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

Zhao Yun nodded slightly and said calmly: "I came here this time to ask you something important." His eyes were sharp, staring straight at the village chief, as if he wanted to see through his heart.

The village chief nodded and bowed hurriedly, saying respectfully: "Please feel free to ask me anything, sir. I will tell you everything I know!" His face was full of smiles and he looked flattering.

Zhao Yun stared at the village chief with a sharp gaze and asked seriously, "Village chief, let me ask you, did you order someone to hijack our treasure?"

When the village chief heard this, his face was full of surprise, his mouth slightly opened, and he quickly waved his hands and said, "General, this is a huge injustice, I have never done such a thing!"

Zhao Yun sneered, his mouth corners raised, his eyes revealed a hint of coldness, and said: "Captain, you'd better tell the truth. If you lie to me, the consequences will be disastrous!"

The village chief's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he looked panicked. He said anxiously: "General, I swear to God, this is really not the case. How can I, a small village like mine, have the courage to touch your treasure!"

Zhao Yun's eyes were cold, he didn't believe the chief's words at all, he drew out his sword with a "swish" sound, and instantly put it against the chief's neck, shouting angrily: "Don't quibble, tell the truth!"

The village chief's face turned pale, his body trembled slightly, but he still stiffened his neck and shouted: "General, everything I said is true, not a single word is false!"

Zhao Yun frowned, his face full of anger and suspicion, and gritted his teeth and said: "It seems that you won't cry until you see the coffin!" Then he turned to the soldiers and ordered: "Torture him, see if he still dares to be stubborn!"

The soldiers rushed forward, and the village chief widened his eyes in horror, crying, "General, I am really telling the truth!"

However, Zhao Yun remained unmoved and watched all this coldly.

When the soldiers heard Zhao Yun's order, they immediately started to take action.

Some of them grabbed the village chief's arms and twisted them hard, while others kicked him hard in the abdomen.

The village chief groaned in pain, the muscles on his face twisted in pain, and sweat poured down.

"General, please spare my life, I really didn't lie!" the village chief shouted at the top of his lungs.

Zhao Yun stood aside, holding his sword tightly, with a stern look on his face, and said coldly: "At this moment, you still refuse to admit it?"

The village chief panted and said incoherently, "I... swear to heaven, if I tell even a single lie, I will be struck by lightning. General, please see clearly, I am truly innocent."

Seeing that the village chief still refused to give in, Zhao Yun shouted angrily, "Continue!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers tortured the village chief once again, becoming even more brutal.

The village chief's screams echoed throughout the room. His face was distorted by extreme pain and his eyes were filled with fear and despair.

"General, please forgive me, I really..." The village chief's voice had become hoarse and weak.

Zhao Yun had a cold and indifferent expression on his face, and he said sternly, "Tell the truth, no need to show mercy!"

The soldiers' movements became more and more violent, the village chief's breath gradually became weaker, and finally there was no movement.

Zhao Yun walked forward and poked the village chief's body with his sword. Seeing that he had no reaction, he snorted coldly: "Humph, you asked for it."

The soldiers also stopped and looked at each other. A tense and depressing atmosphere filled the room.

Zhao Yun ordered the soldiers to begin searching the entire mountain stronghold, and the soldiers acted quickly after receiving the order.

At this time, Chen Shou came to Zhao Yun, frowned, and said with a look of pity: "General, isn't this too cruel?"

Zhao Yun turned to look at Chen Shou, his eyes firm and his face calm, and said: "Chen Shou, you are a scholar, too kind. Don't get involved in this matter."

Chen Shou looked anxious and wanted to say something else: "General, but this..."

Zhao Yun interrupted him and raised his voice, "I have made up my mind, you don't need to say anything more!"

Chen Shou sighed helplessly, shook his head and said no more.

Chen Shou stood aside helplessly, watching the soldiers searching around in the mountain stronghold.

Soon, a soldier came running over, saluted Zhao Yun and said, "General, no trace of the treasure was found."

Zhao Yun frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Continue to search carefully, and don't miss any corner."

The soldiers took the order and left.

Chen Shou looked at Zhao Yun, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Zhao Yun noticed Chen Shou's gaze and said coldly, "Chen Shou, don't look at me like that. There is no room for softness on the battlefield."

Chen Shou lowered his head and said softly, "General, perhaps there is a misunderstanding."

Zhao Yun glared at Chen Shou and said, "Misunderstanding? In this chaotic world, it is better to kill someone by mistake than to let him go."

Chen Shou sighed slightly and said no more.

After a while, soldiers came back one after another to report that they still had found nothing.

Zhao Yun's face became increasingly gloomy, and he paced back and forth.

Chen Shou looked at Zhao Yun's gloomy face and wanted to speak.

Zhao Yun turned his head suddenly, his eyes wide open, and swung the sword in his hand, pointing at Chen Shou and shouting: "Chen Shou, I told you to stop talking! If you keep talking, I will kill you too!"

Chen Shou was frightened by Zhao Yun's fierce appearance and trembled. His face turned pale, but his eyes still showed stubbornness and unwillingness. He bit his lips, and finally closed his mouth, turned around and walked out silently.

Chen Shou had just walked a short distance when he ran into Chen's father who came hurriedly.

Father Chen pulled Chen Shou with a worried look on his face and said, "Shou'er, don't meddle in this matter, or you'll get into trouble."

Chen Shou looked at his father and said firmly, "Father, if you don't take care of this matter, I will feel uneasy!"

Father Chen shook his head helplessly and sighed, "You are too stubborn, kid."

Chen Shou frowned and said, "Dad, this is unfair. How can I just sit back and do nothing?"

Father Chen looked at his son, knowing his temper, and could only sigh again.

Zhao Yun looked at Chen Shou's departing back with a look of disdain on his face, and snorted coldly: "Humph, a scholar who only knows how to write poetry, what kind of ability can he have!"

The deputy general next to him echoed: "The general is right. This scholar cannot be carried on his shoulders or lifted in his hands."

Zhao Yun crossed his arms and said with disdain, "If it weren't for the Prime Minister's sake, I would have sent him packing long ago. He is just a hindrance here."

At this time, a soldier came to report the situation. Zhao Yun temporarily put aside his dissatisfaction with Chen Shou and focused on the matters at hand.

An hour later, Zhao Yun stood in the center of the stronghold with a terribly gloomy face.

He looked at the soldiers who had returned one after another but found nothing, and shouted angrily: "What a bunch of rubbish! After so long, they found nothing!"

The soldiers all lowered their heads, not daring to look Zhao Yun in the eye, not even daring to breathe.

Zhao Yun gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Since we can't find the treasure, burn this stronghold for me! No one is allowed to leave!"

His eyes were filled with ferocity and determination, and his clenched fists were trembling slightly with anger.

The deputy general beside him hesitated for a moment and said cautiously: "General, isn't this a bit..."

Zhao Yun turned his head sharply and glared at his deputy general: "What? You dare to disobey my order?"

The deputy general was frightened by Zhao Yun's momentum and trembled. He said quickly, "I dare not, I dare not. I will arrange it right away."

Zhao Yun snorted coldly and looked at the people in the mountain stronghold without any mercy in his heart.

The deputy general quickly ordered the soldiers to prepare to set fire, and the people in the village immediately fell into extreme panic.

An old man trembled out of the crowd and begged, "General, we really don't know what the treasure is. Please let us go!"

Zhao Yun had no expression on his face and said coldly: "Stop talking nonsense, this is what you deserve!"

The old man collapsed to the ground in despair and burst into tears.

At this time, a child rushed out from the crowd, crying, "Don't burn our house, don't!"

Zhao Yun was unmoved and shouted, "Pull him away!"

The soldiers roughly dragged the child away, and the child's cries echoed in the mountain stronghold. Just as the soldiers were about to light the fire, Chen Shou rushed over again and shouted loudly: "General, no!"

Zhao Yun glared at Chen Shou and shouted, "You are meddling in other people's business again. Believe it or not, I will kill you right now!"

Chen Shou showed no fear and said sternly: "General, killing innocent people like this will surely be punished by God!"

Zhao Yun was so angry that he drew his sword and pointed it at Chen Shou, saying, "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will make you bleed to death right here!"

Chen Shou looked at Zhao Yun's almost crazy appearance, his heart filled with grief and anger, but he also knew that he could not stop him, so he could only close his eyes helplessly.

After a while, looking at the mountain stronghold that had become ruins in front of him, Zhao Yun showed a sneer on his face.

He frowned, turned to everyone and said, "Let's leave here as soon as possible." His voice was steady and firm.

While leading everyone forward, Zhao Yun suddenly stopped, frowned, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.

He looked around and asked, "Has anyone seen Chen Shou and his son?" There was a hint of anxiety in his voice.

The soldiers shook their heads, bewildered looks on their faces.

Zhao Yun's expression became more serious. He muttered to himself, "What should I do? Did they get separated in the chaos just now?"

His eyes kept searching around, hoping to find Chen Shou and his son.

Zhao Yun's face looked a little ugly, and he gritted his teeth.

Even though I really hate Chen Shou and his son, I can't just lose them like that.

Otherwise, if Xi Yu blames me, I will be in big trouble!
He glanced at the soldiers around him and said sternly, "Hurry up and search around!"

The soldiers responded in unison: "Yes!" and then took action.

Zhao Yun put his hands on his hips, frowned, and prayed silently in his heart that he could find Chen Shou and his son as soon as possible.

At this time, Chen Shou and his father were standing in the fields of the small village.

Father Chen looked at the direction where Zhao Yun and others left, frowned, and asked softly: "Shou'er, are we really not going to follow Zhao Yun?" There was a hint of worry in his eyes.

Chen Shou looked indignant, clenched his fists and said angrily: "Dad, I really can't stand Zhao Yun's arrogant look!" His face was full of disgust.

Chen's father sighed, patted Chen Shou on the shoulder, and comforted him: "Son, our lives are arranged by Xi Yu. Why bother with Zhao Yun?" There was helplessness in his tone.

Chen Shou shook his head and said firmly: "Dad, I still don't want to follow them. Let's find another place. It's not convenient to go back to my hometown anyway."

Father Chen nodded slightly, a relieved smile appeared on his face, and said, "Well, everything is up to you."

After a while, Chen's father looked at Chen Shou and said earnestly: "Shou'er, I know you are angry. But we are living under someone else's roof after all, so we have to endure some things." A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

Chen Shou bit his lip and said unwillingly: "Dad, I know. But I just can't swallow this! Why is Zhao Yun so arrogant?" His fists were clenched and trembling slightly.

Father Chen sighed softly, patted Chen Shou on the shoulder, and comforted him: "My child, eight out of ten things in this world are not as we wish. We just need to do our own part well." He looked a little tired.

Zhao Yun frowned, beads of sweat already oozing out of his forehead.

He gritted his teeth and muttered to himself indignantly: "More than an hour has passed, and I still haven't found the father and son of the divine beast!" His eyes revealed a hint of anxiety and anger.

"Hmph!" Zhao Yun snorted coldly, "Today's incident has nothing to do with Chen Shou, why is he meddling in other people's business?" His face turned red with anger, and his hands clenched unconsciously.

At this time, a soldier nearby said cautiously: "General, perhaps Chen Shou also has good intentions..."

"Good intentions?" Zhao Yun turned his head suddenly, glared at the soldier, and interrupted him, "He is deliberately going against me!" His voice was full of indignation.

Zhao Yun's face was frighteningly gloomy. He frowned and muttered to himself, "I have never felt so uncomfortable as I do today... The treasure is lost, and I will not be able to bear the prime minister's wrath." His voice was full of anxiety and fear.

There was despair in his eyes, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss.

“And if Chen Shou and his son don’t follow me, the Prime Minister will certainly not let me go…” Zhao Yun clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms, and his body trembled slightly.

The soldier next to him looked at Zhao Yun and said worriedly, "General, don't worry too much. Let's think of a solution."

Zhao Yun waved his hands weakly and said with a wry smile: "What else can I do..." His face was full of regret.

Zhao Yun's face became increasingly gloomy, and the uncomfortable feeling in his heart became more intense.

He gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Chen Shou must be against me! He wants me to be punished! He deserves death!"

After calming down a little, Zhao Yun turned to the soldiers and shouted, "Keep expanding the search range! Even if we have to dig three feet underground, we must find them!" There was a hint of determination in his voice.

The soldiers responded in unison: "Yes!" and then took quick action.

Zhao Yun looked at their departing backs, frowning, and prayed silently in his heart that he could find Chen Shou and his son as soon as possible.

Chen Shou looked at his father and asked with concern: "Dad, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" His face was full of anxiety.

Father Chen frowned, pressed his hands on his temples, and said weakly: "I suddenly have a headache. Maybe it's because I'm tired from traveling these days."

Chen Shou was extremely anxious when he heard this, and he quickly said, "Dad, please sit down and rest first. I will carry you to find a doctor."

Father Chen nodded and said weakly, "Then I'll have to trouble Shou'er."

Chen Shou carefully carried his father on his back and walked hurriedly forward. As he walked, he comforted his father: "Dad, hold on, we will reach the doctor soon."

Chen Shou's forehead was covered with sweat and his steps were a little unsteady, but he gritted his teeth and tried to steady himself.

He looked at his father's painful face and said with concern: "Dad, just hold on a little longer, we'll be there soon." There was a hint of sob in his voice.

Father Chen endured the pain, forced a smile, and said, "Shou'er, Dad is fine, don't get too tired."

Chen Shou quickened his pace and prayed in his heart: "I hope the doctor can cure my father's headache."

Finally, they arrived at the doctor's residence. Chen Shou panted and shouted, "Doctor, come and see my father!" His voice was full of anxiety.

The doctor rushed out upon hearing the noise, and seeing Chen Shou carrying his father on his back, he quickly stepped forward to support him.

The doctor asked with concern: "What happened?"

Chen Shou replied anxiously: "My father suddenly has a severe headache, please go and see him quickly!" His forehead was covered with sweat, and his eyes revealed anxiety and worry.

The doctor nodded, signaled Chen Shou to put Chen's father down, and then began to treat Chen's father carefully.

Father Chen showed a painful expression on his face. He held Chen Shou's hand tightly and said weakly, "Shou'er, don't worry, I'm fine."

The doctor smiled and said to Chen Shou, "You don't have to worry too much. The old man just caught a cold and will be fine after taking some medicine." His tone was gentle and kind, which made people feel very reassured.

After hearing what the doctor said, Chen Shou's worry disappeared immediately. He heaved a long sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, doctor. I finally feel relieved."

The doctor waved his hand gently and said with a smile: "You're welcome. This is my job."

Chen Shou smiled gratefully and looked at the doctor with his heart full of respect.

Father Chen also smiled and said to the doctor, "Thank you, sir. Now I feel relieved." Although his voice was still a little weak, it was no longer as painful as before.

The doctor looked at Chen Shou and said seriously, "Your father's body still needs recuperation. It would be best for him to stay here for a few days. It won't be too late to continue your journey after he has recovered a little." His expression was very sincere.

Chen Shou listened to the doctor's advice, thought for a while, then nodded and said, "You are right. We have to hurry on our way anyway, so why not rest here for a few days and set off again when my father is better."

Father Chen looked at Chen Shou with a smile and said, "Shou'er, I will listen to you." There was a hint of relief in his voice.

The doctor smiled and nodded, saying, "It's settled then. I'll prescribe some medicine for you. Take it on time and you'll get better soon."

Chen Shou looked at the doctor gratefully and said, "Thank you very much, doctor."

Chen Shou hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said to the doctor, "If someone comes to see us, just say you don't know us."

As he said this, he looked outside, as if Zhao Yun had sent someone to find him. (End of this chapter)