One Move to Defeat the Enemy

On the roof not far from the County Office, Shen Lin, clad in night-traveling attire, watched Zijing arrive and asked in a deep voice, "Why the premature move?"

"It's not our people!"

Zijing shook her head and denied it, then continued, "However, with this happening, we can't proceed with the original plan. I've already ordered them to act immediately."

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

Zijing's subordinates had already begun their actions.

Watching the constables who had surrounded the County Office scatter, Shen Lin sighed and said, "Then let's go!"

Inside the prison at this moment, Hu Dongxing, after hearing his subordinate's report, frowned tightly and murmured, "Something's wrong! Why is it so quiet usually, but so many fires suddenly break out tonight?"

Beside him, the Zhang Family's Enshrine asked doubtfully, "Does Prefect Hu suspect that the Flying Thief's accomplices deliberately caused the disturbance?"

"I can't rule out that possibility," Hu Dongxing replied, then said to the reporting subordinate, "Find someone immediately and call back all the constables who left the County Office."

"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, directly stating, "This Flying Thief matter is of great importance, and there can be no mistakes! Moreover..."

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

Qiulin County's County Office had many people, but only two registered officials of the court: County Magistrate Lin Youwei, rank seven, and County Assistant Zhong Baiyu, rank eight.

These two were the true powers in Qiulin County.

Compared to County Magistrate Lin Youwei, the County Assistant was not well-known throughout Qiulin County.

Since taking office, he had only focused on sightseeing, composing poetry, and had largely neglected official duties.

Even so, when this County Assistant arrived with good wine and food to see off his subordinate, the 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 stern-faced young man in black standing behind him.

"Inspector Cheng, are you satisfied with the food and drink?"

Zhong Baiyu asked with great concern, seemingly unbothered by the things the other man had done.

Cheng Yi picked up the wine pot and drank deeply a few times before looking at the other man and saying earnestly, "County Assistant 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 and said, "I gamble and have accumulated a lot of debt, so I had to take this risky path."

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

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

Zhong Baiyu shook his head, sighed, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip. "I don't think what Inspector Cheng did was for mere gold and silver. I'm afraid... you were looking for something?"

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

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

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

"Later?"

Cheng Yi was taken aback and said with a laugh, "I'm to be executed tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to see County Assistant Zhong again."

Zhong Baiyu smiled slightly, did not reply, and left with a flourish after standing up.

"County Assistant Zhong, are you leaving?"

Hu Dongxing asked, somewhat confused.

They were just chatting animatedly, and in the blink of an eye, he was leaving?

"I'm leaving!"

Zhong Baiyu left a sentence and walked straight out.

Hu Dongxing quickly called out from behind him, "Forgive me, I have important duties and cannot escort you. Farewell, County Assistant Zhong!"

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

Upon reaching the entrance of the County Office, he turned his head, looked up at the dark night sky not far away, and softly said, "Go and check later. If she encounters any difficulties, help her appropriately."

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

With that, he vanished from his spot.

Zhong Baiyu turned around and walked alone on the street, a smile slowly curling up at the corner of his mouth.

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

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

If, as he suspected, someone was indeed going to break into the prison tonight, then having the County Assistant here would have put him in a very passive position, unable to go all out for fear of repercussions.

Now, he could...

Just as Hu Dongxing was contemplating any potential flaws in his arrangements, the clear chime of a bell echoed through the night sky.

"Someone's on the roof!!!"

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

Learning from his previous mistake, after the Demon Cultivator was silenced before his eyes, Hu Dongxing had specifically modified the prison roof.

Fine black threads were laid across the rooftop; even a cat walking over them would trigger the bells.

On the roof at this moment, Shen Lin glanced somewhat speechlessly at Zijing, who had tripped on a thread. Taking a deep breath, he punched downwards.

BOOM!

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

He had chosen his landing spot well, directly above the cell where Cheng Yi was held.

But as soon as he spotted Cheng Yi cowering in the corner, a gleaming saber swung towards him.

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

However, against the current Shen Lin, his strength was sorely lacking.

Shen Lin didn't even bother with elaborate moves. He simply reinforced his index finger with the Qingqiu Body Tempering Technique and lightly tapped Hu Dongxing's saber.

CLANG!

With a crisp sound, Hu Dongxing felt an immense force on his saber, sending him flying backward.

Simultaneously, a figure flashed past the recoiling Hu Dongxing.

It was Zhang Family's Enshrine, Bloodhand Monk Wang Yuantong.

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

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

BANG!

Fists collided. Shen Lin landed steadily.

But Wang Yuantong was sent flying backward, his right fist now grotesquely twisted, bone fragments even piercing the skin.

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

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