Damn it! It still ended up like this!
A few beads of sweat subtly ran down the young Baihu's face.
In fact, when Lin Chengze discovered that Liang Yi's residence was near the bustling market, he had an inkling—the other party probably intended to 'escape into the bustling market if discovered'.
Otherwise, why would he live in such a crowded and easily exposed location near a bustling market?
Therefore, even though Lin Chengze's cultivation was superior to Liang Yi's, and he was confident of victory.
Even so, he brought more than a dozen Embroidered Uniform Guards to surround the other party.
This was to prevent him from rushing into the bustling market!
Yet, the other party still succeeded!
Lin Chengze had just chased Liang Yi to the bustling market, and when the other party realized his speed was inferior to Lin Chengze's, he decisively ran towards a group of well-dressed young men and women, attempting to take hostages.
"Don't move! If you move, I'll kill her!" Liang Yi roared, pressing his broadsword down even harder.
"Qiu He! Qiu He, how are you?" One of her companions, a Young Miss, looked panicked, watching her abducted companion and repeatedly cried out, "Don't do anything! Let's talk things over!"
"Liang Yi, what do you want?" Lin Chengze gritted his teeth.
"Let me out of the city! I'll release her then!" Liang Yi snorted coldly.
"Okay, we'll let you—" The beautifully dressed Young Miss quickly said.
But before she could finish, Lin Chengze said without hesitation.
"No! You've committed a major crime, I must capture you and bring you to justice!"
Liang Yi had committed a major crime!
He openly murdered the entire Zhou family, including over a hundred servants and maidservants.
This was the Imperial Capital, Shenjing!
Such a brutal massacre of an entire family directly alarmed the imperial court. Otherwise, Lin Chengze, a Baihu, would not have had to personally take action against Liang Yi, who was only a 'ninth-rank Skin Tempering' according to the intelligence.
How could such a criminal be simply released?
"Wait, this guy is the fugitive you're chasing?" The several elegantly dressed companions listened and quickly understood the situation.
Then they immediately became furious.
"Are you Embroidered Uniform Guards really so useless?"
"You usually exploit the common people and commit evil deeds with great flair, but you can't even catch a petty thief? Now, it's even worse, you've put Sister Qiu He in danger!"
"That Baihu, do you know who the person being held hostage is? She's a new favorite from the Zhao Royal Mansion, the niece of Taipusi Cheng Meng Cheng!"
"If you anger the Zhao Royal Mansion, can you afford to offend them?!"
Lin Chengze's expression grew even uglier.
Sure enough, their clothing was not that of ordinary people.
They... were probably children of official families!
That Taipusi Cheng Meng Cheng was even more trouble.
He was originally a county magistrate.
Half a year ago, King Zhao passed through his jurisdiction, discovered his talent, and immediately recruited and promoted him, recommending him as a Tai Pu Si Cheng.
He was the most favored person in King Zhao's faction at the time.
Liang Yi, however, burst into laughter.
He didn't know who Taipusi Cheng Meng Cheng was, but he knew that King Zhao was on par with King Qin and King Su, and was one of the hottest candidates for the Crown Prince position!
"I'm so lucky! Haha!" Liang Yi laughed heartily, pressing his blade down as he spoke, "Quickly send me out of the city gate, and prepare a fast horse for me."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for killing someone!"
The surrounding children of officials also spoke up.
"That's right, release her quickly!"
"Isn't he just a thief? What if he's released?"
"This is already your Embroidered Uniform Guards' dereliction of duty, you should be responsible! Release her quickly!"
The most elegantly dressed Young Miss also angrily rebuked the Embroidered Uniform Guards: "My father is Taipusi Cheng Meng Cheng. Your improper actions have put my cousin in a difficult situation. If you don't save her, I will definitely have my father impeach you severely!"
At this moment, the other Embroidered Uniform Guards had caught up and surrounded Liang Yi.
But seeing the situation before them, none dared to act rashly.
The others, seeing this, intensified their accusations.
The onlookers in the distance, though not daring to approach, were pointing and whispering, their murmurs filled with mockery for the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
"We've always heard of the Embroidered Uniform Guards' bad reputation, each one of them acting like a fox borrowing a tiger's might, bullying others with their power, yet they can't even catch a criminal and have to implicate others."
"But now it's these guys' turn to be unlucky. How can the people of His Highness King Zhao be lightly insulted?"
"Why aren't you releasing her quickly? You should know that Young Miss was harmed like this because of you!"
But Lin Chengze gritted his teeth, stubbornly holding his ground.
How could the culprit of such a major case be simply released?
However, he also didn't dare to act rashly—the Embroidered Uniform Guards had their own system, with a Grandmaster of the Heavenly Ranking overseeing them. Let alone a Tai Pu Si Cheng, even King Zhao couldn't interfere, so there was naturally no need to fear the other party.
But that Young Miss was implicated by his lax actions!
The situation thus reached a stalemate.
Until Fang Ye squinted his eyes, watched for a while, and understood the situation.
Then...
He sighed.
"So, it's just this little trivial matter?"
His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it was very noticeable in the bustling market.
Everyone looked over at the sound.
Fang Ye's expression was calm as he slowly walked towards Liang Yi.
"What are you doing?!" Liang Yi immediately shouted, "Stop! Don't you want this girl's life anymore?"
"Then I don't want it." Fang Ye's voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.
His gaze was fixed, his hand on the hilt of his blade.
As he walked, he spoke.
"The Embroidered Uniform Guards never compromise with criminals."
"Great Qian never compromises with criminals."
"Because once we compromise, they will think this trick works, and next time they will escalate by taking hostages..."
"How can the life of a single person compare to the millions of people in my Great Qian?"
"Liang Yi, I advise you to surrender, do not attempt to resist, otherwise..."
His voice was calm, his expression indifferent, and his steps were unhurried as he spoke.
"Otherwise what?" Liang Yi roared, "I have a hostage!"
Saying this, he pressed his blade down even harder.
To this, Fang Ye merely said faintly.
"Then you and your hostage can go to hell."
The next second!
The Embroidered Spring Blade was drawn!
The blade was incredibly bright, and as it swung, it seemed to flash with silver light, like a silver Dragon leaping.
"Fang Ye! Wait!" Lin Chengze's pupils contracted.
"Stop!" The young men and women of the official families cried out in unison.
"Hmph!" Liang Yi roared, using one hand to hold the hostage in front of him.
His blade did not parry Fang Ye's blade, but continued to rest on the hostage's neck.
In his heart, he sneered: "Idiot! I've seen this little trick too many times!"
It was nothing more than a play to deliberately show disregard for the hostage, but in reality, to seize an opportunity to rescue the hostage.
However, this act had too many flaws!
"Even your Baihu doesn't dare to act, yet you, a mere Embroidered Uniform Guard, directly draw your blade? Who would believe that!"
Liang Yi scorned in his heart: "Do you think such a small trick can deceive me?"
"As long as I point the hostage towards your blade, you won't dare to—"
The next second!
Fang Ye's blade directly pierced through the hostage Young Miss, the blade passing through the Young Miss's chest and directly piercing Liang Yi's heart behind her.
In an instant!
The entire scene suddenly fell silent!
Everyone seemed to forget to breathe, and the air became still.
Only Fang Ye slowly withdrew his blade, blood splattering.
At the same time, he left a faint remark.
"Idiot."
......