"What, has General Baili finally come to his senses?"
Ling Mohan's tone was filled with mockery, cutting straight to Baili Xi's true thoughts. He had long seen that Baili Xi was nothing more than a paper tiger, all his actions mere bluster.
Even if a knife were plunged into Baili Xi's hand now, he wouldn't dare to press it against his throat.
This was because he had the leverage to ensure Baili Xi wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in front of him, nor would he dare to make a move, unless Chu Yanxi no longer valued his life.
Baili Xi took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and suppressed the rage and discontent in his heart.
After a pause, Baili Xi slowly sat down in the chair. Though he remained silent, his tightly clenched fists betrayed his emotions completely.
Ling Mohan was very satisfied with Baili Xi's current demeanor, for it finally showed someone who was in need. If he had been as arrogant as before, Ling Mohan would have already thrown him out and wouldn't have tolerated his insolence.
"The wise recognize the times and are great men. General Baili, I believe you are also a great man, but you must also understand that one must bow their head when under another's roof. This is the territory of Eastern Chu, not Western Liang, and you won't be allowed to run rampant here as you please..."
"Most importantly, one must think thrice before acting. Do not act impulsively and do something you shouldn't. And do not extend your reach too far into matters that do not concern you, lest General Baili end up not knowing how he lost his life!"
"You... Ling Mohan, you are going too far. Even though this is Eastern Chu, I am an envoy from Western Liang. This concerns the diplomatic relations between our two countries. Even your Emperor would have to treat me with respect. You are humiliating me like this; are you not worried about provoking disharmony between our nations!"
Ling Mohan snorted coldly, not understanding how Baili Xi could say such shameless words. He felt ashamed just hearing them.
Wasn't Baili Xi quite adept at these matters? If diplomatic relations between the two countries could be disrupted by a few mocking words, Baili Xi would have been overjoyed and jumped for joy, not wasting time arguing with him.
"General Baili, you have said what you needed to say. How you proceed is your choice. Leave some room for maneuver; acting too ruthlessly will surely invite retribution!"
Too tired to continue the verbal sparring with Baili Xi, Ling Mohan had already received news from Lu Shi about Chu Yanxi's whereabouts. If it weren't for Baili Xi's sudden visit, he would have already left.
The situation was urgent, and Chu Yanxi had to be apprehended quickly for this turmoil to finally end. As long as Chu Yanxi was out there, Ling Mohan would remain uneasy.
"Guards, escort General Baili out!"
Ling Mohan waved his hand, directly issuing the order to leave, and strode out without regard for Baili Xi's indignant shouts from behind.
"Ling Mohan!" Baili Xi muttered fiercely, then smashed a fist onto the table. Instantly, three of the table's four legs broke, leaving only one to support it, looking utterly pathetic.
The attendant who rushed forward was so startled by the sight that he froze in place, afraid to move.
Realizing his loss of composure, Baili Xi quickly regained his senses, brushed his sleeves, and strode out.
He had come this time intending to intimidate Ling Mohan into withdrawing the Black Armored Army guarding the princess's courtyard. He never expected Ling Mohan's composure to be so profound as to not be fooled by him.
He had tried to trick the fox but ended up covered in mud; truly unlucky. But the princess remained under the guard of the Black Armored Army, unable to send any message out. Wouldn't that make them too timid and hesitant?
...
"Young General, you've finally arrived. Your subordinate saw a figure ahead that resembled the Third Prince, but it was in a bustling market, so your subordinate dared not rush to pursue him with men. If we startled the common folk and made a scene, attracting Chu Yanxi's attention, it would be difficult to capture him next time."
Lu Shi and his men had been guarding the street for nearly an hour. Three messengers had already been sent, but the Young General had not appeared.
He was almost driven mad with anxiety. His men had been tracking Chu Yanxi day and night for several days, and now that they were on the verge of capturing him, if the duck that was almost in their grasp slipped away, all their efforts would have been in vain.
How could he be reconciled? Thankfully, the Young General had finally arrived, and the heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart could finally be lifted.
"How certain are you that Chu Yanxi is inside?"
"Fifty to sixty percent. It's just that the back view was similar. Chu Yanxi is very cunning; he even wears a straw hat and disguises himself as a farmer when he goes out. The soldiers were also worried about getting too close and alarming him, so it was difficult to confirm if it was indeed Chu Yanxi."
Lu Shi himself lacked complete certainty, as he had not personally seen the person who was Chu Yanxi.
Ling Mohan narrowed his eyes slightly, paused for a moment, and then spoke, "Lu Shi, select a few soldiers, have them change into ordinary civilian clothes, and come with me to take a look. Whether it's a person or a ghost, it can only be determined after seeing them in person!"
At present, there were no definitive whereabouts of Chu Yanxi, and not a single clue could be easily dismissed. It was better to believe it than not to believe it. They had to see for themselves to confirm if it was Chu Yanxi.
"Yes, Young General, your subordinate will arrange it now."
Following Ling Mohan's instructions, Lu Shi selected a few of his best soldiers, all dressed as ordinary civilians, and accompanied Ling Mohan to the street ahead.
The remaining soldiers were dispersed to guard all the exits, waiting for the rabbit to run into them, preventing Chu Yanxi from escaping.
"Young General, it's the teahouse ahead. A brother saw Chu Yanxi residing in this teahouse."
Lu Shi approached Ling Mohan and whispered in his ear.
"Enter separately and sit scattered around the teahouse. Do not act rashly for now. If there is any movement, act according to the situation!"
Ling Mohan lowered his voice and commanded, gently fanning himself with his folded fan as he walked in. His white attire made him look like a dashing young gentleman.
Upon entering the teahouse, Ling Mohan found a seat with the best view, allowing him to survey everything within the teahouse.
"What would you like, sir?"
"A pot of Longjing, and two plates of snacks."