"Who told you we were going after Bai Chongshan?"
Li Sanshun tucked the bloodstained wooden token into his robes and turned to look toward the western side of Law Enforcement Peak.
Xu Zhenchuan was still leaning against a pillar in the hall. Hearing this, he raised his head.
"Zhao Chong was taken away under guard half an hour ago. Who else could you possibly go after?"
"Him."
Li Sanshun walked out of the main hall.
Gu Qinghe followed him.
Gu Changyue left Zhao Rui to take the others into custody, then hurried toward the western escort road with six Law Enforcement disciples.
There were two roads on the west side of Law Enforcement Peak.
One led to the execution ground outside the mountain; the other skirted Scripture Cliff before joining the stone steps to the main peak. Six years ago, Zhao Chong had been escorted out along this very route.
An overturned prison cart lay by the fork.
Its axle had snapped in two, the iron cage door hung wide open, and several bloodstained ropes were scattered across the ground.
Two guards lay in the grass. They wore the uniforms of Law Enforcement Hall disciples, with Old Dark Patrol Guard tokens hanging at their waists.
Gu Qinghe crouched to examine them.
"They're still alive."
Gu Changyue pulled a short arrow from one man's shoulder.
The arrowhead had pierced barely half an inch into the flesh, without damaging any tendons or bones. The other man had taken a blow to the back of the head and had only been knocked unconscious.
"Did Zhao Chong do this?"
"If he'd wanted to escape, these two wouldn't be alive."
Li Sanshun went to the prison cart and sniffed the lingering scent inside.
The Breath-Closing Powder was faint.
The powder hadn't been sprinkled inside the