Chapter 45 : Kill Without Mercy

Chapter 45: Kill Without Mercy

“Clatter…”

The constables shifted aside, opening a path. A man in a dark green robe, a saber hanging at his waist, strode forward.

The dark green robe was the official uniform of the Patrol Office of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty.

The Patrol Office oversaw a city’s security, arrests, and punishments, under the jurisdiction of the City Commandant.

“Zhou Family!”

Seeing the newcomer, Li Yunqing frowned slightly.

Daring to frame and arrest her openly on the street was not something a mere Patrol Officer would dare take responsibility for—behind this must be the Zhou Family of the City Commandant.

“Miss Li, I am Patrol Officer Zhao Chuan. Please step down from the carriage and come with us to the yamen for investigation.”

As he spoke, Zhao Chuan’s gaze swept over the armed guards surrounding the carriage, his tone turning cold. “Those who resist will be executed on the spot!”

At these words, the guards’ expressions changed slightly, yet none lowered their weapons.

Though they could not contend with officials, they were the Li family’s guards, raised by the Li family. Without their young mistress’s command, none dared act rashly.

This was their duty.

“Lord Zhao, this man was merely a servant of the Li Residence. He was expelled ten days ago for wrongdoing and has nothing to do with our young mistress!”

Elder Xu stepped down from the carriage, cupping his fists as he spoke. “Without evidence, the Patrol Office has no authority to arrest.”

“Have your young mistress step down and speak!”

Zhao Chuan’s hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his saber as he shouted, “Whether there is evidence will be determined after investigation!”

The moment these words fell, the entire street fell into dead silence.

Even the distant onlooking commoners dared not make a sound.

The Patrol Office governed a city and held great authority. Or rather, anyone wearing an official uniform was someone ordinary people dared not provoke.

As for evidence—once inside the prison, everything would naturally be decided by the Patrol Office.

These days, the Patrol Office, the stationed army, and the Demon Suppression Guards had all been investigating the God-Worship Sect, and many had been implicated because of it.

“Swish!”

Li Yunqing lifted the curtain and stood at the front of the carriage, calmly looking at Zhao Chuan. “Lord Zhao, how do you prove this man is a member of the God-Worship Sect?”

“Without evidence, accusing others of being members of the God-Worship Sect with nothing but words—would that not chill the hearts of the people of Qingzhou?”

“Or does Your Lordship handle cases without evidence, relying only on your mouth?”

Her clear and pleasant voice was not loud, yet it carried across the street.

For a moment, all the distant onlookers turned their attention here.

“Gasp… is that the young lady of the Li Residence? Truly stunning!”

“Is she a celestial maiden?”

“No wonder she’s called the most beautiful woman in Qingzhou—she’s a hundred times prettier than the girls in the pleasure houses!”

“What’s the use of beauty? Once she enters the prison, who knows how she’ll be ruined?”

“Didn’t they say she’s engaged to the Jiang Family? How does the Patrol Office dare arrest her?”

“How could such a beautiful young lady collude with the God-Worship Sect?”

For a moment, whispers filled every corner of the street.

All eyes fell upon Li Yunqing. Some people stared blankly, their throats bobbing.

Even Zhao Chuan, the Patrol Officer, was stunned upon seeing Li Yunqing’s appearance.

His eyes did not blink, and for a long while, he could not speak.

“No wonder Young Master Zhou can’t eat or sleep thinking about her!”

Only after a long time did Zhao Chuan regain his senses, this thought flashing through his mind.

The surrounding constables were even more rigid, their eyes fixed, swallowing hard.

Some who stood close even unconsciously sniffed, catching the faint fragrance carried by the breeze from the young girl.

“Enough nonsense—take her away!”

Zhao Chuan shouted, his eyes gleaming.

As long as they brought her into the prison, it would be a great achievement.

Afterward, the Zhou Family would handle negotiations with the Jiang Family.

Moreover, once she entered the prison, whether the Jiang Family would still want this daughter-in-law would be another matter.

Not to mention, this woman was someone Young Master Zhou desired—once inside the prison, would she not be completely at his mercy?

They only needed to arrest her; if anything went wrong, the Zhou Family would bear the responsibility.

“All of you, listen to my command!”

Li Yunqing called out sharply. “Arresting people without evidence—if this is brought before the City Lord’s Office, it is still no crime. Anyone who steps forward—kill without mercy.”

“Clatter—”

As soon as her words fell, the guards surged forward before the carriage, their sabers all drawn.

As guards of the Li family, they naturally obeyed their young mistress.

Moreover, she was right. Arresting without evidence might be one thing for commoners—but their young mistress was the fiancée of the Jiang Family’s young master.

If this escalated, a mere Patrol Office would not be able to bear the consequences.

“You dare resist arrest? That is a capital crime!”

Zhao Chuan shouted, his saber suddenly drawn as well.

“Whether I die or not, I don’t know—but you will definitely die!”

Li Yunqing’s expression remained calm. Her right hand formed hand seals within her sleeve, while the needle pouch at her waist trembled slightly.

On the open street, things could still be argued.

But once inside the prison, even truth would become unclear.

She would even be at their mercy.

Even if she had to slaughter all these constables, she would never enter the prison.

She might not be a match for Qi Realm experts, but against a group of Initial Realm fighters, she truly did not fear them.

Moreover, she had Elder Xu and thirty guards at her side.

“You dare threaten a Patrol Officer!”

Zhao Chuan’s face changed slightly, instinctively glancing at Elder Xu, who stood ready to act—his aura clearly at Initial Realm Perfection.

Though they had crossbows, if a fight truly broke out, the outcome was uncertain.

Capturing her would be a great merit—but failing to do so would be another matter entirely.

“Quick, act! Seize her and take her to the prison!”

Zhao Chuan shouted, a sense of danger rising in his heart.

He had never expected that a fifteen-year-old girl from a small family would dare resist.

“Stop!”

At that moment, the sound of galloping hooves came from afar. Before the person even arrived, a loud shout echoed through the street.

“Who gave you the courage to arrest Miss Yunqing!”

As the voice fell, a figure on horseback rapidly approached, arriving before the carriage in moments.

“Q–Qin Young Master?”

Zhao Chuan’s face changed drastically, his voice stammering. He could not believe why the direct heir of the Qin Family would interfere.

“Miss Yunqing, rest assured. With me here, no one will dare touch you!”

Qin Yu’s expression was gentle. His gaze lingered over Li Yunqing before reluctantly turning to Zhao Chuan, his eyes widening as he roared, “Zhao Chuan, you’re courting death!”

Hearing this, Zhao Chuan’s legs trembled slightly, but he still forced himself to endure the pressure and said through gritted teeth, “Miss Li is colluding with members of the God-Worship Sect. She must be taken to the prison!”

“This is a joint decision by the Jiang Family, Qin Family, Zhou Family, and the Demon Suppression Division to investigate all members of the God-Worship Sect within the city!”

“You bastard!”

Qin Yu swung his whip, striking Zhao Chuan’s face and leaving a bloody mark. “How could Miss Yunqing possibly collude with the God-Worship Sect!”

“This person is the evidence!” Zhao Chuan covered his face as he retreated, pointing at the corpse. “He was a servant of the Li Residence—and a member of the God-Worship Sect!”

Qin Yu paused, instinctively looking at the bloodied corpse before the carriage.

Before he could speak, another sound of galloping hooves came from afar.

“A dead man—how can you prove he was a member of the God-Worship Sect?”

A hoarse voice rang out from a distance.

In the next moment, Jiang Jing rode forward, followed by twenty Demon Suppression Guards. They arrived directly before the carriage, surrounding all the constables, their sabers drawn with metallic clangs.

The constables all trembled, lowering their heads, their hands gripping their weapons shaking.

The Demon Suppression Guards were those who fought demons and evil gods—their strength was undoubtedly formidable.

Ignoring everything, Jiang Jing fixed his cold gaze on Zhao Chuan. “If you cannot prove it, then framing others carries the same crime!”

Seeing Jiang Jing’s stern expression, Zhao Chuan trembled all over, staring in disbelief at his attire.

“A Commandant of the Demon Suppression Division? How did even a Commandant get involved?”

His heart pounded wildly, his throat dry.

That was a Commandant of the Demon Suppression Division—one of the four Commandants beneath the Commander.

His strength was absolutely at the Qi Realm, and even the direct heirs of the Qin, Zhou, and Jiang Families would not dare provoke him lightly.

“Clatter—”

At that moment, the sound of synchronized footsteps rang out again from afar.

A group of armored soldiers—no fewer than three hundred—each holding long spears and wearing sabers at their waists, marched forward in unison.

Their aura merged into one, like a mountain pressing down.

The entire street fell into silence as all eyes turned toward them.

At the front of the formation, Jiang Yu sat in a wheelchair, pushed by a young officer, rapidly approaching, his eyes filled with fury.

In the next moment, a slightly hoarse roar echoed across the long street:

“Whoever dares touch Junior Sister Yunqing—kill without mercy, exterminate their entire clan!”