Nan Batian then turned to Bai Mosheng, who was guarding the South Gate, and said, "Bai Mosheng, where is Chen Jiusi?"
Bai Mosheng was taken aback and replied, "He has left the city!"
"You actually dared to let him leave the city, do you have any idea how big of a mistake you’ve made, you..."
Upon hearing this, Bai Mosheng opened his Black Wood Fan and leisurely took a sip of tea before replying, "Guild Leader Nan, I think I can handle the affairs of the South City Gate without your concern. Is there something you need?"
Nan Batian said, "I, I need to leave the city!"
"Of course, but you must follow the rules and be inspected before leaving."
Nan Batian angrily retorted, "You didn’t inspect Chen Jiusi, and you want to inspect me?"
Bai Mosheng replied, "If you weren’t so arrogant, I wouldn’t inspect you!"
Nan Batian was livid, pointing at Bai Mosheng as he was about to lash out with curses, but just then Tang Ziyue stepped forward and greeted Bai Mosheng with a bow, "Brother Nian!"
Bai Mosheng glanced at Tang Ziyue and said, "Oh, Mr. Tang."
Bai Mosheng returned the gesture; since they were both scholars, there was a certain rapport between them. At that moment, Tang Ziyue said, "I apologize for our Guild Leader’s hasty confusion. Chen Jiusi is someone Lord Yelu wants to capture. Please, Brother Bai, do us a favor."
Upon hearing this, Bai Mosheng narrowed his eyes and said, "Hm, is that so? Well, alright then, for Brother Tang’s sake, you may leave."
"Thank you, Brother Nian."
After Tang Ziyue’s bow of gratitude, Bai Mosheng waved his hand, and swiftly the city gate was opened. At that point, Nan Batian immediately led his men out of the city in pursuit.
Their pursuit of Chen Jie was quite rapid since Chen Jie’s party carried a large coffin and moved slowly with much knocking and clanging.
It was not known how many miles they had covered when Chen Jie suddenly saw a cloud of dust up ahead, and then an iron flood rushed towards them. Seeing this, Chen Jie’s eyes were filled with covetousness—Black-armored Knights! Look at those horses, look at that armor.
Such a cavalry unit could be more useful on a battlefield than five Energy Transformation Masters—charging forcefully and sweeping away the resistance like dead wood!
While pondering this, the cavalry had already reached Chen Jie’s side.
Yelu reined in his horse and stopped it in front of the funeral procession.
The funeral procession, taken aback by the blockade of Black-armored Knights, turned their attention to what was behind them. Meanwhile, Chen Jie squinted and a smirk appeared briefly on his lips before he composed himself and advanced towards them, followed closely by Elder Liu.
Now, the two of them stood before Lord Yelu. Chen Jie greeted him with a fist and palm salute, "Lord Yelu, what brings you here?"
Yelu was momentarily surprised, then he replied, "Ah, it’s nothing. I heard that Jiusi was organizing a funeral for the twenty-eight heroes of White Tiger Hall. I was leading my cavalry in a nearby drill and thought I’d stop by to pay my respects to the valiant souls."
Yelu said this with a beaming smile, keen not to offend anyone. If Chen Jiusi had not colluded with the Zoroastrian Sect, he would still be a useful individual. How could he continue to deal with him if they were to offend him now?
Hearing this, Chen Jie thanked him with a salute, "Ah, thank you, Lord Yelu. On behalf of my twenty-eight brothers, I thank you."
"We’re all family here; there’s no need for such formalities," Yelu responded, though his eyes were fixated past Chen Jie. Why hadn’t Nan Batian arrived yet?
While thinking this, Yelu turned to Elder Liu and said hesitantly, "Ah, has Guild Leader Liu also come?"
Elder Liu promptly saluted, "Yes, Lord Yelu."
"You have a good relationship with Jiusi, eh?"
Elder Liu replied, "My child owns his life to Jiusi’s medical assistance; without Jiusi, I would have been at a loss!"
Upon hearing this, Yelu said, "Oh, I see!"
But as he spoke, Yelu did not look at Elder Liu. Instead, his gaze remained on the rear of the funeral procession. Chen Jie, seeing Yelu’s behavior, chuckled, "Lord Yelu, what are you looking at?"
"Ah, nothing, nothing at all," Yelu laughingly covered up his awkwardness.
Elder Liu too wondered what could possibly be behind him.
Just then, a sudden dust cloud rose in the distance, a sign of a large army on a rapid march. Nan Batian appeared, leading seven hundred men in pursuit, and they swiftly surrounded the funeral procession.
"Don’t move, everyone stand still!"
The group immediately encircled the funeral procession. Chen Xiaohu, Si Xi, and Zhou Chu, each leading their own men, burst out asking, "What are you trying to do?"
"What are you trying to do?"
The two groups faced off against each other. Chen Jie frowned and then looked to Lord Yelu, "Lord, this?"
Yelu said, "Huh, I’m not sure what’s going on here either."
Then Yelu turned to Nan Batian, "Guild Leader Nan, what exactly are you doing?"
At this point, Nan Batian stepped forward with Tang Ziyue and bowed to Yelu, "Lord Yelu, we’re here to capture the Zoroastrian Sect rebels!"
"Rebels, huh, Guild Leader, the rebel you’re talking about isn’t me, is it?" Chen Jie looked at Nan Batian and spoke.
Nan Batian responded with a grin, "Why not?"
Chen Jie squinted his eyes and respectfully addressed Yelu, "Lord Yelu, please stand up for me. Nan Batian is slandering me!"
"Indeed, Guild Leader Nan, could there be some misunderstanding here? Jiusi is not that kind of person," said Yelu.
"Lord Yelu, you know the face but not the heart. A rebel wouldn’t have the word ’rebel’ written on his face. Please don’t be fooled by him," Nan Batian earnestly spoke to Yelu, who then looked to Chen Jie and queried, "Jiusi?"
Chen Jie folded his hands in a salute, "Lord Yelu, I swear, I am definitely not a Zoroastrian Sect rebel!"
Nan Batian let out a cold laugh, "Chen Jiusi, your denial won’t help you now. This is ironclad proof—you’ve conspired with the Zoroastrian Sect planning a rebellion, and the evidence is incontrovertible, leaving no room for denial!"
Chen Jie frowned, "Incontrovertible evidence? Where is this evidence?"
Nan Batian pointed to the twenty-eight nanmu coffins behind him and declared, "It’s in these coffins! They contain not corpses but the military equipment for the Zoroastrian Sect’s rebellion!"
"Chen Jiusi, what else do you have to say now?"
Nan Batian stared at Chen Jie menacingly.
Chen Jie’s face was filled with distress as he replied, "There’s no lack of excuses to frame someone. You claim these coffins contain military equipment, what if they don’t?"