An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

More than a dozen people also moved quickly. Some ran straight to the small woods nearby and hid in the shadows on the thick fallen leaves. There were also people hiding in the grass beside the road and under the grain carts.

When a young guard nimbly crawled under the carriage, the dagger at his waist accidentally scraped against the shaft, making a slight "clang" sound, which immediately attracted warning glances from his companions.

Xu Zize pulled Jing Chunxi onto a grain cart near the front, the grain bags sinking slightly under his leather boots. He stacked the top middle grain bag higher, leaving enough space in the middle for two people to crawl on.

Then he moved the three bags of grain in the front row, revealing the gaps between them. The rough surface of the sacks made a rustling sound as they rubbed against each other.

The two of them crawled in, just enough to clearly observe the situation on the road several dozen feet ahead. Xu Zize could even smell the unique fragrance of new rice mixed with the subtle fragrance of Jing Chunxi's hair.

"When we get here, Xi'er, don't show your face. If there's any danger, just go back into the space." Xu Zize turned his head to look at the girl, his expression serious, waiting for her response. His Adam's apple rolled up and down as he spoke, his jawline tense, and a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.

"I know!" Jing Chunxi muttered reluctantly, "Brother Xiaokang is becoming more and more nagging." She deliberately scratched the grain bag with her nails, making a slight sound to express her protest, and her cheeks puffed up slightly like a squirrel stealing food.

"What did Xier say?" Xu Zize raised his eyebrows. Although the sound of horse hooves approaching in the distance was clearly audible, he still caught her mumbling.

He flicked her forehead lightly. The warmth from his fingertips penetrated her skin, causing the tips of her ears to feel slightly hot.

"No, thank you, Brother Xiaokang, for your concern." Then, she looked forward, not even glancing at him. But her slightly red earlobes betrayed her thoughts, and the pearls in her hair swayed gently as she turned her head.

But a voice in her heart said: He doesn't even consider the time, but still wants to drive her away and fight alone. Brother Xiaokang underestimates her.

In the distance, the sound of horse hooves was close enough to make out that there were at least thirty of them. The dust they raised was like a moving mist, gradually approaching the ambush circle they had set.

On the opposite side, the horsemen running in the front were all wearing helmets made of fine iron, which shone coldly in the sunlight.

Their faces were completely exposed. Even sitting on tall horses, it was obvious that both of them were tall and mighty, with broad shoulders and thick backs, standing on the horse's back like two iron towers.

One of them was wearing typical Han Chinese clothing in terms of both color and style. He wore an indigo brocade robe with light leather armor on the outside and a jade belt around his waist. The outfit seemed familiar, and he did not look like an ordinary citizen. His every move and gesture exuded the dignity of someone who had been in a high position for a long time.

The other man was even more burly and strong, with traces of weathering on his bronze face and a pair of bright tiger eyes. As the horse approached, although his skin was as dark as that of a foreigner who had been exposed to the wind and sun for many years, his well-defined facial features clearly showed that of a Han Chinese.

"Ah! I've seen this person before." Jing Chunxi suddenly exclaimed.

As he was speaking, he saw Xu Zize's right hand slightly raised, with his thumb and index finger pinched into a special shape, as if he wanted to send an attack signal to the archers lying in ambush around him. Jing Chunxi hurriedly pressed down with both hands, and his slender fingers almost sank into his flesh.

She said anxiously, "It's definitely not a bad guy, don't do anything yet."

Almost at the same time, the cavalry team, which was only a dozen feet away from them, tightened their reins in unison and stopped right in front of them in a well-trained manner because the black-faced man suddenly raised a calloused hand. The dust raised by the horses' hooves slowly drifted in the air.

"How could Xier know the people here? Take a closer look. We can't let them get any closer." Xu Zize frowned, his voice filled with anxiety as he quickly scanned the surrounding terrain.

If these people entered the grain convoy, it would not only be inconvenient to fight, but the blood that sprayed out would easily contaminate the precious grain, and it would not be easy to spray pesticides to remove the odor.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes again at the man next to the black-faced man, always feeling that the angular face looked familiar.

The two men at the front of the opposing team tightened the reins and took a few more steps forward as their horses paced restlessly.

The dark-faced man suddenly shouted loudly, his voice like a bell: "There might be an ambush, everyone be prepared to fight!" His rough big hands were already pressing on the hilt of the knife at his waist, and his veins bulged.

"It looks like food? Why is it being transported here?" Another person muttered to himself in a low voice, his sharp eyes swept over the convoys covered with oilcloth, and he was puzzled.

"If there's food and fodder, there must be escort officers and soldiers accompanying them. General, this situation is extremely unusual. There must be an ambush."

"Hurry and turn back." The dark-faced man made a quick decision, his voice revealing the decisiveness of a veteran. "The food is being transported into the enemy camp, so there must be spies. This is probably a trap."

Following the order from the black-faced man, even the two men in front immediately turned their horses' heads. The war horses neighed uneasily, and their iron hooves dug deep marks on the ground.

"What should we do? We can't let them escape." Xu Zize was extremely anxious. His hand, which was held down by Jing Chunxi, moved restlessly again, and his knuckles turned white due to the force.

Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw that the bushes in front and behind were shaking slightly. The followers in ambush must have been unwilling to give up and wanted to take action. The subtle sound of taut bowstrings could be faintly heard.

"Second uncle, second uncle," Jing Chunxi suddenly stood up from the grain cart, waving her hands, and her light green skirt fluttered in the wind.

Although her memory of her second uncle was a little hazy, the man across from her had the demeanor of a Jing family member in his every move. Furthermore, having already recognized the person next to him, Jing Chunxi was certain that this was one of her own.

Her sudden action caught Xu Zize off guard. In a hurry, he quickly supported the bulging grain bag with his right hand, and jumped up with a hawk-like flip. At the same time, his left hand had already drawn a gleaming sword, and he pulled Jing Chunxi behind him, using his body to block her.

"It's my second uncle, it's really my second uncle." Jing Chunxi excitedly turned sideways again, waving his hands, his body swaying in the car. The crisp voice was particularly abrupt in the tense atmosphere.

The dark-faced man suddenly turned his head, his eyes under his thick eyebrows gleaming with vigilance, and he looked in their direction with a defensive look.