The plan was put in motion after detailed arrangements. They used the remaining of the day to scout and put traps on the 2 locations while Bai Liang accompanied Huo Zhang to scout their assigned area.
Although Bai Liang already confirmed it with Xue Liang, on the surface, it was only a deduction on his part, so neither he nor Huo Zhang didn't tell the rest about their deduction. Instead, Huo Zhang sent people to scout the location.
Arriving at their designated spot, there wasn't any landmark or key difference that could differentiate it from the rest of the forest. The trees were equally tall and lush, the grass and moss were equally green, and the cries of insects were equally prominent.
Bai Liang inspected their surroundings when he noticed something and opened his parasol. A small needle shot towards him but with the parasol covering him, it didn't manage to pierce through.
Huo Zhang drew his bow and shot a normal arrow to the top of the tree, a distance away from behind Bai Liang. He continued sniping the shadows, each arrow straight and decisive, not taking one second to release.
Few loud thuds ensued from around him while Bai Liang checked the surface of his parasol. Stuck on one of the painted flowers was a needle almost as thin as hair. He plucked it out with his handkerchief and looked at the fallen assassins, all mercilessly shot through their heart, before giving the handkerchief to Huo Zhang. "What should we do with them?"
"Leave them to my people." Huo Zhang took it and found the needle was coated with blood-draining poison. It was a type of poison that would lower someone's blood level at a rapid speed as if they were bleeding. Those who died from this poison looked like they died from anemia or overwork.
"Let us return." Huo Zhang stored it. "We have a camp to clean."
Bai Liang nodded and followed Huo Zhang back.
Once they reached camp, Huo Zhang's subordinates already waited by the entrance. In front of them, 5 soldiers were tied and lined, beaten black and blue until their faces swelled–one of them being a participant in the meeting. The other soldiers were all restless, not knowing what they should do.
Tian Qing-Shan was also by the gate and approached Huo Zhang upon their arrival. "General Huo, what is the meaning of this?"
"They are spies, Your Highness," Bai Liang answered. "Of other princes'."
Huo Zhang drew out his sword and decisively killed the soldier who participated their meeting and his colleague with a stab in their necks. The other 3 paled and trembled, immediately trying to break free and run, but Huo Zhang's subordinates restrained them down.
"General Huo, is there any need to kill them!?" Tian Qing-Shan didn't dare to block Huo Zhang's path, but he also thought it was excessive to kill the spies.
They weren't at war. This was only a hunt and even if the spies would've caused them trouble, they wouldn't cause them heavy death.
"Those two are the second prince's people," Bai Liang answered for Huo Zhang again. "General, you may let go of the rest."
Huo Zhang signalled his subordinates with a glance. They struck down their sword and slashed down the rope along with the skin of their captives. The spies held down their screams of pain and scrambled to get up and leave.
"Convey this to your employers." Bai Liang smiled. "Let us not disturb each other, shall we?"
The spies shuddered from Bai Liang's smile, both beautiful yet incredibly out of place against the circumstances, and quickly ran away with blood draining off their flesh.
Huo Zhang whipped off the blood on his blade and sheathed it back. He returned inside with Bai Liang, and the soldiers saluted them as they walked in while the others backed away with some fear. Because he retracted his fangs recently, they almost forgot how fearsome he actually was on the battlefield. The past him would've killed all of them without any hesitation. It was already merciful of him to let the other 3 soldiers go with only a critical injury.
But they knew that was only because his wife told him so. They knew now the general and his wife were meant for each other. How could a gher be so undisturbed towards blood and death in front of him?
Tian Qing-Shan entered their tent to find Huo Zhang storing away the Heavenly Star Bow. The murderous aura was far from receding yet and felt as if an inch too close would cost his neck. He gulped and turned to Bai Liang instead. "Madame Huo…"
"Is there something you need from us, Your Highness?"
"Did something happen during your scout?"
"The third prince's people tried to kill me, that is all."
"But is not Madame Huo's father…?"
"The second I married General, he no longer sees me as his son and I return the sentiment," Bai Liang calmly said. "The northern war god is with him. Most likely, he plans to steal the Heavenly Star Bow."
"Bei An!?"
"Does Your Highness not know his face? If you are not familiar with him, how did you plan to ask for his help?"
"Bei An has a sick child. I planned to offer him precious herbs in return for his help."
Bai Liang remembered that was what supposed to happen in the original trajectory, but Xue Liang confirmed the situation right now was different.
"His child already died," Bai Liang corrected. "He was killed by a mercenary from our country. He is here for blood."
Tian Qing-Shan's eyes widened. He didn't think that was the case. How could he not heard of it? Was that why Huo Zhang insisted on keeping the bow for himself?
"No need to worry, Your Highness. His target right now is still us, or more accurately, General himself. As long as General is here with the Heavenly Star Bow in his hands, Bei An cannot move recklessly," Bai Liang reassured. "This is why you should not trust outsiders in our country's affairs too much."
"…Yes. It was thoughtless of me. Thank you for your explanation, Madame Huo. I will be excusing myself first."
Bai Liang watched him leave and turned to Huo Zhang who was still seething with killing intent. "General, calm yourself down. I already put surveillance on Bei An. We will be one step ahead of him when he plans something."
"I will not spare him even if you ask me to," Huo Zhang coldly said.
"Although Bei An is here under his own will, he is still an important figure in the northern empire. If you kill him, a war will break out and the Sacred Dragon Rite will be hindered." Bai Liang touched Huo Zhang's slightly heaving chest in comfort. "We will find a way to get rid of him without involving our country in it after this hunt. I will also help you with it."
Huo Zhang knew the Sacred Dragon Rite was important to Bai Liang for one reason or another, and they could only make a family after the rite passed. Moreover, if a war broke out, even if the rite finished without a problem, it wouldn't be safe nor conducive to have a child in the midst of war. He also didn't want Bai Liang to bear such a burden by himself since he would need to go to the battlefield.
Seeing that Huo Zhang's mind finally cleared, Bai Liang propped himself up onto the table and hooked Huo Zhang's neck. "Your wife has wronged you. Let this one comfort you, hm?"
Huo Zhang didn't reject the offer and embraced Bai Liang for a kiss.
After dinner, the people Huo Zhang sent to scout the probable location of the crystal-horned tigers' nest returned and reported to his tent. At the location where he sent them, there was a large waterfall in which they found a passageway behind.
Bai Liang accompanied Huo Zhang to report it to Tian Qing-Shan in private. After some discussion, they continued with their initial plan as camouflage while Huo Zhang's team went to the waterfall instead of being on standby.
"Since there are 6 ghers excluding Madame Huo, we can evenly split them into 3 teams of two," Tian Qing-Shan suggested.
"No need," Bai Liang refuted. "It is better to have fewer people to protect. For General Huo's team, I myself is enough."