The street vendor explained, “The so-called Villains’ Alliance is a bunch of people who do every kind of evil. Sometimes they extort ‘protection fees’ from small businesses like us—if you don’t pay, they smash your goods. But things like protection money or dining and skipping the bill are considered minor for them. What they really love to do is abduct young women, especially pretty girls.”
The moment Fengguang heard “abducting women,” anger flared in her chest. “Right under the Son of Heaven’s rule, do they really have no regard for the law?”
“That’s only if the Son of Heaven can see it,” the vendor said in a lowered voice. “I’ve heard the leader of the Villains’ Alliance has a very powerful background. Even the officials in the imperial city don’t dare provoke him. But there was one exception.”
“What exception?” she pressed.
“About half a year ago, the Villains’ Alliance suddenly disappeared from the capital. Word was that the Imperial Guards intervened, dealt them a heavy blow, and forced them to flee the city to lie low. Who would’ve thought they’d show up again today?”
The Imperial Guards?
Fengguang couldn’t help thinking of Song Wuxia.
Meanwhile, the scene of abducting a woman was still unfolding.
From the flower palanquin, a delicate hand lifted the gauze curtain. The woman in white, her face veiled, swept a cold glance at the men blocking her path. After a moment, she stepped down from the palanquin. Her voice was just as cold. “You again. Was the lesson you learned half a year ago not enough?”
“Miss Bingqing, times are different now,” the tall man in black at the front said leisurely with a smile. “Besides, your backer isn’t in the capital today.” From the look on him, he was full of confidence about taking Bingqing away.
“I have friends, not backers.”
“Fine, let me put it another way. Your friends don’t seem to be in the capital today. I advise you to behave and come with us.”
Right in front of everyone, the Villains’ Alliance openly stated their intention to abduct her. Though there were many onlookers, not a single person dared to step forward—proof of just how powerful the Villains’ Alliance was in the imperial city.
Miss Bingqing gave a disdainful snort. “Yuan Luo, if you want me to go with you, then defeat my people first.”
The palanquin bearers stepped forward one by one, positioning themselves in front of Bingqing, their faces expressionless as they stared at the group of men in black.
So the bearers were no ordinary bearers after all.
“For some reason…” Fengguang murmured, “The people protecting Miss Bingqing, with those blank expressions of theirs, really look like Song Wuxia’s men.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than the two sides clashed. Blades and swords showed no mercy. The crowd that had been watching for entertainment finally remembered to flee. Someone screamed, and people on both sides of the street began to scatter. Miss Bingqing was well protected by her people—but Fengguang was not so lucky.
Amid the shoving and jostling, Fengguang staggered and suddenly felt the hand that had been holding hers let go. She struggled to look around, but in the sea of people, Baili Mo was nowhere to be seen.
Panic surged in her chest. With her limited strength, she couldn’t push through the crowd and could only be carried along by it. She thought of the fact that Baili Mo couldn’t speak—if something happened, he wouldn’t even be able to call out. That only made her worry all the more about his safety.
After all, Baili Mo was still the reigning crown prince. If anything happened to him, the Prime Minister’s household wouldn’t escape responsibility because of her status—even if he was an unfavored crown prince…
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152