strictlysupreme Chapter 2011: Capture
Chapter 2011: Capture
The salty sea breeze blew the waves against the rocks. Zhou Lie was forced by two soldiers to kneel on the mudflat. The hemp rope on his wrists had rubbed his skin red.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on the toes of his muddy boots, until a pair of black cloud-patterned boots stopped before him, and then he slowly raised his head.
Huo Changhe looked down at him, the tassel of the sword at his waist still stained with seawater, and his voice was cold: "Where is the topographic map of Longyin Island?"
Zhou Lie's Adam's apple moved, and he coughed before speaking. His tone was filled with the unwillingness of a loser, yet also revealed a certainty: "It's in the yard where I live."
He paused, catching a glimpse of Huo Changhe's slightly raised eyebrows, and added, "It's hidden in the secret compartment at the bottom of the rosewood cabinet against the wall in the study."
"Why hide it so secretly?" asked someone next to Huo Changhe.
He is Su Zhenhai's deputy general Zhao Feng. He is usually suppressed by Zhou Lie. Now he can finally vent his anger and can't help but interrupt.
Zhou Lie glanced at him sideways and curled his lips: "The island's secret sentry deployment is marked there, so of course they have to be hidden well."
He raised his eyes and looked at Huo Changhe, "But the secret compartment is a bit special. Others may not be able to open it. I have to go and get it myself."
Huo Changhe was silent for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the twenty or so captives on the beach, then looking at the boat parked not far away, and finally nodded: "Okay."
He turned to Zhao Feng and ordered, "Leave ten men to watch the boat. No matter what happens, do not leave."
"Yes!" Zhao Feng responded and immediately ordered ten soldiers to go towards the warship.
"The remaining people are divided into two groups," Huo Changhe glanced at his secret guards and continued to order, "Take one team to check all parts of the island. If you find anyone alive, arrest them first, and focus on searching the caves and dense forests."
The secret guard stepped out and bowed, then quickly led half of his men into the woods in the center of the island.
Huo Changhe raised his chin towards Zhou Lie and said, "Lead the way."
Zhou Lie was dragged to his feet by the soldiers, his steps stumbling a bit, but he turned back and reminded them: "You'd better come with me. If you make a mistake with that secret compartment, the blueprint will be ruined."
Huo Changhe didn't respond, but just followed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island.
Mu Wan led Yan Ruyu and the other two through the woods, and the fallen leaves under their feet made a rustling sound.
She suddenly stopped and listened carefully. Her face gradually turned pale and her voice became a little tense: "Sir, it seems to be the yard in front."
Yan Ruyu looked in the direction she pointed, and saw a low courtyard wall hidden behind the bushes. She could faintly hear a woman's sobbing coming from inside the wall, intermittently, as if her mouth was covered.
Su Shengsheng's eyes lit up, and he rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward: "Finally found it! I'll go kick the door open!"
"Wait." Yan Ruyu stretched out her hand to stop her, her fingertips lightly resting on her wrist. The force was not strong but carried an unquestionable meaning.
Yinding came close to Su Shengsheng and advised in a low voice: "Don't be so stubborn, the situation inside is unclear."
Su Shengsheng shook off his hand, muttering to herself: "You little idiot who can't even hold a sword steady, and you have the nerve to say I'm showing off?" But seeing that Yan Ruyu didn't say anything, she finally stopped, but the tip of her nose still wrinkled in dissatisfaction.
Yan Ruyu stood outside the courtyard gate, her fingers hanging by her side curled up quietly.
She concentrated and held her breath, a faint silver light flashed in her eyes, and she calmly opened her eyes of perspective.
My sight penetrated the mottled courtyard wall and fell on the yard - there were some weeds growing on the blue brick ground, a few broken wood piled in the corner, and it was empty without even a single person in sight.
She frowned secretly: It's still not enough. This ability can only see through obstacles, but can't penetrate the wooden walls of the house.
Seeing that she looked calm but hesitated to move, Yinding took a step forward and asked in a low voice, "Master, have you noticed anything? Would you like me to go in and take a look?"
As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the dagger at his waist.
Yan Ruyu retracted her gaze, the silver light in her eyes quietly faded away, and she gently waved her hand: "No need."
He glanced at Su Shengsheng and Mu Wan and said, "Let's go in together."
Mu Wan's body trembled slightly when he heard this, and he subconsciously hid behind Su Shengsheng.
Seeing this, Su Shengsheng forgot his previous unhappiness, patted her shoulder, and lowered his voice to comfort her: "Don't be afraid, we are here."
After saying that, he walked to the gate of the courtyard first and reached out to grasp the cold wooden latch.
Huo Changhe followed Zhou Lie through a bamboo forest and could already see the courtyard in front.
Zhou Lie suddenly stopped and pointed to the wing room on the east side of the courtyard: "The study is over there, but you have to go around the screen wall in the front yard first."
Huo Changhe signaled the soldiers escorting Zhou Lie to slow down, while he looked up at the layout of the yard.
The courtyard wall was not very high, and there were some broken porcelain pieces stuck on the top of the wall. Two of Zhou Lie's old subordinates were guarding the door, but they had already been subdued by Huo Changhe's men.
"Go in." Huo Changhe's tone was calm, but it carried an invisible pressure.
Zhou Lie didn't delay any longer and walked into the yard.
As soon as he walked around the screen wall, he saw that the door of the study was ajar. He turned around and smiled at Huo Changhe: "It's inside, follow me."
Huo Changhe nodded and followed him into the study.
As soon as I entered the door, I smelled a faint scent of ink. The rosewood cabinet standing by the wall did look quite old.
On the other side, Su Shengsheng had already pushed open the gate.
The wooden door creaked, and the whimpering sound in the yard seemed to disappear, as if it had never appeared, but there was still no one in sight.
As Yan Ruyu stepped over the threshold, she paused, glanced at the three people behind her, and said in a very low voice: "There is something strange about this yard. Everyone, be alert."
Yinding nodded quickly, walked more lightly, and even took a slower breath. His round body was slightly bent, just like a mole trying to peek out.
Su Shengsheng followed behind him and couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips - this little fat boy was more cautious than anyone else at the critical moment. This was also good, as long as he didn't implicate others.
She turned her head to look at Mu Wan beside her. Seeing that Mu Wan's face was pale and his fingertips were trembling slightly, she softened her voice and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to protect you."
Although she was wearing men's clothes, the softness between her eyebrows and her slender figure made anyone know that she was a girl.
Mu Wan's eyes warmed slightly, and he nodded vigorously, his voice trembling with gratitude: "Thank you."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out and grab her sleeve, his fingertips clenching tightly.
Su Shengsheng patted the back of her hand and glanced across the yard.
The doors and windows of the left and right wing rooms were ajar, but the door of the main house was tightly closed, exactly as Mu Wan had described before.
But the silence was so abnormal that even the sound of the wind seemed particularly clear.
Yan Ruyu walked to the door of the main house and was about to turn around and signal Yinding to go forward to check the door latch when she suddenly heard a light "click" sound behind her.