The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

One of the masked men said viciously: "Humph, that's right! Don't even think about escaping today!"

Zhao Yun raised his head and laughed, his laughter echoing in the woods: "Just you? Don't you even consider your own abilities!" His laughter was full of heroism and confidence.

At this time, the other masked man seemed a little guilty, his eyes flickered, but he still pretended to be fierce and shouted: "Don't talk to them, attack them together!"

A hint of coldness flashed in Zhao Yun's eyes, and he said sternly: "In that case, don't blame me for being rude!" After that, he drew his sword and prepared for another battle.

Suddenly, a masked man burst into laughter, and the laughter was particularly harsh in the silent woods.

He proudly raised the bottle in his hand and laughed wildly: "Hahaha, you didn't expect it! I have a knockout drug!" His eyes flashed with cunning and ferocious light.

He quickly opened the bottle, and a strong smell of medicine instantly gushed out.

Zhao Yun and others were caught off guard and screamed "Ah".

Zhao Yun's eyes widened with anger and he roared, "Despicable villain!" But his voice was already a little weak.

Many soldiers were also hit and shouted in pain: "Oh no, this smell is poisonous!" Their faces turned pale and their bodies were shaking.

The masked man looked at the poisoned people and shouted even more arrogantly: "Humph, now you know how powerful I am! Hand over the treasure obediently, and I may spare your lives!"

Zhao Yun held on to his body and said through gritted teeth: "Don't even think about it!" His eyes were still firm and full of indomitable spirit.

At this time, Chen Shou and his father were also affected by the drug. Chen Shou shouted in horror: "What should I do?"

Seeing this, the masked man laughed wantonly: "Haha, stop struggling and just listen to me!"

Next, Chen Shou stopped talking, his eyes rolled back, his body fell backwards, and he fainted on the ground. Zhao Yun and others were also unable to resist the strong poison, and one after another, their eyes went black, their consciousness became blurred, and they finally fainted.

The moment before Zhao Yun lost consciousness, he felt unwilling, but he could do nothing but let the darkness swallow him.

Some of the other soldiers tried to struggle to stand up before fainting, but eventually fell down weakly, with their limbs spread out, lying lifeless on the ground.

The woods suddenly fell into deathly silence, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze, as if mourning for this sudden change.

Several masked men looked at the people who had fainted on the ground and laughed unscrupulously.

"Hahahaha, it really is easy to get it!" One of them shouted proudly, with greed flashing in his eyes.

"Hurry up and take the treasure away, don't dawdle!" another masked man urged anxiously.

They began to search the treasures carried by Zhao Yun and others in a hurry, their movements were rough and anxious.

"I'm rich, I'm rich!" someone shouted excitedly, and the voice echoed in the silent woods.

Just like that, amid their laughter, the treasure was taken away happily, leaving Zhao Yun and others lying unconscious on the ground.

The masked man hurried away with the treasure and disappeared into the depths of the woods.

After a long time, Zhao Yun woke up slowly. He felt a splitting headache and his vision was blurry.

He forced himself to sit up and shook his head vigorously, trying to wake himself up.

"Damn it!" He cursed, and seeing the soldiers lying around him and Chen Shou and his son still unconscious, his heart was filled with anger and self-blame.

He stood up with great effort, staggered to a soldier, and tried to wake him up: "Wake up! Wake up!"

The soldier opened his eyes with difficulty and said weakly: "General...we..."

Zhao Yun gritted his teeth and said, "Don't talk for now, save your energy, we must take the treasure back!"

At this time, Chen Shou also woke up. He looked confused. After he understood what happened, his face turned pale.

Zhao Yun looked determined and swore secretly: "I will not be a human being if I don't take revenge!"

Xianbei.

Hong Gang came to Tuoba Tianlong's tent.

With a flattering smile on his face, he bowed and said, "Chief, I am here to visit you."

Tuoba Tianlong was sitting on a tiger-skin chair. Seeing Hong Gang, he burst into laughter and said generously, "Hong Gang, the medicine you have been giving me recently is really effective! I feel full of energy!"

His eyes were full of excitement and satisfaction, and he patted his chest.

When Hong Gang heard this, he was secretly proud in his heart, but he still pretended to be humble on his face and said, "As long as you are satisfied, Chief, I have always been worried that the effect will not be good."

He thought to himself: "Humph, Tuoba Tianlong, just enjoy this temporary comfort. Sooner or later you will be poisoned, and then this Xianbei world will be mine!"

Tuoba Tianlong waved his hand and said, "You are so kind, I will not treat you unfairly."

Hong Gang quickly knelt down to express his gratitude, with a barely perceptible cunning gleam in his eyes.

After thanking him, Hong Gang slowly stood up and said with flattery in his eyes: "Chief, I will try my best to find better medicinal materials for you in the future, so that you can become stronger."

Tuoba Tianlong nodded slightly and said proudly: "Okay! If you can really do that, I will reward you handsomely!" His face was filled with confidence and expectation.

Hong Gang responded, "Thank you, Chief! I will do my best."

But in his heart he was thinking: "Tuoba Tianlong, Tuoba Tianlong, just enjoy this last moment of glory. When the poison takes effect, we'll see who can save you."

Coming out of Tuoba Tianlong's tent, Hong Gang's lips curled up into a sinister smile and his steps became lighter.

At night, the moonlight was like water, and Hong Gang rode his horse hurriedly to the shepherds.

He searched anxiously and finally saw An Qingli's figure.

Hong Gang jumped off his horse, walked quickly towards Anqingli, and said in a low voice: "Anqingli, come this way."

An Qingli put down the shepherd's whip and followed Hong Gang to a corner.

Hong Gang was excited, with a cunning light in his eyes, and he couldn't wait to say: "In Anqingli, Tuoba Tianlong believed in the medicine I offered, and the situation was just as we expected."

An Qingli raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a smug smile, and said softly: "Of course, when has my idea ever gone wrong?"

Hong Gang nodded repeatedly and said flatteringly: "Yes, yes, your idea is absolutely brilliant! Now our plan is on the verge of success." His face was full of flattery and admiration.

An Qingli's eyes were filled with viciousness, and he said coldly: "Humph, Tuoba Tianlong's good days are coming to an end."

Hong Gang echoed, "That's right. When the poison takes effect, the Xianbei will be ours."

As he spoke, he clenched his hands unconsciously, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

An Qingli narrowed his eyes slightly and said gloomily, "However, nothing can go wrong during this period. Hong Gang, you have to keep a close eye on it."

Hong Gang nodded quickly, his expression nervous and expectant, and replied: "Don't worry, I will be careful and won't let anything get out of hand."

An Qingli glanced at Hong Gang and said with a hint of warning: "If something goes wrong, you know the consequences."

Hong Gang shuddered and said quickly, "No, no, I am loyal to you and will never be negligent."

At this time, a gust of wind blew by. An Qingli tightened his cloak, looked into the distance with a determined look, and murmured to himself: "Soon, all this will belong to us."

Hong Gang echoed: "Yes, it belongs to us!" His eyes were full of greed and ambition.

Late at night, the candlelight flickered in Tuoba Tianlong's bedroom. He was wearing a loose nightgown and preparing to sleep with his concubine.

The concubine nestled tenderly in Tuoba Tianlong's arms, and suddenly opened her red lips: "Chief, I think Hong Gang is not simple. I always feel that he wants to harm you. You have to be careful."

When Tuoba Tianlong heard this, his brows furrowed, his face darkened instantly, and he shouted angrily: "Stop talking nonsense! Hong Gang is loyal to me, how can I allow you to be so suspicious!"

The concubine was not afraid of Tuoba Tianlong's anger. She looked determined and said anxiously, "Chief, my feelings have always been very accurate. You must not take it lightly."

Tuoba Tianlong threw his concubine away, stood up, turned his back to her, and said coldly: "If you dare to speak nonsense again, I will punish you!"

The concubine's eyes were red and tears welled up in them. She said aggrievedly, "Chief, I am doing this for your own good."

Tuoba Tianlong remained silent, and the atmosphere in the bedroom suddenly became extremely tense. Tuoba Tianlong's face was terribly gloomy, veins on his forehead bulged, and his eyes flashed with angry flames.

"Shut up!" he shouted angrily, his voice shaking the whole room.

However, the concubine didn't know what was going on and kept chattering.

Tuoba Tianlong's patience finally reached its limit. He suddenly stretched out his hands and grabbed his concubine's neck.

His eyes were full of murderous intent, he stared at the concubine viciously, gnashing his teeth and said, "If you talk nonsense again, I will kill you immediately!"

The concubine's face turned pale in an instant, her eyes widened in horror, and her mouth opened wide, but no sound came out.

In the end, Tuoba Tianlong's hands tightened more and more, and the concubine's breathing became weaker and weaker until she died completely.

The next day, the sky in Xianbei was exceptionally clear and the sun was shining brightly.

Tuoba Tianlong sat in the tent with a serious expression.

At this time, Hong Gang walked in quickly.

His steps were extremely cautious, and each step was respectful.

After entering the tent, Hong Gang bowed his head, clasped his fists, and asked softly: "Chief, you called me here, what do you want me to do?" His voice revealed respect and obedience for Tuoba Tianlong.

Tuoba Tianlong quickly took out an iron box from under the table and opened it.

When Hong Gang saw this, he was shocked, because there was a human head in the box, and it was the head of Tuoba Tianlong's concubine.

Hong Gang's face was full of doubts, his brows were frowned, and his eyes were full of confusion and bewilderment.

He asked hesitantly, "Chief, this... what's going on? Why is her head here?" There was a hint of astonishment and confusion in his voice.

Tuoba Tianlong looked indifferent and said in a cold tone: "This concubine deserves death. She actually dared to say bad things about you!"

Then, he told Hong Gang everything that happened last night.

As he was telling the story, Tuoba Tianlong's face became increasingly gloomy, and he was still angry about what happened last night.

Hong Gang listened quietly, frowning, thinking secretly in his heart.

Then, a look of pretended sadness appeared on Hong Gang's face. He lowered his head, and tears seemed to flash in his eyes.

Then, he knelt down with a plop and said with a slightly choked voice: "It's not worth it for the leader to do this for me! I really don't know how to repay your kindness." His expression seemed very sincere.

Upon seeing this, Tuoba Tianlong reached out and helped Hong Gang up, his eyes revealing sincerity and relief.

Tuoba Tianlong patted Hong Gang on the shoulder and said, "You are loyal, so I should do this. It's just a concubine who died. No matter how important a woman is, she can't compare to my loyal ministers." His tone was firm and decisive.

Hong Gang was filled with gratitude. He held Tuoba Tianlong's hand tightly and said excitedly: "Chief, your great kindness will be unforgettable to me! I will work harder in the future and serve you wholeheartedly!" His eyes were full of determination and loyalty.

Tuoba Tianlong burst into laughter, a satisfied smile on his face.

He patted Hong Gang's shoulder vigorously and said, "I believe in you, Hong Gang! As long as you and I work together, we will be able to accomplish great things!" His eyes flashed with confidence and heroism.

Hong Gang nodded heavily and stood up. His posture became more upright, as if full of strength.

Tuoba Tianlong looked at Hong Gang with a smile and continued, "You don't have to worry about these details in the future. You just need to do your best for me." His tone was full of trust and expectation.

Hong Gang nodded quickly and said respectfully: "I obey your command! I will definitely live up to your expectations!" His face was filled with gratitude and determination.

Tuoba Tianlong nodded, then waved his hand, signaling Hong Gang to retreat.

Hong Gang bowed deeply, turned around and slowly walked out of the tent.

That day, Zhao Yun was feeling depressed and annoyed.

He had fought in many battles, experienced countless life and death tests, and had never had an opponent.

But now, a few petty thieves took advantage of the opportunity and made the treasure disappear without a trace.

His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness.

"Damn it!" Zhao Yun cursed in his heart, "I, Zhao Yun, have fought on the battlefield for many years and have seen all kinds of storms and waves, but now I have been fooled by these little thieves!"

He gripped the spear in his hand so tightly that it seemed as if he was going to break it.

The anger in his heart made his face gloomy, and there was a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Chen Shou walked up to Zhao Yun, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him softly: "Brother Yun, you should be more open-minded. After all, it was not you who lost the treasure, and the prime minister will not blame you in the future." His tone was steady and gentle, and his eyes were full of concern.

Zhao Yun lowered his head slightly, with a guilty look on his face. He whispered, "Having said that, I still failed the Prime Minister's trust." There was a hint of helplessness and self-blame in his voice.

Chen Shou smiled slightly and continued to comfort him, "Brother Yun, don't blame yourself too much. This is not your fault. Our top priority is to think about how to find clues and recover the treasure." His eyes were firm and confident.

Zhao Yun raised his head, looked at Chen Shou, nodded, and the confusion in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by firm determination.

After many hardships, the group arrived at a mysterious mountain village.

This mountain village stands between high mountains and is surrounded by lush forests, as if isolated from the world.

The gate of the village is built of thick logs, with some strange symbols carved on it, revealing a mysterious atmosphere.

The walls of the mountain village are made of stones, tall and solid, as if telling of its defensive capabilities.

Entering the village, you will see houses arranged in an orderly manner, most of which are made of wood with thatched roofs.

People came and went, with simple yet alert expressions on their faces.

Children chased and played in the narrow alleys, while women were busy with their work in front of their houses.

Zhao Yun stopped and stared at the Black Mountain Village not far ahead, frowning slightly, as if thinking about something.

He turned to Chen Shou and said, "Didn't the village chief say that the first wave of masked men we encountered were ordered to do this? Maybe this Black Mountain Village is related to the theft of the treasure. I plan to enter the village to find out." His voice was firm and decisive, and his eyes revealed a resolute light.

Chen Shou thought for a moment, looked at Zhao Yun worriedly, and said, "General Zhao, is this too risky? We know nothing about this mountain stronghold and it might be dangerous." There was some concern in his tone.

Zhao Yun smiled slightly and comforted: "Don't worry, I will be careful. If I don't find out the truth, I will not be able to rest in peace." His expression was confident and determined.

After Zhao Yun led everyone to the mountain stronghold, he asked a passing villager about the location of the stronghold owner.

The villager pointed to a larger wooden house deep in the village.

Zhao Yun thanked the villagers and led everyone towards the wooden house.

Arriving in front of the wooden house, Zhao Yun knocked gently on the door.

After a while, the door opened and an old man with gray hair and wrinkled face appeared in front of them.

The village chief is tall but slightly hunched, but his eyes are bright and reveal the wisdom and majesty of having experienced many vicissitudes of life.

He was wearing a long coarse cloth gown with a wide belt around his waist.

When the village chief saw Zhao Yun and the others, he showed a puzzled look on his face and asked, "What do you want to see me for?"

Zhao Yun clasped his fists and bowed, saying respectfully, "Master, we are passing by here and are sorry to bother you. We have come to visit you specially."

The village chief narrowed his eyes slightly, looked up and down at Zhao Yun and the others, then his expression softened slightly and he said, "Come in."

When everyone walked into the house, the village chief motioned for them to sit down, and then he sat in the main seat himself.

Zhao Yun held his head high, looked at the leader with firm eyes, and said loudly: "I am the Prime Minister's subordinate!" His voice was loud and clear, with confidence and pride.

When the village chief heard this, an expression of admiration immediately appeared on his face, his eyes lit up, and his mouth opened slightly, as if he was a little surprised.

He widened his eyes and said in disbelief: "They are the Prime Minister's men! I have heard of the Prime Minister's reputation for a long time. It is our honor to meet his men today!" His tone was full of awe and envy. (End of this chapter)