Planning a Counterattack

"So...who should go?"

Zhao Dalong swallowed nervously, feeling flustered, and dared not look at Chen Lu.

"Brother Da Long, the Zi Gu is in my hands, and it's inconvenient for me to leave. Why don't you go instead? Go quickly and come back soon."

"Is this...appropriate?"

Chen Lu smiled, looking teasing:

"Brother Dalong, discovering the traces of the thief is a great achievement. The Wang family will definitely reward you when you return."

I've given you a chance to shine, so don't say I didn't help you next time!

"This... Ah-Lu, you were the one who noticed it first..."

Chen Lu interrupted him, saying somewhat forcefully:

"Alright! Let's not be so formal, brother. If we don't go to the thief's place soon, they'll get suspicious!"

"good!"

Realizing the importance of time, Zhao Dalong no longer hesitated. He rushed out of the dense forest, mounted his spirit horse, cracked the whip, and a gust of wind burst forth from his body, returning to the caravan at top speed.

"With Zhao Dalong around, my target will be much smaller. If outsiders have any doubts, they will have to put in a lot of effort to connect it to me."

Chen Lu mounted his horse and rode at his original pace to avoid staying still and arousing suspicion from the waiting cultivators.

...

The two were not far from the caravan; it would normally take them only a quarter of an hour to walk there.

Not to mention that with the full speed of the spirit horse, it returned to the caravan in just a few minutes.

"Something's wrong! Third Chief Escort! I've just spotted what appears to be trails of bandits!"

Zhao Dalong recounted to everyone the discoveries that Chen Lu had previously told him.

"Third Chief, is it possible that Zhao Dalong misjudged the situation?"

Some people felt that Zhao Dalong's cultivation level was not high and became suspicious.

"Not necessarily. Zhao Dalong specializes in the 'Thick Earth Technique,' so he might be better at detecting soil traces than others."

The three镖头 (bodyguards) stared at Zhao Dalong, knowing best what abilities he possessed.

"Where's A-Lu? Where is he now?"

He trusted Da Long to go because Chen Lu was there; even if something unexpected happened, he could handle it smoothly.

As for Zhao Dalong, he only knows how to do what he is told. If Chen Lu hadn't given him instructions, he would almost never have thought of actively searching for traces. He would only risk his life to test the waters.

He would spend his whole life as a bodyguard who took orders from others, instead of giving orders and receiving a higher salary as a bodyguard leader.

"He asked me to come back and deliver a message, asking Brother Mo to stay behind and guard the caravan alone, and also asking you to take Brother Song with you. He knows archery, and we can discuss the matter of robbing the cultivators together."

Zhao Dalong was unaware that the three镖头 (bodyguards) had become suspicious; he was only thinking of changing the subject and getting them to hurry up and meet with Chen Lu.

The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) sensed the panic in his words, and considering his relationship with Chen Lu, he guessed what was going on.

It might sound dangerous to leave only one person to guard the caravan, but that's not actually the case.

The bodyguards had all learned special secret techniques that allowed them to make their voices extremely loud, so they could shout loudly in case of an emergency.

In the wilderness, where there are no buildings to block the sound, it can travel very far; a fifteen-minute horse ride is enough to hear it.

If there are any unforeseen circumstances, we can get back in just a few minutes at full speed and return quickly at any time.

Chen Lu was intelligent and would not do anything he was not sure of.

Since he was sent back to deliver the message, it means it's probably true. Even if it's a misjudgment, as long as he's alive, there's still a chance.

Thinking of this, the third镖头 (head镖师) immediately turned to the镖队 (镖队) and gave instructions:

"Ah Song, take all the bows and arrows and come with me to meet Ah Lu."

"Amo, continue on your way as usual. If there is any emergency, immediately announce it loudly."

"yes!"

Zhao Dalong immediately changed horses and galloped ahead to lead the way for the three镖头 (bodyguards).

"Ah Lu, how's the situation?"

As soon as the three镖头 (bodyguards) saw Chen Lu, they couldn't wait to ask him about his discovery.

After recounting some fabricated details, Chen Lu subtly changed the subject, revealing the part he had divined:

"During the last siege, I found that their deployment was well-organized and not a simple siege."

Judging from the direction the arrows were coming from, there were approximately seven of them, with three in the inner circle and four in the outer circle, concealed among themselves.

"However, there are only four of us, only one bow, and we are far away. I'm afraid we will have a hard time fighting back."

Archer Wang Shengsong expressed his concerns.

"I thought of this, so a few days ago I bought a crossbow and practiced for many days. Accuracy is no longer a problem."

Chen Lu held the crossbow in his hand and showed it to everyone.

Wang Shengsong nodded slightly. Chen Lu was not one to show off and never spoke of things he wasn't confident about, so he didn't doubt Chen Lu's abilities.

"If we turn the tables, Aru and I can each take down one person, but what if there are still five on the other side?"

Chen Lu did not reveal his plan, but looked at the Third Chief Escort, who was the leader here.

"If it comes to close combat, no cultivator below the Qi Refining stage is my match."

According to Alu, there are four more people on the outer circle. If we split up, our chances of survival are slim.

The third镖头 (head镖师) glanced at Chen Lu, and seeing that he didn't intend to express an opinion, he continued:

"First, let's consider negotiation. Da Long and I will go forward, while you and Asong will stay in the shadows to provide cover. Don't make a move without orders."

"What if they are unwilling to negotiate?"

Zhao Dalong was worried, always feeling that the worst was bound to happen, and that even if he didn't consider others, he had to consider himself.

This time, the third镖头 (head of the镖师) remained silent, wanting to see what Chen Lu was thinking.

Chen Lu knew that the Third Escort was testing him, and in order to gain enough trust in this matter, he continued following the Third Escort's line of thought:

"No, we didn't have any deep-seated hatred for each other before, and all they wanted was profit."

Since some security escort agencies are offering high prices to hire robbers, we can do the same.

Last time we were surrounded, we were at a complete disadvantage, but in the end we did nothing. This means that the matter can be discussed; there's no need for fighting.

The three镖头 (bodyguards) nodded slightly, a hint of approval appearing in their eyes.

Of all the bodyguards, Chen Lu is most like himself; he follows the rules with those who abide by them, and doesn't follow them with those who don't.

In everyone's eyes, the deaths of three porters were nothing more than the lowest level of the escort agency, and there was no need to make enemies over them.

These days, everything is in short supply, but there is no shortage of cultivators. Even though this job is extremely dangerous, there are always plenty of hotheads vying to do it every year.

Before feelings can be developed, they can't withstand the pressure and leave. They change their partners every six months, more often than they change clothes.

How can the bodyguards be angered by the deaths of a group of strangers?

"As is customary, they will escort us safely to 'Red Bamboo Immortal City'."

"But... what if they don't follow the rules? These days, we're the only ones still sticking to the old ways."

Zhao Dalong was worried and had some thoughts of retreating, but he didn't dare to show it because the Third Escort was in front of him.

"Because we never intended to keep our promise. Think about it, no one would expect the person who is most compliant to break their promise to suddenly do so."

In order to gain their trust, they will definitely show themselves and negotiate with the three镖头 (bodyguards/escorts).

The fact that the Third Escort Leader was a body-refining cultivator but not a practitioner of illegal cultivation was known only within the escort agency.

"Wait for instructions, and then we'll join forces, near and far, to take them down!"