Wang Yue and his party arrived in a picturesque spot halfway up Niutou Mountain in a grand procession. They planned to stop for a rest and take in the scenery.
But as soon as they got out of the carriage, a Secret Guard brought word that three groups had followed them up the mountain, one after another.
Wang Yue's Secret Guard knew Gu Yanzhen and Song Xian, but didn't know which side the Yang brothers were on. After a moment's thought, he told the Secret Guard tailing them not to act rashly and to wait for his orders.
Song Xian was habitually cautious. He'd left a few men watching the city gates when he left town, and when he learned that Gu Yanzhen had come too, a murderous glint appeared in his eyes.
He felt he'd already shown the young county magistrate plenty of respect. Who could have guessed the man would be so ungrateful? He was clearly after the same thing as Song Xian, yet put on the airs of a gentleman.
Song Xian decided to confront Gu Yanzhen before he could make a move and teach the young magistrate that he wasn't someone to trifle with.
So, after Wang Yue had rested with Nie Yunzhu and Yuan Jin'er, they continued up Niutou Mountain. Meanwhile, Gu Yanzhen and Song Xian crossed paths.
Gu Yanzhen was an official, and a civil official at that. With his mentor's backing, he didn't take Song Xian seriously at all.
He took his page and went to confront Song Xian himself, while sending the steward who had ties to the three bandits to find the Yang brothers and remind them to leave Nie Yunzhu alive.
Unfortunately, Gu Yanzhen had misjudged the situation. Song Xian was no decent man. When he realized that Gu Yanzhen