Wang Liang was anxious and hurried to the Xi Mansion with a few yamen runners, wanting to ask for Xi Yu's opinion.

"Can the Prime Minister be in the mansion?" Wang Liang asked anxiously.

The servant at the door responded respectfully: "Mr. County Magistrate, Prime Minister is not at home."

"When will you come back? Is there any news?" Wang Liang asked.

The servant shook his head and said helplessly: "The young one can't tell when the adults will come back."

Wang Liang frowned tightly, and the anxiety in his heart became stronger and stronger.

"What should I do?" he murmured to himself.

A hint of anxiety surged in Wang Liang's heart, but he decided not to give up.

They went to Jia Xu's mansion without stopping, hoping to find some clues there.

However, the servants in the mansion told them that Jia Xu had been out for a day and had not returned yet, and no one knew where he had gone.

Wang Liang frowned, and the worries in his heart became heavier.

He thought about his next move, and was also curious about the secret hidden behind it.

Wang Liang thought about it and decided to let the yamen runners wait near Jia Xu's house.

"You are here to wait. Whenever there is news from Jia Xu, come and report it immediately." Wang Liang ordered seriously.

The yamen runners responded in unison: "Abide by the order!"

After arranging everything, Wang Liang thought to himself: "I also need to take a break and accumulate energy." So he went back first.

It was late at night, and Jia Xu's mansion was still silent. The yamen runners widened their eyes and dared not relax at all.

And at Wang Liang's home, he was lying on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Jia Xu's disappearance made him restless, and various speculations emerged in his mind.

"Where did Jia Xu go?" Wang Liang sighed softly.

After a while, Wang Liang finally fell asleep. At this moment, Jia Xu's fate was still an unknown.

In the morning, Jia Xu stepped into the gate of a temple with a panic expression, and a trace of uneasiness and fear were revealed in his eyes.

After killing, he was at a loss, as if lost in the fog of morality.

He told the old monk the lies that something happened at home, trying to gain sympathy and get a temporary opportunity to live in the temple.

"Old monk, I want to hide from the quiet here, I wonder if it's OK?"

"Amitabha, stay."

The old monk's eyes were deep, as if he could see the secrets in Jia Xu's heart.

He quietly listened to Jia Xu's narrative and frowned slightly.

Despite his doubts, the old monk decided to take him in.

Jia Xu found temporary protection in the temple, but he could not calm down.

At night, he prayed silently in front of the Buddha statue, trying to find a trace of inner comfort.

But the guilt followed him like a shadow, tormenting his soul.

The old monk was secretly observing Jia Xu's every move. With years of practice and wisdom, he gradually noticed Jia Xu's strangeness.

He began to wonder whether the stranger was really as simple as he said.

At night, the old monk found Jia Xu.

The old monk asked softly: "Donor, there seems to be deep pain in your heart. Although I don't know the specific things you have experienced, I can feel that your heart is being tortured. Perhaps, confiding will make you feel a little relaxed."

Jia Xu trembled his lips, tears rolling in his eyes. He finally confessed his crime to the old monk and expressed his regret and fear in his heart.

The old monk listened silently, without any surprise or anger on his face, only pity and tolerance.

He said slowly: "Sin has been committed, but the road to repentance and redemption is always open. You need to go to the government to admit your sins."

But Jia Xu didn't have the courage.

He and the old monk were perfunctory.

"Tomorrow, I'll surrender."

"Since that's the case, the donor should have a good rest."

The next day, the sun shone on the road, and Zhao Qiang continued on his journey to meet Liu Bei.

Tired, he stopped in an inn and decided to take a break.

After entering the inn, he noticed an unusual atmosphere.

When he glanced over, he found that several people were a little different.

It turned out that Wu Guotai, Zhuge Jin and others were also in the inn.

Zhao Qiang thought to himself that these people are of extraordinary temperament and are by no means ordinary people.

Wu Guotai asked Zhuge Jin in a low voice.

"When will we get to Youzhou?"

Zhuge Jin replied softly.

"Arrival in three more days."

Wu Guotai showed a happy smile on her face, and she was looking forward to her reunion with her daughter Sun Shangxiang.

"It's great, I can meet my daughter Sun Shangxiang."

Although their voices were low, Zhao Qiang's ears keenly captured these words.

His heart moved.

Sun Shangxiang, isn’t that Xi Yu’s wife?

He realized that this was an important message.

Perhaps, he can take advantage of this opportunity to obtain more information about Wu Guotai and his group.

Zhao Qiang sat in the corner, silently observing their every move.

He noticed the longing for his daughter in Wu Guotai's eyes and Zhuge Jin's calm and wise expression.

He began to think about how to get close to them.

After a while, Zhao Qiang got up and left the inn.

His pace seemed a little rushed.

Zhao Qiang was secretly grateful for what happened last night.

He happened to meet a group of bandits on the road. After some negotiations, he learned a secret cave, which seemed to be the place where they traded.

Zhao Qiang walked into the cave, and there was a damp breath, and a faint light flashed on the stone wall.

The bandits sat around and looked at him with vigilance.

"I'll trade with you." Zhao Qiang smiled.

"What are you going to do?" asked the bandit leader, his voice with a hint of hoarseness.

"I want you to help me kidnap an old woman in the inn." Zhao Qiang said.

"Why do you want to kidnap her? Who is that?" asked the bandit leader.

Zhao Qiang hesitated for a moment, then said, "This is my business and it has nothing to do with you. As long as you do what I said, I will pay you enough money."

The bandit leader was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. "Okay, we will help you."

Zhao Qiang paid the bandits and quietly left the cave.

Back at the inn, Zhao Qiang secretly observed Wu Guotai's whereabouts. She was still talking to Zhuge Jin and others, not realizing the upcoming danger.

As night fell, the inn fell into tranquility. Zhao Qiang signaled the bandits to take action, and they sneaked into Wu Guotai's room quietly.

Preparing to kidnap her out quickly.

"Who is it?" Wu Guota shouted in surprise.

There was someone outside who protected him, but he had been knocked down by the bandits.

"Old guy, hurry up and go with us."

Wu Guo was too struggling, but the bandits covered her mouth tightly to prevent her from making a sound.

They took Wu Guotai out of the inn and disappeared into the dark night.

Zhuge Jin lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

His breathing was steady, as if he had entered a sweet dream.

In the dream, Zhuge Jin came to an elegant courtyard. He saw Zhuge Liang, his younger brother, walking towards him with a smile.

"Brother!" Zhuge Liang shouted excitedly.
To be continued...