Chen Hong heard Qiao Mu’s words, and her eyes, full of malice, went wide.

“Don’t think that just because you say this, I’ll believe you! I have plenty of confidence in my own abilities.”

“Confidence is a good thing.” Qiao Mu curved her lips slightly. “But too much confidence, and when you fall, you’ll be smashed to pieces!”

At this moment, she had to draw Chen Hong’s attention away.

Qiao Mu was also worried about the old man’s safety.

“Impossible!” Chen Hong snorted coldly. “That’s Long Jiu’er’s lover — I don’t believe she’d gamble with her own lover’s life!”

Clearly, Qiao Mu’s words had had some effect.

At least for now, Chen Hong had no thought of harming the old man.

First protect the old man, then the next step was the little boy’s safety, and only after that would come Chen Hong’s worthless life.

“Chen Hong, you’re wrong again!” Qiao Mu stared fixedly at Chen Hong without blinking.

She hadn’t looked at the old man leading the horse forward at all, as if she paid him no mind whatsoever.

Chen Hong frowned slightly, and Qiao Mu continued, “Jian Yi isn’t Jiu’er’s lover. Jiu’er already has someone she loves.”

“Jian Yi is a brother who’s faced life and death together with us.”

“Jiu’er would never easily abandon any of our brothers — that’s why she hasn’t cut off your demonic head already.”

As Qiao Mu watched the old man let go of the reins and retreat, she inwardly let out a fierce breath of relief.

Only then did Chen Hong realize she seemed to have fallen for this woman’s trick.

She frowned slightly, dragged the boy over, took hold of the reins, pulled the child along, and leapt onto the horse.

“Don’t hurt my child.” The man’s face was full of grief.

Chen Hong held the child with one arm and gripped the reins with the other, galloping toward the city gate.

“Long Jiu’er, open the city gate for me, or you can wait to collect this boy’s corpse!”

That demon-like voice echoed through every street and alley.

“My child, oh, my child.” The man staggered forward on his knees a few steps, then stood up.

“Ah—” The woman holding the boy’s grandmother cried out and fainted as well.

The man turned to look back but didn’t chase after them — instead he strode back.

“Wife, Mother, please don’t let anything happen to you.”

“Take them inside to recover.” Qiao Mu dropped a single line and strode forward.

“Are the horses that need to be prepared all ready?”

“All ready.” A brother strode up to keep pace with her, right there in the street ahead.

“Xing Zizhou, you come with me. Xiao Yingtao, go back and help Jiu’er.”

Qiao Mu didn’t want to waste a single moment.

She knew Chen Hong’s temperament well — killing a child truly meant nothing to her.

Even if she left, the child would still be hard-pressed to escape death, but she couldn’t just give up either.

Losing one life might destroy an entire family, or more.

Xiao Yingtao took a few steps, then stopped.

In the end, she didn’t leave either, and turned back.

The moment Chen Hong departed, Xing Zizhou immediately went to arrange other matters.

Soon, the group led by Qiao Mu and Xing Zizhou swiftly gave chase.

“My child, save my child.” The man knelt beside his family members.

Xiao Yingtao and a few brothers went over to help up the two women who had fainted.

“Sir, first bring your mother and your wife inside — our people will look them over.”

“We’re sorry for what happened today! But no matter what, please believe that our people will do everything they can to save your son.”

The man withdrew his gaze, met Xiao Yingtao’s eyes, and slowly stood up.

“I know… I know the City Lord wouldn’t abandon her people.”

“As for my son… I only hope he’ll be blessed with good fortune.”

The man wiped away his tears and followed Xiao Yingtao and the brothers through the gates of the estate.

The city gate had already been opened in advance. Chen Hong, carrying the little boy, rode her horse out of the city.

Only now did the terrified boy come back to his senses, and he began wailing loudly.

Chen Hong glanced down but paid him no mind, tightening the reins and continuing forward.

To the left of Yongshan City lay Plains City; to the right, Li City.

Li City — there was no going back there. If she could reach Plains City, she’d still have a chance.

But from here, getting to Plains City was no easy matter.

Not long after Chen Hong left the city, she heard the sound of galloping hooves behind her.

All of this was within her expectations; she didn’t dwell on it and kept racing forward.

Once she reached the canyon, she’d have her chance.

“Chen Hong, let go of the child.” Qiao Mu took the lead, staying right on Chen Hong’s heels.

Xing Zizhou and several other brothers soon caught up as well.

Chen Hong curved her lips slightly and paid no attention.

Having grown up on horseback, Qiao Mu, riding her carefully chosen horse, caught up to Chen Hong.

“Let the child go now! You can’t outrun us.” She glanced sideways at Chen Hong.

Chen Hong ignored her and pulled the reins tight.

The horse sped forward, and Qiao Mu fell behind again.

“Chen Hong, I told you to let him go!” Qiao Mu shouted angrily.

Her hand gripping the reins tightened.

How to safely rescue the little boy was now her most pressing worry.

Seeing that he was about to catch up, Xing Zizhou spread both hands apart and waved.

The group following behind him immediately split into three teams — one racing left, one racing right, and the remaining one staying with Xing Zizhou.

After chasing a bit further, Xing Zizhou also turned his horse and followed after the team going left.

Perhaps worn out from crying, the little boy gradually fell silent.

Qiao Mu frowned and sped up again to keep pace.

“Chen Hong, if you don’t let him go, don’t blame me for being rude!”

“With all of you chasing so closely, how am I supposed to let him go?” This was the first time Chen Hong had spoken since leaving the city gate.

“Fall back — at least a mile. When the time comes, I will let him go.”

“How do I know that after falling back, you’ll actually let him go?” Qiao Mu glared displeased at the blurring figure ahead and shouted.

“You only have the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. Now, immediately, fall back!” Chen Hong’s voice was also low.

“After one stick of incense burns down, if I’m not releasing him, I’m killing him. Aside from obeying, you have no other choice! Hahaha…”

“Chen Hong!” Qiao Mu stared at this demon, a fierce flame burning in the depths of her eyes.

“Chen Hong, you never intended to let him go from the very start, did you?”

Qiao Mu didn’t immediately slow her pace — at this moment, she had to buy Xing Zizhou more time.

“Whether I let him go or not is my business. Don’t tell me you never intended to save him from the start?” Chen Hong raised the arm holding the boy and choked his neck.

Startled awake once more from his nightmare, the boy wailed “wah wah wah” in misery.

“Chen Hong, don’t act recklessly!” Qiao Mu’s anxiety was not feigned either.

Aside from someone like Chen Hong, who wouldn’t hesitate to treat another’s life as trivial, ordinary people couldn’t bring themselves to watch someone die without trying to help.

“Give the child to me, and I promise not to kill you today!”

“Heh heh heh…” Chen Hong laughed loudly, tilting her head to look at Qiao Mu.

“You actually think I’d be foolish enough to believe that? Rest assured! Every bit of humiliation I’ve suffered these past days, I will repay to Long Jiu’er in full!”