Chapter 29 - Please Stay Your Blade
"Which one of you is Ye Beizhi? Come out!"
Although the City Guardian spoke to the cowering crowd, his gaze was fixed on Ye Beizhi.
Ye Beizhi frowned and stepped out from the crowd.
Seeing Ye Beizhi walk over according to his plan, the City Guardian sneered and disingenuously asked, "Are you Ye Beizhi?"
Ye Beizhi nodded.
The City Guardian motioned for the soldiers behind him to come forward and said, "Arrest him. He is the one who incited a riot among the refugees."
A soldier holding shackles quickly came over to arrest Ye Beizhi after hearing the City Guardian's orders.
Ye Beizhi said nothing and merely looked at the City Guardian with a face devoid of all emotion.
As the soldier with shackles approached, three people suddenly rushed over from the crowd and clung to the soldier's legs. It turned out to be the little girl's family of three.
The girl's mother anxiously said, "Sir, sir, you have the wrong person!"
"Yes, sir, this fine young man was busy saving my little girl’s life! How could he be the culprit?" the man added. His daughter sobbed softly next to him.
"Get off, don’t obstruct our investigation. Whether or not he is the culprit isn't up to your stories," the soldier said, showing signs of impatience.
"Sir, please—"
"You bastards just don't get it," the soldier said, preparing to kick the three away for interfering in official business. As soon as he lifted his foot, the soldier suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck.
The soldier holding the shackles lost sight of his target and cautiously twisted around. The man he was about to arrest was now standing right in front of him and angling an unfamiliar weapon at his throat.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down the soldier's temple.
"Get back." The man’s voice doused his zeal like a bucket of icy water over a faltering flame. The soldier felt as though he had fallen into a frozen abyss, his body becoming brittle as if on the verge of shattering.
The soldier involuntarily retreated.
Ye Beizhi stepped forward with his blade, and the City Guardian hurriedly shouted, "Everyone, take this man down!"
The soldiers drew their swords and surrounded Ye Beizhi. Just as they closed in, a muffled sound was heard.
Crack!
The soldiers surrounding him were blasted into the air before they could even lift their swords! Their bodies slammed heavily into the city wall, and fell down unconscious, their thick chest armor shattered to smithereens.
The City Guardian's eyes went wide with fear. From his position, he saw clearly what had just happened. That man had swung once with the scabbard in his left hand and launched the soldiers into the air like he was scattering seeds.
Ye Beizhi continued to approach the City Guardian, who tumbled head over heels to get away. The soldiers surrounding him did not dare to approach, as they knew no one could handle even a single blow.
Ye Beizhi quickly took a few steps and caught up with the scrambling City Guardian, grabbing him by the collar. The City Guardian was startled as he was lifted into the air and cried out, "Let-let me go!"
"Soldiers, come at once! Capture this man!"
"Someone come save me!"
Ye Beizhi ignored his protests and raised his right hand, pressing the tip of the blade against the City Guardian’s chin.
"You wanted to arrest me?" Ye Beizhi interrogated, tilting his head.
The soldiers nearby drew their swords when Ye Beizhi spoke, as if prepared to fight a great enemy.
With the blade tip pricking his neck, the City Guardian was sweating profusely and did not dare to move. Hearing Ye Beizhi's question, he shook his head tremblingly, his eyes filled with a pleading look.
"Did I lead the riot?" Ye Beizhi asked in a glacial tone.
The City Guardian shook his head again, overwhelmed by the immense killing intent. His back was soaking wet.
"You said so much earlier… Why stop talking now?" Ye Beizhi asked again.
The City Guardian truly did not dare to speak anymore. On the verge of tears, he feared that anything he said would cause a blade to skewer his skull.
Ye Beizhi narrowed his eyes, "Since you won’t talk…" Ye Beizhi tightened his grip.
"Please stay your blade!" A familiar voice called out from a distance.
A drop of blood rolled down the edge of his blade. Ye Beizhi lowered his weapon and turned to see Master Wu riding on a galloping horse, closely followed by several people from the escort agency. When Master Wu neared Ye Beizhi, he pulled the reins, and the horse's hooves kicked up a spray of snow.
Master Wu dismounted and saw Ye Beizhi and the City Guardian who he hoisted by the collar. With a sigh, he said, "Young Master Ye, please let him go."
Ye Beizhi glanced at Master Wu then back at the trembling City Guardian. He simply released the City Guardian.
As soon as he bounced off the ground, the City Guardian fled on all fours in a mad dash to hide behind the soldiers.
Master Wu looked in the direction where the City Guardian had fled and caught a glimpse of Zhao Feihu disappearing in the crowd with a resentful look on his face. Master Wu frowned deeply.
Master Wu turned to Ye Beizhi and asked, "Young Master Ye, is everything alright?"
Ye Beizhi shook his head.
"Does the Changfeng Escort Agency plan on rebelling?!" The City Guardian, feeling secure behind his soldiers, began mouthing off again.
Master Wu gave him a sidelong glance and said, "I will handle today’s matter with the Prefect myself, so there’s no need for the City Guardian to intervene."
Old Master Wu mounted his horse and rode in front of the assembled soldiers. "What? Not planning on letting us go?" he shot at the hiding City Guardian.
The City Guardian’s face alternated between an ugly shade of green and white. Finally, with great frustration, he waved his hand and roared, "Let them go!"
Ye Beizhi joined Master Wu to the group from the escort agency, where they warmly patted his shoulder and cheered.
"Well done, Brother Ye!"
"Young Master Ye is so calm under pressure~"
Ye Beizhi nodded perfunctorily in response to all the compliments.
Someone brought a horse for Ye Beizhi to mount, so he rode with the group back to the agency.
During the journey back, Master Wu studied Ye Beizhi's back with a troubled expression.
Upon arriving at the escort agency, as servants came to take the horses, Master Wu suddenly spoke up and said, "Young Master Ye, please come to my residence later, we'll have things to discuss."
Ye Beizhi nodded without saying anything while the others began to buzz with conversation.
"Master Wu, if you have something to say, why not say it here?"
"Exactly, what is it that you don't want us to hear?"
Master Wu’s expression darkened. "Pipe down! Mind your own business!" He took some time to brush the snow off his coat and continued, "I need Young Master Ye to help me with an escort mission."
Ye Beizhi looked up at Master Wu and saw that he was looking intently back at him. Their eyes locked.
"Ah? An escort mission in this weather?"
"Escort missions are usually stopped during this time of year—"
"With such heavy snow, the roads are blocked. How can we still do missions?"
The crowd began to chatter again.
Hearing the crowd’s comments, Ye Beizhi looked at Master Wu with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"It’s no problem, it’s just a letter. I’m asking Young Master Ye to deliver it for me," Master Wu said, his eyes not straying from Ye Beizhi’s eyes.
"Mm, just a letter."
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