岳停舟's hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his knuckles white. He stood outside the ruined west warehouse, his breathing shallow. Every breath carried the scent of rust and dust. Moonlight bathed the ruins, turning the fallen beams into skeletal structures. Just fifteen minutes ago, the warning flares had ripped through the night sky. He and 祝寒梨 had raced from their temporary base in the east, arriving in less than a quarter of an hour. It was too late. The stone door of the warehouse had been shattered from within by some immense force, the fragments scattered like they had been chewed by a giant beast. The four镖师 who had been on guard – all experienced veterans from the 祝家 faction, skilled fighters in the mid-levels of the 叠纹 realm – lay in pools of blood, their bodies twisted. The chilling residue of sword energy lingered on the ground, the walls, and even the air. 祝寒梨 rushed into the ruins, her steps faltering slightly. She didn't cry out, nor did she weep. Her lips were pressed into a pale, thin line. Her eyes, in the moonlight, shone with an unnatural intensity, like two embers burning low. A sound escaped her throat, raspy and strained. She began to search. Ignoring the shards of stone and debris that cut her palms, she didn't care that her skirt was stained with mud and the dark brown of blood. Her movements grew faster, almost frantic, her ten fingers clawing through the ruins, her nails breaking, blood mixing with the dirt and clinging to her fingertips. 岳停舟 didn't immediately join her. He walked around the perimeter of the warehouse, his steps light. There were scattered footprints on the ground, at least seven, the soles of the boots uniform, with a pattern that was deep in the front and shallow in the back – a well-trained marching pattern. The footprints suddenly disappeared in the northwest corner, where faint traces of a spatial distortion lingered, almost imperceptible. "Short-range teleportation rune," he murmured to himself, placing his hand on the ground, feeling the lingering, icy, and bone-chilling spiritual energy. "霍青崖 is leading the team." 岳停舟 turned and entered the warehouse. 祝寒梨 was kneeling before a pile of broken wood and bricks, her hands cupped around a small, dusty cloth shoe. The shoe had a crookedly embroidered pattern of bamboo leaves, the stitches were childish, and it was clearly the size of a child's. The sole was still muddy, the laces were undone, as if the owner had just taken it off. It wasn't the trembling of crying, but the sensation of every muscle screaming, yet being forcibly suppressed. Her lungs seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, her chest heaving violently, but unable to draw in enough air. "明轩..." she repeated the name, the sound breaking in her throat. 岳停舟 walked over to her, without touching her, and picked up something from the rubble near her feet. The arrow was a deep black, only three inches long, with a three-edged arrowhead and edges that were sharpened to an extreme thinness, reflecting the moonlight with a faint blue chill. The arrow's tail was marked with the image of a soaring falcon, the lines sharp, each feather conveying a sense of menace. "霍青崖," 岳停舟 said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact, as if reporting a case file. "The arrow is tipped with '凝脉寒毒', which causes the meridians to stiffen and the true qi to stagnate. The guards didn't die from sword wounds; they were first hit by the arrow, lost their ability to resist, and then were finished off." He paused. "The method is clean and efficient. From breaking the door to retreating, it took less than fifty breaths. They knew the location of the warehouse, knew the strength of the guard, knew that 祝明轩 was here tonight, studying a family-tradition martial technique." Her eyes were bloodshot, but there were no tears, only a kind of almost insane clarity. "A traitor?" "Or perhaps they have been monitoring you for a long time," 岳停舟 said, holding the arrow up in front of her. "The falcon marking on the arrow has been subtly altered; there is an extra feather missing from the wing compared to the standard design. This is a mark of 霍青崖's direct subordinates. He came himself, not just to kill a few guards, but to ensure that the capture of the hostage was successful." He stood up and surveyed the ruins. The warehouse was originally where the 万镜镖局 stored important goods and some of their classical texts, in a well-hidden location with three layers of She turned and walked towards the back of the warehouse, towards a section of wall that appeared to be solid. Her fingers pressed against the gaps between the bricks, and the wall silently slid open, revealing a narrow passage just wide enough for one person. At the end of the passage was a small room, no more than a few paces across, with four walls embedded with starstones that blocked spiritual energy. In the center of the room, on a stone platform, was an antique bronze box. 岳停舟 stepped to her side, his gaze sweeping over the stone platform. There were faint traces of dust on the surface, brushed away, and a faint, almost imperceptible, icy spiritual energy, originating from the same source as 霍青崖's sword energy, lingered around the edges of the box. "They were here," 岳停舟 said, his voice quickening. "They examined the original manuscript, and may have left some kind of mark or performed some kind of scan, then returned it to its place – no, not exactly. There are indentations on the bottom of the box, meaning the manuscript was moved, and when it was replaced, the angle was off by a fraction." He reached out towards the bronze box, his fingertips stopping an inch away from its surface. A faint, spiderweb-like, pale blue aura appeared on the surface of the box, then quickly disappeared. "A tracking mark," 岳停舟 said, withdrawing his hand. His eyes darkened. "It's not an ordinary spiritual energy mark; it's a 'Frost Eye Mark.' A unique technique of 霍青崖. Once the original manuscript leaves the starstone shielding range, the mark will activate, continuously emitting a positioning signal. They don't fear you hiding the manuscript, they fear that you... won't take the manuscript to the exchange." 祝寒梨's breathing was heavy in the narrow, confined space. She stared at the empty box, as if she could see her younger brother's terrified face through it. The black water continued to rise, reaching her chest, her throat, her nostrils. She clenched the child's shoe in her hand, the rough fabric scraping against her palm. "They want the original manuscript," she murmured, then suddenly turned to face 岳停舟, her eyes sharp as knives. "What about you?" A slight vibration emanated from something in 岳停舟's pocket, pressed against his chest, with a burning heat. It was the encrypted communication token that 沈砺川 had given him, and it was now vibrating at a specific frequency – an urgent, top-secret message from the sect. "Based on the traces found at the scene, 霍青崖 likely brought at least six elite members of the Frost Falcon Guard, all with cultivation levels at or above the peak of the Stacked Pattern realm. The enemy is well-prepared, and they are holding a hostage. The success rate of a direct assault is less than 10%," he said slowly, his tone like an analysis of a case file. "The exchange location has not been明确, but the enemy will undoubtedly set a trap. If you take the original manuscript, you must prepare countermeasures in advance, and confirm the hostage's status." "That's not what I asked," 祝寒梨 interrupted, her voice low but clear. "岳停舟, what do *you* want? Do you want the original manuscript, or do you want 明轩?" During those three breaths, the token in his pocket vibrated intensely, making his chest numb. The stern face of his master flashed through his mind. He could even guess the contents of the sect's urgent message without having to read it – the original manuscript was of utmost importance and had to be secured. Hostages could be used as leverage if necessary. "Let's go back to headquarters," 岳停舟 avoided her gaze and turned to leave. "We'll wait for the ransom note." *** The flame of the oil lamp suddenly flared, revealing the outline of a crude piece of yellow paper in 祝寒梨's hand. The ink was sloppy, the strokes bold, as if carved with a knife. "At the hour of the rat, at the abandoned shrine in the west of the city. Exchange the manuscript for the boy. No delays." Twelve characters. No signature. A small piece of deep brown, half-dried fabric was stuck to the corner of the paper, torn from the edge of a garment. 祝寒梨 recognized the material – it was the summer shirt she had made for 明轩 last month, a dark indigo color with small embroidered bamboo leaves. Her fingertips dug into the paper, her knuckles turning white. The stench of cheap ink mixed with a faint trace of blood, stinging her nostrils. 岳停舟 stood three steps away from the table, his gaze fixed on the . Finally, 祝寒梨 raised her eyes. Her gaze was like a needle dipped in ice, piercing straight through him. She didn't speak, only looking at him, watching the fleeting hesitation and avoidance that flickered across his face, a reaction he himself seemed unable to fully control. The air seemed to thicken. A spark burst from the lamp wick, followed by a crackling sound. "Alright," 祝寒梨 said softly, uttering a single word. She slowly smoothed out the letter, folding it once, then again, her movements mechanical and precise, as if handling a vital piece of documentation for a crucial delivery. The folded piece of paper was tucked into the inside of her waistband. Then, she rose, walking towards the iron cabinet in the corner of the room, which was secured with three layers of locking mechanisms. The sound of the key turning and the lock springs releasing was unusually clear in the silence. The cabinet door opened. Inside, there was no gold or silver, only a heavy scroll wrapped in dark azure蛟皮 and bound with ice silk. The moment the scroll was revealed, the temperature in the room seemed to drop, and the lamp flame flickered uneasily. The original scroll—the one lost and recovered by the 万镜镖局, the one for which her father had died, now a symbol of both hope and impending doom. 祝寒梨 untied the ice silk, her fingertips brushing against the蛟皮. The cold sensation crept up her fingers, carrying with it a pulse, the feeling of a dormant giant. She took a deep breath, removed the scroll, and turned towards a specially designed镖囊 that had been prepared in advance. The镖囊 was made of rhinoceros hide, lined with soft fur, and designed specifically for storing precious artifacts. She placed the scroll inside, tied the opening securely, her movements slow and deliberate, almost ritualistic. Each tie that she tightened felt like binding a living creature. 岳停舟 watched her. The talisman in his embrace burned with heat. He knew he had to leave this room, immediately. He needed to find a place where he could activate the talisman and receive the final, undoubtedly harsh, instructions. But his feet felt rooted to the floor. "I'm going to check the perimeter," he heard himself say, his voice even and unfamiliar, "The 霜隼 guards might have left something behind." 祝寒梨 didn't respond. She was carefully securing the镖囊 to her waist, adjusting it to a position that was both easily accessible and difficult to dislodge. The sound of the leather rubbing against itself was a faint squeak. 岳停舟 turned and walked out the door. The night wind immediately rushed in, bringing with it the cool scent of grass and trees from the courtyard. He pulled the door shut behind him, leaving the stifling light and silence behind, and quickly walked down the corridor, until he turned the corner and found himself in a patch of shadow where no moonlight reached. He leaned against a cold brick wall, took the jade talisman from his embrace. The talisman was warm, and the dark golden patterns on its surface were flickering erratically. The unique encrypted mark of 沈砺川, there was no mistake. Only the sound of the wind and the distant sound of watchmen's calls could be heard. He channeled a wisp of internal energy and infused it into the talisman. The talisman suddenly became hot, the patterns lit up with a blinding golden light, and a cold, hard, emotionless message entered his mind like a red-hot iron rod: "The scroll is of utmost importance and must be secured. If 祝寒梨 insists on an exchange, wait for the opportunity to seize the scroll after she has returned the hostage. If necessary, the hostage can be used as a means of leverage. There must be no mistakes. This is the law." It was 沈砺川's voice. Each word was like a shard of ice, hitting the inside of his skull. 岳停舟's breath hitched. The burning sensation in his palm spread to his wrist, but he didn't notice. The words echoed in his mind: "Wait for the opportunity to seize," "If necessary, the hostage can be used as a means of leverage." Using a loved one as bait to seize what was rightfully hers. Was that really so different from 谢无尘's manipulation of marriage contracts and exploitation of resources? When did the iron law of the衡律司 become a tool for subtle predation? He closed his eyes. Fragments of a nightmare from the rain-soaked case flooded his mind—the image of an innocent镖师 family huddled in the ruins, the chilling echo of a "correct but incomplete" statement read aloud in the public He leaned against the cold brick wall, taking a jade talisman from his embrace. The talisman was warm, and the dark golden patterns on its surface flickered erratically with the vibrations. It was 沈砺川's unique, encrypted marking, there was no mistake. The only sound was the wind, and the distant, faint sound of a night watchman's drum. He channeled a wisp of internal energy and injected it into the talisman. The talisman suddenly became scorching hot, the patterns glowing with a blinding golden light. A cold, hard, emotionless mental message, like a red-hot iron rod, directly pierced into his mind: "The main scroll is of utmost importance and must be controlled. If 祝寒梨 insists on the exchange, after she retrieves the hostage, seize the main scroll. If necessary, the hostage can also be used as a restraint. Do not fail. This is the law." It was 沈砺川's voice. Every word was like shards of ice, striking the inside of his skull. 岳停舟's breathing faltered. The burning pain in the palm of his hand spread to his wrist bones, but he didn't notice. The few sentences repeated in his mind: "Seize the opportunity"... "If necessary, the hostage can also be used as a restraint"... “岳停舟，别让我一个人面对。” He closed his eyes. Fragments of the nightmare from the rain-soaked night of the old case surfaced unexpectedly: the shape of the innocent鏢师 family huddled in the ruins, the cold echo of the "correct but incomplete" testimony read aloud in the 公议堂, and his master's words from back then: "停舟, the law is like a blade, and those who wield it must be decisive. Mercy, misplaced, harms both oneself and others." A very faint sound of footsteps came from down the hallway. 岳停舟 suddenly opened his eyes, clenched the talisman in his palm, and the golden light instantly extinguished. He adjusted his breathing and turned around. 祝寒梨 was standing three steps away. She had already tightened the cuffs of her sleeves, fastened her wristbands, and her waistband was bulging with throwing knives, outlining the shape of the main scroll. The night wind ruffled the loose strands of hair on her forehead. Her face appeared unusually calm in the dim light, but in the depths of her eyes, the embers of a fire had not completely extinguished, reflecting a glimmer of almost desperate, final inquiry. She looked at him, for a long time. Her gaze swept over his clenched fists, and over the tension and struggle that had not yet completely subsided on his face. She spoke, her voice very soft, but like a thin blade, precisely cutting into the stagnant night air. "止戈," she said, each word clear and distinct, "I'll ask you one last time. On this journey, are you my ally, or a secret agent of the 衡律司?" 岳停舟's back stiffened. He saw his own reflection in her eyes, a blurred outline, a wavering stance. That brief, fatal silence stretched endlessly between them. She took a step forward, not to interrogate, not to scold, but to raise her hand and reach towards his shoulder. Her fingertips brushed against the fabric of his outer robe, gently brushing away a speck of dust that he hadn't noticed had accumulated there. The gesture was subtle, natural, but carried with it a concern that transcended the current predicament, almost instinctive. After wiping it, her hand didn't immediately retract; instead, it lingered in the air for a moment before slowly lowering. She raised her eyes, and the sharpness in her gaze had faded, leaving only a profound weariness and a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of hope. “I know that a master’s teachings are like a mountain,” she said softly, her voice laced with something about to break, “but… I also remember you said, ‘A marriage pact is a mutual guarantee,’ and that wasn't just a jest.” 嗤嗤嗤嗤！ “Yue Tingzhou, don't leave me to face this alone.” Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating a strand of hair near her temple, its origin uncertain, whether it was from sweat or something else, clinging to her skin. Her eyes shone brightly in the dimness, like two bottomless pools of water, reflecting all of his current struggles and vulnerabilities. 叮叮叮叮叮！ Yue Tingzhou's knuckles turned white. The burning sensation from the talisman had subsided, but his master, Shen Licao's words, "A hostage can also serve as a restraint," pierced his skull like ice picks, repeatedly stirring. He saw Zhu Hanli carefully place the master scroll into a specially designed dart bag, her movements precise and unhurried, but her fingertips lingered for a moment on the leather clasp – an old item left by her father. The candlelight flickered on her face, revealing a small damp spot near her temple, the source of which was unclear, whether it was sweat or something else. “Zhi Ge,” she spoke again, her voice chillingly calm, “I'm asking you one last time. On this journey, are you my ally, or an undercover agent for the Heng律司 (Heng Licao)?” The leather of the dart bag made a soft, rustling sound. The air hung heavy, like a stagnant pool of water. “According to the Iron Laws of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency,” Yue Tingzhou said, his voice calm and devoid of any fluctuation, “kidnapping and coercion are crimes equivalent to treason. You have violated the Iron Laws.” The masked figures remained silent for a moment. “Then, I must apologize.” Before the words could finish, the seven Frost Falcon Guards moved simultaneously! There were no shouts, no unnecessary movements. The seven individuals, like a single entity, charged from seven different directions. Blades, swords, chains, and hidden weapons formed an impenetrable net of death, completely enveloping the two individuals. Yue Tingzhou moved. He didn't retreat; instead, he took a step forward. The moment his toes touched the ground, the stone bricks shattered, and a wave of scorching heat erupted from him, exploding outwards! This was no longer the orthodox, ice-cold True Qi of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency, but a狂暴, crimson flame that threatened to consume everything, erupting from the depths of his meridians! “Reversal Pulse – Incinerate City!” With a low growl, Yue Tingzhou unleashed both palms, transforming the crimson True Qi into two fiery dragons that roared towards the three Frost Falcon Guards directly in front of him. Wherever they passed, the air twisted, and the bricks melted. The three Frost Falcon Guards didn't even have time to block, and were swallowed by the fire dragons, let out screams, and were thrown backwards, their frost-white robes catching fire. But simultaneously, attacks came from the left and right, and from behind! 祝寒梨's short spear pierced, deflecting a curved blade aimed at her neck, while simultaneously, she shook her left sleeve, and three willow leaf darts shot out, forcing back another attacker. However, her cultivation was only at the initial stage of the Stacked Pattern realm, and facing the siege of four opponents at the peak of the Stacked Pattern realm, she was in a precarious situation after just one exchange. A chain-spear coiled like a venomous snake towards her ankle. 祝寒梨 leaped, but landed exactly within the range of another attacker's calculated strike – a heavy iron mace crashed down! “Hanli!” Yue Tingzhou's eyes widened with rage, and he forcibly twisted his body. His right hand formed a sword, and a crimson sword energy sliced through the air, arriving before the mace, and struck it. Clang! Metal clashed, sparks flew. The Frost Falcon Guard wielding the mace was knocked back three steps, his tiger's mouth cracking. But in that moment of distraction, a slender stiletto had silently appeared beneath his ribs! *Pfft.* The tip of the sword pierced three inches into his flesh. The icy sword energy instantly invaded his meridians, clashing violently with the狂暴 crimson True Qi within his body. Yue Tingzhou gasped, and his left hand flashed, grabbing the sword hilt, and his fingers exerted force – *Crack!* The stiletto, crafted from精钢, was broken in half by him! The broken sword was thrown back, piercing the throat of the Frost Falcon Guard. But this sword was ultimately a grievous wound. Yue Tingzhou stumbled backward, blood gushing from his ribs, staining his robes. The狂暴 crimson True Qi began to rampage uncontrollably within his body, every meridian feeling like it was being pierced by red-hot iron wires. He gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the surging blood, and looked at 祝寒梨. She was already in a desperate situation. The short spear was entangled by the chain-spear, and another curved blade was about to strike her neck. There was no time to think. Yue Tingzhou closed his eyes. In the next moment, the crimson True Qi within him erupted violently, like a volcanic eruption, spewing out from every pore! He transformed into a burning humanoid torch, and the scorching heat waves烤 the surrounding bricks, causing them to turn red and crack. “Go!” He roared, charging towards the four Frost Falcon Guards besieging 祝寒梨. He didn't dodge, didn't block, completely adopting a life-for-life fighting style. Every punch, every palm carried the resolve to destroy everything, forcing the four opponents to retreat. 祝寒梨 seized the opportunity to break free from the chain-spear, and thrust her spear, piercing the chest of one attacker. She looked back and saw Yue Tingzhou covered in blood, the crimson True Qi spilling from his seven orifices, a sign that his meridians were about to collapse. “Zhi'ge!” she screamed. “Go!” Yue Tingzhou roared again, swatting away the last Frost Falcon Guard, and turned to grab her wrist, using the last of his strength to throw her towards the courtyard wall, “Please report truthfully,” the masked man said, turning and looking in the direction where Zhu Hanli had fled. “What Commander Huo wants is not just the main scroll. As for Yue Tingzhou… he won’t survive the night.” The night wind blew, bringing with it the faint sound of drums in the distance. Midnight was approaching.