The government office of Yanzhou Prefecture.

The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the Yanzhou government office. Only a few candles flickered inside, their faint light seemingly about to be swallowed by the darkness.

The candlelight flickered, casting a dim yellow light on the officials' faces. In an instant, a complex mix of emotions—tension, fear, and malice—intertwined on their faces, creating an eerie scene.

"My lord." Zhou Huanzhi walked forward lightly and bowed to a man dressed in black and wearing a veil. His movements were respectful and cautious, but his eyes revealed a hint of flattery.

The man in black sat behind the desk, his face hidden in shadow, only his eyes gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

"Have all the people been dealt with?" The man in black's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Rest assured, sir. Shen Huaixu has been stabbed several times and is bleeding profusely. Without timely medical attention, he certainly won't live much longer." Zhou Huanzhi smiled slightly, his tone tinged with pride. "My men have completely surrounded the forest; not even a fly can get in. Moreover, Shen Jintang is a weak woman, all alone in the deep mountains and forests, without food or water. With my men constantly searching for her, I guarantee I can capture her within three days."

He paused, then said, "As for the other small fry, Shen Huaixu's men have been brought under my control, and Shen Jintang's men are still in the epidemic area. As long as I seal off that area and let them die without anyone knowing, no one will know."

The man in black paused slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Don't make it so obvious. If you kill everyone, anyone with eyes can see that something is wrong. If they send people down to investigate, you won't be able to escape responsibility."

"Kill everyone who knows the truth, and you can deal with the rest." His words were soft, but they carried an undeniable determination.

A dark glint flashed in Zhou Huanzhi's eyes, then he nodded and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Excellency is very thoughtful. I will give the order to carry it out immediately."

He clapped his hands, and moments later, people came up carrying boxes of things, their footsteps sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.

With a fawning expression, Zhou Huanzhi took out an exquisite box and presented it to the man in black with both hands, saying, "This is a gift for you, sir. I hope you can put in a good word for me with that official."

He carefully opened the small box, inside which stacks of silver notes gleamed faintly in the candlelight.

The man in black smiled slightly and nodded in satisfaction.

"The rest are the results of our work over the past period. We hope that you will escort them back, sir."

Zhou Huanzhi then had the box opened. In an instant, the glittering treasures shone brightly under the candlelight, dazzling the eyes and captivating all who beheld them.

The man in black had someone put the box away, then walked towards it, about to reach inside.

Suddenly, with a "whoosh," a sharp arrow pierced the night sky, its whistling sound carrying it straight through the black-clad man's palm.

"ah--"

The man in black screamed, blood instantly staining his sleeves. He clutched his hand, took a few steps back in terror, his body trembling slightly, and his once imposing aura vanished in an instant.

"Looks like I've come at just the right time!"

A cold voice rang out in the night, like ice piercing everyone's hearts.

Everyone looked over in shock. Zhou Huanzhi stared wide-eyed in disbelief and exclaimed, "How did you get here?"

Shen Jintang walked in slowly, casually tossing the bow and arrow in her hand to the servant behind her. The bow and arrow drew a graceful arc in the air and landed steadily in the servant's hand.

She strode in with firm steps, her eyes as cold as icy stars, staring directly at Zhou Huanzhi and the man in black.

Zhou Huanzhi's guards inside the government office immediately drew their swords, the blades gleaming coldly in the candlelight, exuding a murderous aura.

Shen Jintang's attendants immediately stood in front of her, drawing their weapons to confront the other side.

The two sides were locked in a tense standoff in the darkness, with the atmosphere so tense that a bloody battle could break out at any moment.

"What happened? Didn't you say she was about to die?"

The man in black's voice trembled noticeably, tinged with panic and questioning. His eyes darted back and forth between Shen Jintang and Zhou Huanzhi, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Zhou Huanzhi was also completely baffled, unable to understand why Shen Jintang would suddenly appear here.

He clearly sent people to seal off the entire forest!

Could it be that all the men he sent out have been dealt with by Shen Jintang?

"Quick! Get me away from here!"

Seeing Zhou Huanzhi's state, the man in black stopped asking questions and instead spoke hurriedly to the guards he had brought with him, his voice trembling with urgency.

"Quickly, take the adults out the back door."

Zhou Huanzhi also realized what was happening at this moment. A hint of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!

It would be best to escort this person away first. If Shen Jintang were to wipe them all out, then we would be truly doomed.

As long as this person leaves safely, even if everyone here is caught, there will be no shortage of people to carry out their schemes.

"yes!"

The guards immediately sprang into action, leading the man in black toward the back door with hurried steps, their movements revealing a hint of panic.

However, Shen Jintang merely smiled slightly at their actions, a smile tinged with coldness.

idiot!

Did you really think she dared to arrest people without any preparation?

She looked up, waiting to see their disgraceful behavior.

The man in black who had originally left through the back door slowly retreated, his steps unsteady, his face showing a mixture of fear and disbelief.

Zhou Huanzhi glanced over and saw that there were even more people lying in ambush at the back door. They were holding sharp blades, the blades gleaming coldly in the night, forcing the man in black and his guards to retreat.

"Shen Jintang, don't push your luck!"

Zhou Huanzhi's face was ashen. He gritted his teeth and said, his voice filled with anger and threat.

Shen Jintang sneered, her eyes full of disdain. She slowly took a few steps forward, her gaze as sharp as a knife as she stared at Zhou Huanzhi and the man in black.

"This is outrageous!"

She repeated it dismissively, a cold smile curving her lips: "Lord Zhou, what you say is truly laughable. Who is plotting behind the scenes? Who is harming the innocent in the epidemic area? Who is colluding with powerful figures in the Yanzhou government office, working together in cahoots?"

With each word she spoke, Zhou Huanzhi's face grew increasingly grim, as if each of Shen Jintang's words had slapped him hard across the face.

The man in black looked at Shen Jintang in horror, his eyes filled with panic, as if he had realized that he was in a desperate situation.

"Do you really think you can get away with what you've done?" Shen Jintang's voice was cold and firm, as if it came from hell, carrying an undeniable power. "Or do you think that even if someone finds out, no one will dare to touch you?"