...Seeing the phone still on the call, Zhang Yuanqing had a string of expletives rise to his throat. Clearly, the bearded, sturdy man had called Xia Hou Tianyuan before the battle began and then left the phone here. The commotion from the battle, including the bearded man's exclamation of "Night-Wanderer," had all been heard by Xia Hou Tianyuan. That meant Xia Hou Tianyuan knew that it was a Night-Wanderer who had killed his subordinate and taken the "prisoner" hostage. Given the Night-Wanderer's rarity, his stance on the issue of the Stop-Killing Palace, and his relationship with Wang Qian, Xia Hou Tianyuan—had he been even slightly sharp—would have suspected him right away. Was he truly a Fire Master? A Fire Master like this? Did a Fire Master even have such sharp thinking? Zhang Yuanqing was furious inside, bending down to pick up the phone, his voice hoarse as he said: "Hello?" "Master Yuan Shi, isn't it you?" A calm voice from the speaker: "You don't need to get involved in this. I have no intention of opposing you. The people you've killed—I won't hold it against you. Just leave that woman alone and depart immediately. Our differences will be settled then. In fact, I can even gift you a few items. If you have anything in mind, we can discuss it. Don't hang up..." Xia Hou Tianyuan was on his way there now, desperately trying to delay time and stabilize Yuan Shi Tianzun. Zhang Yuan laughed coldly, "I'm not Yuan Shi Tianzun—I'm Wò Nèn Di!" He hung up the phone, tossed it into the fire at random, then kicked open the closed bedroom door with a powerful stride. With a loud crash, Zhang Yuan burst into the bedroom, scanning the room with swift eyes. In a corner by the window, a woman dressed in a black dress and a white T-shirt sat huddled against the wall, her hair disheveled and her head bare, her wrists and ankles wrapped tightly in thick bandages. She stared in wide-eyed fear at the stranger who had burst in, like a startled quail. "Don't worry, I'm a security officer here to save you," Zhang Yuanqing said, extending his hand to his waist and pulling out the blood-thirsty blade from the void. With a gentle flick at his wrist and ankle, he cut through the adhesive tape. "A security officer?" The woman looked pale and weary, her eyes shadowed with melancholy, her bloodshot gaze finally flickering with a glimmer of brightness. Her features were refined and elegant, somewhat resembling Wang Qian's—belonging to the delicate, graceful type. Perhaps due to the near-delivery, she was notably well-proportioned and curvaceous, though her waist remained slender. "I don't have time to explain further," Zhang said, pulling her up. "Let's go—I've heard the fire outside." "I—I can manage," Wang Qian stammered. The two moved forward and backward through the room, the air thick with a sharp smoke that choked Wang Qian, who coughed continuously but dared not stop,紧 holding onto the young security officer's side. As Zhang Yuanqing walked into the living room, he spoke rapidly, "I saw a black car at the villa entrance—was that theirs?" "Yes, yes... I was actually brought here by a black car..." Wang Qian saw the bodies charred by flames in the living room and turned pale. Zhang Yuanqing immediately dragged the fire department officer's body to the courtyard, searching the four bodies while asking, "Was the kidnapper only accompanied by four people?" Already, he had extracted the car keys from the middle-aged man's pocket. "Yes, that's what they said..." Wang Qian's face grew even paler. As an ordinary person, she had never witnessed such a scene of blood flowing in rivers, nor had she seen so many bodies. Were all these bodies killed by this young security officer? Zhang Yuanqing tossed the keys to Wang Qian, speaking quickly, "Hold onto the car keys—let's go!" "Speaking, he bent down, picked up two bodies and carried them under his arms, then grasped the ankles of another two and dragged them along the ground, rushing toward the villa with Wang Qian. As they ran, Wang Qian kept glancing back, amazed to see the young security officer moving with ease, as if carrying several hundred kilograms. "Unlock the car, open the door—quick!" Zhang Yuanqing called out. He quickly scanned the surroundings. The villa area was not crowded, and it wasn't peak commuting time, so few people passed by. As for whether there were cameras on the roadside or residents in nearby villas peering through their windows, he didn't care much—what mattered was that the footage would clearly show Xiahou Tianyuan's face. Wang Qian pressed the unlock button and hesitantly opened the car door. Zhang Yuanqing tossed the four bodies into the back seat, snatched the car keys from the woman's hands, and gave her a sharp look. "Get in!" he said. He then opened the driver's side door and stepped inside. Zhang Yuanqing obtained his driver's license during his second year of high school. At that time, the driving school offered discounts to attract students and promised that they could pass the exam within one summer vacation. Upon hearing this, his aunt thought it was a great opportunity and personally paid for her nephew to enroll in driving lessons. Zhang Yuanqing passed all four driving exams on his first attempt, and his coach immediately remarked that he had natural talent and was clearly a skilled driver. However, after earning his license, Zhang Yuanqing never touched the car again. What does PRND mean? Isn't it different from a manual transmission? As he scanned the gear positions, his expression suddenly stiffened. "Are you able to drive?" "Yes." "Then drive yourself." The two quickly switched positions, and Wang Qian started the car, gripping the steering wheel with trembling hands and pressing down firmly on the accelerator. The car swiftly moved along the streets of the villa community. Fearing that Xu Hou Tianyuan might block him at the entrance, Zhang Yuanqing kept urging. After just a few seconds, the villa's main gate came into view. Zhang Yuanqing then said firmly, "Don't stop—crash through!" "Are you really a police officer?" Wang Qian asked, her voice trembling. "Don't waste time—just drive through!" He repeated the words with greater emphasis. Wang Qian bit her teeth, steadied her heart, and pressed the accelerator to the floor. With a roar of the engine, the black sedan surged through the gate, speeding off. "Go to the Kengyang District Public Security Office!" Zhang Yuanqing said, then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest. His original plan had been to eliminate the kidnappers, rescue Wang Qian, and remain anonymous—let Xu Hou Tianyuan suspect the Stop-Death Palace. But now his identity is likely exposed, and his original plan has fallen through. He would have to rethink his strategy. Good thing I've got a contingency plan... Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, pulled out his phone, and dialed Fu Qingyang's number. The phone rang five times before connecting. Through the speaker, Fu Qingyang's composed, restrained voice came through: "What's up?" "Fu, Commander, I've completed the procedures of justice." "And what happened?" "Target rescued! During the process, four of the kidnappers put up fierce resistance and have been eliminated by me. Now I'm bringing the bodies along with the hostage to the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau to request further instructions!" "Excellent!" Fu Qingyang nodded approvingly. "Bring the bodies back. Don't ask Ling—have the Taimei Sect personnel come. We need dual charges. I'm issuing the order now: arrest Xiahou Tianyuan on grounds of endangering public peace and stability." Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a sigh of relief and added, "With just this charge, it might not be enough to seriously injure Xiahou Tianyuan, will it?" Fu Qingyang spoke with calm and detached composure, uttering words that left Zhang Yuanqing stunned: "Xiahou Tianyuan not only endangers public peace and stability—he may also be guilty of hiring killers, intentional homicide, intentional injury, rape, prostitution, and organizing prostitution. I need to investigate thoroughly." I still haven't matured yet... Zhang Yuanqing said, "What about Xiahou Xin?" Fu Qingyang said calmly, "It all depends on how we interrogate Xiahou Tianyuan." Excellent idea! Zhang Yuanqing added, "What about the Xiahou family?" ...Fu Qingyang said calmly, "Just stop there." "Right, Centurion!" Zhang Yuanqing hung up the phone. ...On the other side, three imported executive cars sped toward the villa complex. The vehicles stopped outside the villa, where Xiahou Tianyuan saw several property staff members, some holding hoses, others carrying fire extinguishers, rushing to put out the blaze. Steam and thick smoke poured out from the open windows. Xiahou Tianyuan's face turned pale; he sat silently in the car, motionless. His bodyguards opened the doors and stepped into the villa. Soon, the bodyguards returned, bowing at the car window: "The bodies and that woman have been taken away." Even the bodies were taken away... Xiahou Tianyuan clenched his teeth, his jaw muscles bulging. He suppressed his anger and dialed his father, Xiahou Xin's, phone. "Father, that woman has been taken by the official authorities—the one I fought that day, the Yuan Shi Tian Zun. I have no idea how he ended up here. All the people I arranged at the villa have died; their bodies have also been removed. Now, what should I do?" At this moment, Xiahou Tianyuan felt a bit uneasy. The Xiahou family had been in business for years, with many members of the Wu Xing Alliance either being Xiahou family affiliates or benefiting from their support. However, the Wu Xing Alliance was vast and politically complex, and not all factions were particularly wary of the Xiahou family. Without clear evidence or public exposure, others were content to avoid direct conflict with the Xiahou family. But once evidence emerged, the situation changed dramatically. "What's there to be nervous about!" Xiahou Xin remained calm, pausing for a few seconds before saying, "Go to the authorities and make a formal statement of surrender." "A formal statement of surrender?" Xiahou Tianyuan raised his voice. "How can I possibly do that?" He suddenly realized, "I mean—what do you mean?" Xiahou Xin nodded, speaking steadily, "To whom Xia Hou Tianyuan exhaled in relief and smiled, "I understand." Of course, he would go to the official envoys close to the Xia Hou family to make a formal statement, seeking protection under that banner. He could not fall into the hands of outsiders—such as Fu Qingyang, the official from Kangyang District. Xia Hou Tianyuan hung up the phone, his smile fading as he slammed his fist into the chair back, gritting his teeth. "Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, I'm going to slaughter you. I'm going to uncover your true identity and make you pay!"