In that instant when he turned his head, Tie Ci saw that he wore a fierce beast mask on his face, with only a line of his forehead visible, smooth and gentle as moonlight.

A sharp eagle cry burst from the cave, and a blade flashed bright as a crescent moon. Amid the overwhelming wingbeats and fierce wind, Hai Dongqing’s sharp beak emerged, viciously snapping toward the man’s nape, while Dan Ye’s blade descended from above, its arc of light splitting the night as it cleaved toward the fierce beast mask on the man’s face.

Watching the battle, Tie Ci applauded in her heart.

The young wolf lord was indeed quite ferocious.

Any normal person would protect their mask at this moment and retreat a step, which would deliver their nape to Hai Dongqing’s beak.

However, this man didn’t seem like a normal person.

Instead of advancing, he actually retreated, sliding forward a step. His body lowered as he leaned back into an iron bridge pose, intending to slip beneath the blade’s light.

Dan Ye’s blade tip smoothly swept down with a lift and flick, like lightning skimming a mountain peak. With a snap, the fierce beast’s face flew backward and disappeared in a flash against the distant mountain moonlight.

Yet the man maintained his posture, flowing like water as he slid over toward Dan Ye’s crotch, reaching up with one hand, his five fingers closing in a pinch.

Cool wind passed through, and Dan Ye suddenly realized with shock that he wasn’t wearing pants. He bounced up abruptly, clamping his legs together.

The black-clothed man slid toward Tie Ci with his hand still raised, looking exactly like a thumbs-up gesture.

Tie Ci was watching with amusement when she looked carefully at the man’s face now that he’d lost his mask. At this moment, he raised his head – a large face pale as death, with rosy red rouge on both cheeks, and underneath was actually another Fu baby mask!

Before Tie Ci could react, cold light suddenly flashed before her eyes. From the man’s waist, blade light suddenly appeared, spinning in a roll as it slashed toward the feet of Chi Xue standing at the cave entrance.

He had actually discovered long ago that there were people in the cave, and even while fighting Dan Ye, he didn’t forget to launch a sneak attack!

With continuous chi chi sounds, the vines at the cave entrance were instantly shredded by the blade light, turning into green mist that surged toward Chi Xue. Cold intent rolled in like a snow tide. Tie Ci lunged forward, grabbing Chi Xue and pulling her back, feeling a chill at her waist. She thought it was over – she was going to become a kidney-deficient Crown Princess.

But if he wanted her to lose a kidney, he’d have to lose his sight first!

The jade brush at her waist sprang out, its tip flashing with golden light as it stabbed toward his eyes.

Suddenly the cold intent withdrew, followed by slight pain at her waist – she had actually been gently pinched.

From the corner of her eye, Tie Ci saw the man holding a small knife between his fingers, his hand already withdrawn, his eyes seeming to contain laughter as he looked over.

In the chaos, Tie Ci hooked her fingertip on the jade brush’s fine chain, the brush tip whistling as it swept across his second layer of mask, tearing open a long thin crack. The mask was about to fall.

Tie Ci’s gaze burned as she waited.

The next instant, he kicked out with one foot, sending Chi Xue, who hadn’t found her footing, along with Tie Ci who was holding her, back into the cave.

Tie Ci: “…!”

But she had to tend to Chi Xue. By the time she managed to help Chi Xue stand steady and emerged from the cave again, she only heard a faint low laugh – those several people had long since vanished without a trace.

That voice…

Tie Ci stood stunned in the mountain wind, suddenly remembering what thought had flashed through her mind earlier.

This person’s voice was low, mellow, and extremely pleasant to hear – so pleasant it was highly distinctive.

Recently, she had only heard such a voice that day on the small boat at sea.

That perverted criminal who was obsessed with money and tried to grope her chest!

Thinking of how her personal seal had been taken by this person, Tie Ci regretted that she should have used every means to keep him there earlier.

But how could this person appear here? And be involved in the affairs of Ziyang? Which side did he belong to? He didn’t seem like someone from Li Yao or those fake monks from Cangshen Tower – more like a third-party force trying to rob from both sides.

Tie Ci went straight down the mountain with her questions. This was the northern slope of Fengbo Mountain, near the western Fenghua Gate of Ziyang. By now, dawn was breaking on the horizon, the city gates had long been opened, and she could see from afar that notices had been posted at the gate entrance, with people entering and leaving gathering around the notices, pointing and discussing.

Dan Shuang had good eyesight and saw from far away, angrily saying: “They’ve posted bounty notices for Master!”

Chi Xue frowned: “Then we can’t enter the city. From the conversation of that black-clothed man earlier, those fake monks’ heavily loaded cart passed through this very gate. We might as well follow the tracks and pursue them – we can also obtain evidence to clear our names.”

The reasoning was sound, but Tie Ci frowned slightly.

What after catching up? She was still recovering from injury, while they had many people and strong forces. Li Yao would also bring people to pursue them out of the city. They would fight her to the death to protect their interests and secrets.

As long as she still carried the crime of being a flower-picking murderous bandit, whether Li Yao or the high officials behind this affair, they all held the moral justification and authority to surround and even kill the murderer. And there was no guarantee that Shen Mi’s side would go smoothly.

But the people Li Yao brought, especially the soldiers from Ziyang garrison, might not know the truth behind it all.

A mere county magistrate might not be able to buy off the local garrison troops stationed outside Ziyang city.

If she always remained in hiding, she would forever be under their threat. Under the combined strangulation of local political power and military forces, death would be silent as grass.

Only by bringing the truth to light before the masses would there be a chance to distinguish between friend and foe.

She turned back and waved to Dan Ye, who was busy putting on pants he’d just robbed from a wealthy traveler, signaling for them to take different sides of the main road.

She strode toward the city gate, with Dan Shuang and Chi Xue following two steps behind. Pushing through the crowd gathered around the notice, she reached out and tore down the announcement.

Everyone froze. The soldier who was posting notices stared at her from head to toe in a daze. Tie Ci very thoughtfully held the notice against her own face to help him compare.

The soldier suddenly threw down his paste bucket and was about to shout, but Tie Ci had already smiled and said: “Pardon the disturbance, I’ve come to turn myself in.”

Another moment of silence, then with a thunderous sound, the crowd retreated several zhang like a receding tide.

Dan Ye had just robbed a wealthy household and didn’t mind the quality – he stripped the man of pants and boots on the spot and put them on. Hearing the commotion over there, he looked up and couldn’t help but pause, then his eyes curved as he smiled with a wild yet sweet expression.

This woman was both annoying and detestable, but her actions were always unexpected. Following her was never boring.

Behind him came whimpering and crying. The wealthy young lady who had been frightened off her carriage thought she’d encountered bandits and tremblingly offered her jewelry box. Dan Ye lowered his head and smelled the rich fragrance from the jewelry box, couldn’t help but go “ugh.” Suddenly the refined fragrance and beauty of southern women that he used to enjoy very much no longer seemed interesting.

He couldn’t help but raise his head and stare intently ahead.

After Tie Ci threw herself into the trap, the city guards above and below were surprised but finally reacted. The gate commander hurriedly ordered them to step forward and capture her, but Tie Ci suddenly reached out and pulled Dan Shuang into her embrace, saying: “Don’t come near, no shackles or chains. Whoever approaches and I’ll kill this woman.”

Dan Shuang cooperated by letting out monotone, blank-faced screams in her arms.

Tie Ci sighed inwardly. This acting was truly too crude – worthy of a Golden Broom award. It would surely be much more vivid if Chi Xue did it instead, but unfortunately she needed Dan Shuang who had better martial arts skills.

Someone in the crowd shouted from far away: “You’ve killed three people already, isn’t that enough? Must you harm innocent women in public too!”

“You actually believed me when I said I was turning myself in?” Tie Ci laughed. “I’m taking a hostage, but not to harm anyone. I just don’t want to fall into the hands of villains right now and be dealt with privately. Everyone, make way.”

The soldiers forming a circle didn’t make way, but instead stepped forward with their weapons.

“Look, your officials keep saying they want to capture the murderer to seek justice for innocent victimized women. But now that a woman is being held hostage, they show no concern either.” Tie Ci smiled and shook her head at the common people. “You can imagine that someday, when your daughters are held hostage or harmed, these people will only shout slogans.”

Hearing this, the common people couldn’t help but put themselves in others’ shoes and became dissatisfied, all saying: “Human life is precious. Let’s just see what he wants to do. Anyway, there are so many soldiers surrounding him – he can’t cause much trouble. Just don’t let the innocent woman get hurt.”

The soldiers hesitated, looking at each other uncertainly.

Dan Ye watched from afar and muttered to Hai Dongqing: “What does this woman want to do? I’m very curious. Aren’t you curious too?”

Hai Dongqing shook his head vigorously.

“Oh, so you’re curious too. Good then.” Dan Ye kicked the wealthy man who was still lying on the ground after being robbed of his pants. “Come, cry injustice, stuff money in their hands, say that’s your daughter, beg the officials not to hurt her, or you’ll bankrupt yourself fighting them to the end.”

While speaking, he casually took several heavy necklaces from the jewelry box thrown on the ground and put them on the old wealthy man, then stuffed a handful of pearls and gold jade into the man’s hands.

The old wealthy man shuddered all over. Such merchants never wanted to offend officials, but being glared at by Dan Ye’s slightly curved eyes, he trembled again and hurriedly trotted around to the soldiers’ side, crying “don’t hurt my daughter” while grabbing the gate commander and tearfully stuffing silver into his sleeves.

The gate commander had originally received orders that as soon as they saw this Mao Shiba, they should kill him on sight under the pretext of capturing the murderer. Now he was hesitating, seeing that the old wealthy man was obviously well-off with his gold and silver adornments. Though merchants had low status, they usually had wide social connections, and offending them could cause trouble. Now that he was stuffing a handful of gold, silver, pearls and jade, he naturally retreated a few steps and waved his hand.

The soldiers made way. Tie Ci entered calmly, raising one hand to wave at those behind her.

Dan Ye saw from afar and sneered.

The scene Tie Ci had caused at the city gate, after this period of standoff, had already fermented. Once she entered the city, countless people came from all directions to watch the excitement. Some had already galloped to report the news to the county yamen. The county magistrate was naturally still absent. Li Yao had just returned from leading a search, exhausted as he sat in the main hall, worrying about where to find people. Hearing the report, he was overjoyed.

Hearing that Tie Ci had taken a hostage, walked into the city on foot, and wanted to beat the drum to appeal for justice, he sneered. Originally standing up immediately to arrest her, now he slowly sat back down, saying: “Then let her come! Speaking to the person beside him with a smile: “Captain Xie, this is called ‘searching high and low only to find it effortlessly.'”

That Captain Xie was a long-faced man with slightly dark skin and a pair of narrow eyes like the thinnest blades casually cutting two slits in his face. Though these slits were narrow, they focused light. He lowered his head slightly: “Why would the criminal suddenly throw herself into the trap?”

“Naturally she’s repented and hopes to reform completely. She deludes herself that by this act of confession, she can win lenient treatment outside the law.” Li Yao shook his head lightly. “Unfortunately, her sins are too grave and her murderous nature hard to change. Even now she still takes innocent hostages, so naturally we cannot tolerate her.”

Captain Xie said: “Normally the cases here wouldn’t warrant deploying garrison forces. If the higher-ups ask…”

“Captain need not worry. This official will certainly explain to Captain when reporting to Laizhou Prefecture. Prefect Zhou of Laizhou has always been zealous in fighting evil. When he knows of this matter, even if the Provincial Administration Commissioner asks, he will surely explain clearly.”

“I hear the criminal has extremely high martial arts skills. Allowing her to proceed to the county yamen like this, I fear there may be unexpected developments. Better to capture her early.”

“What unexpected developments does the Captain fear? Beating the drum to appeal for justice? Hahaha, with both witnesses and evidence present, what waves can she stir up!”

Li Yao laughed unconcernedly, but gave his aide a meaningful look.

On her way through the streets and alleys, Tie Ci encountered assassins three times – twice blocked by Dan Shuang “seemingly accidentally,” once dealt with by Chi Xue in the crowd.

Though Chi Xue knew no martial arts, she had learned some poison techniques and hidden weapons, so she wasn’t entirely defenseless – she just fainted at the sight of blood, so she tried to avoid fighting when possible.

The crowd grew larger and larger, rolling into a long dragon behind her – half the city was stirred up.

By the time they reached the county yamen entrance, large numbers of garrison soldiers poured down the steps, filling the street in front of the county yamen. A line of soldiers formed a row, separating Tie Ci from the common people.

The drum in front of the yamen stood tall, clearly not often beaten, already covered with a layer of dust.

Tie Ci held Dan Shuang with one arm. Dan Shuang stood at her side, actually acting as a close bodyguard protecting her from hidden weapons.

The moment Tie Ci picked up the drum mallet, the noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.

People gazed at the young man’s back silhouette standing before the tall drum. Sunlight gilded his satin-like long hair with a golden edge, hanging below his silver-blue sash, making his waist appear even more slender and his legs longer. A lustrous jade brush swayed gently with his long hair beneath his belt. His raised arm showed his sleeve sliding down, revealing a section of fair yet beautifully contoured and powerful forearm. His white clothes weren’t very clean, stained with some black and gray marks, but this didn’t make him look disheveled – rather, it added a touch of rakish beauty to his naturally graceful and elegant bearing.

There were soft gasps from the crowd, someone whispered: “Such a person – would he need to pick flowers…”

Once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent for a moment, then all nodded. A gaudily dressed woman giggled: “Such a young master – forget picking flowers, even if he wanted this slave to offer a hundred taels of silver for just one glance, it would be worth it.”

Another even gaudier woman, not to be outdone, laughed: “Sister Qiu is too stingy. I’d say even a thousand taels of gold for one night would still be too cheap.”

Everyone looked – ah, the two rival madams from local brothels.

Someone laughed: “Why don’t you two make a wager on who offers the higher price? Maybe someday you really could get close to him…”

Before the words ended, they saw Tie Ci suddenly raise her hand.

“DONG!”

A sudden tremendous crash, beyond everyone’s imagination of what a drum sound should be. All simultaneously jumped in place, feeling as if their ears had been pierced by this great sound, with continuous buzzing rising from their ears to the crown of their heads. Everyone stared dumbfounded as the drum mallet sank into the drum surface. With a crack, the drum surface split. The mallet’s momentum continued, and with another dong, it pierced through the other drum surface, finally hitting the county yamen’s main door with another dong!

One strike, three sounds!

Amid the three tremendous crashes and buzzing, Tie Ci’s voice was especially clear – everyone heard distinctly.

“First drum strike – I accuse Ziyang County Magistrate Yu Shouren of holding office without purpose, ignoring the people’s welfare, allowing his subordinates to turn black into white and act lawlessly, failing his ten years of bitter study and the trust placed in him by ruler and father.”

The crowd erupted.

The county magistrate, who had just returned drunk, suddenly stopped outside the crowd.

He stared for a long time, then shook his head and laughed: “Accuse away – what do you know!” He was about to turn and leave.

Suddenly someone behind him said: “Will Your Honor still hesitate at this point?”

The county magistrate looked sideways for a long time before recognizing Chi Xue, saying coldly: “Naturally you must run errands for your master. But you don’t know that grand righteousness is easy to speak of – when retaliation and suppression come crashing down like a mountain, who will bear it? You?”

Chi Xue smiled: “How does Your Honor know there will be retaliation and suppression?”

“Because I’ve already experienced it!” the county magistrate said coldly. “Ten years of bitter study, earnest exhortation from ruler and father – who doesn’t know to serve the court loyally? But when my memorials were repeatedly suppressed, Ministry of Personnel evaluations had office members secretly report to dock my performance ratings, my wife and children were harassed by thugs when they went out, and I myself was drugged into alcoholism – where was that court and sovereign I devoted myself to serving, that I said could be my lifelong shield?”

Chi Xue said meaningfully: “They are naturally there.”

“They are not! Heaven’s will is lofty – it only sees the crowded heads in the Hall of Great Brilliance, songs and dances of peace above jade tablets! What am I? Buried like grass without a sound!”

The county magistrate was about to leave with a sleeve flourish, but Chi Xue said behind him: “Your Honor. Today’s events are difficult to contain. Have you considered that you are, after all, the chief official of this place? If you stand aside like this, then regardless of which side wins, you won’t have a good ending?”

The county magistrate’s back stiffened.

“You fear Li Yao’s power and confine yourself to wine country. If Li Yao succeeds, you’re still that daily drunkard and waste – your situation won’t improve at all. It might even get worse because of your ambiguous attitude. If Li Yao loses, you’ll be guilty of poor subordinate management, dereliction of duty, and inaction. Even if you’re not the primary culprit, you’ll be implicated. The greater Li Yao’s crimes, the less you can be exonerated. Only if you report him in time and offset merit against fault will you have a final chance to turn things around. Your Honor,” Chi Xue said slowly, “it can’t get any worse. When you encounter the only chance to turn the tables, won’t you seize it?”

She said no more, smiled and nodded, then withdrew into the crowd.

…

Tie Ci stood with the mallet before the broken drum. Including the county magistrate, everyone stared intently at her back.

In the crowd, those who had joked earlier all fell silent. Someone laughingly asked: “Do you still dare seek a night for a thousand gold now?”

Those people’s faces were ashen as they desperately shook their heads.

Tie Ci raised her hand toward the crowd: “Lend me a stick.”

An object flew through the air. Tie Ci caught it – a laundry paddle.

The drum was already cracked, and everyone wondered what she could still beat. But they saw Tie Ci turn the drum to a different direction and strike the side with a “dong!”

The side was made of wood, harder than the leather drum surface. One strike caused the wood to crack and split like lightning from top to bottom. In an instant, half the drum body collapsed.

Everyone: “…”

Just watching made their legs hurt.

“Second drum strike – I accuse Ziyang Garrison Captain Xie Da. As the garrison responsible for defense in the Laizhou region, he violated military orders, abandoned public duty for private gain, unauthorized deployment of troops into the city, and interference with local administrative investigation affairs.” Tie Ci weighed the object in her hand. “Just like a blockhead.”

The crowd burst into laughter.

The garrison soldiers guarding the county yamen looked puzzled.

In the main hall, Captain Xie shot to his feet.

This strike broke the paddle too. Without Tie Ci calling out, someone threw over a fire poker.

Tie Ci caught it and switched to another side of the drum body. The fire poker traced a black shadow – “dong!” The stick broke and the drum shattered.

Only a shell remained on the frame.

“Third drum strike – I accuse Ziyang County Magistrate Li Yao.” Tie Ci’s voice lowered but became clearer, each word hammering on everyone’s eardrums. “Sidelining his superior, usurping power, killing and harming people, framing and slandering, unauthorized use of military equipment, unauthorized deployment of garrison troops, colluding with vassal princes, privately manufacturing heavy weapons. Intending rebellion – an unpardonable crime!”

“…”

When the words “intending rebellion” were spoken, it was like clear thunder splitting the sky. In the bright light, all faces showed shock.

The county yamen front was a sea of people, wave upon wave filling the streets and alleys. Those who heard these words had blank minds and expressions, with only the words “something big has happened!” echoing continuously.

In the main hall, Li Yao knocked over his teacup, and the scalding hot water that had just been added burned his hand red, but he felt nothing.

Captain Xie whipped around to stare at him, his expression sinister and terrifying.

Li Yao was stunned for a long moment, then suddenly jumped up, shouting loudly: “Nonsense! Disrupting the court! Guards! Immediately seize him! Cut out his tongue!”

A large group rushed out with trampling footsteps.