He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 767 Law Enforcement Hall

Liu Qi dusted himself off, his fingertips brushing across the hem of his shirt, shaking off a few dew-stained dead leaves. A relieved smile graced his face, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing someone else's business: "Let's find a place to hide first, and wait until this storm blows over before we talk." He already had a plan in mind—at worst, he could change his identity, shave his head, change his attire, and head to a small, unknown town in a neighboring province. With the savings he'd accumulated over the years, he could buy a small house, hire a servant, and still live comfortably. The world is so big, who's afraid there won't be a place for him, Liu Qi? With that, he began to walk deeper into the dense forest, his steps hurried, clearly wanting to get away from the troubled place he had just escaped from.

He Yao, however, didn't move, his feet seemingly nailed to the spot. He simply gave Zhang Qi a subtle look. Zhang Qi immediately understood, and his figure emerged from behind a nearby tree. He quickly stepped forward to stop Liu Qi, his tone as cold as mountain stream ice: "Liu Qi, why are you leaving so quickly? Did you forget something?"

Liu Qi's heart skipped a beat, and the smile on his face froze a little - he knew of course that the other party was referring to the promised reward. The batch of spiritual stones hidden in the cellar of the old house, and a few low-level magic tools found in the antique market, were the benefits he promised to these two people when he asked them to take action. But these things are his confidence. They are not only the bargaining chips to control these two cultivators in the future, but also the capital for his comeback. How could he be willing to hand them over easily? He quickly squeezed out an embarrassment and rubbed his hands and said, "This... Brother Zhang, you don't know, I just escaped, how dare I carry these valuable things with me? When I really get to a safe place, I will go back and get them for you immediately. I will never be vague. I, Liu Qi, always keep my word."

Zhang Qi turned his head and glanced at He Yao. Seeing that he didn't even raise his eyelids, which clearly indicated his agreement, he slowly said, "Alright, let's leave here first."

He had his own plan: once he'd completely escaped the Public Security Bureau's pursuit and found a secluded, deserted spot, he'd have to find a way to eliminate He Yao. After all, the reward would be much larger if shared by one person than two. He knew he and He Yao were equally powerful, and a head-on confrontation would likely result in both sides suffering losses. He had to find a foolproof method—like adding some "softening powder" to He Yao's water, or luring him to the Black Wind Cave, rumored to be home to a demonic beast. Killing with a borrowed knife would be the safest and most effective way to get away with it.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, led Liu Qi into a more secluded forest. The path became increasingly difficult to follow. Thick vines coiled around the tree trunks like pythons, and dense branches and leaves piled up layer upon layer, almost blocking out most of the sky. Only sporadic spots of light shone through the leaves, landing on the thick layer of rotten leaves.

They were unaware that, amidst the treetops overhead, several gray-clad figures were silently following them, like nimble monkeys. Their toes tapped the branches, their movements as light as a leaf, their landings barely disturbing even the dead leaves. The silver tiger emblem embroidered on their sleeves loomed in the shadows—those were members of the Tiger Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, who had long since received the news and were targeting Zhang Qi and He Yao, the two defecting disciples.

Behind a nearby boulder, Lao Si huddled up, only his eyes visible as he watched the scene from afar through the cracks in the rock, a barely perceptible sneer curling his lips. He had arrived half an hour earlier than Zhang Qi and the others, hoping to see if he could profit from it, but he hadn't expected to stumble upon such a spectacle. He decided to remain silent, intending to reap the benefits.

After walking for about half an hour, Zhang Qi suddenly stopped, frowning, and sniffed. Besides the stench of rotting leaves, the air seemed to carry a faint hint of murderous intent. He glanced at He Yao and said gravely, "Something's not right."

He Yao's mind was completely consumed with trying to trick Liu Qi into giving him the spirit stones, ideally even the magical instruments. Hearing Zhang Qi's words, he casually raised his eyes and asked, "What's wrong?" He felt the biggest obstacle right now was this "companion" who was sharing the spoils. If he could get rid of Zhang Qi, how could Liu Qi still get away with the spoils?

Zhang Qi shook his head and listened carefully to the sounds around him. The rustling of leaves seemed to conceal the faintest sound of breathing. He lowered his voice and said, "Something's wrong. It seems someone is following us."

Before He Yao could think about it, Liu Qi panicked. His face turned pale and his voice trembled. "Could it be...could it be that the Public Security Bureau has caught up with us? Are they armed?"

Zhang Qi scoffed, a hint of disdain curling up at the corner of his mouth, his tone full of contempt: "Come on, stop being such a frightened bird. We think those useless people in the Public Security Bureau have the same weapons as children's fire sticks. What's there to be afraid of? Just follow me obediently. I'll hold up the sky if it falls, and nothing will go wrong."

Liu Qi choked at his words, swallowing back the worry that was on the tip of his tongue. Though his heart was still pounding and his calves were trembling, he didn't dare say another word. He could only hunch his neck and follow the two men like a frightened quail. He glanced anxiously at the dark woods around him. The night wind rustled the branches, and the swaying shadows seemed to him like countless pairs of eyes, watching their every move intently, making a chill run down his neck.

As they were walking, Zhang Qi suddenly stopped, his eyes swept sharply towards the woods on the left, and he said coldly: "Alright, stop hiding. I already knew you were there. Come out."

As soon as the words left his mouth, there was indeed movement in the woods. Several dark figures emerged, tall and imposing, bearing a steady aura. They were none other than the members of the Law Enforcement Hall. They had thought their whereabouts were secret, but they hadn't expected to be discovered. A flash of surprise crossed their faces, but then their seriousness returned. The leader stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Zhang Qi, He Yao, you have violated the sect's rules and used forbidden techniques without permission. Now, follow us back and face the punishment, or we will kill you on the spot. No mercy!"

Zhang Qi's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that he had hidden himself so well, how could he have been targeted by the people from the Tiger Sect's Law Enforcement Hall? These people were stationed deep within the sect year-round, rarely emerging from the mountains. Their sudden appearance today clearly showed they were well prepared. He turned to look at He Yao beside him, his brow furrowed. "Do you know what's going on? Did you leak the information?"

He Yao was also confused, his eyes filled with confusion and anger. He looked at Zhang Qi and said, "Zhang Qi, what do you mean? How would I know? Are you still suspecting that I was the one who tipped off? Think about it, they arrested the two of us. If I wanted to sell you out, why would I get myself involved?"