Not far from the county yamen, Shen Lin stood on a rooftop in night-escape clothes, watching Zijing, who had just arrived. He asked in a low voice, "Why did you act ahead of schedule?"
"It wasn't our people!"
Zijing shook her head in denial, then continued:
"But now that this has happened, we can't follow the plan anymore. I've already told them to act immediately."
As they spoke, several more points of fire suddenly appeared throughout Qiulin County.
Zijing's subordinates had already begun moving.
Watching the constables who had originally surrounded the county yamen scatter in all directions, Shen Lin sighed. "Then let's go!"
At that moment, inside the prison, Hu Dongxing listened to his subordinate's report with a deeply furrowed brow. He said in a low voice, "There's a problem! How could everything be peaceful as usual, only for so many fires to break out tonight?"
The Zhang Family Attendant beside him asked suspiciously, "County Lieutenant Hu, do you suspect that this flying thief's accomplices deliberately caused the disturbance?"
"That possibility can't be ruled out." Hu Dongxing replied, then said to the informant, "Find someone at once and call back all the constables who left the county yamen."
"But...the fire is too fierce. If we don't help put it out, we might..."
"There's no 'might' about it!" Hu Dongxing waved his hand and said directly, "This flying thief is of grave importance. There can't be the slightest mistake! Besides..."
He turned his head and glanced at the middle-aged man sitting across from Cheng Yi inside the prison, drinking wine. In a low voice, he said, "County Vice-Magistrate Zhong is here too. No matter what, we must protect his safety!"
There were many people in the Qiulin County yamen, but there were only two true imperial officials—those who held an official rank and were registered in the records.
County Magistrate Lin Youwei, Principal Seventh Rank.
County Vice-Magistrate Zhong Baiyu, Principal Eighth Rank.
These two were the true rulers of Qiulin County.
Compared with County Magistrate Lin Youwei, this County Vice-Magistrate was little-known throughout Qiulin County.
After taking office, he had done nothing but roam the mountains and rivers, compose poetry, and write songs. He barely paid any attention to official business.
Even so, when this County Vice-Magistrate carried fine wine and dishes to the prison to see off his subordinate Patrol Officer on his final journey, Hu Dongxing could only invite him in with the utmost respect.
At that moment, the wounds on Cheng Yi's body had been hastily treated. He sat at the table, eating the dishes and drinking the wine in silence.
Zhong Baiyu sat opposite him, with a young man dressed in black and wearing a stern expression standing behind him.
"Patrol Officer Cheng, are the wine and dishes to your liking?"
Zhong Baiyu seemed not to care in the slightest about what the other man had done. Instead, he asked with great concern.
Cheng Yi picked up the wine jug and gulped down several mouthfuls before looking at him seriously. "County Vice-Magistrate Zhong, I have disappointed you."
"Don't say such things!"
Zhong Baiyu waved his hand and asked curiously, "Was the salary I issued you usually insufficient for your daily expenses? Why did you become a thief?"
Cheng Yi was silent for a while before saying, "I'm addicted to gambling and owe a great deal of money. I had no choice but to take this dangerous path."
Zhong Baiyu froze for a moment, then chuckled. "Let's take that as the reason, then. But when you stole, why did you take a person's life?"
"He saw my face. I had no choice."
Zhong Baiyu shook his head, sighed, and took a sip of wine. "In my view, Patrol Officer Cheng's actions were not really for those gold and silver treasures. I'm afraid...you were looking for something, weren't you?"
The chopsticks in Cheng Yi's hand paused slightly, but he continued as though nothing had happened. "What could I have been looking for? I was only after money!"
"You have nothing you need to find, but other people..."
Zhong Baiyu looked at Cheng Yi with great interest. He had only spoken halfway when he suddenly frowned. After a brief pause, he suddenly smiled. "Forget it. I won't disturb you any longer, Patrol Officer Cheng. We can continue discussing what we want to talk about another day."
"Another day?"
Cheng Yi froze for a moment, then laughed bitterly. "I'll be executed tomorrow. I'm afraid there won't be an 'another day' for me to see County Vice-Magistrate Zhong again."
Zhong Baiyu smiled faintly without replying. He rose and left with effortless grace.
"County Vice-Magistrate Zhong, are you leaving?"
Hu Dongxing asked, somewhat puzzled.
How had they just been chatting so enthusiastically, only for him to leave in the blink of an eye?
"I'm leaving!"
Zhong Baiyu left those words behind and walked straight out.
Hu Dongxing hurriedly called after him, "Forgive me, but I have important duties and cannot escort you. Farewell, County Vice-Magistrate Zhong!"
Zhong Baiyu waved his hand, quickened his steps, and left the prison in the blink of an eye.
After reaching the county yamen's entrance, he turned his head and looked at the pitch-black night sky in the distance. In a soft voice, he said, "Go take a look later. If she encounters any trouble, lend her an appropriate hand."
The black-clothed man who had been following behind him hesitated for a moment before replying, "Understood!"
With that, he vanished from the spot.
Zhong Baiyu turned around and walked alone down the street, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a smile.
"Looks like...she's made a friend."
After seeing Zhong Baiyu off, Hu Dongxing let out a long breath.
If his guess was right and someone truly came to break into the prison tonight, having the County Vice-Magistrate remain here would put him at a severe disadvantage. He would have to hold back and be unable to unleash his full strength.
Now that was better. He could...
Just as Hu Dongxing was wondering whether there were any flaws in his arrangements, the crisp sound of a bell rang out across the night sky.
"There's someone on the roof!!!"
Hu Dongxing reacted instantly, roaring as he drew his saber.
Once bitten, twice shy. Because the Demonic Cultivator had been silenced right before his eyes, Hu Dongxing had specifically remodeled the prison roof.
Thread after thread of ink-colored wire had been laid across the roof. Even a cat walking over it would trigger the bells.
At that moment, on the roof, Shen Lin glanced speechlessly at Zijing, whose foot had been caught by one of the wires. He took a deep breath and punched downward.
Boom!
With a muffled crash, the roof began to collapse, and Shen Lin charged straight into the prison.
He had chosen his position well. The cell directly beneath his feet was the one holding Cheng Yi.
But the instant he saw Cheng Yi hiding in the corner, a gleaming saber was already chopping toward him.
Hu Dongxing's reaction could not have been called slow. He had charged over almost at the same moment the roof broke open.
But against Shen Lin now, his strength was simply too inadequate.
Shen Lin did not even need to make any complicated moves. He merely strengthened his index finger with the Qingqiu Body Tempering Art and lightly tapped the blade of Hu Dongxing's saber.
Clang!
With a crisp ring, Hu Dongxing felt an immense force strike the blade, sending his entire body flying backward.
At the same time, a figure brushed past the airborne Hu Dongxing.
The Zhang Family Attendant, Blood Hand Monk Wang Yuantong.
Born in Vajra Temple, he threw a punch at Shen Lin.
Shen Lin answered with a punch of his own.
Bang!
Their fists collided, and Shen Lin landed steadily.
Wang Yuantong, however, was sent flying backward. His right fist was twisted into an unnatural shape, with splintered bones even protruding through the flesh.
Hu Dongxing and Blood Hand Monk Wang Yuantong—two Meridian Opening Realm martial artists of great renown in Qiulin County—could not even withstand a single move from Shen Lin.
Watching the black-clothed man seize Cheng Yi and charge back out through the roof, the two exchanged a look, their faces filled with frustration.
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