Chapter 123: You Are Not In Exile You Are Clearly Traveling!
Chapter 123: Truth-Testing Pill
Chen Yuan did not immediately agree. Who knew if Zhao Guang was genuinely willing to defect? What if he had ulterior motives and would betray them later?
The current situation was acceptable. There were no conflicts of interest between them. Even if Zhao Guang submitted to them reluctantly now, even if he betrayed them later, they wouldn't suffer much loss.
However, once they accepted Zhao Guang, many tasks would be assigned to him, and he would also discover the secrets of the Chen Xue Space. If he betrayed them then, the secrets would be exposed.
But Zhao Guang knelt down and tearfully pleaded, claiming he was forced. His family members were caught by Guo Qiang, and he was threatened into compliance.
"What about the hundreds of taels you received from Guo Qiang?" Chen Xue sneered, not believing his words.
"I, I didn't take it. Guo Qiang said he would give it to me after the job was done, but..." Zhao Guang looked extremely aggrieved.
Wasn't he always unsuccessful?
"Alright!" Chen Xue suddenly took out a pill. "This is a truth-testing pill. Once you take it, if you lie, you will die instantly."
Zhao Guang's face changed drastically upon hearing this. He had never heard of such a pill. Did such a pill truly exist?
"What?" Chen Xue raised an eyebrow. "If you're not lying, why hesitate to take it?"
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Guang said, "Fine, I'll take it. I'm willing to submit to you, Lord Chen, I just hope you can help me rescue my mother..."
"Wait!" Chen Xue interrupted. "It seems we don't gain anything from this. You're defecting to us but asking us to help rescue someone, and we get nothing in return, only deepening the hatred with Guo Qiang!"
"I..."
Zhao Guang was speechless. No one would agree to such terms. It was like accepting a big trouble.
"What evidence does Guo Qiang have against us? You should know!" Chen Xue reminded when she saw him silent.
If others show her kindness, she reciprocates with greater kindness.
But if others want to harm her, she won't let it go easily.
Moreover, Guo Qiang had a deep vendetta against her.
If it weren't for Guo Qiang, her family wouldn't have gone from wealth and prosperity to becoming exiled criminals.
And Guo Qiang had no intention of letting them go. He even sent Zhao Guang to attack them, and he bribed bandits. No one could swallow this insult.
Moreover, it was a matter of life and death now.
If Guo Qiang didn't die, they would die.
Before, they couldn't deal with Guo Qiang because they were exiled. But after the bandit attack, they captured a few prisoners who provided some clues, but they couldn't bring down Guo Qiang.
If Zhao Guang could expose more evidence against Guo Qiang, they could send it to Xie Yunshang. Even if they couldn't bring down Guo Qiang, they could at least hinder his actions temporarily.
"I..." Zhao Guang hesitated for a long time, then gritted his teeth. "I don't know much, but the last time Guo Qiang sent someone to find bandits to attack you, I know that person. If you find him, it can prove that Guo Qiang instigated the bandits."
"It's useless," Lord Chen interjected. "That person has probably been silenced long ago."
"I have other evidence!" Zhao Guang hastily said. "That person came to me before finding the bandits. He anticipated that Guo Qiang would kill him to silence him, so he told me some things. He hid some evidence to deal with Guo Qiang. If he died, he asked me to use it to exchange for his family's safety."
"Oh?" Chen Xue raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you say so earlier? It seems you're not entirely honest!"
"I, I didn't want to die, did I?" Zhao Guang smiled wryly.
"Take this pill first."
Chen Xue flipped her hand and handed over the "truth-testing pill" from earlier. "Don't even think about tricking us with this."
This time, Zhao Guang didn't hesitate. He took the pill and swallowed it.
"After taking this pill, if you're not afraid of death, then go ahead and lie."
Upon hearing Chen Xue's words, Zhao Guang's hand trembled for a moment before returning to normal.
"Continue with the topic from earlier," Lord Chen said. "What evidence did that person give you to give to Guo Qiang?"
Zhao Guang honestly revealed it, and Chen Xue immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to Xiao Qing, instructing her to deliver it to Xie Yunshang.
Although Xie Yunshang might already be in the capital, with Xiao Qing's speed, she could definitely make it in half a day.
"After we verify this matter, we'll consider it further," Chen Yuan said as he saw Chen Xue sending Xiao Qing to deliver the message. "I'll inform General Pingwei about your situation. I can't guarantee whether he can rescue your family."
"Thank you, Lord Chen! Thank you so much!" Zhao Guang was excited and knelt down, but Chen Yuan stopped him. "Don't thank me too soon. Who knows if Guo Qiang... If he's ruthless, there's nothing we can do..."
Chen Yuan's words were gentle, but Zhao Guang understood his meaning. Thinking of Guo Qiang's character, he might have already killed his family long ago, which made Zhao Guang feel despair.
He didn't hear what Chen Yuan said afterwards and left stumbling.
Chen Xue and Chen Yuan looked at each other and then ignored it.
They only hoped that the clues provided by Zhao Guang would be useful. Even if they couldn't overthrow Guo Qiang, they could hinder him and buy themselves some time.
Zhao Guang's matter was just an episode and didn't affect the team. They continued on their journey.
But as time passed, the snowfall became heavier, making their journey more difficult.
"This winter feels unusual. It's earlier than before, and the snow is much heavier than usual," Chen Yuan said worriedly. If the snow fell even heavier, their carriage wouldn't be able to move.
Sure enough.
What you worry about tends to happen.
A few days later, Chen Xue's family had to get off the carriage.
"The snow is too deep. The carriage can't move anymore."
Seeing the wheels completely stuck in the snow, Chen Yuan felt helpless. "It seems we can only walk this stretch of the journey."
"What about the carriage?" Chen Xue frowned. "We can't just leave it here!"
Of course not. If they abandoned the carriage, how would they continue the journey later? But now the carriage was completely stuck in the snow. Even if they got off, the carriage still couldn't move.
"Unless I take the carriage back and release it when the snow is shallower," Chen Xue whispered.
"What about explaining where the carriage came from then?"
Hearing her father's words, Chen Xue shrugged. "Do we still need to explain? Who dares to talk!"
Although many prisoners were not on the same side as them, Xu Tian was now Chen Yuan's disciple, and Zhao Guang had also expressed allegiance to them. The entire exile team's bailiffs were under their control.
These prisoners couldn't rebel, couldn't talk nonsense, and couldn't spread any news.
Even if news did spread, no one would believe it.
And if they did spread, they would just have the bailiffs block the news, and those prisoners wouldn't know what they had done.
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