Bai Zhi said to Zhao Sue: “You go back to the town now and find a carriage that can take you to the military camp. I guess Hu Feng didn’t know this. You should go to Hu Feng and Awu Dage now and tell about this incident.”
Zhao Sue busily asked: “What about you? Where are you going?”
Bai Zhi pointed to the distant forest: “I will chase after them. Maybe I’ll have a chance to rescue them.”
Zhao Sue shook her head: “No, I’m worried about you going alone. I will go with you and die together.”
Bai Zhi bitterly smiled: “Sister-in-law, I’m not going to die, you don’t have to worry about me. I have a way to protect myself. You listen to me, go to Hu Feng and Awu Dage. Remember, if you can’t find Hu Feng, you look for Zhou Gang, Fu Zheng, Zhu Si, or even Shen Dafu in the military camp. As long as you find any one of them, they can help you talk.”
“But–” Zhao Sue was still uneasy. No matter how smart she was, she was just a 13-year-old girl. She went chasing an army of 5,000 people by herself. Isn’t that looking for death?
Bai Zhi waved her hand: “You go now and tell Hu Feng that Xiye Country intends to exchange people of our Chu Country for the captives. They are going back to the Luoying Mountains. As long as they block the way along the Luoying Mountains to Xiye Country. They will find us.”
Zhao Sue, who failed to convince people, just hurried away.
Bai Zhi returned to the house, took some useful medicines, then brought some water and dry foods. She put on the worn clothes that Zhou Xiaofeng wore the first time he came to Huangtou Village and painted her face with some dye. At a glance, she doesn’t look any different from the little beggar on the road.
After taking her medicine bag, she wrapped her sharp scalpel with cloth strips and put it around her waist.
When everything has prepared, she drove the carriage to the direction of the Luoying Mountains.
At the foot of the mountain, there were indeed many footprints. There were even some bloodstains that could be found on the grass blades of the road. The bloodstains were dry, it seemed that they had passed by here for a long while.
When she entered the mountains, the mud in the mountains was soft, and the footprints on the ground became more and more obvious. She followed the footprints. She didn’t know how long she chased. Although it was a cold winter day, her clothes were all soaked in sweat. Fortunately, the paint on her face will not fade even with water. Otherwise, her face will be revealed.
Maybe a large number of people passed by all at once, so while on the way, she didn’t even see a single wild animal. This gave her a lot of helping hand. It’s better not to be found by a wild animal before she could find people.
Bai Zhi suddenly stopped and listened carefully. There was a faint abusive voice in front, accompanied by the crying of women and children.
Her heart was filled with joy, and it seemed they were just up ahead.
Bai Zhi walked slowly, every step she took was very careful. She didn’t make any sound, nor let her figure be exposed.
She hid behind the bushes and saw a large group of people with hands tied behind them, walking behind the soldiers holding long swords. There were too many people and they were all facing away from her. She couldn’t find the people she was looking for in the crowd.
What to do? What should she do to save them?
Bai Zhi didn’t dare to act rashly, she just followed far behind while looking for a good opportunity.
In the evening, the soldiers in front suddenly stopped and loosened some men to let them go cut trees and firewood to set up tents, while the women helped to cook.
Bai Zhi secretly rejoiced, she knew an opportunity was coming. She found a place to hide the medicine bag on her back and then hid the dry food and water sacs in her clothes. Fortunately, the clothes she wore doesn’t fit her. Even if she put things inside, it won’t be discovered.