A few people were hiding behind the stone door, but they heard footsteps running by from outside from time to time. They even faintly heard someone saying: "Everyone found the person named Jiang. There are orders from above. As long as we catch that Jiang Mantian, no matter whether he is alive or dead." , all are heavily rewarded.”
Jiang Mantian's heart sank even more.
He ordered Jiang Yishui to lead the fleet south, and he secretly landed on Haifeng Island on the way. He originally thought that everything was done without anyone noticing, but after hearing the words outside, even the pirates knew that he was on Haifeng Island. Island, it can also be seen that his whereabouts are completely exposed, and the purpose of this operation against Haifeng Island seems to be directed at him.
"Master, it's not advisable to stay here for a long time." Kong Sheng lowered his voice and said, "They seem to already know the secret routes on the island. Sooner or later they will find this place. We must leave the island immediately."
Jiang Mantian knew that it was indeed a moment of life and death, and frowned: "Where can we go after leaving this island?"
"Master, after we leave the island, we will go all the way south to meet the Third Master and the others." Kong Sheng said: "As long as we meet the Third Master, we can temporarily go to Nanyang to escape. Nanyang is not within the Chu State's sphere of influence. We have arrived In Nanyang, there is nothing Chu can do against us."
"Nanyang?" Jiang Mantian's eyes twitched slightly, thinking that even if he reunited with Jiang Yishui's fleet, the supplies on the ship would not be enough to reach Nanyang.
That fleet is mostly composed of hired warriors. If they have enough food and drink, they will naturally obey orders. However, if they are short of food and drink, on the vast sea, these people will fall out at any time. .
"Everyone, check it out. It was mentioned above that many stone walls have mechanisms. Maybe there is a secret door behind them. Everyone, look carefully. Maybe the man named Jiang is hiding inside the secret door." There are faint rumors outside. There was a sound, and then I even heard something knocking on the stone wall.
If there is a stone chamber behind the stone wall, the sound it makes is unusual and will be easily noticed.
Jiang Mantian knew that now that he was at this point, he really couldn't stay any longer, so he calmed down and whispered: "Follow me." He led his three guards to the corner of the stone room, and unexpectedly opened a mechanism inside. It was a dark stone path. He entered it first, followed by several others.
This stone road was very familiar to Jiang Mantian. Occasionally there would be a fork in the road, and he would be able to choose the direction immediately. He walked for more than half an hour, and it was smooth sailing all the way. When he walked to the end, the stone wall in front was blocked, and Jiang Mantian waved. He asked Kong Sheng to step forward and made a gesture. Kong Sheng raised his hands and raised the stone slab on it. He had great strength, but the stone slab was moved away by him, and then a ray of moonlight came in from the outside.
Kong Sheng knew it was the exit, so he hooked one hand on the edge and went up first. He checked around and found that there were overgrown weeds all around. The place was very hidden. Kong Sheng went over and pulled Jiang Mantian out. After the other two people came out, he started again. The stone slab was covered with weeds growing on it, making it very hidden. Kong Sheng didn't know where he was for a moment, but Jiang Mantian motioned to the others not to make any noise and led them forward.
The weeds were thick and several people were covered in them. After walking for a while, they heard a faint sound coming from not far away. Jiang Mantian stopped and looked through the weeds. He only saw something on the beach not far away. There was a group of people, pirates and officers and soldiers mixed together, and they saw a navy general making gestures to his men, seeming to be instructing how to act. Jiang Mantian sneered and did not stop, but still led a few people forward.
After walking for a while, we walked through a forest. Outside the woods was a beach. The moonlight shone on the beach, and there was no one. The beach was very narrow. The officers and soldiers didn't seem to have discovered this place yet, but there was a small boat beside the forest. Jiang Mantian signaled a few people. There was no need to be anxious. After waiting for a moment and making sure that no one was around, he waved his hand. The three men knew what he meant and immediately towed the boat out of the woods and headed straight to the seaside.
After dragging the small boat into the sea, Kong Sheng helped Jiang Mantian get on the boat. After the other two people got on the boat, they all picked up the oars and rowed straight into the sea without waiting for Jiang Mantian's instructions.
Jiang Mantian looked solemn, only worried about being discovered. After being several miles away from the coast, Jiang Mantian breathed a sigh of relief, pointed to the northeast corner, and said feebly: "Go over there."
Kong Sheng asked hurriedly: "Master, let's... not go to Nanyang?"
"We can't go to Nanyang." Jiang Mantian shook his head and said: "There is another place we can go and see. It's a safe place." He waved his hand and said, "Let's go. You will know when you get there. You will make great achievements tonight. I won't." I’ve treated you badly.”
A few people were a little surprised, but they didn't ask any questions and followed the direction of Jiang Mantian's finger.
Jiang Mantian was sitting in the boat, looking at the fallen Haifeng Island. There was anger in his eyes, but more importantly, pain. Even now, he couldn't figure out how such a secret place could be discovered.
"Sir, did the Ghost King and the others fail to escape?" Kong Sheng was Jiang Mantian's close guard. Jiang Mantian often came to Haifeng Island in secret, and Kong Sheng was always escorting him, so he knew a little about the situation on the island.
Jiang Mantian stared at Kong Sheng's eyes and asked instead, "Kong Sheng, the officers and soldiers know everything about the situation on Haifeng Island. What do you think went wrong?"
"Youngster, I really can't understand." Kong Sheng frowned and said, "No one has ever dared to approach Haifeng Island, and the island is extremely secretive. It is impossible for anyone to leave and report. The Ghost King personally guards Haifeng Island, something is wrong. , even with the shrewdness of the Ghost King, he can find out...!"
"You are right." Jiang Mantian said with a stern expression: "Haifeng Island has existed for decades. Even when Tantaihuang was in the East China Sea, he didn't know the secrets of this island. But overnight, officers, soldiers and pirates colluded together. , suddenly came over. They seemed to know the underground paths of the island very well, as if they had been living on the island all their lives... Regardless of how the officers and soldiers and the pirates came together, I just want to know where they started. Where do you know the underground path on the island?”
Kong Sheng nodded and said: "The master is right. Even if they are the people who live on the island all year round, the Ghost King has extremely strict management and does not allow them to move around at will. They cannot know the complete underground paths on the island. These officers and soldiers are all How did the bandit know?"
"There can only be one explanation." Jiang Mantian looked coldly: "There is a traitor!"
"Traitor?" Kong Sheng's body trembled, and the other two guards also looked at each other.
Jiang Mantian sneered and said: "There are not many people who can walk around the island freely. Apart from me, there are only a few people like the Ghost King and Lu Shanghe."
"Master, do you doubt Lu Shanghe...?"
"It's not Lu Shanghe." Jiang Mantian shook his head and said, "Everyone may be a traitor, but he is the only one who cannot be the traitor." After a pause, he said, "It is impossible for Lu Shanghe, but it is very possible that he brought someone with him."
Kong Sheng was stunned, and Jiang Mantian sighed: "Lu Shanghe has no place to stay in Xichuan, and the beggar gang is looking for his whereabouts everywhere. The hermit master ordered him to come to the East China Sea and stay away from us for the time being. Lu Shanghe does have some With his leadership skills, he can be put to great use in the future."
"Then who is the traitor that the master is talking about?"
"Kong Sheng, you met Lu Shanghe with me when he came to the East China Sea." Jiang Mantian frowned and said, "He also had a young man with him, do you remember?"
Kong Sheng nodded and said: "Remember, Master, could it be...?"
"I didn't tell you at the time that that young man was from the Jinyi Qi family." Jiang Mantian's eyes flashed coldly: "Lu Shanghe met him on the way to the East China Sea. The man's name was Qi Yu, and he was Qi Jing's bastard. He had been married to Jinyi Qi. Kicked out of the house.”
Kong Sheng asked in surprise: "Is he from the Jinyi Qi family?" He seemed to understand: "I understand, I understand, that Qi Yu must be a traitor."
"After much thought, this is the only possibility." Jiang Mantian sneered: "This is a trick. I even suspect that it was not Lu Shanghe who met him, but that he deliberately waited for Lu Shanghe to take the bait, just to follow Lu Shanghe. Next to you, touch Lu Shanghe's bottom. We all thought that Qi Yu was kicked out of the house, and he must be very resentful towards the Jinyi Qi family, but who can guarantee that this is not a conspiracy? "
Kong Sheng clenched his fist and said, "Master, if I had known this, I should have killed that kid right then."
"I still have great trust in Lu Shanghe. Qi Yu came with Lu Shanghe and always wanted to give Lu Shanghe some face." Jiang Mantian sighed: "And Lu Shanghe is an extremely shrewd person. Although I have doubts, I think since Lu Shanghe will When you have him with you, you can always control him.”
"Sir, if you say this, I am sure that the traitor is Qi Yu." Kong Sheng said bitterly: "Haifeng Island has always been extremely secretive. This time, not long after Qi Yu arrived, the officers and soldiers knew the secrets of the island. , and even the underground passages are clear. There is really no other explanation except that Qi Yu leaked the news. He has been staying on the island these days, and the master is very tolerant to Lu Shanghe for his sake. This person can Walking around the island at will, he took this opportunity to familiarize himself with the terrain of the island, and then secretly colluded with Qining...!"
Jiang Mantian nodded slightly: "That should be it." He sneered: "This person destroyed my treasure island. No matter what, I will cut this person into pieces." At this point, I don't know if it was because he was so angry that he felt violently. Coughing, Kong Sheng said hurriedly: "Master, you rest first, we will go all the way to the northeast."
Jiang Mantian said: "At this speed, it will only take more than two hours to row to the northeast. Before dawn, you will see an island. There are few people near that island. Let's go there."
Kong Sheng seemed to understand something and asked in a low voice: "Master, is it...?"
Jiang Mantian nodded slightly, Kong Sheng frowned and said: "Master, is it possible that there is also...?"
"If it is true that Qi Yu betrayed us, it must be very safe there." Jiang Mantian said: "Qi Yu has only been to Haifeng Island and does not know the existence of that island. Even Lu Shanghe only heard about it and did not personally visit it. Landing on the island, if Qi Yu secretly colludes with the officers and soldiers, he will only know about Haifeng Island, and there will be no problems there."
Kong Sheng nodded and told the other two: "Brothers, work harder, we will be safe soon!"