Awakening

In that stunning instant, a gleam of sword light was already upon them.

"Ah..." A piercing scream rang out as a figure charged straight through the middle. Dark figures toppled to either side, and in an instant, the remaining black-clad men fell with cries, leaving only two.

Having returned after leaving, Su Ziji watched them with a cold smile. "Trying to leave? Leave your lives behind!"

"My lord, some of them escaped! Should we pursue them?" Patrol Inspector Xi's eyes had gone red. The dam had been blown up, and everyone present bore responsibility. As the man responsible for patrols, his share was even greater. Seeing the culprits flee, he asked urgently, inwardly stunned that the normally refined prefectural deputy possessed such martial prowess.

"Pursue them. Send men after them immediately, and contact the constables, bowmen, and militia wherever they go. You must weave a net across heaven and earth."

"I refuse to believe they can fly out of it."

Su Ziji wiped his face and said coldly, "Everyone else, come with me. Disaster relief and saving lives take priority! Pass down the order: every runner is to report to the dam immediately. Organize the laborers and plug these breaches overnight!"

Leaving Patrol Inspector Xi to carry out his orders and take the two black-clad men into custody, Su Ziji ignored the complaints of several men—"My lord, it's already been blown open! There's no way to plug it! It's dangerous here. We should retreat first!"—and moved to inspect the damage to the dam.

"Mr. Su!" Someone stopped him just then. Looking over, he saw a person wearing a straw rain cape that concealed even their face.

Several guards nearby drew their sabers and shouted, "Who goes there? Stop right now and take off that rain cape!"

Su Ziji looked closely