Guo Dalu smirked, “The only reason you haven′t acted is because you′re still undecided. I know you—you′re always cautious. If something isn′t almost guaranteed, you won′t do it.”

  Suddenly, Yan Qi said, “If you let him go, maybe we can help keep your secret.”

  Feng Qiwu′s eyes flickered—he looked just like an old fox. And the problem with old foxes is that they are too suspicious. They don′t just doubt others; they doubt themselves.

  Guo Dalu said zily, “You know I have no real interest in catching thieves—I just don′t like being deceived.”

  Just then, a voice ughed, “No one likes being deceived.”

  It was Jin Shi′s voice.

  As the words fell, Jin Shi, Gun Zi, and the man in bck slowly stepped into the courtyard.

  At that exact moment, torches fred up along the surrounding walls. Dozens of constables stood ready, bows drawn and bdes unsheathed, encircling the small courtyard completely.

  Feng Qiwu's face gleamed—it was unclear whether from sweat or oil—as he suddenly swung his arm backward.

  In the blink of an eye, Guo Dalu, weighing over a hundred pounds, was hurled through the air like a projectile. He shot toward Jin Shi and the bck-cd men like a human spear. As he soared, he twisted midair, nded on the rooftop, and in one fluid motion, snatched up two sabers—executing a move known as "Phoenix Spreads Its Wings."

  A fsh of steel.

  Two constables toppled from the roof.

  Another fsh—Feng Qiwu had already leaped nearly ten meters away.

  For decades, he had roamed the martial world, committing countless grand heists. His speed, precision, and ability to seize the perfect moment were beyond the reach of ordinary men.

  This was his first opportunity. It was also his st.

  Even if Jin Shi or the bck-cd figures were faster, the sudden interference of Guo Dalu had given him the edge. There was no way they could catch up.

  Then came a low command: "Down."

  Two figures appeared on the rooftop, blocking his escape.

  One of them barely lifted a hand—and just like that, Feng Qiwu was sent stumbling backward along the ridgeline, losing control. He crashed down into the courtyard, nding directly on two constables with a heavy thud.

  The two figures descended lightly from the roof.

  One had a face as cold and unreadable as a statue. The other looked delicate, almost schorly, with the refined air of a young girl.

  Wang Dong and Lin Taiping had arrived.

  Guo Dalu steadied himself, cpped his hands, and ughed. "Our Wang Laoda sure has some tricks up his sleeve!"

  Wang Dong replied, "That wasn′t me."

  Which meant it had to be Lin Taiping.

  A delicate, almost girlish-looking person—capable of such overwhelming strength? It was unbelievable. And yet, no one could deny what had just happened.

  By now, Feng Qiwu was already bound tightly, wrapped up like a festival rice dumpling.

  There was no escape.

  Jin Shi let out a long breath toward the sky and ughed. “After tracking him for thirty years, we′ve finally caught this old fox.”

  Guo Dalu said, “The stolen goods must be inside the barbecue room. They can be brought out at any time.”

  Jin Mao Shi chuckled. “This is what they call catching both the criminal and the evidence—truly a perfect conclusion.”

  Guo Dalu said, “No need to thank me. If you must thank someone, thank him.”

  He pointed at Lin Taiping with a grin. “My friend here may look delicate and refined, but when he drinks, he′s like a bottomless vat.”

  Jin Shi gnced at Gun Zi and said, “We really should thank them properly. What do you think?”

  Gun Zi′s expression darkened. “Take them in. All of them.”

  Guo Dalu nearly jumped up. “What did you just say?”

  Gun Zi spoke in a heavy tone. “These four have been harboring stolen goods. Even if they′re not Feng Qiwu′s accomplices, they′re still outws. Tie them up and take them back for interrogation. We′ll make them talk.”

  Guo Dalu was so furious he felt like he might explode, but instead, he ughed. “I′d like to see who dares y a hand on me.”

  Gun Zi snapped, “Are you resisting arrest?”

  Suddenly, Wang Dong spoke. “No, we wouldn′t dare.”

  Gun Zi smirked. “Since you wouldn′t dare, then surrender quietly.”

  Wang Dong replied calmly, “We may not dare to resist arrest, but unfortunately, you′re not constables—you′re bandits.”

  Yan Qi said, “Even fiercer than bandits.”

  Wang Dong replied, “You′ve been relentlessly tracking Feng Qiwu, not for the man himself, but for his money.”

  Yan Qi said, “How much is a constable′s monthly sary? Could it possibly support all of you? Just the outfit Master Jin is wearing right now—I'm afraid even a general couldn′t afford it.”

  Wang Dong said, “And hiring a professional killer like this gentleman here isn′t cheap either. The government certainly wouldn′t foot that bill.”

  Yan Qi said, “But stolen goods are plentiful. There are thieves everywhere in this world, which means an endless supply of loot.”

  Wang Dong said, “Small-time thieves can be turned in for rewards, but for a major criminal like Feng Qiwu, why not just keep the spoils for yourself?”

  Yan Qi smirked, “Catching a thief like him could feed you for two or three years at least.”

  Wang Dong added, “But keeping people like us alive means the secret could eventually leak, so it′s better to simply kill us to silence any witnesses.”

  Yan Qi ughed, “What you′re doing is even worse than banditry, yet it′s not illegal. How brilliant.”

  Wang Dong said, “I′ve always said that ‘bck eating bck’ is more interesting—just as long as you don′t choke on it.”

  The two of them went back and forth so seamlessly that even Guo Dalu and Lin Taiping were stunned. They simply didn′t understand the underhanded dealings of the jianghu as well as Yan Qi and Wang Dong did.

  Stick almost lost his temper, but the Golden Lion held him back.

  Only after they finished speaking did the Golden Lion chuckle and say, “Everything you said is absolutely right. I admit it all.”

  He pointed at Gun Zi and ughed, “This man has a home in every city—Kaifeng, Luoyang, Jinan, Tianjin. And in every home, he has a wife. Do you think a constable′s sary alone could support that?”

  Gun Zi scowled and said, “Your wives outnumber mine.”

  Guo Dalu shouted angrily, “You bastards! Your wives are about to become widows!”

  Jin Shi chuckled. “Do you know why I′m telling you all this?”

  He pointed at the top of the wall. “There are ten powerful bows and forty sharp bdes up there. These men are my sworn brothers, and I doubt they′ll just let you walk away.”