Chapter 79: The Tide Turns

A squad of Liangzhou soldiers pressed in aggressively, galloping on horseback; passersby shouted and scrambled to dodge. Liu Dahao heard the noise and looked over; the leader was, shockingly, an old acquaintance of his—Captain Su of the Liangzhou Prefecture!

Liu Dahao chuckled, "So it is Captain Su. What a coincidence. I received a message by pigeon today that my sow at home is about to farrow, and I must rush back. You wouldn't know it, but if my sow doesn't see me, she won't farrow. I've been waiting all year for this litter; wouldn't it be a pity if she choked to death?"

Captain Su sneered repeatedly upon hearing this. He rode over, his eyes filled with killing intent as he looked at Liu Dahao, and laughed loudly, "Liu Prefecture Marquis, the Inspector invites you!"

Qin Zhangfeng roared, "A mere Captain, daring to bully my master?"

After saying this, he charged forward and shouted back, "Young Master, run!"

Liu Zheng did not waste any more words. He knew Qin Zhangfeng's capabilities; these few dozen Liangzhou soldiers certainly could not do anything to him. He grabbed Liu Dahao and Feng Sanniang and turned to run.

Captain Su was forced back a few steps by Qin Zhangfeng and roared in a rage, "Assassinating a Captain in the street, do you know your crime? Take him!"

He did not yet know Qin Zhangfeng's skills and assumed he was just an ordinary Knight-errant. Who would have thought that Qin Zhangfeng would sneer, draw his sword from his waist, and instead of retreating, advance toward the several horses galloping toward him? He let out a shout that was deafening, causing the people on the street to panic and flee. Once the commoners were in chaos, there was even bumping and trampling on the street, which perfectly covered the escape of the three members of the Liu Family. When those three horses reached him, Qin Zhangfeng shouted again, leaped into the air, and landed behind one of the riders. He did not kill the man but used a hand-blade to strike the man's neck; the Liangzhou soldier instantly passed out, and the horse was seized by Qin Zhangfeng.

Captain Su's face changed drastically as he watched, "Don't be in chaos, don't be in chaos, catch them for me!"

"Seal the city, seal the city!"

Today, the Inspector had ordered that the father and son of the Liu Family must not be let go under any circumstances. Seeing them blend into the crowd, why wait any longer to seal the city? The messengers received the order and galloped toward the four city gates.

Looking back at Liu Zheng's side, he, Liu Dahao, and Feng Sanniang had blended into the crowd. Finding the West Gate already guarded, they ran toward the North Gate. Who would have thought that just as they reached the entrance of an inn, they would see a black figure appear before them.

"Young Master Liu, this way!"

When Liu Zheng heard this, it was actually Du Biao. Although he did not know if he was friendly, several Liangzhou soldiers were following behind, so Liu Zheng had no choice but to take his parents and follow him into the inn.

Liu Dahao and Feng Sanniang looked at Du Biao with curiosity.

Du Biao cupped his hands and laughed loudly, "Are these two your esteemed father and mother? This humble one, Du Biao, greets the Liu Prefecture Marquis!"

Upon hearing this, both were moved.

Du Biao's reputation in Liangzhou, and even the entire Longyan Dynasty, was very resounding, especially among those who did business and escorted caravans; almost everyone knew him.

"Everyone, the Liangzhou City is now sealed, please follow me!"

Du Biao did not waste words and nodded at a subordinate beside him, who was the owner of this inn.

The owner then led several people to the backyard of the inn. He opened a cellar in the courtyard. The three of them looked at each other, but without suspicion, they followed them down. Du Biao held a Fire Tinder in his hand to illuminate the situation below; it turned out to be an underground passage! Although it was not spacious, it was enough for people to walk through while hunched over.

Du Biao walked in the very front and laughed, "The three of you, do not doubt Du Biao. Today, once the Imperial Edict arrived, I knew that old man Chen Ping would definitely take a desperate risk. After all, if someone like Young Master Liu is let go, it is truly letting a tiger return to the mountains!"

Liu Zheng repeatedly claimed he dared not.

His parents, meanwhile, felt a sense of reflected glory.

Du Biao said while walking, "This place used to be the moat of Liangzhou City, but later, because of the drought in Liangzhou, it was slowly abandoned."

Walking to a turn, several rats suddenly appeared, giving everyone a start. Seeing rats in winter in a place like Liangzhou was still quite rare, which showed how long this place had been abandoned. The few people walked hunched over, and occasionally, gravel and dust would fall on their heads from above, but they had no mind to tidy up.

Listening to Du Biao, this abandoned underground passage of the moat was built by a craftsman of the Baiya Army, which meant that the blueprints for this underground passage were all in his mind. Later, because he joined the Baiya Army, this underground passage naturally became the property of the Baiya Army. This made Liu Zheng feel slightly startled; he had long known that the Baiya Army could cover the sky with one hand within the entire Liangzhou territory and stand on equal footing with the Liangzhou Prefecture, but he had not expected that they would have such astonishing energy within Liangzhou City, having laid many secret lines.

Just like this, they walked for about half an hour, and the passage became narrower and narrower. Du Biao smiled, "We are almost there!"

"Going out from here, we will be to the west of the city!"

The three were overjoyed to hear this; this was exactly the direction toward Yinzhou.

Sure enough, when they reached the end of the passage, the inn owner found the passage overhead and pried it open with force. Seeing the stars outside, the few felt a sudden sense of having escaped death.

……

Chen Ping sat on his horse, listening to his subordinates' reports, his face livid.

These three people of the Liu Family had suddenly disappeared? This made him feel even more wary of this Young Master Liu! He could actually guess that he was going to deal with them tonight! Just this foresight was already quite remarkable. How could this still be the playboy of the past? If this son were sent back to Yinzhou, and with the Imperial Edict in hand, he would have no better reason to arrest them!

Therefore, he had to take them tonight!

"Search!"

"Search for me!"

"Do not let any place go!"

Chen Ping roared.

The Liangzhou soldiers scattered. At this time, because of the sudden sealing of the city, crowds gathered in the city, and the noise was incessant. But Chen Ping looked indifferent; since he had already given the order, there was no reason to take it back.

"My Lord, still haven't found them! Miss Zheng..."

"A bunch of trash, I want the father and son of the Liu Family, what use is that Miss Zheng?"

Chen Ping said angrily.

"Did these three people fly out?"

Several Captains said with bitter faces.

This Liangzhou City was not large, but it was not small either. Someone suggested, "My Lord, I think the father and son of the Liu Family must be hiding somewhere in the city. Why don't we strictly check those entering and leaving, and wait until tomorrow to catch the turtle in the jar!"

Chen Ping sneered, "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

"The father and son of the Liu Family are extremely cunning. They must have calculated that if they didn't leave tonight, it would be absolutely impossible to leave tomorrow!"

"Keep looking for me!"

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"This subordinate was saying, they couldn't have flown out, could they..."

Chen Ping's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly roared, "Follow me to the north of the city!"

……

The few climbed up from the well opening and finally straightened their bodies.

Liu Zheng cupped his hands and said with emotion, "Liu Zheng will never forget the life-saving grace of the Third Leader today!"

Liu Dahao and Feng Sanniang also echoed him one after another.

Du Biao held Liu Zheng's arm and laughed loudly, "I don't know why, but Du Biao and Young Master Liu felt like old friends at first sight. Please do not say such polite words again! Everyone, hurry, I have prepared a Horse Carriage for you in the woods ahead; I fear it will be too late!"

The three of them thanked Du Biao again.

The three walked another nearly one mile and indeed found a Horse Carriage.

Liu Zheng was overjoyed and was about to walk over.

Just at this moment, a sudden, sharp cry rang out: "Liu Zheng, don't!"

Chen Ruoshi, that flash of red, came galloping over.

In the woods, the sounds of battle suddenly erupted; hundreds of Liangzhou soldiers were lying in ambush right near the Horse Carriage. Liu Zheng was startled, and without time to judge whether this situation was Du Biao trying to harm him, he shouted: "Mother, take Father and retreat!"

Feng Sanniang snorted coldly: "My son, stay close to me; Mother will take you both out by force!"

However, at this moment, those Liangzhou soldiers had already taken up their Crossbows and fired toward them. Hundreds of Liangzhou soldiers formed a perimeter and closed in, and Chen Ping, mounted on his horse, looked down at the three of them from on high: "Liu Prefecture Marquis, why go to such lengths? I invited you to my estate simply to fulfill the duties of a host; you have committed no crime, so why flee?"

Liu Dahao cursed loudly: "Old thief Chen Ping, don't give me that hypocritical act; the moment you wiggle your backside, this old man knows exactly what kind of fart you're about to let out!"

Chen Ping roared: "Liu Prefecture Marquis is fleeing in fear of punishment; take him down, dead or alive!"

Feng Sanniang drew her sword, stood before the father and son, and shouted: "Let's see who dares!"

Chen Ping said gloomily: "Sanniang, you know I don't want to kill you. For your sake, I guarantee that if you return with me, I will not make things difficult for you, and within a few years, you will surely return to being the richest in Liangzhou!"

"And then be slaughtered by you?"

Liu Zheng shook his head with a smile.

Chen Ping gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

The perimeter was drawing closer and closer, and the three members of the Liu Family had been forced under a tree, not daring to move in the slightest, for if they moved, the sky-filling Crossbow Bolts would fly toward them.

Liu Zheng sighed deeply; was there truly no way to escape this in the end?

But just at this moment, a horse suddenly broke through the perimeter and galloped toward Liu Zheng. The crowd was shocked; the person was none other than Chen Ping's daughter, Chen Ruoshi.

Chen Ping roared: "Ruoshi, what are you doing!"

Chen Ruoshi had already reached Liu Zheng, looking at him with a complex expression, and gritted her teeth: "Kidnap me!"

Liu Zheng was still in shock, but Feng Sanniang beside him had already reacted. She whispered an apology, grabbed Chen Ruoshi from the horse with one hand, and the next moment, pressed her sword against Chen Ruoshi's fair neck, turning to shout: "All of you, move aside, or this girl dies!"

The sudden change made Chen Ping furious, but seeing his precious daughter captured, he could only shout: "Stop! Do not fire!"

Feng Sanniang sneered: "Old thief Chen Ping, withdraw your troops immediately!"

The hundreds of Liangzhou soldiers were afraid to act rashly and looked at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping gritted his teeth in anger; how could he not know that his own daughter was intentionally rescuing this Liu Zheng! But seeing Feng Sanniang's sword pressed tightly against Chen Ruoshi's neck, he knew Feng Sanniang's temperament and dared not be reckless. Unwillingly, he shouted: "Clear a path for them!"

Feng Sanniang continued: "Give us the Horse Carriage as well!"

Chen Ping had no choice but to agree.

The three of them boarded the Horse Carriage, and Feng Sanniang shouted: "Once we reach Yangzhou, your daughter shall be returned!"

Having said this, she drove the Horse Carriage and vanished in a cloud of dust.

"Damn it!"

Chen Ping was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood and nearly fell from his horse.

"My Lord!"

"My Lord..."

【Author's Note】

Continuing back to Yinzhou to develop in secret... Thanks to the 15 brothers and sisters for the tips, thank you.