“Captain Zhuo, your Law Enforcement Hall… are you usually allowed to go to Violet Heaven Palace to enforce the law and make arrests?” Han Lie inquired after leaving the White Tiger Squad office.

Zhuo Hongyi replied, “According to sect regulations, as long as it’s not inside Violet Heaven Palace itself, it falls within the Law Enforcement Hall’s jurisdiction.”

“But the actual execution differs slightly. Generally, no matter which squad captain of the Law Enforcement Hall, they would avoid the area around Violet Heaven Palace when enforcing the law.”

The reason was simple: no squad captain of the Law Enforcement Hall wanted to incur the displeasure of Sect Leader Ye Qingxuan. Unless under special circumstances.

“I see.” Zhuo Hongyi’s answer confirmed Han Lie’s suspicion.

Earlier, Su Mei dared to lead her people openly to arrest him at the small cabin in front of Violet Heaven Palace. It was highly likely that Bai Ling had provided Su Mei with information. Sect Leader Ye Qingxuan was not at Violet Heaven Palace. Therefore, Su Mei didn’t have to worry about the concern of displeasing Ye Qingxuan.

“What’s wrong…?”

Zhuo Hongyi was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood. “Right, how could Junior Sister Su be so bold as to go to Violet Heaven Palace to arrest you? Did she know the Sect Leader was away?”

That Sect Leader Ye Qingxuan was away was something she only learned from Han Lie. So how did Su Mei know? Surely Han Lie didn’t tell her ‘the Sect Leader is away, come arrest me’?

“Let’s not dwell on that; the matter is over anyway.” Han Lie shook his head with a smile, not wanting to mention Saintess Bai Ling to Zhuo Hongyi. If Zhuo Hongyi got involved too, it might lead to many unforeseen complications.

Zhuo Hongyi vaguely guessed something. Previously, when Han Lie came to her seeking protection, he had mentioned being targeted by someone. And that person was far beyond her ability to contend with. This time, perhaps it was precisely that person Han Lie mentioned last time who leaked the information to Su Mei. Han Lie’s reluctance to tell her was probably because he didn’t want to drag her into it.

But still…

“Just who has this old fellow provoked?” Zhuo Hongyi wondered inwardly. Within the Heavenly Void Sect, there were too many people she couldn’t afford to offend. So it was difficult for Zhuo Hongyi to deduce exactly who was targeting Han Lie.

“Captain Zhuo, could you help This Senior with one more favor?”

Han Lie’s voice pulled Zhuo Hongyi’s thoughts back. She nodded and asked, “Go ahead.”

Han Lie leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing them, a sharp, murderous intent flashed instantly in Zhuo Hongyi’s beautiful eyes before vanishing just as quickly. She didn’t speak, only giving a solemn nod.

Afterward, the two went their separate ways.

Han Lie did not return directly to the small cabin at Violet Heaven Palace. After winding his way around, he arrived at a remote, uninhabited valley on the outskirts of the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate.

Sensing the continuous waves of dangerous aura in the air, Han Lie clasped his hands behind his back, slowly closed his eyes, and addressed the surrounding night.

“Since you’re already here, why hide and not show yourself?”

“This Senior only gives you this one chance. Miss it, and you won’t get another opportunity to act against me.”

Silence. The only response to Han Lie was the continuous rustling sounds from within the surrounding darkness.

Han Lie waited patiently for two shichen until deep into the night. Seeing that the other party still hadn’t shown themselves, Han Lie stopped waiting and began walking back toward the mountain gate.

Whoosh!

Before he had taken more than a few steps, a chilling sound of something cutting through the air abruptly rang out. Under the faint moonlight, a tall figure blocked Han Lie’s path.

Shielded by the night, Han Lie couldn’t make out his features clearly. But judging by his aura, Han Lie could determine that this person before him was precisely that Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection expert who had been secretly watching him earlier when he returned to Violet Heaven Palace.

“Daring to actively lure me out… I can’t understand where your confidence comes from with your mere early Foundation Establishment cultivation,” the other party spoke.

This person was named Liu Tie, an Inner Disciple under the Law Enforcement Hall’s Azure Dragon Squad.

It was precisely because of Han Lie’s unconventional actions that he had been hiding in the shadows observing earlier, fearing it might be a trap set by Han Lie. He didn’t know if Zhuo Hongyi had followed along, but he knew one thing: if he missed tonight’s opportunity, he might truly have no chance left to act against Han Lie again.

So, forced into a corner with no alternative, he could only reveal himself and test his luck.

“As the saying goes: ‘Fear not thieves stealing; fear thieves scheming,'” Han Lie said leisurely with his hands behind his back. “You’ve been watching me from the shadows; it makes me quite uneasy. So it’s better to settle this sooner rather than later.”

“I have no grievance or enmity with you; we’ve never even met before today. I presume you were sent by Captain Zhui Ming of the Azure Dragon Squad.”

Liu Tie did not deny it. “You old Servant Disciple still have some brains after all. A Servant Disciple should know their place; wouldn’t it be fine just being a good dog? Why must you provoke someone you can’t afford to offend?”

“Seems you don’t know how to write the character for ‘death’.”

“Then tonight, I’ll send you on your way.”

With those words finished, Liu Tie clenched his large hand tightly; a giant axe immediately materialized in his grasp.

A sharp cold gleam sliced through the night sky and rushed toward Han Lie; its edge made Han Lie’s cheeks sting slightly.

Han Lie remained as steady as if fishing from a terrace; calm and unhurriedly, he said, “Your use of ‘being a dog’ is apt indeed; in This Senior’s view, you fit that term even better.”

“This Senior has no grievance or enmity with you; yet just because Captain Zhui Ming said so, you come trotting over here obediently for me—if you’re not an obedient dog, then who is?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Tie’s eyelids twitched violently; he said coldly, “Indulge in your glib tongue while you can! Because soon you’ll be silenced forever!”

“Heh.” Han Lie chuckled lightly; an eerie wind rose without warning.

Just as Liu Tie was about to make his move, an intense aura of death assaulted him without any warning, causing every pore on his body to explode instantly!

Pfft—!

Before Liu Tie could even react properly, a long sword shot forth from behind, piercing straight through his heart!

His tall body suddenly stiffened!

His gaze shifted slightly downward, catching sight of the blood-stained sword blade entering his vision.

Then an icy voice like ten-thousand-year-old profound ice sounded from behind him. “Junior Brother, it should be you who will be silenced forever.”

“Se… Senior Sister?! Wh… Why?!” Liu Tie’s pupils contracted sharply, his voice trembling uncontrollably, unable to believe the person who stabbed him from behind would actually be Zhuo Hongyi!

“Hmph.”

Without further reply, Zhuo Hongyi gave a slight twist of her jade hand holding the sword hilt, sending vast spiritual power along the blade into Liu Tie’s body. Next instant—

Bang!

Liu Tie’s body exploded abruptly, turning into a mist of blood dyeing the moonlight crimson red.

Having resolved the hidden danger of Liu Tie, Han Lie let out a long sigh of relief, casting a grateful glance and smile toward Zhuo Hongyi, saying, “Thanks, Captain Zhuo.”

Zhuo Hongyi sheathed her sword, the corner of her vermilion lips curling in a teasing arc. “Call me what?”

“Uh…”

Taken aback momentarily, Han Lie forced himself to be thick-skinned and changed his address for Zhuo Hongyi. “Said wrong… should be Xiao Qingqing…”