Knowing Qian Xiaofu might be a problem, Qi Yihan immediately made arrangements. He sent a small team out of the city to lie in ambush below the walls. They dug several snow shelters in the snow. While uncomfortable, the snow piles offered protection from the wind, preventing them from feeling too cold.
As expected, barbarians came to raid at night. However, they didn't rush to attack but lay dormant beneath the city walls, even as close as a few steps from the snow shelters where the team was hiding.
No one dared to act rashly until a faint, brief light flashed on the ramparts, as if it had never been there.
But those in the snow shelters and the barbarians hiding below the wall had all seen it. It was the signal Qian Xiaofu had sent them.
On the battlements, Qian Xiaofu, who claimed to have a keen sense of smell, gave no warning. Instead, he had tipped off the barbarians.
The person responsible for monitoring Qian Xiaofu didn't quite understand his motives but didn't act rashly either, instead observing Qian Xiaofu's every move from the shadows.
Could it be that the barbarians intended to climb the city wall stealthily? How was that possible!
The stone walls were smooth, and even with grappling hooks, it would be difficult to ascend. Any slight sound would immediately alert the guards.
How could the barbarians enter the city?
To Qi Yihan and the others' surprise, there was a secret passage below the city. It was only wide enough for one person and led directly into the city. Qian Xiaofu's signal was to inform the barbarians outside that the entrance to the secret passage was safe and they could act at any time.
Upon seeing Qian Xiaofu's signal, the barbarians immediately moved. Their plan was to collaborate from both inside and out. As long as someone believed Qian Xiaofu's keen sense of smell could detect the barbarians, the guards would relax their vigilance. Then, they would enter the city through the secret passage and carry out assassinations in secret.
Fortunately, Qi Yihan and Li Man'er discovered Qian Xiaofu's strange behavior in time. The men in the snow shelters suddenly appeared before the barbarians, like celestial soldiers descending from heaven. The barbarians were shocked and tried to flee, but it was too late.
The team reacted with incredible speed, their weapons flashing towards the barbarians. The barbarians, caught off guard, struggled to defend themselves. Then, they heard cheers from the city walls, and the city gates were opened.
Their only option was to fight their way out. The entrance to the tunnel had also been discovered by the Zun Kingdom's forces, and all their plans had once again come to naught.
Soon, the dozen or so barbarians were all killed. Two had been kept alive, but they bit into poison hidden in their mouths and took their own lives.
Only Qian Xiaofu was captured and tied up securely, then thrown before Qi Yihan.
"I never would have thought that you, so thin and frail, looking like a mere child, would dare to be a spy," Ding Yan kicked him, wishing he could send Qian Xiaofu flying to his death.
Qian Xiaofu, pale-faced, refused to confess. "I'm not, I'm not."
"Not? Then why did you signal them?"
Qian Xiaofu's eyes darted around nervously, no longer showing any sign of his usual honesty. He shouted, "You're framing me! You saw me go to General Li and receive a reward, so you're deliberately calling me a spy to find an excuse to deal with me. General, General Li serves the Zun Kingdom and His Majesty. What wrong did I do by visiting her? You can't treat me like this."
Ding Yan was furious. "I never realized you were such a smooth talker! I thought you were an honest boy!"
"That's a rather convenient excuse," Qi Yihan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Why do you think we suspected you? Without evidence, how could we have caught you red-handed?"
"Caught red-handed?" Qian Xiaofu was confused. He had always been careful; how could he have been caught with evidence?
Ding Yan said, "The money pouch General Li rewarded you with, didn't you look at it?"
Qian Xiaofu's head buzzed. He looked down at the money pouch hanging from his waist, his heart filled with dread. He had indeed never looked inside. He had assumed it contained only gold and silver, nothing more. He had never imagined there could be anything else.
Ding Yan walked up, snatched the money pouch, and poured its contents onto the ground in front of him.
Besides a few pieces of silver, there was a bronze arrowhead. This arrowhead was specially made and was a reward given only to barbarian warriors. Considering the backwardness of barbarian production and their limited understanding of copper mining, the copper they possessed was mostly plundered from elsewhere, making bronze items particularly precious.
Each bronze arrowhead was etched with barbarian script, making it impossible to deny.
Ding Yan picked up the bronze arrowhead and walked over triumphantly. "What is this?"
Qian Xiaofu had no strength left to argue. Indeed, someone who had fled from famine and grown up in hardship, upon receiving a reward, wouldn't they check what was inside?
If he had seen the bronze arrowhead, he would have reacted. He would have either handed it over or returned it to Li Man'er.
But he hadn't even looked at it. How could he have known there was a bronze arrowhead etched with barbarian script inside?
"Li is working with you!" he finally understood. Li Man'er had suspected him all along, which was why she had placed a bronze arrowhead in the money pouch to test him. And because he hadn't opened the pouch, this scene had unfolded today.
Qi Yihan gave a sarcastic smile. "Didn't you say it yourself? We all serve His Majesty, so we are on the same side."
"You'd better confess honestly everything you've done and what other plans the barbarians have, or I'll make your life worse than death."
Qian Xiaofu cherished his life. He had no poison in his mouth and dared not bite his tongue to commit suicide.
"I'll talk..."
The information Qian Xiaofu confessed was immediately relayed to Li Man'er.
"Miss, over a dozen barbarians were killed. Qian Xiaofu indeed had a problem," Ah Si said, perplexed. "It's just that I don't understand. You suspected him after seeing his hand, right? When did you put the bronze arrowhead in there?"
Li Man'er paused slightly. She couldn't tell Ah Si that she had a spatial ability and could manipulate everything secretly.
"That's a matter of hand speed. I'll tell you later. By the way, where are the bodies of those barbarians? I want to see them."
"Oh, I heard they were dragged out into the street. General Han wants to see them too."
Li Man'er grabbed her cloak and said immediately, "Let's go now." Her main intention was to examine the equipment of these barbarians for any elements from her own era. If she found any, it would mean that fellow travelers might have arrived.
Transmigrators were never mediocre. If she encountered one, she needed to be fully alert to deal with them.