One Move Defeats the Enemy

From the rooftops not far from the County Yamen, Shen Lin, dressed in night-traveling clothes, looked at the Purple Crystal who had just arrived and said in a deep voice, "Why did you make a move ahead of schedule?"

"It wasn't our people!"

Purple Crystal shook his head and denied it, then continued:

"However, with something like this happening, we can't stick to the original plan anymore. I've already told them to act immediately."

As he spoke, several more points of fire suddenly appeared within Qiulin County.

Purple Crystal's subordinates had already begun their actions.

Seeing the yamen runners who had surrounded the County Yamen scattering, Shen Lin sighed and said, "Then let's go!"

Inside the prison at this moment, Hu Dongxing, after listening to his subordinate's report, frowned tightly and muttered, "There's something wrong! Why is it so quiet normally, but tonight there are so many fires appearing all of a sudden."

Beside him, the Zhang Family's retainer asked with confusion, "County Lieutenant Hu, are you suspecting that the flying thief's accomplice deliberately caused the commotion?"

"It's a possibility," Hu Dongxing replied, and then said to the subordinate who reported the news, "You immediately find people and call back all the yamen runners who left the County Yamen."

"But... the fires are too big. If we don't help extinguish them, it might..."

"There's no 'might'!" Hu Dongxing waved his hand dismissively and said directly, "This flying thief is of great importance, and there can be no mistakes! And..."

He turned his head and glanced at the middle-aged man sitting opposite Cheng Yi in the prison, drinking wine, and whispered, "The County Vice-Magistrate is also here. We must protect his safety no matter what!"

Qiulin County's County Yamen had many people, but there were only two true officials appointed by the court, registered and on record.

County Magistrate Lin Youwei, seventh rank.

County Vice-Magistrate Zhong Baiyu, eighth rank.

These two were the true powers in Qiulin County.

Compared to County Magistrate Lin Youwei, this County Vice-Magistrate was not well-known throughout Qiulin County.

This was because after taking office, he only focused on sightseeing, composing poetry, and was generally not very concerned with official matters.

Even so, when this County Vice-Magistrate brought good wine and food to the prison to see off his subordinate, the Patrol Inspector, on his final journey, Hu Dongxing could only respectfully invite him in.

At this moment, Cheng Yi's wounds had been simply bandaged, and he sat at the table, eating and drinking in silence.

Zhong Baiyu sat opposite him, with a young man in black, who wore a stern expression, standing behind him.

"Patrol Inspector Cheng, are the wine and food to your satisfaction?"

Zhong Baiyu asked with great concern, seemingly unbothered by the things Cheng Yi had done.

Cheng Yi picked up the wine pot and gulped down a few mouthfuls before looking at Zhong Baiyu and saying earnestly, "County Vice-Magistrate Zhong, I have disappointed you."

"Don't say that!"

Zhong Baiyu waved his hand and asked curiously, "Is the salary I usually give you not enough for your daily expenses? Why did you become a thief?"

Cheng Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "I am fond of gambling and have accumulated a lot of debt, so I had to resort to such desperate measures."

Zhong Baiyu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Let's assume that's the case. Then why did you have to kill someone when you stole?"

"He saw my face, so I had no choice."

Zhong Baiyu shook his head, sighed, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip. "I don't think Patrol Inspector Cheng's actions were for the sake of gold and jewels. I'm afraid... you were looking for something?"

Cheng Yi's chopsticks paused slightly, and he continued as if nothing was wrong, "What could I be looking for? It was just for money!"

"You have nothing you need to look for, but others..."

Zhong Baiyu looked at Cheng Yi with great interest. He had only spoken half of his sentence when he suddenly frowned, paused, and then suddenly laughed, "Never mind, I won't disturb Patrol Inspector Cheng any longer. We can continue our conversation another time."

"Another time?"

Cheng Yi was stunned for a moment and said with a laugh, "I'm to be executed tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again, County Vice-Magistrate Zhong."

Zhong Baiyu smiled slightly and did not reply. He got up and left with a flourish.

"County Vice-Magistrate Zhong, are you leaving?"

Hu Dongxing asked somewhat confusedly.

Why was he leaving so suddenly after they were just chatting so animatedly?

"I'm leaving!"

Zhong Baiyu left behind a sentence and walked out directly.

Hu Dongxing quickly called out behind him, "Forgive this subordinate, I have important duties and cannot escort you. I bid farewell to County Vice-Magistrate Zhong!"

Zhong Baiyu waved his hand, quickened his pace, and disappeared from the prison in the blink of an eye.

When he reached the entrance of the County Yamen, he turned his head, looked at the dark night sky not far away, and said softly, "Go and see in a while. If she encounters any difficulties, help her out appropriately."

The man in black who had been following him hesitated for a moment, then said, "Understood!"

With that, he disappeared from his spot.

Zhong Baiyu turned around and walked alone on the street, a faint smile slowly appearing on his lips.

"It seems... I've made a friend."

After seeing Zhong Baiyu off, Hu Dongxing let out a long sigh of relief.

If his guess was correct and someone really came to break into the prison tonight, having the County Vice-Magistrate stay would have made him very passive. He would have been hesitant and unable to go all out.

Now, he could...

Just as Hu Dongxing was pondering if there were any flaws in his arrangements, a clear bell sound echoed through the night sky.

"There's someone on the roof!!!"

Hu Dongxing reacted instantly, roaring and drawing his long saber.

Learning from past mistakes, because the Demonic Cultivator had been silenced right before his eyes, Hu Dongxing had specially modified the prison roof.

Fine black threads were laid across the roof, sensitive enough to trigger the bells even if a cat walked over them.

On the roof at this moment, Shen Lin looked speechlessly at the Purple Crystal that had brushed against the threads. He took a deep breath and punched downwards.

Boom!

With a muffled thud, the roof began to collapse, and Shen Lin directly broke into the prison.

He had chosen his entry point well; it was directly above the cell where Cheng Yi was held.

But as soon as he saw Cheng Yi hiding in the corner, a gleaming saber slashed towards him.

Hu Dongxing's reaction was swift, charging in almost the moment the roof broke open.

However, against the current Shen Lin, his strength was far too inadequate.

Shen Lin didn't even bother with any complex moves. He simply used the Qingqiu Body Tempering Art to strengthen his index finger and lightly tapped Hu Dongxing's saber.

Clang!

With a crisp sound, Hu Dongxing felt a tremendous force applied to his saber, sending him flying backward.

At the same time, a figure zipped past the flying Hu Dongxing.

It was the Zhang Family's retainer, the Blood Hand Monk Wang Yuantong.

Hailing from Vajra Temple, he threw a punch at Shen Lin.

In response, Shen Lin met the attack with a punch of his own.

Bang!

Fist met fist, and Shen Lin landed steadily.

Wang Yuantong, however, was sent flying backward, his right fist now grotesquely twisted, with fragments of bone even piercing his flesh.

Hu Dongxing and Wang Yuantong, two Martial Artists in the Meridian Opening Realm renowned throughout Qiulin County, couldn't even last a single move against Shen Lin.

Watching the black-clad figure grab Cheng Yi and charge out of the roof again, the two exchanged glances, their faces filled with frustration.