Chapter 97: How Do You Wish to Die?

"Click!"

Ye Tianci paid no heed to the sudden threatening shout. His blade did not falter for even a moment as it came whistling down in a ruthless arc.

Mu Shihu had nowhere to run. With a sickening crack, both his legs were severed.

"Aaahhh!"

Mu Shihu’s shrill screams echoed like the slaughter of a hog, piercing the air. Blood gushed furiously from the stumps of his legs.

"All of you, go! Kill this man! Whoever does, I, Qi Changhe, will reward with a million in cash!"

The aged voice rang out once more, and a tall elder in traditional attire strode into Ye Tianci’s line of sight.

This was none other than Qi Changhe, the master of Qitian Hall and the second elder of the Qi family.

Qi Changhe arrived swiftly with his men, encircling the stage.

At the promise of such a reward, the eyes of the security guards, bodyguards, and all of Mu Shihu’s subordinates lit up with greed.

A million!

Anyone would be desperate for such a windfall, if only they could kill Ye Tianci.

Excitement surged through the crowd, their fists clenched as they prepared to storm the stage.

Bang!

But just then, the doors to the first-floor hall burst open with a thunderous explosion. Bailiffs in the uniforms of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion surged in like a tidal wave.

"Sky-Patrol Pavilion, conducting official business! Everyone, get down!"

"Anyone who resists will be taken away immediately!"

Shouting commands, dozens of bailiffs swept in.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with a square jaw, his bearing stern and upright.

The would-be attackers instantly froze. No one dared cause trouble in front of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion.

Qi Changhe, too, was taken aback.

Before he could react, the middle-aged man had already led his people onto the stage, coming to stand before Ye Tianci and Tang Ying.

"Mr. Ye, I am Yao Wu, Deputy Master of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion in Shu City. I apologize for arriving a step late and causing you distress," Yao Wu greeted Ye Tianci with a respectful salute.

There were three deputy masters in the Shu City Sky-Patrol Pavilion, and Yao Wu was one of them.

In order to persuade Ye Tianci to help resolve their crisis, Shen Guosheng had agreed to his terms—not only dispatching Yao Wu to cooperate fully, but also preparing a trump card.

Ye Tianci knew Yao Wu was sent by Shen Guosheng. He smiled lightly. "Not late at all. You came just in time."

At this, Qi Changhe also led his men onto the stage, his tone icy. "Deputy Master Yao, we have always kept to our own affairs. Why have you brought so many people to my Qitian Hall?"

"The Sky-Patrol Pavilion has received reports that Qitian Hall has long harbored criminals and engaged in illegal activities!"

"I’m here today to investigate Qitian Hall to the very end!"

Yao Wu showed no deference to Qi Changhe, his tone resolute and unyielding.

Qi Changhe felt a chill in his heart.

In the past, the Sky-Patrol Pavilion had made many inspections of Qitian Hall. But his nephew, Qi Dingtian, was also one of the three deputy masters, and all the necessary arrangements had always been made in advance. Every time, they would receive notice before the inspection and prepare accordingly, so the Pavilion never found anything amiss; it was all just for show.

But today was completely different.

There had been no warning at all before the Sky-Patrol Pavilion stormed in, and it was Yao Wu himself leading the team—with far more people than ever before.

Qi Changhe grew anxious. Now he could only hope that someone among his subordinates would quickly get word out to his nephew. As long as Qi Dingtian arrived in time, he could suppress Yao Wu, and Qitian Hall would be safe.

Facing Yao Wu’s assertiveness, Qi Changhe forced himself to remain calm, snorting, "Deputy Master Yao, you must be mistaken. Our Qi family’s Qitian Hall is a legitimate business, with nothing illegal here."

"Is that so? Unfortunately, your word doesn’t count for much."

"My search squads have already begun their work."

Yao Wu sneered coldly.

"You dare! Without Master Su’s direct order, how dare a mere deputy master search Qitian Hall!"

Qi Changhe could no longer maintain his composure and erupted in rage.

With a flourish, Yao Wu produced a search warrant, displaying it with pride. "Look closely. Not only is this warrant personally signed by Master Su, but it also bears authorization from Lord Shen himself!"

Qi Changhe’s eyes widened in shock, and he stood frozen in place.

Panic swept through him. Had Qitian Hall crossed a line with someone it shouldn’t have?

But he quickly collected himself. Even if they had offended some big shot, the Qi family’s influence in Shu City was such that no real disaster would befall them.

In his mind, even if something went wrong, no one in the current Shu City could topple the Qi family or Qitian Hall.

"Report! All thirty-six of Qitian Hall’s flower girls apprehended! One hundred business escorts also captured—none escaped!"

"Report! The underground casino at Qitian Hall has been sealed! Three hundred and eighteen people detained, over fifty million in gambling funds seized—no one escaped!"

"Report! Ten kilograms of powder and other narcotics discovered! Thirty-six drug users detained! Three resisted arrest and were killed—no one escaped!"

"Report! Nineteen women rescued from the basement and sent to hospital, five guards apprehended—none escaped!"

In less than five minutes, squad after squad arrived to report on stage.

Each piece of news struck Qi Changhe like a bolt of thunder.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

"Not a single one escaped!"

"All caught. It’s over. Completely over..."

Qi Changhe sat on the floor, muttering in panic.

He knew that if the evidence was solid, not even his nephew Qi Dingtian could save Qitian Hall now.

In an instant, Qi Changhe seemed to age ten years.

Yao Wu cast a cold glance at the man sitting on the floor. "Second Elder Qi, you’re involved in vice, gambling, and drugs, and you’ve even kidnapped and coerced more than a dozen women. Not even Deputy Master Qi Dingtian can save you now!"

"Men! Take him away!"

At Yao Wu’s command, the bailiffs moved forward to seize him.

"No one takes the Second Elder of the Qi family!"

Just then, a thunderous roar rang out, echoing in every ear.

All eyes turned.

A man nearing fifty strode in, dressed in gray, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s and his temples bulging—clearly a master martial artist.

Behind him, over a hundred men in matching attire filed in.

These men showed not the slightest fear of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion bailiffs; in fact, their very bearing was openly provocative.

"Senior brother, save me!" Mu Shihu, crippled and lying on the floor, shouted in delirious excitement as if seeing salvation.

"Elder Song, you’re just in time!" Qi Changhe, shaken moments before, rallied and called out in relief.

The elder in gray fixed his hawk-like gaze on the grievously injured Mu Shihu, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Who did this to you?"

"Senior brother, it was that cripple surnamed Ye!"

Mu Shihu pointed at Ye Tianci, gnashing his teeth.

Following the direction of his finger, the gray-robed elder shot Ye Tianci a cold, piercing glare, his eyes as sharp as blades, locking onto Ye Tianci’s face.

Their gazes clashed in the air, an invisible spark flaring between them.

"You crippled my junior brother and wreaked havoc in Qitian Hall—either offense is enough to cost you your life."

"Speak. How do you wish to die?"

The old man’s voice was glacial, chilling to the very bone.