Within the convoy, an atmosphere of unease prevailed as most were left in the dark about the specifics of the situation. When it came to court proceedings, the details weren't plastered on red paper for all to see. Those who didn't know speculated wildly, and even those in the know engaged in gossip.

Nevertheless, years of escorting and navigating the martial world left no doubt in their minds: this situation either involved encountering highly skilled martial artists or having a traitor among them.

At noon, under the scorching sun, Jiang Yu raised his hand, signaling the convoy to rest for half an hour. The temperature difference between day and night in the wilderness was extreme. The chill that had greeted them at dawn was now replaced by scorching heat, with dry, hot winds enveloping them from all directions.

Some of the escorts simply sat on the yellow sand, pulling out their water flasks from their waists and gulping down water. The water flowed down their throats, providing relief.

Hu Li found a low slope and leaned back against it, not straying far, with two Jin Yi Wei guards following closely behind him. He pulled out a flask from his waist, shaking it to find it full of liquor confiscated from Shi Yue before they left. Hu Li opened the lid and took a big sip.

Jiang Yu tilted his head back and drank some liquor, feeling the burning sensation flow down his throat, dispelling much of the coldness that had accumulated earlier. Setting down the flask, he glanced at Hu Li, who was pouring liquor into his mouth with determination several dozen steps away from the convoy. Jiang Yu got up and walked over to Hu Li, offering him a white steamed bun. "Want some?"

Hu Li looked up at Jiang Yu, took the bun, and took a big bite. "Thanks, my lord. It's a bit tough, but it tastes good."

Jiang Yu paid no attention to Hu Li's complaints, sitting down beside him and drinking his liquor.

Hu Li's gaze shifted slightly, and the whispering among the escorts ceased abruptly as soon as their eyes met his, and they scattered in panic. Obviously, they believed more in the presence of a traitor, and they suspected it was Hu Li.

How foolish.

Hu Li smirked and withdrew his gaze, continuing to eat the steamed bun.

As the hour approached, they were nearing the Yilin Mountains. Regardless of the season, on rainy days, a chilling cold seeped into one's bones. The day Jiang Yu's group arrived at the Yilin Mountains, it started to rain.

After all the exiled officials were in place, Jiang Yu stood under the eaves for a while. Despite the rain, it wasn't too cold, but the rain was still falling lightly.

Because of the rain, the horses and men stopped at the relay station for an hour. The station attendant prepared some small dishes, and groups of three to five people filled their stomachs in the main hall.

Hu Li had eaten a bun and drank a flask of liquor at noon, but his stomach still felt uncomfortable. Standing at the window on the second floor, he could see Jiang Yu standing at the station gate, talking to someone. They were very close, as if afraid of being overheard.

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Hu Li watched for a while but couldn't discern anything from Jiang Yu's face.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him. A blade was pressed against his waist. Hu Li had expected this and moved sideways, drawing the long knife from his back and countering the fierce attack coming from behind.

Xu Cheng stepped back and retracted his blade. He didn't make any further moves, but instead pressed the blade against his own arm, standing with his arms crossed.

Xu Cheng grinned at Hu Li, his face full of pride. Hu Li was surprised by Xu Cheng's brazen behavior. Given the current situation and location, he shouldn't have acted like this.

Xu Cheng was quite the failure as a sect leader. Without the military advisor to guide him, Xu Cheng dared to play with a bad hand.

"Are you full, Lord Xu? Coming to spar with me?" Hu Li asked, puzzled by Xu Cheng's behavior.

"Cut the nonsense," Xu Cheng wiped his blade on his clothes, "Last night's incident is related to you."

Hu Li was surprised by Xu Cheng's persistence. And Xu Cheng, though not very bright, shouldn't be acting like this in the current situation and location.

"Because of a blade wound? Lord Xu, are you imagining things?" Hu Li quipped.

Xu Cheng arrogantly pointed his finger, "Although I couldn't see your face, there's only one person with a five-foot-long knife, and that's you, Hu Li."

Unable to see his face.

When he was talking to Shi Yue, they were far from the shed.

Xu Cheng recognized him only because of his long knife, but he didn't recognize Shi Yue at all. And from what Xu Cheng said, he didn't hear what they were talking about.

But it was still troublesome...

"What advice does Lord Xu have?" Hu Li asked, suppressing his smirk.

"The waist badge of the Black Horse Escort Agency," Xu Cheng said boldly, "I won't go around talking about it."

Hu Li glanced out of the window and happened to see Jiang Yu looking up at him. Hu Li nodded to Jiang Yu and replied to Xu Cheng, "Okay, we have a deal, Lord Xu."

Calculating the time, their convoy left the inn early in the morning. Vice-Admiral Yu Qiu's escort team also set out from Yanran, and they should be staying at the inn by evening.

As night fell, things didn't go as planned.

The sky was dark, with thunderous roars echoing, as if a giant wheel was rolling rapidly overhead. Rain became a curtain, falling relentlessly, turning the streets into rivers.

In the wilderness, a dark spot could be seen, with voices shouting from near and far.

"One, two, one..." Several men in raincoats pushed a horse-drawn carriage with all their might. Rain mixed with the sand on their bodies, creating a gray color, and trickled down their thighs in winding paths. The raincoats gleamed in the flashes of lightning. With each movement, they flung water to the side.

The situation with the carriage stuck in the mud lasted a long time.

The rain continued unabated, lashing down with ferocity.

"Another person to help at the front," Jiang Yu shouted.

Someone ran forward from behind and grabbed the reins.

Hu Li pushed the cart from behind, splattering mud on his face. It was hard to exert force in the rain, and his body leaned slightly, but he still exerted all his strength.

Beside him, Xu Cheng held a knife, leaning it against the cart with all his weight, muttering curses at Hu Li under his breath.

But Hu Li ignored him. Xu Cheng grunted and finally pushed the cart a few times as well.

The voices rang out again in the intervals of rain.

The wheels of the carriage sank back, splashing mud from the puddle onto someone's leg. Shoes were now useless, soaked through.

"Done!" someone shouted.

The carriage's momentum had indeed decreased significantly, and those who were pushing it felt their arms go numb. As the horse broke free from the mud, it surged forward a few steps.

In the late night, the rain stopped and the day brightened quickly.

The rain was sporadic. Travelling in the heavy rain had consumed most of the convoy's energy.

Hu Li was used to this level of exertion and didn't feel much. Back in the day, when Xu Ji took him and Shi Yue on the run throughout Daming, being chased and running for three days with little time to drink water was not uncommon.

Hu Li walked at the front of the convoy, and soon came face to face with Jiang Yu.

The rest of the people followed behind. Hu Li pulled the cart, glancing at Jiang Yu with a smile.

Jiang Yu's hat was long gone, his hair wet, and his raincoat and face covered in mud.

Quite a sight.

"Lord Jiang looks like he just finished planting rice," Hu Li joked.

"Who were you talking to at Yilin Mountains?" Jiang Yu didn't respond to Hu Li's joke but suddenly asked.

"Xu Cheng," Hu Li glanced at Jiang Yu, candidly saying, "My pronunciation of 'Lord Xu' is clear, and you probably couldn't see but could hear it."

"There's some shady business going on," Jiang Yu commented, but he didn't press further.

Hu Li knew he couldn't hide anything from Jiang Yu, but he tried to conceal it anyway. If this matter could be brought to light, he wouldn't have to agree to Xu Cheng's conditions. But when Jiang Yu asked, Hu Li was puzzled.