Everyone was still shaken. That had been far too close.

If Heaven hadn't been watching over them, they'd likely have ended up dead, or crippled at best.

Feng Qizheng said, "Ning Chen, what do we do with those five assassins?"

Ning Chen said flatly, "Leave none alive!"

Feng Qizheng said, "Got it!"

With that, he turned and went out.

The danger was over, so Ning Chen sent Ke You and Li Mushuang back to rest too.

As for being assassinated, he didn't give it a second thought. He was used to it by now.

What worried him most was still Tantai Qingyue.

... The next day.

They'd meant to set out at first light, but the ground had frozen and was far too slippery. The road ran through empty wilds and was hardly ever used. It was full of potholes, with plenty of deep ditches and hidden channels on either side. One careless step and you'd be in one.

To avoid casualties, Ning Chen waited until late morning, when the ground had thawed a little, before setting out.

This time, though, he sent an advance party.

A squad of twenty men went on ahead.

Their job was to sweep for mines, in case someone had buried explosives along the way.

Luckily, the rest of the journey passed without incident.

A few days later Xiao Yanxi was completely well, and Ning Chen picked up the pace of the march.

Stopping and starting, they spent the better part of a month on the road before they finally reached Bianzhou.

Ning Chen led his people up to the city wall.

All four gates of Bianzhou were shut tight. The walls were guarded top to bottom, with a sentry post every ten paces and a lookout every five.

Prince Wu had already come out with his men to wait in front of the gate.

When Ning Chen set out from Xuanwu City, he'd had Xiao Yanxi send someone to let Prince Wu know.

Prince Wu had been sending out scouts again and again lately.

When Ning Chen was still some seven miles from Bianzhou,…