“How are you so sure?”
Tao Qingping couldn’t understand why.
“Look at Yang Yicheng’s wrist.”
Xu Ning gave Tao Qingping a hint.
Tao Qingping looked back at Yang Yicheng who was being escorted.
“It’s…”
Tao Qingping saw a yellow bracelet tied around Yang Yicheng’s wrist.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and he turned his head towards Xu Ning.
“Didn’t Nie Xiaowei wear that yellow bracelet previously?”
As an admirer of Nie Xiaowei, Tao Qingping would secretly look at her every time he ran into Nie Xiaowei in the alleyways. Hence, he had seen this yellow bracelet on Nie Xiaowei’s wrist before.
“Yes.”
Xu Ning gave him an affirmative answer. “That wrist bracelet belongs to Nie Xiaowei.”
The reason why Xu Ning was so certain that the owner of the bracelet was Nie Xiaowei, was because the last time he saw Nie Xiaowei, she pulled her collar over her neck in order to hide her injuries.
And when she was pulling her collar, Xu Ning saw the bracelet on Nie Xiaowei’s wrist.
Xu Ning was already an inner enrichment realm master at that time, so his observation ability was far beyond that of ordinary people. With that in mind, Xu Ning could notice the finer details of the bracelet.
Xu Ning noticed that the bracelet on Yang Yicheng’s wrist was exactly the same as Nie Xiaowei’s bracelet, even down to the point where the yellow string was cut.
In this world, at least in Kangyun County, men rarely wore decorative items, especially ones that were feminine.
Coupled with the special relationship between the two, Xu Ning had reason to infer that the yellow bracelet was gifted from Nie Xiaowei to Yang Yicheng, and this gift indicated a certain kind of relationship.
“The last time I saw Nie Xiaowei was half a month ago. At that time, the bracelet was still on Nie Xiaowei’s wrist.”
Xu Ning went on to say, “Judging by that, she probably gave this bracelet to Yang Yicheng somewhere between the past two weeks… maybe even last night.”
“You mean… after killing someone yesterday, Nie Xiaowei knew that she was in a dangerous situation, so she gave him the bracelet as a farewell gift before fleeing?”
Tao Qingping continued with Xu Ning’s reasoning.
“This is just a hypothesis.”
Xu Ning continued, “However, it is a very reasonable inference. Both of us have the same idea.”
Tao Qingping went silent.
“But even so, it doesn’t mean that Yang Yicheng is in the wrong. Treating him as an accomplice of a Magic Faction, is a bit…”
Tao Qingping had a good sense of justice.
Xu Ning wanted to arrest him, even though Xu Ning knew that he was not an accomplice of a Magic Faction.
In Tao Qingping’s opinion, this was not fair.
But soon, Tao Qingping seemed to realize something. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not questioning your actions. You are the Lieutenant of the Maple Lane Guard Station, but I’m just a little curious.”
Tao Qingping knew that Xu Ning was quite tolerant most of the time, but this did not mean that he could question Xu Ning’s decisions at will.
“I interrogated him vigorously just now and found out that he’s just an ordinary person.”
Xu Ning explained, “However, since the Black Armored Guards treats Magic Factions very seriously, there is no problem taking him in as a suspected accomplice to a Magic Faction.”
“As for saying that I was going to kill him, that was just an act.”
Xu Ning said, “I’m just guessing that Nie Xiaowei has not left Kangyun County. If Nie Xiaowei knows that Yang Yicheng will be killed as an accomplice to a Magic Faction, she will definitely come out and clear Yang Yicheng’s name.”
“So, you’re using Yang Yicheng as bait?”
Tao Qingping finally understood. “But if Nie Xiaowei has already left, what should we do tomorrow? Do we still kill Yang Yicheng?”
“No.”
Xu Ning shook his head. He still had his own principles after all. “If Nie Xiaowei does not show up, find a reason to take him into custody on the basis of him concealing his relationship with the suspect Nie Xiaowei, then interrogate him. This is completely reasonable.”
“I see.”
After listening to Xu Ning’s words, Tao Qingping expressed his support.
“Then I will head back now and spread the news that Yang Yicheng will be executed at Caishikou Execution Grounds. If Nie Xiaowei is still in the county, she will definitely hear about this.”
“Okay.”
Xu Ning nodded.
After that, Tao Qingping sighed again.
He looked up at the sky in the distance, shook his head helplessly, and walked away quickly.
Tao Qingping was forced to capture the girl he once liked.
That night, an execution notice was posted on the streets and alleyways of Maple Lane.
Early the next morning, everyone knew that Yang Yicheng was involved with a Magic Faction and was about to be executed by the Black Armored Guards at Caishikou Execution Grounds.
At noon, the people in Maple Lane and even those from other districts rushed to Caishikou Execution Grounds. Everyone wanted to watch the show.
The city guards had already arrived at Caishikou Execution Grounds.
The six Black Armored Guards from the Maple Lane Black Armored Guards Post were all present.
Tao Qingping stood beside Xu Ning. As for the other four Black Armored Guards, they stood behind Xu Ning.
“You can bring Yang Yicheng in now.”
Xu Ning ordered.
“Understood.”
Song Weiyi was the man that responded. He was a new subordinate assigned to Xu Ning by Qu Dayou. He was a well-built man that came from the Song Village.
Song Weiyi respected Xu Ning’s orders.
Although Xu Ning was young, he was not arrogant. He had principles and rules in which he followed, making others trust and believe in him.
Of course, more importantly, he respected Xu Ning’s martial arts talent and strength.
Xu Ning was 18 years old, and was already a qi realm warrior. All newcomers felt like he was beyond their reach in terms of strength.
Several other guards in the guard station also viewed Xu Ning in the same light.
Therefore, although there were not many members assigned to the Maple Lane Guard Station, they were very organized while also completing their work efficiently.
After receiving Song Weiyi’s signal, the city guard brought Yang Yicheng to the stage.
Yang Yicheng’s face was pale, and his footsteps were weak.
But even when facing so many city guards and an executioner, Yang Yicheng did not panic.
After being detained last night, Yang Yicheng was not tortured. He was just detained alone overnight.
Yang Yicheng thought about his life throughout the night.
Due to his frail and weak body, he had suffered a lot. But there was also a beautiful period in his life, sadly this beautiful period was about to be destroyed in the end.
Yang Yicheng had taken off the bracelet, clenching it tightly in his hand.
He looked around the crowd, but did not see Nie Xiaowei.
“Please don’t come…”
This was Yang Yicheng’s last wish.
The executioner’s blade was about to fall down at any time.
Xu Ning did not stare at Yang Yicheng, instead he watched the situation in the crowd.
Xu Ning concluded that Nie Xiaowei should appear in this crowd.
Because last night, after Xu Ning and Tao Qingping left Yang Yicheng’s home, the city guards conducted a thorough search.
This time, they found a 500-tael silver note.
There were some minor bloodstains on the silver note.
Xu Ning did not interrogate Yang Yicheng in regards to the silver note, instead he asked the city guard to question his family. In the end, he concluded that the silver note did not belong to Yang Yicheng’s family.
The blood-stained silver note was probably given to him by Nie Xiaowei, after she committed the murders—this was probably the last time Nie Xiaowei saw Yang Yicheng.
Because Yang Yicheng needed to take medicine all year round, he needed money to maintain his health. Thus, Nie Xiaowei must have been concerned about his financial wellbeing.
“Still not here…”
After seeing no movement in the crowd, Xu Ning waved to the executioner.
The executioner accepted the order and lifted the blade.
Yang Yicheng closed his eyes. He didn’t know if he felt disappointed or relieved.
However, right before the blade fell down, a voice came from the crowd.
“Wait a second!”
Nie Xiaowei, dressed in black, walked out of the crowd.