Chapter 223 - Midnight ConflictYe Beizhi descended the stairs and happened to meet Xue Qiming coming in from the backyard. The two exchanged a glance and headed toward the door together.

    By this time, the commotion outside the door hadn’t ceased. Judging by the noise, more than just one or two people were responsible for the racket.

    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

    The knocking grew increasingly violent.

    "Open up! Open the door! We are the city guards of Liangzhou with orders from the city commander! If you don’t open up, we won’t be polite!"

    The soldiers outside sounded increasingly impatient.

    "Damn it!" A low curse came from outside. "Refusing a toast only to drink as punishment, huh? Kick the door down!"

    Creak—

    The door swung open from the inside, just as a soldier outside raised his foot to kick it. He tumbled forward as his kick fell upon thin air.

    Xue Qiming saw a figure lunging toward him as he opened the door. With a casual push, he shoved the man flying backward out the door, rolling head over heels far into the street.

    The unfortunate soldier, now covered in dust, rolled all the way to the base of the outer wall before stopping. He lay sprawled on the ground and groaned pitifully. Judging by his posture, his shoulder blade had been fractured where Xue Qiming shoved him.

    The rowdy soldiers fell silent. For a moment, only the groans and the sound nervously gulping could be heard.

    Finally, the soldier who had been knocking on the door found his courage. He drew his saber which trembled slightly as he threatened Xue Qiming, "You... you dare strike an officer?!"

    The rest of the soldiers gathered behind him and regained their composure too. They drew their blades simultaneously as if confronting a deadly foe.

    Xue Qiming raised an eyebrow. "Don''t you want to talk this through?"

    Ye Beizhi frowned slightly and decided to say something to de-escalate the situation when the lead soldier shouted, "Arrest him!"

    Several soldiers lunged forward with their blades raised, aiming to strike Xue Qiming. Ye Beizhi, who had just opened his mouth, closed it again.

    Xue Qiming, unhurried, stepped back and casually grabbed the door panel, slamming it shut with a loud bang!

    A symphony of metallic strikes sounded from outside, and several blade tips pierced through the thick door before getting firmly stuck.

    Xue Qiming chuckled and grabbed the door panel with both hands. With a mighty pull, he tore down half of the lacquered red door!

    "Trying to bully us with your numbers?" Xue Qiming snickered as he pressed the door panel downward. The soldiers, still gripping their hilts, were forced to bend forward to keep their grips on their weapons.

    Xue Qiming wasted no time, delivering a punch to the center of the door panel. It shattered with a loud crack, and the soldiers were sent flying along with their blades, piling up beside the first soldier with the fractured shoulder blade.

    Xue Qiming licked his lips and strolled over to the lead soldier. He opened his hand, grabbed the soldier by the crown of his head, and hoisted him into the air, bringing their eyes level.

    Xue Qiming tilted his head and grinned widely. "Heh heh, still wanna arrest me?"

    The soldier, still dizzy from his tumble, barely managed to regain his senses. Opening his eyes, he saw the demonic figure right in front of him and immediately screamed, "Help, help!"

    Xue Qiming sneered. "What are you screaming for in the middle of the night?! Do you think someone will come to save you? If you wake up the neighbors, I''ll crush you dead!"

    The soldier paid no attention to Xue Qiming''s words. All he could feel was the increasing pressure of the large hand gripping his head; the throbbing pain made him wish he could just pass out.

    "You''re about to die, so why not say something useful?" Xue Qiming shook his arm, causing the soldier to twitch about and scream even more wretchedly.

    "Spare me, spare me!" the soldier screamed, "Oh hero, have mercy!"

    Xue Qiming turned to Ye Beizhi and pursed his lips. "Why is it that our great Ruen soldiers are such trash? They''re far worse than the Northern Qiang troops I saw outside the city a few days ago."

    Ye Beizhi frowned slightly at the remark but said nothing.

    At that moment, a chaotic sound of footsteps came from the end of the street, echoing sharply in the stillness of the night.

    Ye Beizhi''s brows furrowed once again. He glanced at the soldier in Xue Qiming''s grasp before turning his gaze toward the street corner.

    Before long, firelight flared up at the corner of the street, and moments later, a flood of Liangzhou soldiers holding torches marched forward in a dense pack.

    Xue Qiming''s mouth opened slightly, and he muttered in disbelief, "Well, damn... someone really heard him, huh?"

    In no time, the swarm of soldiers surrounded the inn in three tight layers, glaring menacingly at Ye Beizhi and Xue Qiming. Hearing the commotion, the other occupants of the inn hurried downstairs one after another.

    Fang Dingwu, assuming that Northern Qiang had breached the city, rushed out in a panic with disheveled hair and a missing shoe.

    "W-What''s going on?" Fang Dingwu stammered.

    Ye Beizhi didn''t answer, merely eyeing Xue Qiming.

    Xue Qiming swallowed hard. "Damn it... we fooled around a little too much..."

    An officer stepped forward from the crowd of soldiers and shouted furiously, "Criminals, surrender at once!"

    A vein throbbed on Xue Qiming''s temple as his temper reared its head again. "Which bastard couldn''t keep their pants up and let you slip out? How dare you talk to your Granddaddy Xue like that?"

    The officer, enraged, pointed at Xue Qiming and shouted, "Know your place you thug! Men, arrest him!"

    "Understood!" The soldiers roared in unison. The momentum of their shouts shook loose a cascade of roofing tiles.

    Xue Qiming didn''t flinch. Turning to the soldier in his grasp, he softly said, "Look at that. Seems like they don''t want to save you after all..."

    The soldier saw it clearly. Xue Qiming''s eyes were brimming with undisguised murderous intent that only grew more decisive. Terrified, he screamed, "Spare me... great hero! Have mercy!"

    With his murderous intent fully ignited, Xue Qiming paid no heed to the soldier''s pleas. His grip tightened, and blood began to gush from the soldier''s eyes and nose.

    The soldier''s screams grew increasingly harrowing, and the onlookers were filled with dread. Chi Nanwei turned away, unable to bear the sight.

    "That''s enough." A hand suddenly appeared, pressing down on Xue Qiming''s arm.

    It was Ye Beizhi, who had finally stepped forward.

    Xue Qiming turned abruptly to glare at Ye Beizhi, who met his gaze in silence for a moment. Finally, Xue Qiming clicked his tongue and casually tossed the soldier at the officer''s feet.

    A foul stench filled the air. The soldier, having narrowly escaped death, had soiled himself in fear.

    Ye Beizhi glanced at the officer and waved impatiently. "Take your men and leave. Now." With that, he turned and walked back toward the inn.

    Seeing Ye Beizhi and his group about to reenter the inn, the officer could no longer contain himself and shouted, "Stop right there! You have assaulted an officer! Do you think you can just—"

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    A sharp, resonant sound echoed through the night, accompanied by a blinding flash of silver that seemed to eclipse the moonlight.

    The officer''s words were cut short. A breeze brushed past his face, and the plume on his helmet drifted to the ground, having been sliced off cleanly.

    Looking up, he saw the figure of the man standing with his back to them, one hand resting on his blade, as if he had never moved. A single word echoed like it came from the depths of the Underworld.

    "Scram."