"Let's see who dares to leave!"

Just as the person in charge was about to back down, the Crown Prince spoke up.

The crown prince looked at them with a gloomy gaze, his voice carrying a hint of anger and threat.

The person in charge was in a very difficult position, as he couldn't afford to offend either the Crown Prince or the Heir Apparent!

He and the officers and soldiers of the Dali Temple looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

Time ticked by, and the person in charge glanced at the Crown Prince, then at Gu Zhixing, and finally gritted his teeth and slowly retreated.

If they offend the Crown Prince, he will only use the opportunity to find fault with them and reprimand them.

But if you offend the heir apparent, Gu Zhixing doesn't care about anything else, or your status or position; he'll just go and kill you.

They were fairly aware of which was more important.

The torchlight receded down the mountain like a receding tide, leaving behind darkness.

"presumptuous!"

Even if the crown prince was furious, it was to no avail.

After all, the people from the Dali Temple were not his personal guards and did not obey his summons.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he said through gritted teeth, "Fine, I'll remember this debt!"

The young master stared at this scene, his eyes still shifting between light and shadow.

The blade was still pressed against Shen Jintang's neck, but it was no longer as ruthless as before.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Gu Zhixing, you'd better not try anything funny!"

Gu Zhixing narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone low and firm: "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have sent my men away just now."

His voice carried an undeniable frankness, as if he were proving his sincerity through his actions.

The young master remained silent for a moment, then finally loosened his grip slightly, but the blade was still not withdrawn.

He smiled sinisterly: "Fine, then go and bring the Crown Prince here to me now!"

Gu Zhixing's gaze darkened, but he quickly regained his composure.

He nodded calmly: "Okay."

His voice was unwavering, as if he had already prepared to deal with anything.

The night wind howled, and the firelight flickered uncertainly in the wind.

Gu Zhixing stood still, his back straight as a pine tree, as if he were an unshakeable mountain peak.

A turbulent undercurrent flowed in his eyes; he knew that the real battle had only just begun.

"Ye Qingzhou!" Gu Zhixing said sternly without turning his head, his voice carrying an unquestionable command, "Go and invite His Highness the Crown Prince over for a talk."

He emphasized the word "please," his tone conveying an undeniable firmness.

Ye Qingzhou responded and turned to walk to the other side.

Gu Zhixing's gaze remained fixed on Shen Jintang. He watched her body tremble slightly from the pain; watched the blood roll down her collarbone, dripping into her collar and staining it red; and watched her pained expression, feeling truly worried.

He raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion, his voice suddenly softening, but his tone still carried an undeniable authority: "Hold the knife firmly, you hold my life in your hands."

These words were like a red-hot iron, branding themselves deeply into the kidnapper's heart, causing his wrist to twitch.

The young master stared at Gu Zhixing with a sinister look, his eyes filled with anger and resentment: "Now you're spouting this nonsense—"

"What you're asking for is a way to survive."

Gu Zhixing coldly interrupted him, deftly unfastened the sword from his waist, and casually tossed it on the ground with a crisp sound.

His voice was steady and powerful: "Exchange me for her. You have more bargaining power in holding a government official hostage than you do in holding a girl hostage."

"We can continue our transaction."

He took a step forward, the moonlight shining on the jade belt at his waist, the silver fish tally representing an important official of the court gleaming coldly in the night.

A commotion arose from the mountain path. Ye Qingzhou, with the prince's arms twisted behind his back, dragged him up the path.

The prince's golden crown was askew, and his python robe was covered in dust. He looked disheveled, like a plucked peacock.

He struggled, but could not move, and could only let out angry growls.

Upon seeing this, the young master suddenly let out a strange laugh, his eyes flashing with a crazed glint: "Your Highness is quite the schemer."

He licked his chapped lips, the blade tracing a line across Shen Jintang's neck, as if savoring the feeling of controlling life and death. "But I've changed my mind."

He pointed sharply at the crown prince, his voice twisted with excitement: "A life for a life—kill him!"

"Kill the crown prince, and I'll release your beloved."

The night wind suddenly stopped, and even the crackling sound of the burning torches became unusually clear.

Gu Zhixing stood still, the moonlight casting a long, imposing shadow on the ground.

His fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on the hilt of the knife, each mark seeming to be etched into his heart.

He looked at Shen Jintang; her face was as pale as paper, almost transparent in the moonlight, and the bloodstain on her neck looked like a hideous centipede, stinging his eyes.

Those always stubborn eyes were now staring at him quietly, without fear or pleading, only a resolute calm.

Gu Zhixing's heart skipped a beat—nothing could compare to her being alive.

He cursed the Crown Prince as an idiot in his heart. If he hadn't suddenly led his troops up the mountain, Shen Jintang would already be standing safely beside him.

This thought made him tighten his grip on the knife, his knuckles turning a cold, bluish-white.

He turned around, picked up the knife, and walked step by step toward the crown prince.

"Gu Zhixing!" The Crown Prince's voice suddenly rose, trembling noticeably, as if he had been startled. "Are you insane? You really want to kill me for a woman?"

His legs trembled beneath his wide python robe, and his golden crown was askew; he bore no resemblance whatsoever to the majesty of a crown prince.

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