Twists and Turns

As his words fell, a large number of soldiers surged into the Hundred Flowers Sect.

Elder Bian frowned, a trace of puzzlement entering his small, shrewd eyes. He thought Meng Xiong had returned.

Then, behind the soldiers, a figure holding a folding fan slowly strode inside.

The instant he saw that man, Elder Bian narrowed his eyes and said with faint anger, "Chen Zhiqing, what do you mean by leading these soldiers to surround the Hundred Flowers Sect?"

Standing beneath the steps with his folding fan held behind his back, Chen Zhiqing gave Elder Bian a slight bow. "Elder Bian, you are mistaken. As a Hundred Flowers Sect Disciple, how could I possibly target the Hundred Flowers Sect? I brought these soldiers here primarily to arrest a major criminal wanted by the Imperial Court."

He slowly turned his head and glanced at Jiang Shuo before continuing, "Public matters are public, private matters are private. Though my position is special, I must handle this impartially. After all, this concerns the laws of Great Ming. As for this criminal staying in our Hundred Flowers Sect, that is merely a coincidence. I hope Elder Bian will not misunderstand."

That final sentence had severed the connection between the Hundred Flowers Sect and Jiang Shuo, preventing the sect from being implicated. Yet it was also a reminder to Elder Bian that he had best not interfere.

Though Elder Bian remained within the Hundred Flowers Sect, he knew everything that happened in Yulin City like the back of his hand. How could he not know that Chen Zhiqing was speaking the truth?

His resolute expression softened. He looked at Jiang Shuo, then at the self-righteous Chen Zhiqing below the steps, and found himself caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Elder Bian, thank you for saving me outside the city. If not for you, I fear I would have long since died at Meng Xiong's hands and never lived to see this day." Jiang Shuo suddenly bowed deeply to Elder Bian, his words utterly sincere.

Jiang Shuo had met only a handful of people in Yulin City. After turning the matter over and over in his mind and connecting it with that familiar voice, he had guessed that the masked man was Elder Bian.

"Hmm?" Elder Bian froze, then stroked his beard and silently acknowledged it.

Elder Bian greatly admired Jiang Shuo's talent and found his temperament agreeable as well. That was why he had arranged for Jiang Shuo and Yu Yuhan to get acquainted.

Yu Yuhan had gone outside the city to save Disaster Victims before, but she had never stayed away for so long. Suspicious, Elder Bian went to investigate and learned that Yu Yuhan and the other two had gone to the County Office to find Chen Bingting.

Elder Bian had intended to leave the city and investigate, but at that time, Yulin City's defenses had been raised by an entire level. Even he could not secretly slip out of the city. Left with no choice, he lurked near the city gate so he could receive any relevant news at once. That was how he came to save Jiang Shuo.

He had overheard Jiang Shuo's conversation with Meng Xiong. Unfortunately, Feng En was not in the city, so he had planned to return to the Hundred Flowers Sect and gather people to rescue Yu Yuhan. Just as he finished preparing and was about to leave, Meng Xiong blocked his way back. Worried about Jiang Shuo's safety, he had remained there until now.

"Elder Bian, this has nothing to do with the Hundred Flowers Sect. It is my mistake alone. Please do not interfere." After saying that, Jiang Shuo straightened up and looked down at Chen Zhiqing from above, his eyes filled with deep contempt. "I truly never imagined that a minor clash during the disciple selection would make you hold such a grudge. Back then, I was the one who discovered the plague and urged Yu Yuhan and Li Zicheng to notify the County Magistrate. I alone will bear the consequences. It has nothing to do with the two of them."

Yu Yuhan was, after all, an official disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect, and Li Zicheng had not provoked him much either. Chen Zhiqing narrowed his eyes and considered it for a moment, then smiled. "As long as you obediently surrender, I will naturally spare them."

"Fine." Jiang Shuo shouted and strode out of the main hall, facing the dozens of enemies in the courtyard. "I'll stand right here. Anyone who wants to capture me, come."

His words struck the ground like iron. Jiang Shuo stood between heaven and earth like a god, and his fearless, death-defying bearing deeply shook everyone present.

The soldiers had suffered greatly at Jiang Shuo's hands and knew he possessed some kind of demonic magic. For a time, they wavered in uncertainty, shoving one another back and forth. No one wanted to be the first to step forward.

As for Chen Zhiqing, Jiang Shuo had once taken him hostage and paraded him through more than half of Yulin City. He hated Jiang Shuo to the bone, yet feared him from the depths of his heart. At Jiang Shuo's shout, he instead took a step back and hid behind the soldiers. "Y-you, come down yourself."

Jiang Shuo coldly swept his gaze over the people below. Their mouse-like, cringing cowardice struck him as utterly laughable.

"Elder Bian, do not forget that Miss Yu is still outside the city, infected with the plague." After that reminder, Jiang Shuo slowly lifted his foot and stepped onto the next stair below. Disaster could not be avoided; if taking it upon himself could keep his two friends safe, then Jiang Shuo would naturally do so.

Seeing that Jiang Shuo had truly abandoned resistance, Chen Zhiqing's long-suspended heart gradually settled. He urged his Subordinates forward to seize him.

"I told you long ago that you were never qualified to fight me. You cannot blame anyone else for this. Who told you to bite off more than you could chew and provoke me?" The soldiers quickly surrounded him. Seeing Jiang Shuo trapped in a cage, Chen Zhiqing was immensely pleased. Then he waved at the soldiers and ordered, "Take him away!"

"Everyone, stop!" Just as the soldiers' hands were about to touch Jiang Shuo, a booming, thunderous voice exploded above everyone's heads.