Trapped

 After Mark had gone some distance, Scarlet couldn't help saying: "That guy's smile is so fake. He doesn't look like a good person."

"He's definitely no simple character." Adam said gravely. "I've done some investigating—Mark Montgomary didn't gather so many people in such a short time just by relying on Montgomary Palace's reputation. He's deeply calculating with ruthless methods. A troublesome figure."

Margaret looked at Dustin: "What do you think?"

Dustin pondered: "He says he came to pay his respects on his own behalf, but the Qin family may well have given him instructions. The Qin family wants to support Duke Montgomary's ascension. Margaret, as legitimate royal blood, you're an obstacle to them, and also... a potential chess piece."

Margaret sneered: "They want to make me a chess piece? They'd better have the ability."

"In any case, caution is best." Dustin said. "Mark Montgomary is the type who lives under the Qin family's roof yet refuses to remain subordinate. People who try to please both sides are most likely to stab you in the back at critical moments."

Over the next two days, Mark visited several more times, each time just exchanging pleasantries and leaving small gifts. His attitude grew increasingly warm, as if he truly considered Margaret a friend worth cultivating.

The Qin family, however, never showed their faces. The siblings Qin Hao and Qin Xue seemed completely uninterested in Margaret's group. When they occasionally passed each other in the marketplace, they would only give a brief glance before looking away.

This indifference was more uncomfortable than hostility.

"What exactly do they want?" Scarlet said irritably. "If they want to fight, fight. If they want to talk, talk. This lukewarm attitude—what's that supposed to mean?"

But Dustin was thoughtful: "They're not uninterested—they're observing. Someone like Qin Hao doesn't do meaningless things. He's definitely waiting for something."

On the evening of the fifth day, the answer was revealed.

A blood-covered man stumbled into the marketplace, heading straight for Margaret's camp. It was a Dragon Guard soldier—one of the scouts previously sent to explore.

"Your Highness... this is bad!" The man collapsed to the ground, struggling to raise his head. "General Adam... they're trapped!"

Margaret's expression changed: "Explain clearly!"

The soldier haltingly described what had happened: their squad had discovered ruins about fifteen kilometers outside the marketplace. Thinking it was a great opportunity, they hadn't expected to trigger a restriction and became trapped in a formation. Scarlet and several Dragon Guards were fighting desperately to hold the line, letting him break through to seek help. But pursuers—a group of independent cultivators—had spotted them and were currently besieging them!

"Move out!" Margaret didn't hesitate, immediately gathering her people.

But Dustin suddenly said: "Wait a moment."

Margaret paused: "What is it?"

Dustin looked at the soldier: "You said they're trapped in ruins fifteen kilometers away. Your entire squad—you're the only one who broke through?"

The soldier nodded.

Dustin asked again: "How many pursuers?"

"About... twenty or thirty."

"All independent cultivators?"

"Yes, all independent cultivators."

Dustin was silent for a moment, then said to Margaret: "Margaret, this is a trap."

Margaret's pupils contracted.

Dustin continued: "Fifteen kilometers away—just beyond the Cease-Hostility Formation's range. A group of independent cultivators that can just barely trap Adam's formation. The only scout who breaks through just happens to escape and report back. It's too convenient."

The soldier grew anxious: "Mr. Dustin, I'm telling the truth! General Adam really—"

"I know you're telling the truth." Dustin looked at him. "Being trapped is real. Being besieged is real. But those attackers aren't necessarily ordinary independent cultivators."

He turned to look toward a certain direction in the marketplace—where Mark Montgomary's camp was located.

"If I'm not mistaken, someone is testing us. Testing how far we'll go for our companions, testing our strength, testing... whether we're qualified to be chess pieces, or whether we need to be eliminated."

Margaret's face was iron: "You mean Mark Montgomary?"

"Not necessarily by his own hand, but definitely connected to him." Dustin said. "Perhaps even connected to the Qin family."

Scarlet said urgently: "Even if we know it's a trap, we can't just abandon Adam and the others!"

"Of course we'll go." Dustin said. "But we'll go prepared."

He spoke rapidly: "Margaret, you take the main force to rescue them directly. But don't rush in—first observe the situation from the perimeter. Delay as long as possible. Scarlet, you come with me on another route."

"Another route?"

Dustin pointed to a location on the map: "Here—the other side of the ruins. If we can circle around the front and approach from behind, we might catch them off guard."

Margaret looked at him, complex emotions flickering in her eyes. She suddenly understood why she relied on Dustin so heavily even with his cultivation sealed—his mind was more useful than many people's fists.

"Alright, we'll do it that way." She said decisively. "You... be careful."

Dustin smiled slightly: "Don't worry. With Scarlet here, I'll be fine."

Scarlet nodded firmly: "I'll definitely protect Brother Dustin!"

Two hours later, the two groups set out separately.

Margaret led the main force, moving conspicuously toward the ruins. They deliberately traveled slowly, stopping frequently to scout their surroundings, putting on a show of caution.

Meanwhile, Dustin and Scarlet, along with three elite guards, quietly circled toward the ruins' rear.

Night deepened. On Buzhou Mountain, a carefully planned trap awaited its prey. But what the hunters didn't know was that among the prey, a pair of eyes had already seen through everything.

---

Outside the ruins, Margaret's forces had arrived.

It was a half-collapsed stone temple, hidden among dense ancient trees. Now, spiritual light flickered around the temple, and a large formation could be vaguely seen enveloping it. Inside the formation, Adam led over a dozen Dragon Guards, desperately holding off dozens of independent cultivators.

"Your Highness, let's charge in!" A guard urged.

Margaret raised her hand to stop him: "No rush. Let's observe the situation first."

She carefully studied the battlefield. The attacking cultivators appeared disorganized, but their advances and retreats showed subtle coordination—definitely not a hastily assembled rabble. Moreover, though they pressed the attack, they never struck to kill, more like they were... stalling for time.

"Just as I suspected." Margaret sneered. "Pass the order—hold position, perimeter alert."

Meanwhile, behind the ruins.

Dustin and Scarlet followed a hidden ravine, quietly approaching the temple's rear. The terrain here was steep, covered in thorns—clearly no one had considered anyone approaching from this direction.

"Brother Dustin, how did you know there was a path here?" Scarlet asked curiously as she cleared the way.

"Guessed." Dustin said. "Ancient ruins like this usually have multiple entrances. If the front door is blocked, the back door might be the way out. And look—" He pointed to a collapsed section of wall behind the temple. "There's wind coming through there, meaning there's a passage behind it."

They climbed up to the collapsed section and indeed found a hidden opening. The entrance was small—barely enough for one person to crawl through—but faint light glowed from within.

"I'll go first." Scarlet insisted, diving in without argument.

Dustin followed closely. The passage was narrow and damp, filled with a musty smell. After crawling for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the way ahead opened up—they had entered the temple's interior!

Inside, Adam and his people were struggling to hold on. The formation was on the verge of collapse, casualties mounting. Seeing Dustin and Scarlet suddenly appear, Adam was overjoyed.

"Don't make a sound." Dustin said quietly. "There's more waiting outside. How much longer can you hold?"

Adam smiled bitterly: "Half an hour at most."

"That's enough." Dustin quickly surveyed the surroundings, then said: "Scarlet, you and your people guard this position. Adam, give me control of the formation."

Though puzzled, Adam unhesitatingly handed over a jade talisman—the formation's control core—to Dustin. Dustin took the talisman and began adjusting the formation's spiritual energy flow.

– Marinien