Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

At this moment, Ma Zi and Xiao Yi in the dilapidated temple stared at each other angrily, neither willing to back down.

Ma Zi continued cursing, "You brat, why are you meddling in other people's business? This kid isn't anyone to you!"

"You're right, she really isn't anyone to me!"

But I will not allow you damned flower sellers to exchange these innocent children for money.

"You'd better release him right now, or you'll suffer a terrible death!"

Xiao Yi's words carried a sense of intimidation, and Ma Zi felt a chill emanating from his body that sent shivers down his spine.

However, he could neither be afraid nor back down at this moment, otherwise he would only face certain death.

Then he laughed arrogantly again, "Young man, you really are arrogant."

Since you're going to refuse a polite toast only to face a penalty shot, then I'm not going to waste any more words on you.

"If you dare come any closer, I'll make sure this little girl never sees the sun rise again."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yi's eyes. He didn't reply, but simply took a step forward.

Ma Zi's pupils contracted sharply, and the knife in his hand immediately moved even closer to the little girl's neck.

The little girl felt the cold blade touch her skin, and she was terrified. She burst into tears, crying out in her childish voice, "Big brother, save me..."

Big brother, save me...

The voice was weak and desperate, like a needle piercing one's heart.

Annoyed by the crying, Ma Zi suddenly lowered his head and roared, "Shut up!"

The little girl trembled with fright, her crying stopped abruptly, and only her body continued to tremble, like a dying fish pinned under a cat's paw.

Xiao Yi's fists clenched so tightly at his sides that they cracked, but he didn't move any further.

His eyes were fixed on the knife held to the little girl's neck, his mind racing as he calculated what he was doing.

The blade was pressed tightly against the flesh; no matter how fast he was, he couldn't possibly snatch the man away before Ma Zi could act.

This is not the time to play the hero; if we're not careful, that little girl could lose her life.

Ma Zi quickly glanced around the dilapidated temple.

The main gate was completely blocked by Xiao Yi; even if he had wings, he couldn't fly out.

But soon, his gaze settled on a broken window above the left wall.

The wooden frame of the window was mostly rotten, and the paper used to cover it was long gone, leaving only an empty square hole, outside which was a dim twilight.

That's the only way out.

Ma Zi had a plan in mind. While holding the knife to the little girl, he slowly and tentatively moved towards the window.

His steps were light and slow, the blade remaining firmly pressed against the little girl's neck, never daring to relax for a moment.

Xiao Yi saw through his intention.

His gaze followed the direction the pockmarked man moved, while his mind raced with calculations.

Rather than pushing him to the brink, it's better to keep him calm for now.

Then he spoke, his tone softening slightly: "If you want to leave, then leave. Leave the child behind, and I won't chase after you."

The pockmarked man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Bullshit!"

"I don't believe you!"

He continued to move towards the window, and Xiao Yi followed suit without making a sound.

The two men stood like two wild beasts facing off, neither daring to make a move, the air so heavy it seemed to freeze.

Ma Zi finally moved to the window. He turned his head and estimated the height of the windowsill from the ground with his peripheral vision. It was about five or six feet, neither too high nor too low.

If he jumped down empty-handed, he might only stumble at most, but he was holding a child in his arms, and if he jumped down from the window with a lively little one in tow, then it was hard to say.

They might both fall flat on their faces, and then he won't even be able to run away.

Ma Zi hesitated for a moment, but quickly made a decision.

Staying here is a dead end; jumping down would at least offer a glimmer of hope.

He glanced out the window; the outside was covered with waist-high weeds, like a thick cushion, so he shouldn't break his leg.

He took a deep breath and suddenly shouted, "Okay!"

I promise to give you the child!

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly shoved the little girl in his arms against the left wall.

The push was delivered with tremendous force, and the little girl's small body flew towards the wall like a kite with a broken string, her head slamming straight into it.

Xiao Yi lunged forward almost instinctively.

His body reacted faster than his brain; he rushed forward in three strides and, at the critical moment, stretched out his arms to catch the little girl in mid-air.

The inertia carried him forward half a step, and he held the child tightly in his arms, his back almost pressed against the cold wall.

The little girl was so frightened that she could no longer cry out. She just opened her mouth and sobbed silently, her face buried in Xiao Yi's chest, her whole body trembling like a leaf.

Behind him came the pockmarked man's triumphant laughter: "Hahaha..."

Immediately following was the cracking sound of the window frame breaking, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object falling to the ground, mixed with the rustling sound of weeds being flattened.

Xiao Yi turned around, holding the little girl. The window was empty, and twilight streamed in through the hole, carrying the scent of wild grass and earth.

He quickly walked to the window and looked out, only to see an unexpected scene.

As dusk settled, the waist-high weeds were bent over and staggered.

Instead of getting up and fleeing as he expected, Ma Zi was pinned to the ground by several small figures and couldn't move.

Tao'er stepped on Ma Zi's back, bent down, and swung her hands at Ma Zi's face from both sides: "Bastard!"

You're guilty of child trafficking!

"You dare bully them!"

Ayan kicked Ma Zi's waist hard with his short legs, shouting, "I'll beat you to death!"

You big bad guy!

My sister Tao'er said that anyone who films flower gardeners should go to the eighteenth level of hell!

The other two children pinned down Ma Zi's arms and legs, respectively.

Not satisfied, Ayan used his other hand to punch Ma Zi's belly several times, shouting in a childish voice, "I'll teach you to run!"

"You dared to scare people with a knife!"

Ma Zi screamed in pain, and with all his might, he got up and ran away.

Tao'er, quick-witted and agile, tripped Ma Zi again.

Ma Zi's face, which had just been swollen from being beaten, was buried in the grass, and he ended up with a mouthful of mud.

"Kids, hold him down, don't let that bastard get away."

The children swarmed forward, their previous fear completely gone.

Although they were all children, they still had some strength when they worked together.

Moreover, Ma Zi is injured. He twisted one leg when he jumped down, and he really doesn't have the strength to get up now.

Unable to break free, he could only beg for mercy, "Ouch..."

My little devils, spare me, spare me...

I won't do it again, I won't do it again...

Xiao Yi stared at the scene for a moment, then couldn't help but smile.

He jumped out of the window, quickly reached the children, picked them up by the arms, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

He had just told them to wait at the entrance of the dilapidated temple.