud, also known as Xu Fu, is one of the five Elders of the Yin-Yang School, alongside Lord Death, Lady Death, Lord Xiang, and Lady Xiang. His status is second only to the two grand protectors. Each elder possesses unique mastery; Lord Cloud is most adept at refining elixirs. Because his medicine cured Ying Zheng's chronic migraines, he gained the emperor's absolute trust. Lord Cloud told Ying Zheng that deep in the southeast of Songhai lie three immortal mountains: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou. This voyage is undertaken precisely to journey to these immortal mountains in search of the elixir of immortality," Gaine explained.

"Immortal life?"

"Faced with death, perhaps even Ying Zheng fears it above all else, like any mere mortal," Xiaoyaozi said calmly.

"Hmm?" Thief Zhi's expression shifted abruptly. He vanished instantly, appearing by the doorway to peer outside before turning back to address the group. "Someone is coming. It's our people."

"Bang!" The heavy doors were suddenly thrown open as a panting Mohist disciple rushed inside. "Leaders... Meng Tian is leading the Golden Fire Cavalry, and they are less than three miles away from here!"

As the disciple finished speaking, the tea in the cups upon the table began to vibrate. Xiaoyaozi's expression darkened. "It's already too late."

"Clop, clop, clop..." Scarcely had Xiaoyaozi finished speaking when the sound of pounding hooves echoed from outside. At the terrifying speed of the Golden Fire Cavalry, a distance of three miles vanished in the blink of an eye.

Thief Zhi looked out the window and saw that Qin soldiers bearing torches had already completely surrounded the estate.

"Search every single dwelling, thicket, and haystack with utmost thoroughness. Do not miss the slightest trace of a clue, you hear me!" Meng Tian waved his heavy hand and barked the order.

"Understood!" Acknowledging Meng Tian's command, dozens of soldiers immediately began scouring the surrounding area.

"Master Ban, what should we do now?" Thief Zhi turned and asked Master Ban.

"Hmph, we'll fight them to the death!" Iron Hammer slammed his fist onto the table and prepared to stand up, rushing outside to battle Meng Tian's forces head-on.

"Hold on. The enemy outnumbers us greatly; charging out to fight blindly would be unwise," Gao Jianli reached out to block Iron Hammer.

"Our Grand Master anticipated this situation beforehand. Everyone, follow me," Master Ban stated, turning around and walking briskly toward the inner rooms.

Thief Zhi and the others exchanged glances before following closely behind Master Ban into the back quarters.

"Ah, so there is a secret passageway here!" Thief Zhi exclaimed with a grin as he watched Master Ban trigger a mechanism in the room, revealing a hidden underground tunnel.

"This secret route was prepared well in advance. Let us retreat at once!" Master Ban urged the others before descending into the underground passage first.

As the group hurried through the subterranean tunnel, Xue Nu asked Master Ban with a trace of doubt, "Master Ban, even with this underground escape route, won't Meng Tian and his men catch up to us very quickly?"

"Roar..." A sudden, ferocious tiger roar echoed through the corridor.

"Ah, it's the White Tiger!" Duanmu Rong realized with a sudden flash of insight.

Master Ban chuckled heartily. "Following our Grand Master's instructions, I specially had two White Tigers prepared here. Thanks to the financial backing of the Tower to the Heavens—we certainly aren't lacking in funds these days—I had two brand-new White Tigers built and placed on standby here. They will be more than enough to delay Meng Tian and his forces."