Fei Tang woke up. The dungeon, night, a mat of grass beneath him; the black stone walls were cold and damp. Outside the iron railing, there was a low wooden table with a kerosene lamp resting on it, its glass cover blackened by smoke. He must have been kidnapped. Yet Fei Tang didn’t feel particularly panicked. All his life he’d been afraid of death and of ghosts, emotionally prepared, rehearsing in his mind the scenes of crying and writhing in distress—over and over—only to find, when the moment actually arrived, that it felt rather ordinary. His mind was foggy. When he turned his head, he gasped, “Ah!” There was Ah Hu sitting cross-legged on the mat, gazing at him with a pained expression. That wasn’t so surprising, but what really struck him was the dark bruise under her eye—probably from a solid punch. Fei Tang almost laughed, but seeing her expression, he thought he’d be hit if he did, so he adopted a serious tone: “How did you come here?” Ah Hu replied, “Why, you’d think I’d know?” Without needing to say more, Fei Tang could already picture the scene: probably to He peered out: the cell was small, with a staircase leading to the outside, and the exit was covered by a slab, presumably locked from the outside. Fei Tang was puzzled: "Who? Who ambushed me? The scorpion-eyed one?" Ahé nodded. Fei Tang said: "...You're not exactly known for your fighting skills, are you?" Ahé sighed: "Didn't you see the feather insignia on my clothes? A dove—mainly a messenger, someone who keeps watch. I'm not part of the raptor squad. Besides, these people were well-prepared. I can't blame myself if I'm no match for them." Fei Tang regretted: "I should have brought out our old high-ranking officer..." But then again, Ahé had mentioned that the visitors were well-prepared—meaning one after another, one after another, like a series of carefully orchestrated encounters. With the deep, well-organized marriage alliances just breaking down, perhaps it was best not to subject him to another unforeseen misfortune. Fei Tang felt that this kidnapping wasn't aimed directly at him. After all, he had never left Xi'an in his entire life—his business had been centered along Zhuque Road. Though he had occasionally felt guilty, he hadn't done anything serious enough to offend the Scorpion himself. This case, therefore, must either be targeting the Yulin Guard or heading toward Ye Liu Xi. "Ah, I spit on the ground," said Ahu, "what do I have to gain by giving them the benefit of the doubt?" Fei Tang looked down his nose. "You're so rigid—you can't even think on your feet! When a wild dog chases you, you assess the situation: if you can beat it, fight it to the death; if not, why keep trying to break your own shell? Isn't it better to conserve your strength and wait for the right moment to strike?" Ahu said, "...yes." "So we need to adapt. When the odds are against us, playing the underdog, showing humility, and offering polite gestures isn't a sign of weakness—it's smart. Once they're relaxed, just one well-placed blow, and then go all out. Isn't that just as effective?" Ahu was left speechless—this man's words were blunt, but upon reflection, they made perfect sense. Just as he was about to respond, a loud creak came from the end of the stairs—the cover plate was lifted. Both of them froze, holding their breath, their eyes fixed on that spot. Yet the people outside seemed determined to keep them on edge, and it wasn't until a long The dungeon was dim, and the staircase area even darker. Upon first catching sight of the figure, Fei Tang almost exclaimed, "Xi-jie!" but then realized it wasn't her—though the figure was slender and tall, the posture was different. Fei Tang instinctively felt this woman must be Qingzhi. As she drew closer, the details became clear: the woman possessed a unique kind of beauty—her eyes and eyebrows long and refined, her hair sleek and straight, falling to her shoulders with a neat fringe, wearing a white shirt with rolled sleeves and black tailored leggings, and sturdy leather boots with a slight heel. Under her crisp, vibrant attire, her makeup was exceptionally alluring—her full, glossy lips perfectly defined, and her eye makeup especially striking, with a delicate, lifelike scorpion outlined at the outer corner of her right eye. To Fei Tang, it seemed as though every step she took carried a blaze of red lips and a scorpion drifting ever closer. Though she was separated by an iron railing and could not enter, as she approached, Fei Tang found herself involuntarily stepping back, hesitating and asking, "Are you... Qingzhi?" "The woman smiled gently, 'Yes.'" Fei Tang's heart pounded: Qingzhi was essentially the second-in-command of the Scorpion Eye, wasn't she? What could he possibly have done to deserve such an honor? "What... do you want from me?" Qingzhi lifted her hand. On her right wrist, a dense network of fine silver chains wound around each other, gleaming brightly. In her hands, she held several photographs. The first one facing him clearly showed Ye Liuxi—obviously a candid shot, judging by her attire and the setting, taken yesterday while she was strolling through the West Market. Qingzhi said, "You should know that our Scorpion Eye has always maintained a stronghold in the Huyang City. However, over a year ago, Huyang City was completely destroyed by the Yulin Guard, reduced to ashes. We captured a traitor who had infiltrated us and decided to hang her to honor the fallen. She gestured toward the photograph of Ye Liuxi. "But who would have thought—she simply vanished without a trace during a sudden, fierce sandstorm." "Fei Tang said, 'Slow down, wait a moment...' He felt it necessary to organize his thoughts: 'Let me confirm the sequence. First, the Scorpion-Eye executed over a hundred Yulin Guards in the Yulang City. Then, the Yulin Guards retaliated, burning down Yulang City. After that, you captured me. My sister, Xī, was to be executed, but when the execution took place, a sandstorm erupted, and she vanished—was that correct?' Qingzhi sneered, 'The Yulin Guards have consistently portrayed us as villains, making the common people both resentful and fearful. Old Zhao has always been hypocritical—he insists that Scorpion-Eye executed the Yulin Guards, even though it was actually their own forces that were executed.' Ahu's face turned crimson, 'This is outrageous! If you never executed any of our people at all, and if you have the means to speak, why haven't you clarified it?' Qingzhi glanced at her, 'Executing so many Yulin Guards is surely a matter of prestige and dignity—why would you need to clarify it?' "But ever since our scorpions have planted spies, worked in concert with the enemy to burn our city and hang our people—don't think we've forgotten that." She swapped the first photo to the end, revealing a new one showing a wide-angle view. Fat Tang, Gao Shen, Ding Liu, and Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong were all in this image. "I've been looking for her, but never knew where the Yulin Guard had hidden her." "Two days ago, we received word that Ye Liuxi had actually returned to Black Stone City—accompanied by more than just one person." She casually placed the几张 photos on the desk, her eyes locked firmly on Fei Tang, smiling gracefully yet with a deep, meaningful gaze. "Now, tell me, Fei Tang—what has Ye Liuxi been up to these past years? Why does he suddenly return now, and what does he hope to gain?" Fei Tang licked his lips. Qingzhi clearly had no patience: "Why aren't you saying anything?" Her lips slowly curled into a smile, at the same time, a scorpion the size of a palm began to climb slowly from her back onto her shoulder, its stinger trembling and gently extending, precisely aimed at Fat Tang's forehead. Fat Tang stepped back two paces, swallowed several times, and gasped, "I'm recovering—my sister-in-law has been staying in the countryside to recuperate." Lies must be told smoothly and without interruption, as if they were genuine. Fat Tang went on fluently, "You wanted to hang my sister-in-law, didn't you? At that time, the family of the Daoist scholars—specifically, the one with the surname Long—had a young lady who cast a spell that saved my sister-in-law. But that spell was extremely dangerous—it harmed both the patient and the caster. You must have heard about it, too—the young lady of the Long family has been suffering from serious illness ever since she cast the spell." Qingzhi remained expressionless, "Go on." "There seems to be a way in," Fat Tang felt a surge of relief. "She's a hermit physician, already seriously ill. My sister, even more so—her mind is not sharp anymore. She forgets so many things. Truly, if you doubt it, go ask around..." Suddenly, voices from outside broke in: "Lord Jiang! Where is Qingzhi? For such a minor matter, you should have sent someone else personally—" By the time he finished the last sentence, the man had stepped inside. Fat Tang stared, stunned. He had expected Jiang to be a towering, ruthless warrior with a killing streak, but he wasn't. Tall and slender, refined and cultured, he wore a light-colored shirt with a well-tailored, soft gray vest, silver cufflinks at the sleeves, and pressed, matching gray trousers. His features were strikingly handsome. Was he the leader of the Scorpion Eye? The first impression was quite favorable—Fat Tang thought he would be easier to deal with than Qingzhi. "The entire city of Huayang has been destroyed," Qingzhi said. "How can this be considered a minor matter?" "My point is, we haven't even caught Ye Liuxi—such a minor character. There's no need to go through the motions of a formal review." Jiang Zhan walked over to the table and picked up Ye Liuxi's photo, studying it carefully. "She seems to be doing quite well, actually." He then turned to Fei Tang. "Why are you still holding on to him? Shouldn't you have severed his head and presented it to Ye Liuxi, so she'd know her end is near?" Fei Tang felt his judgment of people had truly gone off the rails—he'd at least had a proper conversation with Qingzhi when she came down, but Jiang Zhan was already demanding his life on arrival! He mentally cursed: "For heaven's sake!" Yet Qingzhi clearly stood in full alignment with Jiang Zhan, smiling warmly at Fei Tang. "What do you think?" A禾's lips had turned pale, and Fei Tang's scalp was pulsing with increasing intensity— —Now, no one would burst in to save him. That kind of dramatic intervention was straight out of a TV drama, and if it happened, people would surely call it melodramatic. — Qingzhi asked him, “What do you think?” indicating he still had a chance to speak— the outcome would all depend on his response. — Don’t back down, absolutely don’t back down. This kind of grassroots leader looks down on the timid. Xi Jie once said, “A person must have value—only someone with value is truly appreciated.” He needed to demonstrate the kind of value Jiang Zhan valued. Fat Tang spoke up loudly: “I think it’s not suitable!” As he said it, his legs trembled. He lowered one hand and pressed hard against his thigh, trying to steady himself. Jiang Zhan seemed slightly surprised: “Why?” “Xi Jie only needs a note to let me know my time is running out—she can read. But my life, on the other hand, could be exchanged for something far more valuable.” Jiang Zhan chuckled: “Really? I have everything I need. Do you really think I’m lacking anything? The only thing I find valuable is the Poplar City. But can you really trade your life for that?” Just as Fat Tang was about to speak, Qingzhi softly added: “I feel the same way.” Before he had finished speaking, he lifted his right hand, and a silver glow burst from his wrist. Before Fat Tang could react, a sudden pressure tightened around his neck, and he was instantly pulled to the iron railing by Qingzhi, gasping for breath, his eyes bulging outward. Ahuo screamed and rushed forward, desperately trying to reach out and pull at the silver chain that was constricting his neck. Jiang Zhan turned and walked outward. Ahuo's face—full of fear and urgency—expanded endlessly before him. Fat Tang strained with all his strength, repeatedly gasping out a few words to Ahuo. Ahuo cried out, "Feline jade, feline jade!" Jiang Zhan suddenly stopped and called, "Wait!" As the silver chain loosened, Fat Tang stumbled and fell to the ground with a soft thud, and for several seconds, he could not produce any sound—only trying to cough, yet nothing came out. Jiang Zhan fixed his gaze on Ahuo, "What did you just say?" Ahuo's eyes were nearly overflowing with tears; she pointed at Fat Tang, "Ask him—he said it." Fat Tang slowly rose to his feet. He wiped the saliva that had spilled from his mouth due to his uncontrolled flow, puffed his nose, and looked up at Jiang Zhan, "Did you know? My sister-in-law holds a jade pendant shaped like a beast's head. I believe that should be valuable to you." Jiang Zhan said slowly and deliberately, "Is your life worth that jade pendant?" Fei Tang replied, "Not necessarily. But you can send someone to inquire. If it turns out not to be worth it, you can always kill me—after all, I can't escape anyway. But if my sister-in-law is willing to trade, then you'll have to protect me well. Otherwise, when I return home with my arms and legs missing, she'll surely crack the jade pendant herself. That would be a fair exchange. Don't doubt it—just watch." "Well," Ahuo bit her lip and changed the subject, "would Lady Liuxi trade you for a jade stag head?" FeiTang was truly heartbroken: "Honestly, I'm not even sure I can trade my body for two jin of jade—let alone a jade stag head. You know how valuable a jade stag head is, right? It's worth half of Hong Kong!" Ahuo said, "Then you still—." She didn't finish, but FeiTang knew exactly what she meant. What kind of trade terms are you asking for? Fine! When he first entered the White Dragon Range, he thought he'd surely be the first to perish with his condition. Yet here he is, running hard, running all this way, and the Yanshou Wang hasn't caught up to him yet. As long as there's any chance, he'll keep going. FeiTang sniffed and added, "My sister Liuxi may not trade me for a jade stag head, but at least now she knows I'm in trouble. My brother Dong, Xiao Liu, and Old Gao—they'll surely find a way to save me." Moreover, she would know that the scorpion's eye is no good thing—someone who wished her ill could already be on guard. "If Sister Xi is willing to trade me her jade stag head for these photos, then my life is entirely hers. For the rest of my days, I will serve her faithfully, even to the point of sacrificing my very soul—without regret!" —At the same time. Chang Dong was slowly going through a stack of photos taken yesterday during his visit to Xishì, with Ye Liuxi appearing most frequently—captured from the front, side, back, and even one showing her wrist tattoo. The bustling market, filled with constant sounds and movement, made it ideal for discreet photography. Across from him sat Zhao Guanshou, his expression grim: "The guards reported that Ah He accompanied Fei Tang when they went out. After that, there was no further word. We followed the trail all the way to Xishì and found a porcelain shop—empty inside, with only a letter left on the counter, addressed to Ye Liuxi. Inside the envelope were precisely these photos." We've been searching everywhere ever since—we always knew Jiang Zhan was in Heishi City, but we just couldn't find him, even after conducting a full-scale search of the entire city. "Ding Liu grew impatient. "What does the letter and the photos mean? Is it a challenge?" Gao Shen expressed concern. "Miss Xi, what if Fat Tang gets into trouble?" Ye Liuxi replied, "It's hard to say—it depends on what the Scorpion wants. If they're aiming to make an impression, Fat Tang's body will probably be found at my doorstep by the next day. If it's a ransom demand with negotiation terms, there'll be more developments to come—only time will tell." Ding Liu's eyes glistened with tears. Chang Dong laid the photos down and asked Zhao Guanshou, "Does our Yunlin City have a traitor?" "We arrived the first night, went out shopping the next day, and were photographed that very same day. Then, on the third day, both Fat Tang and Ah He vanished—how frequent these incidents have been, isn't that remarkable?" Zhao Guanshou nodded. "Yes, exactly. Now we suspect two people." The first one is Ahuo—after all, she knows your schedule, and she went missing together with Fei Tang. As for the second one, Changdong already guessed without needing to be told. Suddenly, there's a commotion in the yard—chickens flying about, leaping in panic—interspersed with Li Jinao's agitated voice: "What are you doing? What do you want? Let me go! I'll tell you, I have a card from a master of the arts, and I'm from the old Li family!"