Li Nian also feared Li Man'er would be injured, "Man'er, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Li Man'er replied with a calm expression. "Third Uncle, Li Wenchang hasn't returned yet. Do you think he's died on the road, or has he already joined forces with the bandits?"
Li Nian knew there was a high probability Li Wenchang was a traitor. He hadn't believed Li Man'er at first, but after so much time had passed and he still hadn't returned, it seemed something unexpected had indeed happened.
Either he was dead, or he had come with the bandits.
Of course, he had to admit, the latter possibility was more likely.
"Did you see clearly? Are any of these people Li Wenchang's accomplices?"
Li Man'er shook her head. "Everyone was fighting desperately against the wolves; it was hard to tell. Third Uncle..."
Seeing her hesitation, Li Nian frowned slightly. "What is it?"
"Li Wenchang, I'm afraid he's a pawn of the barbarians."
"Barbarians?" Li Nian's eyes widened in panic. "How could that be?" The usually composed Li Nian was flustered. He couldn't bear to think about the consequences for the Li family if Li Wenchang were truly a pawn of the barbarians.
This was no different from treason!
Li Wenchang was a trusted confidant of Li Shu. If he were a barbarian's pawn, it would be a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan.
"What should we do now?" Li Nian asked. "If he really leads the barbarians here, I'm afraid no one present will escape unscathed."
Only the dead could keep secrets. For the sake of Li Wenchang, would he have to kill these guards who had faced life and death with him?
But if any survived, the Li family would face annihilation.
"Third Uncle, I have a way."
"Speak."
Li Man'er said, "Li Wenchang's motive is not hard to guess. He wants to sow discord between the Emperor and the Li family. Perhaps he even intends to use the Xiao family to cause the Northern Desert to change hands."
"How dare he!" Li Nian's eyes blazed with fury. He was clearly shaken by Li Man'er's guess.
If this were true, what did it matter if the Li clan was annihilated? They would still be sinners in the eyes of the world. If the Northern Desert fell to the barbarians, could the people within the passes live in peace? Those people were ambitious, their actions of burning, killing, and looting were heinous. If not for the exhaustion of their strength from the great war years ago, coupled with the continuous natural disasters in recent years, the barbarians would have already breached the pass.
"Third Uncle, Li Wenchang must not live."
"You're right," Li Nian said. "Even if he is innocent, he will be used by those with ulterior motives. Rather than that, it's better to..."
Cut the roots to eliminate the weeds.
The problem now was that they couldn't travel at night for fear of falling into an enemy trap. But if Li Wenchang returned with the bandits, the Li family would be tainted.
"I'll go!"
"No."
"Third Uncle, listen to me," Li Man'er said firmly. "It's not advisable to make a big fuss to find him. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Let's split into two groups. You stay here with everyone. If you encounter bandits or barbarians, there will inevitably be a fierce battle. There are more people, more strength. You have crossbows, and you've already taken my antidote pills. The chances of winning are high. This is a heavy burden, and as a niece, I cannot bear it."
Li Nian said, "I won't let you go alone. If something happens to you, how can I explain it to your late mother!"
"Third Uncle, the greater cause is more important. If he lives, neither you nor I will escape in the future." Li Man'er reasoned, "Third Uncle, I'll go alone to find Li Wenchang. My target will be smaller, and the chances of success will be greater. At worst, if I can't defeat him, I can still come back to report."
Li Nian was sweating profusely, but he couldn't think of another solution.
"You stay, I'll go."
"Do you think I can command the respect of the troops?" Li Man'er asked. "Even with the crossbows, in the face of a great enemy, matters of responding and annihilating them are not something a mere woman like me can undertake."
Li Nian still looked reluctant. He knew that Li Man'er's journey was fraught with danger and was far more complicated than she made it out to be.
"Third Uncle, if you hesitate, you will be in trouble. We don't have much time left."
"Fine!" Li Nian gritted his teeth. "Man'er, you must come back safely, alive."
A flicker of light flashed in Li Man'er's eyes. "Don't worry, Third Uncle. I am skilled, and I use poison. He may not gain any advantage. Oh, right."
She reached into her bosom, took out two porcelain bottles, and handed them to Li Nian. "The white bottle is for stopping bleeding from knife wounds. The black bottle is a deadly poison that takes effect upon contact with blood. Third Uncle, remember to use it carefully. Apply it to the arrowhead, and even a small scratch will be fatal. However, be careful not to hit your own men."
"Good!" Such methods were commonly used in the army, and Li Nian was very familiar with them. "Be careful."
Li Man'er nodded. "Third Uncle, take care of Qingyan. This child is intelligent and will surely have a blessed future." In fact, Li Qingyan would be safest with her, but she couldn't openly bring him when she was going to find Li Wenchang.
"Take your horse and leave quietly."
"Third Uncle, take care."
A complex emotion flashed in Li Nian's eyes, finally turning into a single sentence, "Come back safely."
"Alright!"
Li Man'er led her horse and quietly left the camp. Her departure did not attract anyone's attention, except for Liu Ya in the carriage, who noticed through the window.
She didn't know where Li Man'er was going, but she sensed Li Nian's worry and the determination in Li Man'er's demeanor.
How did the Li family's eldest branch raise their children? How did they raise their eldest daughter to be like this?
Fearless and reckless.
After Li Man'er left the camp with her horse, she rode for several miles searching for traces of Li Wenchang, but found nothing.
Considering the time, if Li Wenchang wanted to escape, he would have already covered a hundred li.
But his objective was definitely not just to escape; someone must be waiting for him.
Li Man'er reined in her horse and surveyed the surroundings. The vast Gobi desert was empty, not a soul in sight. Li Wenchang couldn't possibly have the ability to ascend to heaven or enter the earth, so where was he now?
Something must have gone wrong.
With wolves in front and bandits behind, the Li family's caravan had only a dozen or so people, making it difficult to resist.
But the wolves had all been slaughtered, and the bandits hadn't appeared. There must be something outside of the plan.
Just then, Li Man'er smelled a faint scent of blood in the air. The smell was so faint that it would be imperceptible if one didn't smell it carefully.
Li Man'er carefully discerned the direction and followed the scent of blood.
She had a premonition that she would be able to catch Li Wenchang this time, and perhaps gain something else.
After riding for another forty li or so, Li Man'er suddenly stopped her horse.
Distant flickering lights and faint shouting could be heard.
Li Man'er immediately dismounted and put her horse into her space. Staying up late at night, holding torches, and cursing people was rather interesting.