Amid a rapid thud-thud-thud of footsteps, a group of burly men with sabers at their waists charged up to the second floor. At a glance, they spotted the still-struggling little girl and middle-aged man.
"Zhuang Qiyan, let's see where you can run today!" The leading brute had a face full of flesh, and one of his ears was missing, apparently sliced off by some sharp weapon.
His voice shook the entire second floor, far louder than it had been downstairs. Some of the frailer diners even bent over and covered their ears, their faces twisted in pain.
The little girl Yun Er, who had still been screaming, went pale with fright and no longer dared move.
"Zhao Jun?!" The middle-aged man's expression darkened. He swept his eyes around, then suddenly smashed through the window.
With a crash.
He leaped outside with his daughter in his arms.
"Yun Er, run!!"
With a surge of gentle force, he flung his daughter far away, sending her into a narrow alley.
The little girl hit the ground with an "ow," but she seemed unharmed. She rolled over, got up, and ran for her life.
Zhao Jun, that Azure Embroidery Sect expert, grinned viciously and waved a hand.
"Catch the little brat! Heh heh, she's already this pretty at eleven. If she grows any older, won't she become the top courtesan of Ten Thousand Leaves Pavilion? Move! Whoever catches her gets a day to play with her however he wants!!"
"Yes!"
"Got it, boss! Hahaha!"
His underlings all chuckled nastily. One group ran after the little girl, while most of the men rushed toward the middle-aged man downstairs.
Lin Xin quietly watched through the open window. The street below was already spattered with blood.
The middle-aged man seemed not to have recovered from his severe