109: Chapter 97: Killing Two Birds with One Stone, Exposing Suo Hanyi!_3 109: Chapter 97: Killing Two Birds with One Stone, Exposing Suo Hanyi!_3 But Suo Lun was the person she trusted the most, the one she loved…
Ye Jingyu said, “You, how did you know?
I know you have always had a poor relationship with Lord Suo Hanyi, but… but Lord Suo Hanyi’s loyalty to the Suo clan is evident to heaven and earth.”
Suo Lun shook his head, not answering.
Because his heart was shrouded in darkness, always ready to speculate the worst in others.
Also, he had an innate instinct for detecting conspiracies.
Not just him, Zhi Li and Zhi Ning both had this instinct.
Only, Zhi Ning sometimes let his emotions sway him.
“I don’t need to explain.
By tomorrow at the latest, you will see the truth of the matter,” Suo Lun said.
“Rest for four hours, then head north to Linhai City.”
Four hours later, Suo Lun led the samurai of his clan out of Baiyun County, following the only official road, heading straight north.
In a military camp a hundred miles away, a black bird landed in the palm of Zhi Ning.
She removed the secret message tied to its leg, a jumble of codes that she easily deciphered.
“Suo Lun has already led his forces into our trap.”
Zhi Ning’s eyes narrowed as she said to the man shrouded in black armor beside her, “Our target has entered the net.
Your task will arrive soon.
You are not going to hesitate, are you?”
The man in the black armor replied coldly, “Do I even have a choice now?
Besides, when it comes to killing him, I have never hesitated.”
He, of course, was Suo Hanyi.
Commandery Princess Zhi Ning picked up a pen and searched for a target on the wall-mounted map, then circled a mountain peak.
“Here, at a place called Lingjiang Peak, will be Suo Lun’s final resting place,” Zhi Ning said.
“Order the troops to begin closing in.
Drive our prey to Lingjiang Peak to facilitate Lord Suo Hanyi’s hunt.”
“Yes!” Eunuch Li Zhu, like a ghostly shadow, floated away.
Then, dozens of military orders were rapidly issued.
If an eye were in the sky at this moment, it would clearly see.
On the only official road from Baiyun County to Linhai City, a hundred-man troop was rapidly racing northward.
The official road hosted only their party, with no other soul around.
Dozens of miles behind them, layer upon layer of troops were weaving a net, enveloping them, one layer after another.
A full ten thousand troops, behind Suo Lun’s forces, were sealing them tight, driving Suo Lun towards the planned trap.
In Zhi Ning’s eyes, not even deities could escape her snare.
Suo Lun’s forces, with two horses per person, were galloping like mad.
All was quiet around, and not a single enemy could be seen.
Yet, there was an oppressive killing intent in the air, making it hard to breathe.
Invisible to them, an army of over ten thousand was gradually tightening its hold, forming an encircling net, layer by layer.
In less than three hours, they had already traveled two hundred li.
Now, the roaring of riverwaters could be heard.
Ahead lay the Nu River, and crossing its suspension bridge would mean entering Linhai City, ensuring complete safety.
However, Suo Lun’s gaze was drawn to a lone mountain not far ahead.
That was Lingjiang Peak, the very place Zhi Ning had chosen for his grave.
Suddenly, a desperate roar came from in front: “The suspension bridge over the Nu River is destroyed, we can’t cross, we’re finished, we’re done for.”
Suo Lun and his men urged their horses on, rushing to the southern bank of the Nu River.
Indeed, the sturdy suspension bridge above was now completely destroyed.
Below the cliff, dozens of meters down, raged the turbulent river, fierce and wild, like galloping steeds, uncrossable by any boat.
Gazing across to the other side of the Nu River, the land there was Linhai City.
The Nu River, nearly a hundred meters wide, stretched like a chasm between Suo Lun and Linhai City, a case of so near yet so far.
Then, a scout frantically caught up from behind, exclaiming in terror, “My lord, there’s a large enemy force spotted behind us, flying the banners of the Nurdan Rebels, closing in on us, only less than ten li away.”
Suo Lun asked, “How many are there?”
“Countless, as far as the eye can see,” the scout replied.
At that moment, everyone present fell into complete despair.
Apart from despair, Suo Mu and others were filled with boundless rage and sorrow.
Their lord, Suo Lun, stubbornly decided to head north to Linhai City on his own, refusing to join Lord Suo Hanyi because of a personal grudge.
Now, with the destroyed bridge ahead, the Nu River blocking the way, and the rebel forces closing in from behind, they were trapped and doomed.
“So the net is finally closing in?” Suo Lun thought with a cold smile.
The peak showdown with Zhi Ning was about to officially begin then.
Suo Lun ordered, “Everyone, dismount.
Carry all the gear from the horses and head up the mountain!”
He pointed towards Lingjiang Peak not far ahead.
There lay the burial ground Zhi Ning chose for him.
There, too, Suo Hanyi was expected to appear and take Suo Lun’s life.
Whether or not they could turn a desperate situation into survival, whether or not they could kill two birds with one stone and expose Suo Hanyi,
depended on this moment.