Originally, on this trip back, Huang Zhaodi wanted to buy a mule cart for transport, as the journey from Xiangyang to Cangzhou was truly long and tiring, but Dai Ling vetoed the idea.

On the way to Xiangyang, they had disguised themselves as "poor folk" and encountered mountain bandits twice. If they were on a mule cart, they would definitely be seen as "easy targets," too conspicuous. For safety’s sake, they chose to remain low-key.

Huang Zhaodi, overwhelmed by grief, didn’t think about it too much. Hearing Dai Ling’s reasoning, she quickly nodded in agreement and said pessimistically, "When will these times ever change!"

"It shouldn’t be far off. This time in Xiangyang, I’ve gained a lot of insights. This civil service examination is King Wei’s initiative to select officials for the Court and assign them to various regions to take office, maintaining local stability. Once the palace examination concludes and these individuals take their posts, public security should improve considerably in many areas."

On the way to Xiangyang, Dai Ling also noticed that the official post stations, which had ceased operation in the North, began undergoing renovation and were operating up to Gaozhou.

Once all these post stations are renovated and back in operation, road safety should improve significantly.

As the two chatted idly, they moved farther from Xiangyang City.

Going further north, fewer people were on the official road until, besides the three of them, no one else was in sight.

Although safety in the Four States was quite better compared to other places, with no highway robberies occurring, times were still uneasy. Few people journeyed outside, primarily merchants and scholars, with civilians being rare.

"Uncle Ling, this matter has caused you trouble," Huang Zhaodi said apologetically.

Moving from Yan State to Cangzhou, settling down and changing surnames, Dai Ling had been busy with all these endeavors, not knowing how much effort was put in. But now, everything was in vain. She handed Dai Ling the pouch of silver he gave her, which he did not take.

"This isn’t your fault, Zhaodi. Who would have known Dai Tu would be so heartless? Alas, blame me; if not for the lure of wealth and glory, I wouldn’t have..." Dai Ling’s words hinted at regret, and he continued, "Once we return to Lu’an, we should have the children change their surname to yours, Zhaodi."

"Mm." Even if Dai Ling hadn’t mentioned it, Huang Zhaodi had already planned on this. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Soon, the three arrived at a fork in the road, where a sign set up by the Xiangyang Government Office indicated the directions each path led.

Just then, a masked figure suddenly leaped out from a nearby forest, wielding a short blade, moving as fast as lightning, directly towards Dai Ling and the others.

His target was clear—to kill Dai Ling first, then it would be easier to deal with the woman and child afterward.

He wasted no words, striking with lethal intent.

At the moment the shadow attacked, Dai Ling and the other two were still in a daze until they saw the masked man charging at them. Only then did cold sweat break out on Dai Ling’s back.

He quickly picked up Dai Feng beside him and shouted at Huang Zhaodi to run.

Though Dai Ling’s reaction was quick, just as he took the first step, the masked man had already approached.

"Snap..."

At that critical moment, a clear, crisp sound echoed on the official road, followed by the masked man’s right knee buckling in pain as he fell to the ground, a stone dropping before him.

A figure swiftly darted like the wind and pinned the masked assassin firmly to the ground before he could rise.

Soon, two more figures ran up from behind, restraining the masked assassin, pulling off his face mask to reveal Peng Si’Er.

The events unfolded so quickly that Dai Ling and the other two did not realize what happened before it was all over.

It turned out that Zuo Gang and the others had been tracking Peng Si’Er with no haste to arrest him, hoping to catch a bigger prey.

But when they saw Peng Si’Er intending to harm the family, Zuo Gang couldn’t hold back and intervened.

He pulled out the slingshot from his waist, hitting Peng Si’Er’s knee with precision.

With Zuo Gang’s skill, the crisp sound earlier was Peng Si’Er’s right kneecap shattering.

"Miss, don’t be afraid. We are constables from the Xiangyang County Government Office. This is our leader," a constable quickly spoke when he saw Huang Zhaodi’s frightened expression.

"I am the Chief Constable from the Government Office," Zuo Gang put away the slingshot. Seeing Huang Zhaodi still in shock, he turned his gaze to Dai Ling and asked, "Why did this assassin want to kill you?"

Still feeling a bit fearful even after putting the child down, Dai Ling looked bewildered: "Sir, I don’t know either. I don’t recognize this man at all."

"Why would he want to kill you if you don’t recognize him, sparing not even your family?" The remaining constable, who hadn’t spoken, couldn’t help but ask.

But Zuo Gang quickly gave the constable a stare, then used his knife handle to smack Peng Si’Er’s face, demanding in a cold voice, "Stop pretending. You’re Peng Si’Er, right? Attempted murder is not a light charge. Even if not successful, it’s enough for over ten years of imprisonment. Not to mention your other crimes. Spill it—why did you want to kill them?"

The Great Song differentiated six types of murder charges.

They were murder, culpable homicide, fight-related killing, accidental killing, playful killing, and negligent killing.

Murder referred to acts of premeditated killing or attempted murder with prior plotting.

Seeing Zuo Gang state his name straightforwardly and capture him red-handed, Peng Si’Er realized that this was no trivial matter. With thoughts of his past crimes, his heart sank, fearing for his life. In a panic, he resorted to bluffing, enduring the pain to say, "You better release me immediately! I’m under General Zhang, you know? General Zhang, have you heard of him? He’s a close associate of King Wei. Can you afford to offend him?"

With those words, Zuo Gang and his two companions instantly had a change of expression.