"Ye! Li! Pai! You owe me a life!" The soldier wielding the mace charged at Ye Lipai. They tangled in combat while others, eager to capture a Heavy Sword Sect disciple for answers, drew their weapons to join the fray.

No one paid attention to Zhou You. He nudged Shao Qi's sleeve, gratefully saying, "Thank goodness you arrived in time, or this would've ended disastrously."

Shao Qi responded with a headache, "Had I been a moment later, there would've been bloodshed. Why would you take such risks without notifying us first?"

"There wasn't enough time. If I had delayed, Li Yunxi would've suffered. That old man is truly detestable."

Brother and sister, Li Hongxi and Li Yunxi, depended on each other. Everyone in the team knew how protective Li Hongxi was of his sister. He approached Zhou You, bowed deeply, and sincerely expressed, "Thanks to Mr. Zhou this time. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I, Li Hongxi, owe you a life."

"There's no need for that. Yunxi and I are friends. Moreover, Ning Xufeng initially targeted me; Yunxi was merely caught up in it due to my involvement."

Observing the unfolding battle, and noticing the people of Zhongjian Sect gaining the upper hand, Li Hongxi told Wu Yong and the others, "I'll avenge Yunxi. Please ensure her safety."

He charged forward with his blade, and Shao Qi signaled to his subordinates. Miao Miao and two others joined the fray.

Once the three entered the battlefield, the regular disciples stood no chance. In just a short while, they mowed down a large swath of them, leaving only Ye Lipei and a few martial arts instructors struggling to hold their ground.

Ye Lipei's martial arts were truly exceptional. With his heavy sword, he demonstrated unmatched vigor, even surpassing Hu Shi'en in agility. It's no wonder he became the eldest disciple.

Miao Miao engaged him with her whip, and after exchanging dozens of moves without a clear victor, her frustration was evident. Especially with the Marshal watching, losing would be humiliating.

Under pressure, mistakes are bound to happen. Her whip was at a clear disadvantage against Ye Lipei's heavy sword, nearly getting cut several times.

Ye Lipei's sword struck beside her foot, and leveraging it, he leaped high, sweeping her off the ground with a kick that sent her flying.

Qin Lifen rushed forward to catch her, frowning as he said, "You really let me down."

Miao Miao tried to push him away and re-enter the fight, but Qin Lifen held her down. They watched as their teammate, Zhuo Hao, faced off against Ye Lipei.

"Do you need my help?" Zhou You asked.

"No, they've got it under control."

Most of the Zhongjian Sect disciples had been subdued. Some eager individuals started interrogating them, but few knew of Hu Shi'en's malicious deeds. Terrified, some recounted the events they witnessed that night.

Eventually, Ning Xufeng was captured. From him, they learned that Ye Lipei had cremated several bodies that evening. Coincidentally, a ring fell from one of the deceased during cremation. Recognizing its value, Ning Xufeng pocketed it. However, upon its revelation, someone immediately identified it.

"This is An Yang's ring, his wedding band! I accompanied him when he chose it. He was supposed to get married this month." A tall man sobbed uncontrollably, clutching the ring, casting a somber mood over everyone.

Someone suggested, "Let's head to Zhongjian Sect; we might find some clues." Holding onto hope, they wished their friends and families weren't among the victims.

Zhuo Hao's weapon of choice was a curved blade. Among the three instructors, he was the most inconspicuous and spoke the least, but his prowess was evident.

When Ye Lipei engaged Zhuo Hao, the outcome wasn't immediately clear. Only after clashing for more than ten minutes did Zhuo Hao find an opening, striking Ye Lipei on the back.

Most martial artists wore armor, and Ye Lipei's was no exception. Zhuo Hao's blade only managed to rip through his clothes, leaving the armor untouched.

Many had already departed, leaving the Zhongjian Sect disciples bound and helpless, witnessing their senior brother's defeat, a sense of inevitable doom enveloped them.

As dawn broke and the morning light filtered through the clouds, Miao Miao exclaimed, "Oh no, we're running out of time!" Hearing the clock tower chime, the trio swiftly deployed their gliders, heading towards the plaza.

Zhou You approached Ning Xufeng, who had been roughed up during interrogation. Despite his swollen face, his eyes retained their venomous glare, fixed on Zhou You.

Zhou You squatted down, meeting his gaze, and gripping his chin, asked, "What did I ever do to you that you bear such a grudge against me?"

A smirk formed on Ning Xufeng's lips. He whispered menacingly, "I regret not getting the better of you just once. Now, I'll die with that regret."

In response, Zhou You crushed his jaw, rendering him speechless. "For that look in your eyes alone, I could never let you go."

Standing up, he turned to Shao Qi, "What will happen to them?"

Shao Qi responded, "It depends on the military tribunal. Ye Lipei is a soldier, and the Zhongjian Sect has connections within the military. Not all might be found guilty. Common disciples might be released, but as for him," he gestured to Ning Xufeng, "Given his evident crimes and lack of connections, his fate is up in the air."

"If they can brazenly kidnap and persecute soldiers, it's lawlessness at its peak. Given the death toll, leniency isn't an option."

Shao Qi shared, "Hu Shi'en is Ren Zhiyuan's father-in-law. Many of his trusted men are from Zhongjian Sect. With Hu Shi'en gone, he might consolidate the Zhongjian Sect's disciples. As for Ye Lipei, he likely won't survive."

"The military's governance is questionable at best, but their intrigue knows no bounds," Zhou You remarked sarcastically. Passing by Ye Lipei, he suddenly struck him on the head. By the time the others realized, it was too late.

Ye Lipei howled in pain, writhing on the ground, and roared, "What did you do to me?"

Zhou You stepped over him nonchalantly and remarked, "I've merely crippled your martial skills. You won't need them anymore."