“What do you mean?”

Immediately after, Ji Yunshu lifted her filthy, dirt-covered robe and stood up from the ground. Because she was nearly a head and a half shorter than Zhao Huai, she could only look up at him.

“You captured me for only one purpose—because you simply don’t have the ability to kill my young master, so you’re using me as leverage.”

“Quite the clever one, aren’t you?” Zhao Huai said. “That’s right. As long as I’ve captured you and have your life in my hands, I don’t believe that boy won’t come to rescue you.”

“If you think that capturing me will achieve your desired goal, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

“What?”

“I’m merely a minor scholar traveling alongside my young master. Whether I live or die, no one cares. Moreover, I have no idea where the leader heard this from—that using me as leverage would get you my young master’s life. Perhaps by now, my young master has already left Shanhuai County.”

Ji Yunshu finished speaking these words with absolute certainty.

Zhao Huai felt some doubt in his heart. He glanced at Da Chui and pulled him aside.

He questioned, “Didn’t you say this Scholar Ji was very important to that man?”

Da Chui panicked and quickly said, “Leader, that’s definitely what I heard.”

“But is it true?”

“It’s true.”

Da Chui nodded, clearly believing without a doubt the words Ji Wanxin had said in front of him before!

Zhao Huai pondered for a moment, then returned to Ji Yunshu’s side. He stared at Wei Yi on the ground, then said, “Since capturing you two is useless, fine—then this old man will send you both off, let you go accompany my brothers in the afterlife.”

Having said this, Zhao Huai pointed at Wei Yi on the ground and ordered his men.

“Someone come! Beat this foolish boy to death, then send him into the mountains to feed the wolves.”

“Yes, Leader.”

Some men had been itching for action. One gripped an iron rod, tested its weight in his palm a few times, walked to Wei Yi’s side, and raised the iron rod to swing it down.

Ji Yunshu shouted, “Stop!”

She was about to rush forward to intervene when her shoulder was pressed down again.

“If you kill him, I guarantee I’ll take all your lives.”

Her eyes reddened!

“Do you have that ability?” Zhao Huai sneered mockingly, raising his hand to pat her cheek. “Don’t worry. After he’s dead, it’ll be your turn.”

“Let him go, I beg you.”

Ji Yunshu’s nose reddened, and tears welled up from her eye sockets.

Her body continued struggling incessantly!

“Beg me? It’s useless!” Zhao Huai rebuked. “Strike! Beat this foolish boy to death.”

The man responded!

He raised the iron rod to strike down viciously.

Ji Yunshu’s eyes widened. In the next moment, she lifted her foot and kicked backward, striking precisely at the Achilles tendon of the person gripping her.

The person cried out in pain and released Ji Yunshu.

Ji Yunshu instantly lunged toward Wei Yi on the ground, just as the iron rod swung down.

It struck heavily on her back!

A muffled sound rang out.

Ah—

Ji Yunshu tightly embraced Wei Yi. The pain in her back numbed her entire body. She couldn’t help but cry out, but immediately bit down hard on her lip, refusing to let herself make another sound of pain.

Cold sweat covered her entire head!

When everyone witnessed this scene, they were startled. Even the man with the iron rod froze, casting an inquiring look toward Zhao Huai.

Zhao Huai looked with surprise at the two people embracing on the ground.

In his heart, there was unexpectedly a trace of inexplicable emotion jumping back and forth before his chest, impossible to express in words.

Wei Yi had also awakened. Feeling Ji Yunshu pressed against his body, he raised his hand and touched Ji Yunshu’s arm.

He called out softly, “Shu’er.”

Ji Yunshu’s face was pale. With difficulty, she lifted her head from Wei Yi’s shoulder.

Meeting Wei Yi’s gaze, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly upward, a faint smile spreading across her face.

“Wei Yi, don’t be afraid.”

“Shu’er, what happened to you?”

Ji Yunshu breathed lightly with difficulty. “I…”

Before she could finish speaking, she had already fainted, her entire body collapsing onto Wei Yi.

When Wei Yi reached out to hold the back of Ji Yunshu’s hand, he felt his palm become completely soaked. He raised his hand to look.

Only then did he discover—

“Blood, it’s blood! Shu’er, you’re bleeding, bleeding so much, Shu’er…”

Wei Yi was terrified and panicked, crying in distress.

His hands trembled, hanging at both sides. He didn’t dare touch Ji Yunshu, frightened to complete confusion.

Everyone gathered around.

Zhao Huai stared silently, seeing Ji Yunshu’s back stained red—the plain-colored brocade robe was covered in blood.

“How could just one strike from an iron rod cause such severe bleeding?”

Someone questioned.

Zhao Huai said, “It seems she was already injured before.”

Indeed, having endured six strokes of the plank before, the wounds on her back hadn’t yet healed. When the iron rod struck down and the wounds split open, naturally it was all blood.

One had to say, her back truly suffered. If someday in the future it healed, that smooth back would probably bear scars.

“Leader, what should we do? Continue striking or not?” the man with the iron rod asked.

Zhao Huai narrowed his eyes, just preparing to speak—

A subordinate rushed in urgently and reported to Zhao Huai, “Leader, the Second Leader has brought people and is at the stronghold entrance.”

“Zhao Qing?”

That fellow had left a year ago, and the two hadn’t seen each other since. Why was he coming now?

“Leader, should we let the Second Leader enter?”

“How many people did he bring?”

“Just two.”

“Two?” Zhao Huai pondered, glancing again at Wei Yi and Ji Yunshu. He frowned and waved his hand. “Drag these two away.”

Someone acknowledged the order and carried away the unconscious Ji Yunshu and the terrified Wei Yi.

Zhao Huai glanced toward the entrance and nodded. “Let them in. Also, go pour out that jar of wine that’s been aging for five years. Properly entertain our honored guest.”

Very soon—

Zhao Qing entered with Ba Hu and another subordinate.

Zhao Huai sat on his tiger-skin chair, displaying the bearing of a host.

The two brothers, not having seen each other for a year, each harbored their own thoughts.

The surrounding bandits surrounded Zhao Qing in the center when he entered.

“It’s been quite a while indeed.” Zhao Huai chuckled lightly.

Zhao Qing replied, “Yes, it’s been quite a while. I thought there might be some changes here, but it turns out it’s the same as when I left years ago.”

Unlike Zhao Huai, Zhao Qing hadn’t lost any of his ferocity but had instead become somewhat more languid, his eyes appearing as if they couldn’t fully open.

An attitude of indifference to fame and fortune.

Zhao Huai stood up, looking down from his superior position. “One doesn’t visit a temple without a reason. Speak—what did you come here for today?”

Zhao Qing was unceremonious. He sat down on a nearby stool.

He picked up a bowl and tapped it on the table.

He said, “You released arrows in that forest?”

“So what if I did?”

“So what?” Zhao Qing’s expression turned cold. He threw down the bowl in his hand and said, “A year ago, you and I reached a consensus—no matter what happens, neither party is permitted to release secret arrows in that forest.”