Chapter 9: The Hunter’s Snare
Captain He rested briefly, then pushed forward through several more forests. She glanced up at the sun to confirm her direction before pressing on. Soon, the faint gurgle of water reached her ears — she had followed the river downstream. After half a day of walking, exhaustion and thirst weighed heavily on her. She found a clear, open bend of the river and bent down to drink. The sun had climbed past noon when she drew a bamboo tube from her bosom and prepared a fire stick. Just as she was about to ignite the fuse to release a signal flare, a sudden gust of wind swept behind her. Pain seared across her waist — before she could react, she was hurled into the river. The icy water choked her mouth and nose, stunning her senses. She struggled to surface, gasping — only to see Li Yi standing calmly at the riverbank, watching her with a faint smile. “Captain He,” Li Yi called lightly, “we meet again. What a coincidence.” He whistled, and from the forest emerged the white horse — Xiaoba...
