Huo Tingshan’s forehead and neck were taut with bulging veins, his well-defined muscles quickly breaking into a sheen of sweat. On this winter night, he was drenched as if in the height of summer.
Pei Ying’s hand still pressed against his chest. When he didn’t move, she nudged him again. “General, something has happened to my elder brother. It’s urgent—I must go down and see.”
Huo Tingshan seized her fair, delicate wrist and pulled it down. “Am I not urgent enough?”
The tips of Pei Ying’s ears flushed crimson. She wanted to say his urgency could wait, but fearing she might provoke him, she murmured instead, “Perhaps we can continue later…”
Her voice grew softer until it was barely a whisper.
Huo Tingshan’s eyes were bloodshot, like a caged beast, each word gritted through his teeth. “Since they took him alive instead of killing him outright, they likely don’t want his life. I’ll send men to handle it. There’s no need for you to intervene.”
Pei Ying refused without hesitation. “No. This matter is too important to me. If I turn a blind eye, wouldn’t it betray all the care my elder brother has shown me?”
He stared at her, silent, his arm still locked around her waist. After a pause, Pei Ying reached up to stroke his jaw. “General, let me go down and see.”
Her soft fingertips brushed his cheek, the sweet fragrance around her growing even more intoxicating. Huo Tingshan closed his eyes, his voice rough and dry when he spoke again, as if a single spark could set him aflame. “This is the last time.”
If there was a next time, he swore he’d cut down that pretty-faced scholar.
Pei Ying’s heart swelled with relief and she moved to rise from his lap—only for him to suddenly bury his face against her, inhaling deeply.
His muffled voice came next. “This one doesn’t count.”
Her face burned scarlet.
This man was truly…
Her undergarments were only half undone. Huo Tingshan hooked the loose ties with his fingers and deftly fastened them for her.
The delicate ribbons looked absurdly small in his hands—those same hands accustomed to wielding heavy blades—yet he tied them without clumsiness.
He helped her into her inner robe, then her dress.
Finally, Huo Tingshan took his own cloak and draped it over Pei Ying’s shoulders. “Alright, go down.”
Seeing he seemed intent on accompanying her, Pei Ying frowned. “Are you coming down as well?”
Huo Tingshan’s brows knitted. “Did you think I’d let you face that pretty-faced scholar alone? Don’t even dream of it.”
Pei Ying glanced down briefly, then away. “But you’re… like this.”
“What’s there to be surprised about? It’s not like he doesn’t have one himself,” Huo Tingshan retorted, raising an eyebrow. “Unless he truly doesn’t—then that would be awkward.”
Pei Ying turned her head away silently.
It was already Xu hour, when the curfew began and lasted until Yin hour the next morning.
Cheng Yunzheng had arrived after curfew.
By law, no one should be out at this hour, but given that the matter involved someone indirectly connected to the new ruler of Jizhou, Cheng Yunzheng was certain he wouldn’t face consequences for breaking curfew. So he had rushed over.
The posthouse where Huo Tingshan was staying had been entirely reserved for his troops from Youzhou.
After reporting his arrival, Cheng Yunzheng was led to wait on the first floor. A single small lamp flickered weakly, its flame swaying whenever the wind slipped in.
Cheng Yunzheng waited anxiously.
Less than a quarter-hour later, footsteps sounded from the stairs—two sets, one light, the other heavier.
Cheng Yunzheng looked up and saw Pei Ying descending first.
She must have been preparing for bed, her hair undone and cascading down her back like flowing ink. Her face was radiant, her eyes shimmering like the last hues of twilight.
Cheng Yunzheng’s heart raced.
But in the next instant, a sharp gaze pierced him like an arrow. Startled, he looked up and realized a tall, shadowy figure loomed behind Pei Ying.
Like a tiger half-hidden in the forest, only its emerald eyes visible, the man’s cold, murderous glare sent chills down Cheng Yunzheng’s spine.
Trembling, he averted his eyes, not daring to look further.
Huo Tingshan beckoned a guard and murmured a few orders. The soldier saluted and swiftly left the posthouse.
Pei Ying hurried to Cheng Yunzheng, too anxious to even offer a proper greeting. “Mr. Cheng, how was my brother taken? How many assailants were there? Did you see which way they went?”
Cheng Yunzheng kept his gaze lowered, focusing on the floor as he recounted. “Tonight was bitterly cold. After sharing a hotpot dinner with Minghua on the first floor, we retired to our rooms. As I was preparing for bed, I remembered an important business matter to discuss with him. Since our rooms were adjacent, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to step over for a moment, so I dressed again.”
As he spoke, a sliver of his attention drifted to Pei Ying’s cloak.
Only now did he notice it was a man’s cloak—broader, darker, and so long it pooled at her feet, concealing even her embroidered shoes when she stood still.
Pei Ying listened intently, oblivious to his momentary distraction.
Cheng Yunzheng continued, “After dressing, I heard strange noises from my room—like knocking, yet not quite. At first, I thought Minghua was moving things around, which would mean he was still awake. But just as I was about to leave, I heard him shout from next door.”
Pei Ying’s breath hitched. “What happened then?”
“Realizing something was wrong, I grabbed my sword and rushed out.” Cheng Yunzheng, knowing the dangers of trade, had invested in a fine blade for emergencies.
“But by the time I stepped into the hallway, Minghua’s door was already open. A burly man in black was carrying him toward the far end of the corridor, with two others clearing the way ahead and one covering the rear.”
Pei Ying gasped. “So brazen?”
Cheng Yunzheng nodded. “I called for the posthouse attendants, but whether they were absent or asleep, no one answered. Alone, I couldn’t catch up—nor did I dare pursue recklessly.”
His tone carried regret by the end.
Pei Ying sensed it. “You needn’t blame yourself, Mr. Cheng. It’s fortunate you didn’t confront those brutes head-on, or else there’d be no one to alert us, and both you and my brother would be in greater danger. I’m already deeply grateful you came to inform us.”
As she finished, a hand lightly squeezed the nape of her neck.
She turned to meet Huo Tingshan’s gaze, her eyes questioning.
Huo Tingshan lazily lifted his eyelids. “Now that we’ve heard the details, Madam should return upstairs and rest.”
Pei Ying protested, “I won’t—”
“You won’t what? What good would staying up all night do?” Huo Tingshan asked coolly.
Pei Ying was rendered speechless. Although it was true, how could she feel at ease?
Pei Ying frowned and remained silent.
Seeing her like this, Huo Tingshan knew she was unhappy. He guessed she might be secretly grumbling about something. He clicked his tongue and said, "Alright, go back to sleep. I'll bring your elder brother back for you."
Pei Ying was slightly stunned. While this man was lawless in some matters, she had to admit that he was quite reliable in other aspects.
He usually kept his words when they were not said on the couch.
Pei Ying immediately flattered him, "General, you love the people as a father does, covering them like the sky and accommodating them like the earth. You truly deserve to be a hero of this region."
Huo Tingshan smiled faintly, "I dare not claim that. I have no interest in being your elder brother's father."
Pei Ying: "..."
If he were to die one day, it must be because he was beaten to death for his arrogant words.
Huo Tingshan said, "Now, madam, please go upstairs and rest."
Pei Ying opened her mouth to say something. At this time, Huo Tingshan glanced at her and added, "I'll go to look for the person as soon as madam goes upstairs to rest."
Pei Ying swallowed her words. She subconsciously wanted to go back upstairs, but as she turned around, her peripheral vision caught sight of Cheng Yunzheng.
Cheng Yunzheng was still standing there.
He had come in a hurry to inform them and had nothing with him. She couldn't just leave him here.
Pei Ying was thinking about arranging for him to stay in the stable temporarily or asking the guards to send him back. However, before she could speak, she heard Huo Tingshan call a guard over.
The man ordered, "You take him back to his residence."
The guard replied, "Yes."
Cheng Yunzheng quickly raised his eyes and saw that the famous Huo Tingshan of Youzhou was standing beside his friend's younger sister. The candle was flickering on the other side, casting a shadow. It was as if a wild beast was marking its territory, and the shadow of that man's body enveloped the beautiful woman beside him.
The common people should not fight against the officials.
Especially this was not an ordinary official.
Cheng Yunzheng bowed with clasped fists and said, "Thank you, great general."
But Huo Tingshan didn't look at him. He lowered his eyes to look at Pei Ying and asked, "Satisfied?"
Since he had arranged everything, Pei Ying really had no other concerns. She said, "Then I'll go upstairs. The night wind is cold and the dew is heavy as the night deepens. General, come back early."
Her words might seem like a hint for him to go find her elder brother quickly, but Huo Tingshan was quite pleased to hear them.
Good, she still knew how to care about him.
"Alright."
The news that Huo Tingshan was going out soon alerted the other military officers.
Qin Yang and others rushed over in a hurry. After understanding the situation, they all said:
"Great general, please leave this matter to me."
"I'll handle it. I'm sure to do it perfectly."
Everyone said the same thing.
This task was not difficult. When Pei Huizhou was kidnapped, it was already curfew time and the city gates were locked. Those robbers must still be in the city.
This Qiaoding County was not big. If they searched with all their might, they would definitely be able to find the person.
It was like catching a turtle in a jar, easy.
Everyone was waiting to take on the task, but they didn't expect Huo Tingshan to say, "No need. I'll handle this personally."
"Great general?"
"Great general?"
Everyone was stunned.
But Huo Tingshan had already walked straight out.
He naturally knew that this task was not difficult and he could have easily assigned it to a subordinate.
But now he was extremely irritated and full of anger. If he didn't personally deal with the people who had interrupted his good deed, he wouldn't be able to have a good night.
Looking at the shocked faces of Xiong Mao and others, Sha Ying felt a sense of surprise, but not completely unexpected.
Huo Tingshan had learned from the guard where Pei Huizhou was staying. He went out, mounted his horse Wuye, and led a team of guards straight to that stable.
The sound of the horses' hooves echoed on the ancient stone bricks, clattering in the quiet alleys at night and disturbing a group of people who were about to go to sleep.
Someone quietly got up and looked out of the window. They saw a group of cavalrymen galloping through the alleys like ghosts in the dark night, unstoppable and wild.
The commoner who was peeping slowly closed the window.
It seemed to be the officers and soldiers. It was better for them commoners not to interfere too much in the officers' business, or they might get into trouble.
Huo Tingshan soon arrived at the stable where Pei Huizhou was staying. As he strode in, he casually pointed at two guards behind him and said, "Find all the young servants here."
Soon, three young servants were brought to the main hall.
The oldest of the three was no more than twenty - five, and the youngest was only seventeen or eighteen. They had never seen such a sight of guards with swords lined up in a row. Moreover, Huo Tingshan's face was cold at this moment. The three of them immediately turned pale and knelt on the ground with weak knees.
The oldest young servant trembled and asked, "I wonder what the master wants us for? Do you want to stay at the inn?"
Huo Tingshan didn't waste time talking to them. He directly said, "There was a case of villains attacking someone here tonight. A person was kidnapped. Do you know about this?"
The three young servants shook their heads one after another.
Huo Tingshan then said, "The person who committed this crime has been arrested. According to his confession, he bribed a young servant here to cover for them during the attack."
Huo Tingshan didn't speak quickly. His tone was normal, and his expression and voice were calm, but his words were like a boulder thrown into a lake, causing huge waves in the hearts of the three young servants.
Some were surprised, and some changed their expressions slightly.
"Please investigate clearly. I've never done such a thing," one of them said.
"Please investigate clearly," another one said, and bowed deeply.
In the dimly - lit stable, Huo Tingshan narrowed his long and narrow eyes slightly. He pointed at the one who was bowing on the far left and ordered the guards to pick him up.
"Ah!" The young servant was extremely shocked and struggled instinctively. But he was so thin and weak that he was no match for the tall and strong guards of Youzhou.
He was picked up by a guard with one hand and then thrown in front of Huo Tingshan.
"One last chance. Confess and you'll be treated leniently," Huo Tingshan looked down at the young servant at his feet.
When that fair - faced young man said there was no one to call for help and something was wrong, it was probably just before curfew. Maybe ordinary people were already getting ready to sleep, but young servants in places like this would definitely stay up a bit later.
Of course, it was also possible that he was over - thinking. Maybe there really happened to be no one there at that time.
It didn't matter. He'd just give it a try.
The current result was not really beyond his expectation.
Huo Tingshan squatted down, reached out his big hand, and grabbed the young servant who was shaking like a sieve by the neck. His fingers dug into the young servant's neck bones, forcing him to raise his head. "I don't like to waste words, and I don't like to be deceived. You have only one chance. If you can't explain clearly, you won't have a chance to speak anymore."
The young servant's face turned as pale as gold paper. His pupils contracted and then slightly dilated. He seemed to hear the clicking sound of his own neck bones.
That hand was like an iron clamp. He couldn't break free at all. He couldn't even shake his head or nod.
Just when the young servant thought he was going to be strangled to death, that hand let go.
The young servant gasped for air and coughed violently.
Huo Tingshan stood up and said, "Speak up. Tell me everything you know in detail."
After the young servant finished coughing, he was in a complete mess with snot and tears streaming down his face. All his little hopes vanished into thin air. How could he still dare to hide anything? He blurted out what had happened earlier like pouring out beans.
"At the Shen Hour, a young gentleman came to the inn. I originally thought he wanted to rent a room, but this person said he wanted to do a small deal with me." The young servant regretted deeply, "At that time, that person said that at the beginning of the Xu Hour, he asked me to find a way to get the other servants away. He also said that no matter what I saw or heard, I didn't have to pay any attention. In this way, he would give me one tael of silver."
One tael of silver! That was two thousand cash, enough to buy half a cow.
Later, when he heard someone calling, he wasn't not panicked, nor did he not have a bit of remorse.
However, there was no turning back once the arrow was shot. This matter had become a foregone conclusion, and he could only pray that no one else would find out.
And now, the worst-case scenario had occurred.
Huo Tingshan was secretly amused.
One tael of silver couldn't even buy a single bead on her shoe, yet this guy had sold her elder brother. He'd better not let her know about this. Otherwise, with her fiery temper, she'd probably be angry for several days.
"What did that person look like?" Huo Tingshan asked.
The young servant quickly replied, "That person was about seven chi tall, around thirty years old. He looked quite ordinary, but there was a mole with hair on the right corner of his mouth."
Huo Tingshan waited expressionlessly for the rest.
Sweat broke out on the young servant's forehead. He wracked his brains to recall, but that person was really ordinary. Apart from that mole, there were no other distinctive features.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. He said anxiously, "Yes, when he talked to me at that time, his accent sounded a bit like those from Sizhou."
Their small county was in the southern part of Jizhou. If you went a bit further southwest, you'd reach the towns bordering Sizhou.
Huo Tingshan lowered his eyes and murmured, "Sizhou."
His plan to march into Sizhou wasn't a secret. People in Sizhou probably knew about it. The person with a Sizhou accent might be a scout from Sizhou.
But why did they want to kidnap a small merchant?
Huo Tingshan gave the order, "Pass on the order to search all the inns and brothels in the county. Also, Chen Yang, go to the county magistrate and get a list of people who have come from Sizhou in the past year and the records of merchants buying houses in the past five years. Chen Wei, lead a team of people on your own. Go through the streets beating gongs and announce that there's a murderer with a criminal record in the county. Warn everyone to be careful."
Like Chen Yuan, Chen Yang and Chen Wei were from the affiliated Chen Clan. They were both twenty years old and had joined the army after finishing their studies in the past two years.
"Yes."
"Yes."
The county magistrate of Qiaoding County was dug out of his home in the middle of the night. He dared not show his anger but resignedly took Chen Yang to get the list.
Chen Yang rushed back without stopping after getting the files.
Meanwhile, the search of the inns and brothels was in full swing. There weren't many inns and brothels in this small county, only two or three in total.
Soon, the search was over, and nothing was found.
Huo Tingshan wasn't surprised.
If a scout could only stay in ordinary inns or hide in brothels, then they might as well not be a scout at all.
Conducting a large-scale search and then withdrawing the troops was just to let them know that their plot had been exposed. As for whether they really stopped looking, let them worry on their own.
Huo Tingshan was looking through the files that Chen Yang had brought back. The population flow in this small county wasn't very large, and the number of people who had come from Sizhou in the past year wasn't many either.
Some had come and gone, while others had settled here.
Huo Tingshan quickly finished reading and focused his attention on the house purchase records.
When he was young, being a scout was a regular thing for him, and he was very familiar with all kinds of hiding methods. Because of the curfew, a good hiding place was crucial if one was in the city.
Those who were well-prepared would buy a house in advance. The best location for the house was in the busiest area. Usually, they would communicate with their neighbors as much as possible and try to blend in with them.
However, there were four people in this group...
Huo Tingshan selected five houses from the files one after another and then closed the files. "Check these places at the end of the Yin Hour. Report if there's anything unusual. Don't tip them off."
Those people would be at their most tired at the end of the Yin Hour after a night of being on tenterhooks.
Huo Tingshan waited nearby in the inn where Pei Huizhou was staying. After drinking two pots of tea, his anger finally subsided a bit.
Time passed slowly. The night became even darker. A large dark cloud was blown by the wind and covered the moon tightly.
The end of the Yin Hour arrived.
Not long after, a guard reported, "General, there's something strange about the second house in the west of Tianshui Alley."
The man who had been dozing in the hall suddenly opened his eyes, with a clear look in them.
Huo Tingshan got up from his seat.
It was late at night and quiet. It wasn't suitable to ride a horse anymore, so Huo Tingshan walked there on foot. The second house in the west of Tianshui Alley had already been quietly surrounded by soldiers from Youzhou.
When they saw Huo Tingshan, the surrounding soldiers silently saluted with folded hands.
Huo Tingshan took off the ring - pommeled sword from his waist and handed it to Chen Yang beside him. The latter took it. Then he saw Huo Tingshan stretching his arms, and he was greatly surprised. "General, are you going in there yourself?"
Huo Tingshan gave him a sideways glance. "Otherwise, what do you think I'm here for? Am I just bored?"
Chen Yang wanted to say that this kind of small matter didn't require the general to go in person, but then he saw Huo Tingshan pointing out two other people, plus himself, a total of four people.
Although having more people had its advantages, it also meant that it was easier to tip off the enemy. Huo Tingshan was here to save people and didn't want to accidentally make other noises and force those Sizhou scouts to kill her elder brother out of desperation.
After taking off the ring - pommeled sword, Huo Tingshan only carried two short knives.
The blueprint of this house had been obtained just now. Huo Tingshan chose a wall, stepped back a few steps, and then suddenly rushed forward.
When he was still one step away from the wall, he jumped into the air. His hands accurately grabbed the upper edge of the wall. With both arms exerting force at the same time, after a pull - up, Huo Tingshan easily climbed over.
He landed silently.
Huo Tingshan didn't wait for the other three people behind him and walked inside on his own.
This second house in the west of Tianshui Alley wasn't very big. It was just a one - courtyard house.
The man walked in the darkness without making any footsteps at all. With the moon covered, he appeared in the house like a ghost.
Huo Tingshan first went to the largest main room.
He stood in front of the room and listened for a moment, then walked past each room, listening for a while in front of each one and checking the windows.
After spending a little time, Huo Tingshan confirmed that all five people were in the largest main room.
The door of the main room was locked, and it seemed that there was a soft chair blocking it from the inside. Moreover, the windows were specially bolted. Whether it was the main door or the windows, forcing his way in would definitely make a noise.
Huo Tingshan stood still for a moment and then made a gesture, indicating for Chen Yang, who had also entered the house, to come with him.
They walked back to the corner of the wall. Huo Tingshan whispered something to Chen Yang. The latter nodded and quickly climbed out of the house under the cover of the night.
"Clang -!"
Suddenly, someone outside started beating a gong and shouting, "Fire! Fire!"
The gong sounded loudly. The five people in the main room were awakened.
Apart from the gong sound, they also heard a lot of noise. Some people were complaining, some were frightened, and some were still shouting about the fire.
Nervously, the person inside pondered for a moment and finally opened the main room door.
A figure emerged from the room. Before taking a few steps, another tall and ghostly figure appeared behind him.
The person behind locked the neck of the person in front with his palm and actually broke the neck bone of the person in front with just the strength of his wrist. At the same time, a short knife was neatly inserted into his heart.
The scout's pupils shrank to a pinprick. He didn't even let out a groan before losing his breath.
Huo Tingshan gently placed the person on the ground, then turned around and walked openly to the door of the main room. He quickly glanced inside through the open door.
There were still four people inside. The one sitting on the ground against the wall was probably Pei Huizhou. The nearest person was about two steps away from him.
Huo Tingshan had an idea in mind. He swaggered in.
There was no lamp lit in the room, and there was no moonlight outside. The people who had just woken up from their sleep couldn't see clearly.
The person near the door saw someone coming in. Thinking it was a companion, he asked, "How is it outside?"
Huo Tingshan didn't answer and walked straight towards Pei Huizhou.
The scout closest to Pei Huizhou keenly sensed something strange. Just as he was about to speak, a sharp glint suddenly flew over and accurately hit his throat.
In an instant, blood gushed out.
The scout let out a scream. The other two people's faces changed greatly, knowing that something was wrong.
But it was too late. Three people suddenly rushed in from outside the room. They cooperated skillfully and moved nimbly. One dislocated a jaw, and another twisted an arm.
"Don't kill those two," Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Huizhou was leaning against the wall, still a bit dazed and hadn't come to his senses.
At this time, the dark clouds in the sky shifted, and the moon showed half of its body. With the moonlight shining in through the window, Pei Huizhou finally saw clearly the man standing in front of him.
He had a magnificent figure with a chiseled outline. His long and narrow eyes were as deep as the ocean. When he was expressionless, he always made people think of tigers and leopards in the forest, exuding a dangerous aura all over his body.
It was actually Huo Youzhou?
Ignoring the other person's stunned look, Huo Tingshan put away the short knife and casually threw Pei Huizhou to the guards. "Take him back," he said.
*
On the third floor of the stable.
Pei Ying didn't sleep well all night. So when she heard a little noise from the door, she woke up.
As soon as she opened her eyes, Pei Ying saw a dark figure standing in front of the couch.
The other person seemed to have noticed that she was awake. Instead of hiding, he simply leaned over and pressed on top of her.
His newly stubbled jaw rubbed against the side of her neck, and kisses fell. It was a bit prickly and a bit itchy.
Pei Ying was startled and subconsciously raised her hand to push him away. But then she heard him say, "Madam, I've brought your elder brother back for you. Does what you said before still count?"
