“Fate energy? What does that mean?” Zhu Yan was confused and probed, “So the ‘so-called resurrection secret technique’ you concocted yesterday was just a ruse? The real method to resurrect people is to absorb fate energy and use it as a catalyst?”
“What if it is? What if it isn’t? Do you lowborn peasants think you can stop me?” Wang Buzui’s words were ambiguous, but Zhu Yan was certain she had guessed correctly.
“So you killed so many people just to absorb their fate energy?” Zhu Yan asked incredulously.
Thinking further, she suddenly understood why he had the scent of Buddhist incense on him. It must be that he feared the aura of death on him was too strong, so he used some secret remedy to emit this smell as a cover.
Shen Du scoffed, “Utter nonsense. When a person dies, it’s like a lamp being extinguished. How could fate energy possibly be transferred?”
At some point, Pan Chi had also entered the dungeon. He said disdainfully, “Killing people only increases one’s karmic burden. How could it produce more fate energy? If anything, killing others would turn their fate energy into resentful energy that would backfire on you.”
“That’s what Buddhists say. They don’t believe in Buddhism,” Zhu Yan said calmly.
Pan Chi nodded and sneered, “A dying lamp attracts wild moths. Such tiny moths dare to imagine they can transcend the laws of heaven and earth. Ridiculous.”
Even after years of traveling far and wide, this was the first time he had heard such an absurd notion.
“Silence, you insolent fool! Don’t spout such arrogant nonsense, slandering our chief deity,” Wang Buzui would have rushed over to hit him if he wasn’t restrained.
“What nonsense about moths flying into flames, dying, and being reborn? I only know that since ancient times, life for life has been heaven’s law,” Shen Du said coldly, looking down at Wang Buzui, who inexplicably retreated, his spine chilling.
At this moment, Mo Qianzhi tried to push away the imperial guard restraining him and taunted, “If that’s the case, Shen Du, what are you waiting for? Kill him! Wang Buzui has been lurking in Gannan Dao for so many years, how many lives has he taken? Aren’t you supposed to be seeking justice for the people? Go ahead and kill him!”
Kill him? Hearing Mo Qianzhi’s voice, Shen Du’s brows furrowed, his gaze moving back and forth between Wang Buzui and Mo Qianzhi, but he took no action and gave no orders.
Mo Qianzhi still wouldn’t shut up: “Doesn’t the Grand Commander want to eliminate threats to the people? How come you don’t even dare to kill him?”
His words were extremely provocative.
“Shut up, Mo Qianzhi.” Seeing that Shen Du was already mentally exhausted from the past few days, Zhu Yan tugged at his sleeve, wanting him to regain focus while glaring at Mo Qianzhi.
Could Mo Qianzhi truly not see through Shen Du’s thoughts? He had been trying hard to mediate, hoping to save Mo Qianzhi’s life, but Mo Qianzhi…
Unexpectedly, Mo Qianzhi suddenly laughed, looking at Zhu Yan mockingly.
“Femme fatale,” he spat to the side, not even deigning to look at her properly.
At the same time, Shen Du pulled Zhu Yan to his side, shielding her with one arm. Before he could speak, Pan Chi could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, standing directly between the two sides, looking at Mo Qianzhi.
“You keep saying ‘femme fatale’ this and that, but what kind of good person are you?”
Hearing someone cursing Mo Qianzhi, Wang Buzui was naturally pleased and even chimed in with a few words. However, Zhu Yan noticed that he was no longer standing in his original position, but had moved closer to the wall, heading towards the cell door.
As for Mo Qianzhi, he didn’t want to waste words with Pan Chi. He suddenly raised his hand and shoved Pan Chi’s shoulder. Already severely injured, Pan Chi staggered back several steps.
Pan Chi, still recovering from serious injuries, couldn’t withstand this push. He immediately crouched down, his face contorted in pain. But with Zhu Yan behind him, he stood up, barely stabilizing himself. Beads of sweat were already dripping from his temples, but his back was straight as a ramrod.
Others couldn’t see it, but Mo Qianzhi saw it. He didn’t show it on his face, instead challenging, “What? Want to have a match with me?”
Pan Chi frowned. “A match?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t even have that much ability?” He added, resting his chin on his hand. “I think Young Master Pan should go back to hide behind Governor Pan and be an idle young master. Why bother staying here and almost losing your life?”
Pan Chi’s eyes swept fiercely over Mo Qianzhi, then he quickly stepped forward to shorten the distance. He tilted his head up, trying to look down on Mo Qianzhi: “Fine, a match. Why would I fear a scoundrel like you?”
His tone was relaxed, just like usual.
“If you have the guts, open the cell door and go out to fight. There’s not enough room in here.”
“Fine!”
Seeing this, Shen Du naturally sensed something was amiss and immediately shouted:
“Stop!”
Pan Chi turned his head to look at Shen Du. Mo Qianzhi suddenly gave a sinister laugh and kicked at the person blocking the door.
Wang Buzui, who had been quiet until now, suddenly came forward to grapple with the imperial guards.
With just these two people, a jailbreak was impossible. Shen Du became alert, thinking perhaps they had already conspired with people outside before being imprisoned.
Of course, it couldn’t be just the two of them.
Before Shen Du could react, at Mo Qianzhi’s command, the yamen runners imprisoned in the cell swarmed forward.
In an instant, the imperial guards were overwhelmed.
Shen Du immediately shielded Zhu Yan behind him, having to keep an eye on Mo Qianzhi and Wang Buzui’s situation while also protecting Zhu Yan from harm.
He kicked one attacker in the stomach, then grabbed him and threw him hard. His other hand blocked another attacker’s strike.
Pan Chi leaned against the cell door to catch his breath but still didn’t forget to quip, “So Mo Daren wanted to break out of jail. You should have said so earlier. Why go in such a roundabout way with me?”
Mo Qianzhi suddenly realized that Pan Chi had been aware all along. As for Shen Du…
“You two certainly can keep your cool. I should thank you for playing along with my little act.”
Mo Qianzhi didn’t care anymore. With these yamen runners’ help, he quickly broke free but was cursed by Wang Buzui as a heartless scoundrel, so he went back to help him escape.
Having been beaten with the rod, Wang Buzui was no match for the well-trained imperial guards who even the Weiyang Palace Qianniu Guards feared. After all, the imperial guards weren’t fools. They wouldn’t waste time on the yamen runners and have been focusing on Wang Buzui all along.
Mo Qianzhi bent his arm and struck one guard’s head hard, rescuing Wang Buzui from their grasp, which angered them.
Just as the two were about to turn and flee, they were blocked by Jing Lin.
The surroundings were chaotic, filled with screams and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Shen Du struck down another yamen runner who had almost grabbed Zhu Yan.
These yamen runners had followed Mo Qianzhi for a long time and were fiercely loyal to him. They recklessly threw themselves forward, caring nothing for their own lives, just wanting to block the imperial guards so Mo Qianzhi and the others could succeed in escaping.
Pan Chi watched as the two were about to escape, but realizing he was too badly injured to stop them, he could only signal to Shen Du.
“You go stop those two. I’ll take care of Yan’er here.”
Shen Du’s gaze fell on him, then turned back to continue watching the changes in the situation.
“Yan’er,” indeed. This fellow had truly been in barbarian lands too long. Knowing full well Zhu Yan’s status, he still used such an intimate form of address without hesitation. Once they returned to the capital, the first order of business would be to ask the Empress to arrange a marriage for Pan Chi.