Chapter Twenty-One: Arrested

As Qi Jun approached the city gate, the county guards acted as if they hadn’t seen him, letting him slip into the city without a word.

“Only beggars coming and going—stood here for hours and barely earned a handful of copper coins!” The captain of the guards grumbled as he glanced at Qi Jun’s departing figure.

Once inside, Qi Jun found Liu Kui waiting in a secluded corner. He gave him an OK gesture.

Liu Kui didn’t understand the meaning of the gesture, but nodded nonetheless. He opened his bundle, rummaging through a pile of stones, and handed several wooden pieces to Qi Jun.

“Next, just follow my plan.”

“Alright, I’ll head to the West Market entrance and look for them.”

Qi Jun watched as Liu Kui, burdened with his bundle, walked away. He glanced around, then turned and vanished into a narrow alley at the corner of the street.

Vigilantly surveying his surroundings, Qi Jun confirmed the alley was deserted before opening his bundle. Inside were the disassembled wooden parts.

With practiced hands, Qi Jun assembled the pieces. Soon, a crossbow appeared in his grasp.

With a soft click, the bolt shot out, striking the wooden board standing against the wall with a steady thud.

To prevent the guards from discovering the crossbow when entering the city, Qi Jun had deliberately carried it in pieces, with he and Liu Kui each bringing a portion.

Even if the guards had checked their bundles, all they’d find were innocent wooden parts. Yet the guards hadn’t even glanced at his bundle, making Qi Jun’s effortless entry somewhat surprising.

He hadn’t intended to use the crossbow so easily, confident that his skills in grappling and combat—honed in his previous life—would be enough to subdue the petty thieves.

But his current physique was simply too weak. After careful consideration, he decided to bring the crossbow after all. As long as he could rescue the hostages swiftly and leave, he could avoid much unnecessary trouble and risk.

Qi Jun repacked the crossbow and hurried toward the West Market entrance. On the eastern side stood a five-story pagoda, the ideal spot for observation and shooting.

It was already late afternoon; merchants in the West Market were packing up their stalls, preparing for closure.

The Great Liang had dedicated offices and officials to manage the opening and closing of markets. Drumbeats at dawn signaled the start, and at dusk, a gong announced the closing.

Liu Kui had already arrived at the West Market entrance. He turned and looked toward the pagoda, seeing a flash of light twice at the top—a signal he’d agreed upon with Qi Jun.

Knowing Qi Jun was in position, Liu Kui’s pounding heart finally calmed a little. He clutched his bundle to his chest, carefully watching the crowd, as if it truly contained valuable goods.

Zhao Dehai, escorting Liu Lai, stood behind a stone plaque, eyes fixed intently on Liu Kui, waiting for Liu Qi to arrive. By custom, ransom exchanges were made hand-to-hand, but the location of the hostages was known only to Liu Qi.

“What’s Liu Qi playing at, why isn’t he here yet?” The bundle with a hundred taels of silver was within reach, yet still not in hand—Zhao’s anxiety grew.

He wanted to send men to snatch the silver outright; whether Liu Qi’s hostages lived or died was none of his concern. But in the busy city marketplace, he had to be cautious.

Anqiang County was magistrate Song’s domain, and Zhao knew well how much this magistrate valued wealth.

The kidnapping itself could not see the light of day—if Song got wind of it, not only would the hundred taels of silver be lost forever, but Zhao himself would be skinned alive.

Even if he tried to snatch it, the opposing party’s physique was not weaker than his own, and in this bustling area he had no absolute confidence. After much deliberation, Zhao could only grit his teeth and wait.

Liu Qi had his own plans. Worried about an ambush from Liu Kui, he’d already prepared an escape route.

As he pondered how to avoid meeting Liu Kui, his eyes brightened at the sight of children playing by the street. He pulled out a copper coin, summoned a child, whispered something, and patted the child’s head before walking away.

Liu Kui waited for the length of a stick of incense, but no one approached him to negotiate. His nerves frayed; he worried the rescue plan had been discovered, and feared for his father and daughter.

At that moment, a timid seven- or eight-year-old child walked up to Liu Lai, glanced at the sores on his head, hesitated, and said, “A man just asked me to tell you to go to Xiuxiu Bridge and find him…”

Zhao Dehai immediately recognized this as Liu Qi’s message. He pulled Liu Lai from behind the stone plaque and walked toward Liu Kui.

“Let’s go, time to redeem the hostages,” Liu Lai gestured to Liu Kui.

“Bah! Liu Lai, you worthless scoundrel!” Liu Kui’s blood boiled at the sight of him. He spat and shouted, “The clan elders looked after you when your parents died, and this is how you repay them? Do you have a shred of conscience left?”

Liu Lai hung his head, unable to face Liu Kui’s wrath, twisting his neck to endure the berating. He wiped the spittle from his face and muttered, “Uncle Kui, I had no choice! Let’s save your strength for getting the hostages back!”

Knowing further words were useless, Liu Kui forced himself to swallow his anger and followed Liu Lai forward. Zhao Dehai trailed behind, and together they sandwiched Liu Kui in the middle.

He nervously glanced back at the pagoda, tightening his grip on his bundle.

“You didn’t come alone, did you?” Zhao Dehai dete