Chapter 21: The Nighttime Killing Intent

As soon as Li San finished speaking, the air inside the tent instantly turned cold.

Huo Qing's hand gripped the hilt of his sword once more. His knuckles turned white from the force.

"Two fast horses?" Huo Qing's voice was low. "Did you see which direction they came from?"

"I saw clearly. It was from the direction of Luzhou Prefecture's city," Li San lowered his voice. "They went directly into Fang De's tent. Didn't even tie up the horses."

Lin Yuan leaned against the tent pole, his eyes shining. He didn't feel afraid at all; instead, he felt his blood boiling with excitement.

Those two horses were definitely sent by Luzhou Prefect Cheng Yuanshan. Fang De had sent people to investigate Lin Yuan's whereabouts this morning, and now the news had finally come back.

Cheng Yuanshan would definitely tell Fang De that Lin Yuan had gone to the Government Treasury last night and had come out alive.

What did that mean? It meant that all those fake account books Fang De had made were now completely worthless scraps of paper.

"He must be panicking now," Lin Yuan grinned, pulling at the wound on his face and hissing in pain.

But he was laughing with genuine delight.

"Lord Lin, what are you laughing about?" Old Yu frowned at him from the side. "What kind of time is this for you to be laughing?"

"Of course I'm going to laugh," Lin Yuan struggled to sit up straight. "Fang De must be like an ant on a hot pan right now."

"He embezzled so much disaster relief silver. If this matter gets reported back to the capital, Zhao Chong will be the first to want his life."

"Zhao Chong won't protect him. He'll just push him out as the scapegoat."

Lin Yuan looked at Huo Qing, his eyes blazing. "Captain Huo, what do you think a man with his back against the wall will do?"

Huo Qing stood up, walked to the tent entrance, lifted the flap, and looked out.

The night was deep, and the camp was eerily quiet.

Only from Fang De's tent did a dim, yellowish light leak out, with a few shadowy figures faintly moving inside.

"A cornered dog will jump over the wall," Huo Qing let the flap fall and turned to look at Lin Yuan. "He'll kill to silence the witnesses."

"Exactly!" Lin Yuan slapped his thigh excitedly, nearly jumping up. "He has to kill me!"

As long as he killed him and burned the copy of the land register he had transcribed, Fang De could wash his hands of everything that happened at the relief distribution platform today.

Fang De could claim Lin Yuan incited the refugees to riot and was beaten to death by the mob. Dead men tell no tales.

Old Yu grew frantic, grabbing Lin Yuan's arm. "My lord, then why are you still here? Run! Get out of here now!"

"Run? Why should I run?" Lin Yuan's eyes widened as if he'd heard something unbelievable.

He had gone through hell and high water to push Fang De to this point.

He wanted Fang De to try to kill him!

As long as Fang De's blade chopped off his head, he could immediately complete the System's task and ascend to immortality on the spot.

How could he possibly run from such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

"I'm not leaving," Lin Yuan said with absolute certainty. "I'll wait right here for him to come."

Huo Qing frowned, looking at Lin Yuan as if he were a madman.

"Has your brain been damaged from the beating?" Huo Qing said coldly. "Fang De has seven or eight Postnatal Martial Artists under him."

"If he really plans to make a move, he definitely won't send just one or two people. He'll send every capable fighter he has."

"Although I have soldiers under my command, I cannot actively incite a mutiny. If they sneak over in the dark, I might not be able to protect you."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's heart leapt with joy.

That's perfect! If you protect me, how am I supposed to become an immortal?

"Captain Huo, don't worry," Lin Yuan patted his chest in assurance. "Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are in heaven's hands. If I truly die here tonight, then it was my destined fate. I absolutely won't blame you."

His words were spoken with such righteous fervor that Old Yu and Li San were moved, their eyes reddening.

"Lord Lin, you are a good official," Li San thumped to his knees on the ground. "My life, Li San's life, is a worthless one. Even if I have to give it up tonight, I won't let those dog officials touch a single hair on your head!"

Lin Yuan was startled and hurried to help Li San up.

"No, no, no, you must not risk your life," Lin Yuan said urgently. "You're still of great use alive. You need to keep your life to bear witness!"

He cursed inwardly: If you fight desperately and block the assassins, who's going to kill me?

Just then, a series of faint footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent.

Huo Qing's ears perked up instantly. He pressed a hand to the hilt at his waist and made a gesture for silence.

The tent fell deathly quiet. Even breathing was deliberately suppressed.

Lin Yuan's heartbeat began to accelerate.

They're here! They're finally here!

He pricked up his ears, listening carefully. The footsteps outside were light but chaotic, clearly from more than one person.

Moreover, these footsteps were slowly encircling Huo Qing's tent.

Huo Qing gave Old Yu a meaningful look. Old Yu understood, silently moving to the edge of the tent.

He poked a small hole in the tent cloth with his finger and peered through it.

After one look, Old Yu's face changed.

"Captain," Old Yu retreated, lowering his voice. "It's Tao Si and his men. Seven or eight of them, all masked, holding knives."

"And... they're piling firewood outside the tent."

Huo Qing's eyes turned icy in an instant.

"Setting the tent on fire?" Huo Qing gave a cold laugh. "Fang De wants to destroy the evidence and burn us all to death."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's eyes shone even brighter.

Fire is good!

This method of death might be a bit painful, but it's definitely heroic enough.

Burned to death by corrupt officials to protect the disaster relief account books.

How glorious would that sound when word got out?

The System's criteria for "For Country and People" would definitely be maxed out.

"Captain Huo, you all should leave quickly," Lin Yuan immediately struck a pose of facing death unflinchingly. "Their target is me."

"Break out from the back. Don't worry about me. I'll stay here and hold them off."

As Lin Yuan spoke, he started walking toward the tent entrance.

Huo Qing grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him back forcefully.

"Are you insane?" Huo Qing growled in a low voice. "You go out there and you're dead!"

"Then so be it!" Lin Yuan struggled. "For the sake of all under heaven, what does the death of one Lin Yuan matter?"

The more he said this, the more Huo Qing and Old Yu felt he was an irreplaceably good official who absolutely must not die.

"Shut up," Huo Qing pressed Lin Yuan down onto the camp bed. "Old Yu, Li San, prepare to meet the enemy."

At that moment, a light suddenly flared up outside the tent.

The pungent smell of tung oil drifted in on the night breeze.

"They've poured the oil!" Li San exclaimed in alarm.

Immediately after, a sinister voice rang out from outside the tent.

"Captain Huo, my apologies. The wind is strong tonight. A fire might accidentally start."

It was Tao Si's voice. He clearly thought the people inside were already trapped like turtles in a jar.

"Light it!" Tao Si gave the order.

A torch was instantly thrown onto the firewood soaked with tung oil.

Whoosh! A great blaze shot into the sky. Flames rapidly licked at the tent's canvas, and thick smoke billowed inside.

The temperature inside the tent rose sharply.

Lin Yuan coughed violently from the thick smoke, but his heart was dancing with joy.

This should do it, right?

He had even started imagining the beautiful scene of himself ascending to the immortal realm, surrounded by beauties.

However, Huo Qing did not let him have his wish.

Huo Qing abruptly drew his long sword. A flash of blade light like a bolt of silk cut through the air.

Rip! With a tearing sound, Huo Qing's slash tore a huge opening in the rear part of the tent.

"Go!" Huo Qing grabbed Lin Yuan by the shoulder and hauled him out like a chick.

Old Yu and Li San followed closely behind.

The moment the four of them rushed out of the tent, the sea of flames behind them completely engulfed the entire shelter.

Dragged along by Huo Qing, Lin Yuan sighed inwardly in lament.

So close! Just that little bit!

He turned his head and happened to see Tao Si leading the group of masked assassins circling around.

Seeing Lin Yuan still alive, Tao Si's eyes turned bloodshot.

"Kill him!" Tao Si raised his knife, roaring madly. "Leave none alive!"

Seven or eight Postnatal Martial Artists simultaneously erupted with True Qi, pouncing forward like wolves and tigers.

Blade lights flashed, murderous intent thick in the air.

Looking at those gleaming blades, Lin Yuan not only didn't dodge, but instead thrust out his chest.

Come on! Strike here!