Who in the world does not know you?

Chapter 68 A Life for a Life

Ye Zi merely glanced at Shen Ming, who had been struck head-on by Ning Qi's blade and was falling backward. She then flicked the dagger in her hand, and the blood droplets on it rolled off the tip of the blade, leaving no trace.

She sheathed the scrap dagger and put it back in her bosom, then turned to look at Yun Luobai who had turned back.

Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke.

Ye Zi limped slowly to Yun Luobai's side, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ning Qi squatted down and reached out to check Shen Ming's breathing. Only after confirming that the monk in front of him had completely stopped breathing did he feel relieved.

"Ye Zi, what kind of dagger is that? This guy's martial arts are so powerful, even chopping off his head didn't work, but you broke his skills just by stabbing him with that dagger?"

Ning Qi, holding a knife in one hand and clutching his abdomen with the other, walked up to the two men, his words filled with astonishment.

"secret."

Ye Zi smiled and brushed it off. Ning Qi glanced at Yun Luobai, who didn't seem inclined to ask any further questions, so he didn't press the matter.

Just then, two figures rushed over from the entrance of the alley.

"Officer Ning! What happened?"

Ning Qi looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the two men were constables in the same yamen as him. However, today was the day of the Chun Ning Lantern Festival, so the two men were dressed in plain clothes, which was out of place with his constable uniform.

"You two have come at just the right time... This is the monk who massacred several banks. Take him back to the yamen. Be discreet and don't frighten the people on the street..."

Both men looked surprised upon hearing this. The Spring Ning Lantern Festival was a very important celebration in Ningzhou Prefecture. They were dressed casually and strolling around the streets together, without even carrying their swords.

If they hadn't overheard passersby casually mentioning that the figure in the alley resembled Ning Qi, they wouldn't have rushed over.

"Officer Ning, you're really dedicated... Alright, leave the rest to us. Don't worry, we won't steal your credit."

"Stop talking nonsense. Ouch, that monk really went too far..."

Ning Qi sheathed his sword, glanced at Ye Zi and Yun Luobai beside him, and grinned.

"Tonight was truly a night of survival..."

"Brother, this isn't over yet."

"Huh? It's not over yet?"

Yun Luobai smiled, then suddenly turned around and looked at the end of the alley where Shen Ming had blocked her way.

That night, Ningzhou Prefecture was bustling with activity and noise everywhere.

A single figure strode quickly towards the city's exit under the cover of night, leaving behind the bustling cityscapes.

Just as he caught sight of the city gate in the distance and was about to make his escape, a dashing figure emerged from behind a large tree to his left.

"Ma Ben, you can't escape."

"Yun Luobai? What are you doing here?!"

"That must be because I noticed you were there just now. You're quite cautious, wanting to see that monk kill us before you're at ease. But things didn't go as planned, and the worst outcome you envisioned happened. So you must have been afraid of being exposed and ran away as fast as you could. We took a shortcut and blocked your way, turning you into a caged bird with no way to escape."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ben turned around and tried to escape in another direction, but he realized that Ye Zi and Ning Qi had already stood not far behind him at some point, the three of them forming a three-legged formation that surrounded him, with only Yun Luobai being the closest to him.

The cold evening wind blew against Ma Ben's face. He stood still, his hand already reaching for the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"If I'm not mistaken, you must have caught my father doing something wrong. My father is an open and honest man. Although I don't know exactly what you did, you're definitely not going to live today. Once you're dead, my father will be at peace."

Yun Luobai's voice was cold and indifferent, but Ma Ben had no heart to listen anymore.

The jailers carry knives, and Ma Ben was carrying one with him today.

In Ma Ben's eyes, Yun Luobai was powerless. If he was already destined to be unable to escape, then he would have to drag this guy who ruined his plans down with him into the abyss.

"You little brat! I'll kill you!"

Ma Ben drew his sword and slashed at Yun Luobai, who, though not far away, did not dodge.

Yun Luobai's sleeves hung low, his hands hidden inside.

"Second brother! Don't just stand there like an idiot!"

As Ning Qi spoke, he drew his sword and stepped forward. He hadn't expected Ma Ben to be so desperate, and he certainly hadn't expected Yun Luobai to not even flinch in the face of Ma Ben's attack.

The wind whispered in his ears, and Yun Luobai's figure grew larger and larger in Ma Ben's pupils.

In an instant, a goose-feather blade seemed to descend from the sky, slicing through the air with lightning speed, aiming straight for Ma Ben's throat.

Seeing the knife-wielding figure blocking her way, Yun Luobai's face showed a look of surprise.

"father?"

"With your father around, no one can touch you."

Yunping's voice lacked its usual affability, replaced only by a calmness that conveyed the facts.

Ning Qi, holding the knife, ran up to Yun Ping and looked at him in shock.

He didn't even see where Yunping appeared from; when Yunping drew his sword, he only saw a fleeting afterimage.

In his memory, Yunping had always been just a prison guard who had raised Yun Luobai all by himself.

The jailer's responsibility is to guard the prisoners; he doesn't need to have any particularly outstanding skills.

"Uncle Yun, your martial arts skills..."

Ning Qi hadn't finished speaking when he saw Ma Ben's corpse and immediately came to his senses.

"I killed the person; it has nothing to do with you, Uncle Yun."

The relationship between Ma Ben and Yun Ping was already quite delicate. If this matter were to get out, it would be difficult to guarantee that it wouldn't affect Yun Ping.

After all, there is no direct evidence yet to prove that Ma Ben is the real culprit who killed Mu Li, the most beautiful courtesan in Rouge Pavilion. Ma Ben and the prefect are distant relatives, and if the higher-ups blame him, Yun Ping will have a hard time explaining himself.

Before Yunping could reply, Ning Qi gripped his knife and stabbed Ma Ben's corpse several times to show his determination.

"Ma Ben fled to escape punishment, but I discovered him. He refused to confess and submit to the law and resisted desperately, which is why he ended up like this."

"Ning Qi, you have always been incorruptible and ruthless since you became a constable. Taking the blame for me like this is not in line with your style."

Faced with Yunping's doubts, Ning Qi grinned, as honest and simple as ever.

"What's the big deal? You know my relationship with the second brother. As the eldest brother, I would do anything for him."

Upon hearing this, Yun Luobai felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"There's no one around, so let's leave him here for now. When I get back and see the other constables, I'll call a few people to come and collect his body. Although digging a hole and burying him on the spot isn't out of the question, since Ma Ben killed him, we haven't done anything wrong, so there's no need to feel guilty. The principle of 'a life for a life, a debt for a debt' is timeless, don't you agree, Second Brother?"

Yun Luobai smiled and nodded in response, but her outstretched hand landed on Yun Ping's not-so-broad shoulder.

"Father, now that Ma Benren is dead, you should tell me, what exactly did he have over you?"