“Niu Daguai, how long do you think you can keep hiding?” Fu Xiujin’s voice was naturally deep, and in the open wilderness it seemed to echo, reverberating layer upon layer.
“What Niu Daguai? You people aren’t here to buy anything in earnest. Get out! These two sneaking around must be thieves—we’ll report them to the authorities!” Ah Qi shouted, gripping Yao Shu’s wrist so tightly that pain began to show on her face.
“Report to the authorities? Perfect.” Fan Zhongliang shouted, and the disguised soldiers immediately pulled out their official tokens. The unified show of authority startled the villagers.
The village head craned his neck to look, then turned pale with shock. “These really are officers from the yamen! Release them at once!”
The villagers panicked and quickly let go of Yao Shu and Zhao Shaobai. Just as Zhao Shaobai was about to help Yao Shu up, a gleaming knife suddenly pressed against her neck.
“Stay back! Move and I’ll kill this woman!”
“Brother Fugui, what are you doing?!” The village head was terrified and reached out to stop him, only to have his arm slashed, crying out in pain.
“Where is Chen Suqing? Hand her over and surrender yourself,” Fu Xiujin demanded, his gaze like that of the King of Hell.
Niu Daguai’s hand began to tremble. “It’s been three years, and you’re still investigating! I’ve hidden myself in these deep mountains, and you still won’t leave me alone!”
“What’s going on here?”
“Brother Fugui is Niu Daguai? Isn’t his name Liu Fugui?”
The villagers began whispering among themselves. They instinctively stepped aside, leaving space between Niu Fugui and the soldiers, none daring to act rashly—after all, Yao Shu was still being held hostage.
“You think the Court of Judicial Review is as useless as those fools in the capital yamen? That such a pathetic trick could help you escape the law? Delusional. Look at yourself—how dare you covet a wealthy young lady like Chen Suqing? Absurd!”
Fu Xiujin’s words provoked Niu Daguai. He grew agitated, waving the knife wildly and shouting: “So what if she’s a rich girl? She’s mine now, serving me every day. I’ve treated her well enough—given her food and drink. What more could she want? You rich folk are all arrogant dogs. She deserved it! If she had yielded to me earlier, she wouldn’t have lost her leg!”
In that instant, as the knife swung away from Yao Shu’s neck, Fu Xiujin moved with lightning speed. He seized Niu Daguai’s knife hand, twisted it, and with his other arm pulled Yao Shu into his embrace, retreating swiftly. Both escaped safely, while the soldiers drew their blades and surrounded Niu Daguai.
“Are you alright?” Fu Xiujin’s voice rang in her ear, snapping Yao Shu back to reality. Heaven knew how terrified she had been—if he had been a moment slower, she might already be dead.
Seeing Yao Shu pale and shaken in his arms, trying to feign composure, Fu Xiujin’s expression darkened further. Ignoring Niu Daguai’s continued shouting, he waved his hand, and the soldiers subdued him with their blades.
“Quickly, search for Chen Suqing. Be careful—the courtyard has dogs.”
Still tense, Yao Shu clutched Fu Xiujin’s robe without realizing it. He did not push her away; he simply stood quietly until she calmed down.
The courtyard gate was forced open. The vicious dogs, silenced by the shouts of the village head and other villagers, ceased their attack. Fan Zhongliang strode inside and, from a locked woodshed, carried out a woman missing her left leg.