Whoosh~
The night breeze blew gently outside the window. From the distant streets came the sounds of runners shouting and hurrying about, and faint footsteps could be heard mixed in among them:
Tap, tap...
There was more than one set of footsteps. They came from ahead and behind, left and right, and some had already reached the nearby rooftops.
This is bad...
Realizing the authorities had surrounded him, Ye Xingge's heart skipped a beat. He immediately tried to leap out the window and escape as quickly as possible, but the moment he poked his head out-
Whoosh-
The shriek of a signal arrow piercing the air was almost deafening. It shot through the window and buried itself in a pillar in the main hall.
Sizzle~~!
Blinding sparks erupted from the end of the signal arrow, illuminating the dim hall and leaving everything inside exposed.
The signal arrow had nearly pinned Ye Xingge through the forehead. Startled, he quickly pressed his back against the wall, stilled his breathing, and cautiously peered outside.
Tap, tap~
Whoosh~
At the same time, firelight flared up all around the restaurant. Rapid footsteps sounded from every direction; by a rough estimate, there were at least several dozen people.
Then a voice as powerful as a great bell rang out from beyond the front entrance:
"The Heaven-Observing Pavilion is conducting official business! People inside, listen up! You are surrounded! Surrender without resistance and you may yet live. Dare to resist arrest, and you will be killed on the spot!"
Hongyu listened to the commotion from backstage and realized something was wrong. She quickly warned him:
"You have a connection with Luo Xuanqing, but if Jiang Baichuan is handed over to the other officials, you might not even get a sip of the soup. Find a way to break out."
Ye Xingge naturally knew he couldn't hand the great merit on his shoulder to just anyone. He listened closely and, hearing the fewest footsteps at the back, pressed himself against the wall and edged toward the restaurant's rear window.
Unfortunately, he had only taken a few steps when a conversation reached him from a distance:
"Oh! Commander Ruan, what brings you here?"
"The county yamen said the Return to Origin Cult was causing trouble at the yamen, so I came to take a look..."
Fuck-!
The moment Ye Xingge heard that, his face, which had remained composed in the face of danger, turned green!
Ruan Jinyu was, after all, a living King of Hell ranked among the top hundred under heaven. Even if Ye Xingge got a head start out of the county seat, he might not escape. Wouldn't trying to break through be courting death?
But if he didn't break through, the merit on his shoulder would go to Ruan Jinyu!
Given that damned eunuch's character, not to mention how Ye Xingge had shown off and slapped his face earlier, Ruan Jinyu would probably take the credit, and Ye Xingge would have to thank him in return for letting bygones be bygones...
Isn't this going to kill me...?
Realizing the situation was bad, Ye Xingge hurriedly searched for a countermeasure, while the conversation outside continued:
"Who's surrounded in there?"
"We don't know. They were fighting privately here just now. From the sound of it, they aren't experts. They might be flying thieves..."
"Why bother shouting at flying thieves? Toss a few Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers in there and get back to proper business sooner."
"Yes."
Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers were firearms specially made by the Heaven-Observing Pavilion. They could be understood as airburst Claymore mines!
Ye Xingge jolted and thought:
Are you fuckers really just going to kill without a trial? Aren't you even going to confirm who's inside?
What if it's one of your own?
Hearing the footsteps rapidly approaching and knowing the blast was imminent, Ye Xingge could only grit his teeth and say:
"Wait!"
Whoosh~
Outside the restaurant, the firelight shone brightly.
More than thirty embroidered-robed officers in rusty-green brocade robes stood on rooftops and walls, gripping bows, crossbows, sabers, and other weapons as they watched the restaurant's doors and windows.
Ruan Jinyu had not come in a sedan chair this time. He stood at the roadside with his hands behind his back, watching with the haughty bearing of someone observing a cat catch a mouse.
Chen Xiaobao, a well-connected newcomer accompanying him, was eager to earn merit. He had fetched two black spheres and lit their fuses, and was preparing to throw them into the restaurant.
But at that critical moment, a clear shout suddenly rang out from the deathly silent restaurant:
"Wait! Is that Commander Ruan out there?"
As the words fell, a hand appeared at a window, holding a straight saber. Its regulation design alone identified it as the sidearm of a senior Heaven-Observing Pavilion military officer.
The embroidered-robed officers, tense and ready for battle, were all taken aback. They hurriedly raised their bows and crossbows a little to avoid accidentally injuring an ally.
Chen Xiaobao, holding the Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers, also looked surprised. He moved closer to Ruan Jinyu:
"Lord Ruan, that voice sounds familiar! It sounds like that innkeeper from Qingxi County."
Ruan Jinyu had already recognized the voice, and his eyes showed considerable surprise:
"It really does sound like him... Phew-"
Noticing the black spheres sizzling and sparking in Chen Xiaobao's hands, Ruan Jinyu quickly blew out their fuses, a cold light flashing in his eyes!
If this boy hadn't been a well-connected recruit slipped in by a high-ranking official of the Six Ministries, Ruan Jinyu would probably have slapped his head clean off.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobao hurriedly stood at attention and hid his hands behind his waist.
Only then did Ruan Jinyu turn his gaze back to the restaurant. His voice was high and thin, concealing the surprise of someone being handed a pillow just as he was growing sleepy:
"Innkeeper Ye?! What a coincidence! We agreed just now that you would keep watch for Lord Luo at the inn. Could it be that Lord Luo was uncomfortable sleeping there and came to this restaurant instead?"
Creak-
As his words fell, the restaurant's front doors opened from within.
The mess of debris inside, as well as the figure lying on the floor, came into everyone's view.
Ye Xingge appeared at the entrance with the official saber in hand. Faced with the surrounding officers, he showed little change in expression and merely cupped his hands politely:
"You jest, Lord Ruan. I was ordered by Lord Luo to go out and capture roving bandits for practice. Please forgive me for disturbing you all."
"Oh? Is that so..."
Ruan Jinyu appeared ready to make things difficult for him, but as his eyes swept over the traces in the hall, his gaze sharpened slightly:
"Eight Extremities Saber, five feet six inches tall, and uses an oxtail saber... Could the man lying here be Jiang Baichuan?!"
"Hmm?"
The surrounding embroidered-robed officers were stunned. They hurriedly peered inside.
Jiang Baichuan was no ordinary roving bandit.
When the incident occurred at the Hundred Rivers Shipping Company at Shangjin Ferry today, Mantanghong had interfered, and Yang Tuyan had vanished without a trace.
As the boat owner, Jiang Baichuan was sure to have been in contact with the person pulling the strings, and he was also the only important suspect who knew where Yang Tuyan had come from and where he was going.
The Inspection Bureau was in charge of the matter, but after a whole day of searching, it had found no clues. And now the man was actually lying in the restaurant's main hall!
If they wanted to follow the vine to the melon and dig out Yang Tuyan and even the person who had planned everything behind the scenes, they naturally had a breakthrough now...
But the man had been caught by the Judicial Review Bureau...
The area around the restaurant suddenly fell very quiet.
Standing in the doorway under many thoughtful gazes, Ye Xingge answered calmly:
"You have a sharp eye, Lord Ruan. I used to run an inn and heard some gossip from people of the jianghu passing through. I only came to try my luck, but I never expected this man really would be hiding in Muyang."
"Is that so?"
Ruan Jinyu smiled warmly and clapped his hands:
"You truly are capable, Innkeeper Ye. You've opened my eyes today. No wonder Commander Luo thinks so highly of you.
"However, by Duke Zhang's orders, I am responsible for pursuing Yang Tuyan and patrolling the area outside Qingxi County.
"Earlier, I went to Qingxi to help defend it, but Lord Luo refused, so I returned to my original post in accordance with the regulations. Now you've come here and arrested someone without my permission. That isn't appropriate, is it?"
Ye Xingge certainly knew it wasn't appropriate. He replied again:
"I was only acting under orders. If I have overstepped, Lord Luo should give you a reasonable explanation."
Ruan Jinyu was still smiling as he nodded:
"Very well. I'll speak with Commander Luo later. I won't make things difficult for a youngster like you. Jiang Baichuan was captured here, so he should be handed over to me for interrogation. Men, take him into custody. And when you submit the report, don't forget to mention Innkeeper Ye. This is a great merit."
The surrounding embroidered-robed officers immediately stepped forward, intending to enter the restaurant and take him away.
But to everyone's surprise, the four embroidered-robed officers had only taken a few steps when they heard:
Clang-
The clear ring of a saber pierced the night.
A three-foot Black Banner Saber barred the restaurant's entrance.
The dozens of embroidered-robed officers surrounding the restaurant were all stunned to see the young innkeeper suddenly draw his saber. Then:
Clang, clang, clang, clang...
The sound of dozens of sabers being drawn came from every direction, and powerful bows and crossbows turned toward the restaurant entrance.
Ruan Jinyu had already turned away, but when he heard the commotion, his smile slowly vanished. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he looked back at the young man standing before the restaurant doors:
"A newborn calf fears no tiger... Innkeeper Ye, do you know what crime it is to draw a saber before the authorities?"
Ye Xingge naturally knew, but he wasn't stupid.
If he let that damned eunuch take Jiang Baichuan into custody, he would at most be credited with "assisting in the capture," and whatever followed would have nothing more to do with him.
And given how quickly Jiang Baichuan would drop to his knees and submit, there wouldn't be time for Ye Xingge to run back to Qingxi and report the lead.
Ruan Jinyu would find the pawnshop at once. Even if he couldn't decipher it and asked Ye Xingge for help, he wouldn't let Ye Xingge accompany him to capture Yang Tuyan. And even if he did, how could Ye Xingge ask that damned eunuch Ruan Jinyu for the bracer?
Without the bracer to conceal the secrets of heaven, in three days he would be "guilty for possessing a treasure" and trapped in a complete dead end.
Now Ye Xingge pointed his saber diagonally down at his side and looked at the many embroidered-robed Kings of Hell outside, poised for battle. His tone remained polite:
"Lord Luo instructed me to bring Jiang Baichuan back to the inn once I caught him. I dare not disobey her orders, so I ask for your understanding, Lord Ruan."
Ruan Jinyu turned around, somewhat amused:
"With your amateurish skills, what makes you think you can take him off my turf?"
Ye Xingge looked over the aggressive crowd:
"I am only a commoner with one small life. Whether I live or die matters little. Today I am acting on Lord Luo's orders. If I die here, Lord Luo should help me look after my family and seek an explanation."
"..."
When he finished, a long silence fell inside and outside the restaurant.
The embroidered-robed officers wanted to take the prisoner, but the ruthless feared the reckless.
This lad had come out on Grand Commander Luo's orders to capture an important criminal, and now that he was done, he was disregarding his own life, making it clear that if they dared snatch the prisoner, he would dare use his saber, even if it meant dying here. They couldn't very well kill him.
Once a saber came down, whether the lad lived or died, things would blow up.
Grand Commander Luo was no soft persimmon. If they openly stole her people's credit and drove one of her subordinates to his death, Grand Commander Luo would be letting down the Flower Judge's reputation if she didn't cut Ruan Jinyu down.
Besides, the Heaven-Observing Envoy wasn't blind. If they really drove a newcomer to his death over credit, Grand Commander Luo probably wouldn't even need to intervene.
Seeing that the lad showed no fear and had taken the stance of "I've only got this worthless life anyway; come at me if you dare," the embroidered-robed officers hesitated for a moment and looked toward Ruan Jinyu.
Ruan Jinyu kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his face almost as black as a lump of coal. His cold eyes remained fixed on Ye Xingge.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Xingge also knew to measure his strength before acting, but giving way now would mean the end of everything. He truly had the mindset that, at worst, he would leave two hundred pounds of flesh here. He calmly met Ruan Jinyu's gaze without the slightest retreat.
And the outcome was plain to see.
The four grand commanders held equal rank and authority, but Luo Xuanqing ranked more than fifty places above Ruan Jinyu on the Gold List. She still commanded respect.
After a long silence, Ruan Jinyu nodded slightly and smiled again:
"Good lad. Commander Luo really does have a good eye. If you'd been arrogant at first and respectful afterward, I really would have looked down on you.
"All right, stand down. Escort Innkeeper Ye and Jiang Baichuan back to Qingxi, and make sure they're handed over to Commander Luo. This suspect is extremely important, so don't let anything go wrong on the road."
"Yes."
Helping escort the suspect also counted as "assisting in the capture" and could be written into the report.
But Ye Xingge had no way to stop them from forcing their way into a share of the credit. After all, he was also worried that damned eunuch would resort to underhanded tricks, like sending people to seize the prisoner on the road.
Ye Xingge secretly breathed a sigh of relief, sheathed his saber, and cupped his hands:
"Thank you for your consideration, Lord Ruan."
I stayed up all night today, so I'm updating early. From now on, it'll still be eight in the morning.
We've already hit a hundred thousand favorites! This is the first time A-Guan's numbers have risen so quickly. You great readers are incredible!
To celebrate, let's do some shout-outs:
A recommendation: "Empress, Let Me Help You Cultivate!" Great readers who are interested can take a look!
Also, thanks to [Kong Qiya], [Hundan Rong], [Xie Xiaoyu], [Wu, Ye Jingtang], [Linjiangxian vov], [Katixiya Gaoshou], [Qin Beisong], [Baige Luan], [Zhou Jielun de Baobei], [Altuoliya], [Buguan Bugu Buli], [Xueluobai], [Shenme de Qiuguan], [Yuye Laidao Budai San], [Tianbao_], [Wei'erlite yif], [Yi Ke Ludan z], [Kongyu_ from Mars], [Jiantian Mozun], [Shutiao de Tiaoshu], [Alice Complex], and the other great readers for their Alliance Leader tips!
Thanks to [Hua Kong Yan Shui Liu], [Zhou Jielun de Baobei], [Katixiya Gaoshou], [Lianyu Shoujulang], [Bingbian], [Xiao Xiaoxiao], [Qingtian Baiyu Zhu], [Jiahai Zijin Liang], [Rixin Yueyi], [Book Friend 20230304170044723], [xklngend], [Guantao Tingchao], [Muzi Shiyan], [Zangdaohua], [Xiamo de Fengling], and the other great readers for their ten-thousand-point tips!
Thanks to all you great readers for your support through favorites, recommendations, monthly votes, and tips. A-Guan is endlessly grateful or2