CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 138: CAPTURE

The government officials rushed forward fiercely, reaching out to block the people charging down from the tea house.

"No one is allowed to leave..."

Before the official could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared before him, as if a sharp weapon was drawn, followed by a warm sensation on his neck.

"Pfft," a spray of fresh blood burst from the official’s throat, splattering on the person holding the dagger.

The noisy tea house suddenly fell silent, everyone staring wide-eyed at this scene.

The assailant didn’t pause, pushing past the official and heading out before anyone reacted.

He rushed down the stairs to the tea house entrance, the official with the cut throat finally collapsing to the ground.

"Catch him." The remaining officials regained their senses and shouted.

However, even that brief moment of delay had allowed the man to burst out of the tea house.

Outside was chaotic, the officials were restraining people on the street from leaving.

Xie Liangchen heard the commotion from the tea house, and turned her head to see a figure rushing out.

That person’s face was covered in splattered blood.

She understood almost immediately what had happened; the peddler indeed had issues, and the spy colluding with the peddler was right on this street, right before her eyes.

The nearby officials were about to approach, but the man reached out and grabbed a child standing there stunned.

Like picking up a chick, he grabbed the child’s collar and threw him towards the officials.

As the officials went to catch the child, he turned and fled in another direction, but after only a few steps, he saw a rack filled with pouches smashing towards him.

He immediately reached out to block it, red eyes peering through the pouches, then saw the person trying to block him with the wooden rack.

It was a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl.

He grasped the rack to smash it towards her, unexpected was the girl’s nimbleness — not only did she dodge swiftly, she also kicked a wheelbarrow parked at the shop entrance with agility.

The wheelbarrow came at his legs; it wouldn’t harm him but impeded his escape. Furious, he revealed the hidden weapon he carried, throwing it at the girl.

"Chang Yue." Xie Liangchen dodged swiftly, shouting.

...

Chang Yue noticed Miss Xie seemed unusual earlier, immediately inquired, and upon hearing Miss Xie mention the peddler, rushed out, signaling to the officials and people around him that no one should leave the street the peddler passed through.

Fortunately, enough men had been stationed today to control the situation on the street.

The panicked peddler ran forward, realizing he couldn’t escape, pulled the pole from his shoulder, and swung it at Chang Yue with a desperate demeanor.

Chang Yue frowned; he had caught many spies, who usually would try to entangle with them, never starting a fight unless deliberately drawing attention.

This meant there were still Liao spies on the street where he ordered searches.

Chang Yue kicked the peddler in the chest, unable to capture him personally, decisively turned and ran back — there weren’t only spies on that street but also Miss Xie.

As Chang Yue turned to run, he heard Miss Xie calling his name.

The flying dagger brushed past Xie Liangchen’s shoulder; the man frowned, his sharp gaze fixed on Xie Liangchen, clearly sensing something unusual about her, reaching for her just as Chang Yue arrived.

Chang Yue thrusted his long sword at the man.

The man hurriedly retreated to dodge, while Chang Yue pressed forward, engaging him in a fight. Though the man was skilled, Xie Liangchen could see he was no match for Chang Yue.

Standing still, Xie Liangchen breathed a sigh of relief; the past scenes flashed through her mind, realizing she must buy two sleeve arrows to carry with her, regardless of cost, the crossbow Song Xian gave her was after all inconvenient to carry.

However, Song Xian’s advice on a stable lower base was correct; if she hadn’t diligently practiced her legs, she wouldn’t have been able to dodge earlier.

Chang Yue was a household general by Song Xian’s side, the best in boxing and kicking among all confidants, yet he didn’t capture the man quickly; after a brief scuffle, Chang Yue seized the opportunity to push down on the man’s neck, throwing him to the ground.

The man curled up trying to break free, but Chang Yue pressed on energetically, punched the man’s head, and when the man’s strength waned, pressed against him firmly, then struck his jaw again.

The man’s mouth opened immediately, Chang Yue didn’t find wooden teeth, so he tore off a piece of the man’s clothing and stuffed it into his mouth, taking the rope handed by an official to tie the man up.

After standing up, Chang Yue turned to see his men had also taken down the peddler.

Chang Yue instructed, "Don’t just stand there, keep searching the people."

After speaking, Chang Yue walked towards Xie Liangchen.

For the first time, Xie Liangchen saw this usually expressionless wooden man showing a panicked expression on his face, "Miss... Are... you hurt?"

"I’m fine," Xie Liangchen said, handing the picked-up throwing dagger to Chang Yue, "This was his hidden weapon."

The dagger’s tip was tinged slightly green.

Xie Liangchen said, "Be careful, it might be poisoned."

Chang Yue took the hidden weapon from Xie Liangchen’s hand, resolving internally that next time such an incident occurs, under no circumstances can he leave Miss Xie’s side; had he reacted a moment too late, it’s uncertain what might have happened.

When he meets the master, he will report truthfully and ask for punishment from the master.

Besides, one thing seemed subtly odd to Chang Yue, Miss Xie had previously discovered the wooden teeth, now the peddler... Miss Xie seemed strangely familiar with these spies.

Why is that?

Even if Miss Xie is unlike common ladies, Chang Yue couldn’t understand, though it wasn’t for him to worry, it was for the master to ponder.

...

Almost at the same time, under the jurisdiction of Henghai Jiedu Envoy, in the Qian Ning Army.

In the Qian Ning Army camp, two figures silently evaded people and walked out of the camp; after the Henghai Jiedu Envoy left Cangzhou, they sensed something unusual.

Their informants planted in Cangzhou should have come to report a day earlier by ordinary rationale, but the informants delayed.

When their people went to Cangzhou military camp to deliver documents, wishing to meet the Du Yuhou planted in Cangzhou, they were told that Du Yuhou had gone outside the city for training.

Various signs made them unable to sit still and prepare to go personally to Cangzhou to gather information.

If indeed something happened in Cangzhou, they needed to report immediately to Mr. Xiao Xingzong.

The two figures mounted horses heading towards Cangzhou, leaving a trail of dust on the official road.

Near Cangzhou, about to dismount to infiltrate the city, they saw someone riding towards them.

It was Qin Maoxing.

The leaders beside Qin Maoxing, they had seen before, were Cheng Yanzhao by Song Xian’s side.

The two startled and were about to turn to dodge, but found their retreat was blocked by another team behind them.

Cheng Yanzhao spoke first, "Where are you going unauthorized from the camp?"

Before the two could answer, Cheng Yanzhao continued, "I’m going to take a few people to Zhenzhou, since you’re here, why don’t you join us?"

The two were about to plead with Qin Maoxing, "General, you might have misunderstood, we..."

Before they finished, they were pulled off their horses by soldiers stepping forward.

Without much struggle, the two were quickly tied up.

Cheng Yanzhao smiled, "Little General Qin has no say now, it’s under my charge."

Saying so, Cheng Yanzhao grinned smugly, "As usual, knock out their teeth, and take them to Zhenzhou for Mr. Li to interrogate."

Qin Maoxing watched the gleefully smiling Cheng Yanzhao, knowing well that having Cheng Yanzhao take charge was for guarding against suspicion during his stay in Cangzhou, yet seeing Cheng Yanzhao’s smug demeanor still sparked anger, longing to throw a punch.

Qin Maoxing avoided people and took a deep breath, calming his mood.

Cheng Yanzhao leaned in to whisper, "What do you think about Zhenzhou? Has your uncle knelt?"