Chapter 177 Mystery In Stone Valley Part 7

In the middle of the night, when most of the participants were sound asleep, the sound of soldiers knocking on doors and waking the participants could be heard throughout the small valley. 

Knocking from door to door, soldiers shouting and viciously, participants began to open their doors and walk into the torch-filled night, not knowing why they woke up at this hour. Participants stood blankly, watching soldiers move in and out of huts, and tents searching for something. 

"What's going on?" People stood there muttering in the night. 

Lixin glanced at everyone and studied them carefully one by one. He remembered that the person who stole the box of the pure phoenix eggs was a slender person, maybe a woman, but there were not that many women standings in the crowd, which made Lixin doubt whether his prediction was correct. He wondered if the man might be a shorter than average man with lower muscle tone. Therefore, Lixin did not pay too much attention to those tall and medium-sized individuals. 

"Lord Lixin," one of the soldiers said. "We looked everywhere and found nothing." 

"The three places we did not search for were the two highnesses and the Lai family," another soldier said. 

Lixin turned to Jin and said, "Jin, take five soldiers to search the Lai family's camp." 

Jin and five soldiers left quickly. 

"What's going on? Can someone tell us what's going on?" one man asked. 

Lixin looked at the people around him. He said, "About an hour ago, someone bravely stole the pure phoenix egg from Prince Da's tent." 

The gathered people gasped in horror. 

"Who could have done it?" 

"Does this mean there will be no fighting competition?" 

"Lord Lixin!" Captain Li ran towards Lixin and his men. 

Lixin asked, "What's wrong?" 

"I lose sight of the person I'm chasing?" Captain Li said. 

Lixin asked, "What about my subordinates?" 

"We got separated," Captain Li said shamefully as he admitted that in his experience as a captain, he could not catch the thief.

Lixin said, "Since nothing is found here, those people may have gone far away, or hid the pure phoenix egg somewhere." He paused. "You can follow Jin to the Lai campsite. After I report to Prince Da, I will come after you."

U-ri held the box in his hand, looked at Hajime and Yul and asked, "Why did they steal this?" 

"Not sure," Hajime said, examining the box containing the rock. 

U-ri looked at Yul then at Hajime. He smiled and teased, "Yul... why are you half naked?" 

Yul looked at U-ri and said, "It's very hot tonight." He walked into the stone house. 

U-ri looked at Hajime and asked, "What about you? Are you hot too? Is that why you took off your clothes too?" 

Hajime knew that U-ri was teasing him. "We're not sleeping on the road or in the wilderness, so there's no reason for me to sleep with my clothes and shoes on," he said, looking at U-ri. "So, you're not hot? That's why you sleep with your clothes and shoes on?" 

"Who knows when the house will catch fire, or if someone will try to attack me," U-ri said, chuckling. "It's always a good idea to be prepared." 

Yul came out of the house, fully clothed and carrying Hajime's shoe. "Here, put on your shoe," he said, handing Hajime's his shoe. 

Just when Hajime put on his shoe, Captain Li and ten soldiers rushed to the three Tanzanies. Captain Li saw the box on U-ri's arm and quickly drew his sword. Seeing Captain Li's actions, the soldiers following Captain Li also made the same move. Captain Li and ten soldiers quickly surrounded the three Tanzanies. 

"Put down the box and surrender," Captain Li demanded. "Now!' 

"Uh...are you calling us thieves?" Hajime asked. 

"Three masked individuals go into Prince Da's tent and stole the pure phoenix egg. Since you have the box in your hand, those three individuals must be the three of you," Captain Lee said. 

U-ri looked at Captain Li and thought this accusation was childish. He shook his head, looked at Captain Li and asked, "Have you ever thought that if we were the three people you mentioned, would we be stupid enough to carry the box in front of everyone and get caught so easily?" 

Yul said, "Before you accuse anyone, you have to have solid evidence." 

Captain Li said, "The evidence is in your hands." He pointed to the box in U-ri's hands. 

Hajime looked at Captain Li and said, "We were the ones who found the pure phoenix egg and gave it to Lord Lixin. Since we have given it to Lord Lixin, we have no reason to take it back." 

Captain Li said, "Then hand it over." 

Yul said, "We will, but not to you." 

Running towards the three stone houses in the distance, Michio saw his three friends standing in the distance. The soldiers drew their swords and rushed towards his three friends. Michio quickly rushed towards the group, but before Michio could reach the group, more soldiers arrived, and more people surrounded his three friends. 

"Make way..." Michio said as he tried to push the crowd away while walking to the front of the line. 

"Captain Li," Lixin said as he walked towards Hajime and others, and then his eyes fell on the box in U-ri's hand. "Sir U-ri." 

Captain Li said, "Lord Lixin, these three people are the ones who stole the pure phoenix eggs in Prince Da's tent." 

"How could it be?" one participant said. 

"Why did they steal something that was already given to Lord Lixin?" 

"Yeah, do you have evidence?" 

Captain Li was at a loss and no one around him believed that he had caught the culprits. 

Lixin looked at Yul and others and said, "I believe they didn't steal it." 

Captain Li asked, "My Lord, how can you be so sure?" 

Lixin said, "Because I fought with the person who stole the pure phoenix egg. If Captain Yul wants to steal the pure phoenix egg, no one can stop him." 

"Exactly," Feng said. 

U-ri walked up to Lixin, handed the box to Lixin, and then turned to look at Captain Li. "Captain, if you don't mind me asking, how many people did you meet in the tent?" U-ri asked. 

Captain Li said, "Three people, Lord Lixin's two subordinates chased two people, and I chased the other person." 

Yul said, "We first encountered the person who stole the box. After we had a fight, more men dressed in black appeared." 

"Others?" Jin looked at Lixin. "So, there are more than three people who want to steal the pure phoenix egg." 

Lixin said, "Let's go back to Prince Da's tent and discuss this further." He looked at the people gathered around him. "Everyone, now that we have found the pure phoenix egg, everything will go according to the original plan. I'm sorry to disturb everyone tonight." 

When the crowd began to disperse, Abrafo carried Shi towards the group of people. 

"What are those people doing gathering around Yul and the others?" Abrafo said as he quickened his pace and walked towards the people. 

Shi said, "Like I mentioned to you, someone stole the pure phoenix egg, and we were chasing those people." Shi saw many people in front of them and he was being carried by Abrafo, which made Shi feel a little embarrassed. "Sir Abrafo." 

Abrafo looked down at Shi and asked, "What?" 

Shi said, "Please put me down, I think I can walk from here." 

Abrafo asked, "Why?" 

Shi said, "It's not appropriate for you to carry me like this and let others see." 

Abrafo chuckled. "You are embarrassed?" Abrafo teased. 

Shi said, "Yes... I don't want others to misunderstand." 

Abrafo said, "If our conscience is clear, we have nothing to be ashamed of." Abrafo smiled. "Or your conscience is not innocent?" 

Shi quickly responded, "What are you talking about? Of course, I have a clear conscience." 

Abrafo continued to tease, "Then what's the problem?" 

Shi said, "It's nothing, I just want to walk from here. Please let me down." 

Abrafo chuckled and said, "Alright... alright...no more teasing." He quickly put Shi down and walked toward the crowd while holding Shi's left arm. 

When they got close enough, Abrafo could see that the man standing with Lixin was none other than his friend. Abrafo shouted, "U-ri! I found a patient for you." 

U-ri and the other turned to Abrafo's voice and found Abrafo supporting Shi, who was limping as the two walked toward them. 

"What happened to him?" U-ri asked. 

Shi said, "My lord, when I was separated from Captain Li and Heng, two more people ambushed me. I couldn't defeat three of them by myself, so I ran." 

Lixin said, "Let Sir U-ri take a look at your injuries." 

U-ri said, "Come and sit by the campfire so I can see better." 

Abrafo supported Shi to sit beside the campfire. 

Michio looked around, grabbed Abrafo's right arm, and pulled Abrafo up. "What about Prince Bong?" 

Abrafo said, "I left him with the two guards." 

"Lord Lixin... Lord Lixin," Master Lu shouted as he ran towards Lixin and others. 

Feng asked, "What's wrong, Master Lu?" 

Master Lu panted heavily and said, "I can't find Prince Bong." 

Abrafo rolled his eyes and said, "He's over there drunken with two guards." 

Shi said, "Yes, we just partway with him not long ago." 

Abrafo said, "I'll take you there." 

Lixin said, "Sir U-ri, I will leave Shi to your care for the time being." 

Abrafo led Lixin, Master Lu and ten soldiers to the place where he last left Bong. When approaching the intersection, Abrafo saw two soldiers lying on the ground from a distance, so Abrafo, Lixin and others quickly rushed towards the two fallen soldiers. 

When they reached the two fallen soldiers, Jin quickly examined the two soldiers and noticed that they were cold to the touch. Jin stood up, looked at Lixin, and shook his head. 

"They had been dead for a long time. The bodies were cold to the touch," Jin said. "The two men appeared to have been stabbed from behind." 

Master Lu asked worriedly, "So, where is His Highness?" 

Lixin looked around and saw only darkness. "Jin, gather everyone and look for Prince Bong. I will inform Prince Da." 

A soldier ran towards Abrafo, Lixin and the others. "Lord Lixin... Lord Lixin," the soldiers said breathlessly. "Prince Da needs you immediately." 

Lixin and others quickly left, leaving Abrafo and the two dead soldiers standing at the crossroads. Abrafo stared at the two dead soldiers. Even though he was dead worried about Bong's safety, there was still a little bit in his heart that he knew that Bong's disappearance might have been caused by himself. As he started to walk away, a woman's voice made him stop and turn around. 

When Abrafo turned, he saw a person dressed in black with their face covered. "Help me send a message to Lord Lixin... If he wants Prince Bong to return safely then bring me the pure phoenix egg within five days, and I will give Lord Lixin directions to find Prince Bong," the woman said, staring at Abrafo. "Follow me and Prince Bong will die tonight." She turned and walked away from Abrafo.