Ye Beizhi stepped forward in the instant that Shi Wufeng froze in shock, hand sweeping across his waist. His Tang blade flashed from its sheath as he leapt into the air, trailing afterimages. With a furious cry, he raised his blade high, and cleaved through the air toward the hammer-wielding short man!
Even though Qi Zongbi had been on guard from the start, he was still terrified by Ye Beizhi’s overwhelming and unrelenting momentum. He felt like a sharp edge was already upon him, his skin stinging all over.
"Hey! You fool, still dazing off?!" The first to react was the alluring woman, her steel whip cracking like thunder as she lashed it toward Ye Beizhi.
The short man snapped back to his senses at her shout, only to find the Tang blade already upon him. Startled, he hastily swung his iron hammer sideways to block.
Blade struck hammer with a resounding crash like a bell. The short man felt a numbing pain shoot through his palms, a heaviness in his chest—he even nearly lost grip of his hammer.
Only now did the steel whip reach its target.
The woman was clever and sent the whip slicing past the blade, aiming directly for Ye Beizhi’s face. By attacking Ye Beizhi from the side, he couldn't continue pressing the attack.
Ye Beizhi’s expression didn’t change. He twisted his wrist and drew the blade back, unleashing a flurry of blade light before him. The woman’s face turned pale instantly. She suddenly felt her hand go light as her steel whip fell to the floor in several pieces.
The woman cried out, "What kind of divine weapon is that?!"
Shi Wufeng arrived a step later and quickly pressed down on Ye Beizhi’s hand, lowering his voice as he said seriously, "Brother Ye, please act carefully."
Ye Beizhi’s eyes twitched. He sheathed his blade.
Shi Wufeng let out a quiet sigh of relief and gave Ye Beizhi a solemn cupped-fist salute.
Ye Beizhi understood what Shi Wufeng meant. Qi Zongbi was, after all, the External Prime Minister of the court. Unlike Ye Beizhi, who had nothing to lose, Shi Wufeng was not alone in the world. If something happened to Qi Zongbi in Xuanfeng Valley, Shi Wufeng would have nowhere to run.
Just as Ye Beizhi ceased his attack, the short man suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood. That earlier strike from Ye Beizhi hadn’t been easy to endure. Only after coughing up the clotted blood, did the crushing pressure in his chest slightly ease.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the short man, and they finally noticed the deep gash cleaved into his massive iron hammer. The woman gasped sharply, her eyes now drifting back and forth over the blade at Ye Beizhi’s waist.
The tension in the reception hall eased slightly. Qi Zongbi, who had remained calm and composed from the start, finally spoke. He stood up unhurriedly and said, "I am already a man who should have died long ago..."
Qi Zongbi cupped his hands and bowed first to Shi Wufeng, then turned to Ye Beizhi. "I know you, Stormqueller, would like nothing more than to see me dead, but I cannot die yet. I fear I won’t be granting your wish today."
Ye Beizhi’s brows drew together, his eyes narrowing slightly. His right hand clenched the hilt of his blade. In the end, he did not draw his blade again.
"As for the matter of the Changfeng Escort Agency..." Qi Zongbi paused and gave Ye Beizhi a small nod. "The reason behind its demise has nothing to do with you, Stormqueller. I know you carry guilt for what happened, but truly, you need not."
Ye Beizhi’s frown deepened, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" Qi Zongbi lifted his eyes slightly and shook his head. "A mere assassin isn’t worth such immense effort to hunt down. The disaster at the Changfeng Escort Agency had nothing to do with harboring a fugitive... it was because of the Transcendence Stone."
Ye Beizhi’s eyes widened, his face slowly turning pale.
"That Transcendence Stone originally belonged to the Ghostbane Association," Qi Zongbi continued, "Somehow, it was lost to the outside world and ended up being transported by your Changfeng Escort Agency. I ordered the Imperial Guardians to investigate it long ago. The last lead we had pointed to a cloth merchant in Meizhou.
"When I sent people to check, they found the merchant dead in his own home, the entire estate burned to ashes. At the time, the most likely conclusion was that the escort agency had turned on the deal and taken the stone for itself. That’s what led to the purging of the Changfeng Escort Agency.
"Discovering that you were there was merely a bonus. That’s also why, after you were rescued by the Eastern Depot, the Imperial Guardians didn’t continue their pursuit—because their real mission was always to search the escort agency and retrieve the Transcendence Stone."
Ye Beizhi took a deep breath, his gaze growing cold. "A clumsy excuse. The escort agency..."
"I know what you mean," Qi Zongbi raised a hand, cutting Ye Beizhi off. "The agency treated you well, and I destroyed it, so you still want to kill me. Is that what you were going to say?"
Ye Beizhi let out a cold laugh, neither confirming nor denying it.
Qi Zongbi smiled faintly. "You know, and I know. That’s exactly why I came to find you, Stormqueller."
Ye Beizhi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Speak."
"Do something for me," Qi Zongbi said, eyes locked onto Ye Beizhi. "Once it’s done, I guarantee the court will leave you alone."
Ye Beizhi sneered. "I thought you'd say... once it’s done, you’d give me your life."
Qi Zongbi laughed. "It’s not yet time for me to die. But if that time comes, what harm is there in giving it to you? Better that than suffering slow execution on the executioner’s platform."
"No deal." Ye Beizhi shook his head and turned to walk away.
"Your arrest warrant is still posted in the local government offices. Do you plan to keep hiding forever?"
Ye Beizhi didn’t bother to answer this time. He didn’t even pause as he left.
Qi Zongbi remained composed. "I heard there are still remnants of the Changfeng Escort Agency. I’ve been considering whether to issue a nationwide manhunt warrant for their capture... I also heard Wu Changfeng had an adopted daughter?"
Ye Beizhi halted mid-step, his shoulders quivering slightly as a surge of murderous intent burst from his body without restraint.
The short man and the woman stiffened, stepping forward to block in front of Qi Zongbi.
Shi Wufeng glared at Qi Zongbi, pointing a finger at him in fury. "You’ve gone too far! You—"
Suddenly, a hand reached out and pressed onto Shi Wufeng’s shoulder.
Shi Wufeng turned and saw Ye Beizhi walking back.
Ye Beizhi came to a stop in front of Qi Zongbi and exhaled.
"What do you want done?"
Qi Zongbi smiled. "Escort me... to the Ghostbane Association’s headquarters."
Qi Zongbi shook his head. "My junior brother intends to rebel. At his side is Sand Scourer, Fu Yiran. This journey will be perilous. I cannot afford to die there, and you’ve once fought him without falling behind. I need your help."
Ye Beizhi’s eyes lit up with realization. He thought for a moment. "Sand Scourer, with the Heaven-Earth Sun-Moon Blade..."
"The very same," Qi Zongbi nodded in affirmation.
A flash of heat flickered in Ye Beizhi’s eyes. "That day, I nearly died under his blade... I want to give it another try."
Qi Zongbi smiled broadly. "You’ll have your chance. When shall we depart?"
Ye Beizhi looked up and gave Qi Zongbi a faint smile.
Qi Zongbi was taken aback—
In the next moment, a flash of blade light shot out, grazing past Qi Zongbi’s cheek!
The sound of steel cutting flesh rang out. Qi Zongbi felt a wave of heat splatter across his face. Instinctively, he reached up and his fingers touched something warm and sticky.
A heavy sound echoed from behind him.
Qi Zongbi slowly turned around and saw the short man lying on the ground, a hole running straight from the center of his brow through to the back of his head.
Ye Beizhi calmly sheathed his blade, his voice soft.