Task Complete

After the great battle, it was naturally time to collect the spoils. This time, the Song Household and Zhao Household had suffered grievous losses, and those who had died here carried at least some valuables on them.

Not to mention all that Lan Blood.

While Shen Qian went to interrogate the captives, everyone busied themselves.

"Whoosh... bang!"

A sudden sound rang out in the silent night. The piercing report and brilliant flare were exceptionally conspicuous.

Everyone who had been busy at work looked up.

"Cloud-Piercing Arrow!" Qin Siniang stared at the five-colored light that lingered in the distance.

Lü E hurriedly drew something from her waist, aimed it at the sky, and made a motion as though pulling it.

"Whoosh... bang!"

Another burst of light exploded overhead.

Yang Yi watched and knew this was likely a means used by the Qiao Household to contact one another.

Sure enough, after the time it took to burn an incense stick, swift horses came galloping toward them. Once the two sides met, the rider leaped down from his horse and went to Lü E. "Lady Lü E, Eldest Miss has ordered you to return to the city at once. Do not delay."

"I understand." Lü E nodded.

After relaying the order, the messenger swiftly departed.

By then, Shen Qian had also emerged from the ruined house, his expression grave. "The people from Shadow Tower were likely hired by the Liu Lineage. This arrangement in Clearwind City only happened to involve us. Their true target was the Qiao Household's True Blood!"

Lü E's thoughts raced, and she said, "Move, now!"

Since True Blood was involved, the situation was more serious than expected. The Liu Lineage was preparing to tear all pretense apart and wage war against the Qiao Household.

The True Blood they had stationed in Clearwind City beforehand was probably not limited to Liu Yanqing alone.

If that was the case, then the Qiao Household's True Blood might also be in danger. Their location here had already been exposed. If the Liu Lineage's and Shadow Tower's True Blood were nearby, they were likely already on their way.

"Lü E..." Shen Qian suddenly spoke again. "Wang Han and Lin Hongyao... can their lives be spared?"

Zhuang Laosan looked astonished. "You didn't kill them?"

When the Shen Lineage was destroyed and Shen Qian fled Clearwind City, the Wang Household had played a part. From Shen Qian's earlier shouting match with Song Du alone, it was clear that he hated Clearwind City's Lan Blood to the bone.

Shen Qian shook his head. "The Wang Household wasn't deeply involved in what happened before. They were mostly swept along by it. Besides, when I escaped back then, I owed much to Wang Han and his wife."

Lü E frowned.

Zhuang Laosan advised, "Brother Shen, you're being foolish. You're showing mercy now, but aren't you releasing a tiger back into the mountains? Won't they become our enemies again? If you can't bring yourself to do it, I'll handle it!"

Shen Qian sighed. He knew he was being softhearted, but in the end, he simply could not get past that hurdle in his heart. If Lü E refused, there was nothing he could do. He had made his effort.

"Bring them with us. Tell them that if they make any suspicious move, they will be killed without mercy!" Lü E ordered. If this had been an incense stick's time earlier, she would never have spared Wang Han and his wife's lives. Just as Zhuang Laosan had said, releasing a tiger back into the mountains would only make them enemies again in the future. But now, they might still prove useful.

"Good! I guarantee they won't harbor any ill intentions!" Shen Qian was overjoyed and hurried back toward the ruined house, clearly intending to tell Wang Han and his wife the good news.

Watching his retreating back, Zhuang Laosan shook his head repeatedly. "No wonder the Shen Lineage fell in his hands. With such a temperament, how could he lead a Lineage?"

Once their positions differed, they had to wipe out the roots. He could not agree with Shen Qian's approach.

They had come here on foot, but fortunately, their enemies had delivered horses. There were not many of them, but they would do.

Wang Han and his wife shared a horse, caught in the middle of the group. There was no need to bind them. Their injuries were both severe, and they could not exert much strength for the time being.

As before, Yang Yi sat behind Qin Siniang, while the others each took a horse.

Lin Hongyao's gaze collided with Yang Yi's by accident for a moment. She could not help shrinking her neck, even giving him a faintly ingratiating smile.

Qin Siniang found it amusing. She had no idea what Yang Yi had done to Lin Hongyao earlier, but the woman seemed terribly afraid of him.

"Go!" Lü E took the lead and rode off.

The others followed close behind.

"Little Brother Yang, this sister's injuries are quite serious, so you'll have to bear with me." As Qin Siniang spoke, she went limp in Yang Yi's arms as though every bone in her body had vanished.

Yang Yi could only extend one hand over her lower abdomen and wrap an arm around her waist, lest she fall from the horse.

They reached the riverbank at dawn. This time, they did not abandon their horses, as Lü E feared there might be an ambush at the ferry crossing.

They took a longer route and crossed the river without incident, finally returning to Qiao'an City in the afternoon.

At the sight of the familiar outline of the city, the tightly wound nerves of the group finally relaxed.

All along the way, Wang Han and his wife had behaved themselves and made no unusual moves. They probably knew that the situation was against them. Even if they resisted, no good end awaited them, so they simply resigned themselves to fate.

"You have all worked hard on this mission. Go back and rest. I will report to Eldest Miss, and rewards will be distributed afterward."

After entering the Inner Fort, Lü E instructed everyone before heading straight for Xiude Hall. The rest naturally went their separate ways.

Yang Yi returned to Bamboo Garden, greeted his uncle's family, and collapsed into bed. During the days of the mission, he had barely rested. Especially on the return journey, they had only paused twice along the way. He had not slept for two days and two nights. If even he was exhausted, the others were in far worse shape.

Xiude Hall.

As Lü E gave her detailed report on the mission, Qiao Yaoyao's eyes gradually filled with shock. Even Tie Shan, standing beside her, wore an expression of utter astonishment.

"You're saying Yang Yi led Qin Siniang and three others, killed six Lan Blood in Clearwind City, and captured two alive?"

"Yes." Zhao Lanzhou had been ambushed and killed by her, so there was no need to claim credit now. They could settle the accounts later.

"He killed Song Can with a single punch, and Zhao Buyou and the others couldn't withstand even one exchange against him?"

"Yes." Lü E's reply remained brief.

She had not seen Yang Yi kill Song Can; she had heard it from Qin Siniang and the others. But she had personally witnessed Yang Yi fight Zhao Buyou and the other Lan Blood alone.

He had truly been knocking them down with one punch apiece, like children.

Qiao Yaoyao found it somewhat hard to believe, but these words had come from Lü E. She had no choice but to believe them. Though they were mistress and servant in name, they were as close as sisters. Lü E could not possibly lie to her about something this significant.

"We were able to return safely this time because Yang Yi's contribution was paramount. Without him, we likely would have all died in that ruined house."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Qiao Yaoyao raised a hand and tapped her forehead. After falling silent for a moment, she asked, "So you're saying Yang Yi is very strong?"

Lü E pondered briefly before saying, "Below True Blood, I have never seen anyone stronger than him!"

"Then isn't he even stronger than Tie Shan?" Qiao Yaoyao's little mouth fell open.

Tie Shan frowned. "But when he came to the Qiao Household, I tested him myself. He had indeed only just entered Lan Blood."

In just over a month, there was no reason for him to have grown so quickly.

Not to mention that Yang Yi was so young. Having entered Lan Blood so early, he should not have had much potential left.

"Oh, right. He has also mastered the three great martial techniques: Shadowless Formula, Mountain Suppression, and Shatter Mountains and Rivers. According to Third Young Master, he had never encountered martial techniques before. He only began cultivating after coming to the Qiao Household."

Tie Shan's pupils instantly contracted!