Why did you provoke me?

They waited until dark, but still couldn't find a way to get out.

In the darkness, Hou Yulin touched the communication bell in his palm, "Uncle Han, who do you think will save us at this time?"

"I don't know." Butler Han's voice was low. "This battlefield is jointly managed by our four families. As you've seen, multiple forces are chasing us. At this point, it's already kind of outsiders not to kick us when we're down. Help us? I really can't think of anyone."

"Uncle Han, didn't you tell me to go to Jingchuan Guild Hall? Can't they go either?"

Butler Han remained silent for a long time. He couldn't guarantee anything about such a thing.

Seeing that Butler Han remained silent, Hou Yulin pouted, "Then why are you sending me there? Uncle Han, are you trying to give me a pie in the sky, something to look forward to?" Hou Yulin was not unintelligent, but he had been too well protected, and things had come so suddenly that he hadn't reacted in time.

Butler Han frowned. "If you go there, as long as you don't leave, Secretary Wu won't kick you out; I can guarantee that." But sending them here to rescue us...

Butler Han paused for a moment, then said, "Their arrival will mean going up against the Wang family, a reclusive family."

Hou Yulin lowered his hand. Yes, that was a reclusive family. How could he put Jingchuan Guild Hall to death? Teacher Yu had saved him twice.

The guards sat on the outer perimeter, their eyes devoid of light. They had stopped here. They all understood that this final door would not be easy to pass; it might require risking their lives.

Jingchuan Hall.

Secretary Wu was stunned when he saw the message on the intercom: The Hou family's steward, Han, is being chased. Should we save him? —Tenth Squad.

Looking at the already dark sky outside, Secretary Wu frowned deeply. Could they afford to offend someone capable of hunting down the Hou family on the front lines?

Looking at the message in the intercom, he cursed inwardly, "You have no sense of propriety! How could you send a message like this? Are you trying to ruin the guild?"

But what to do now? The news had reached him, and he couldn't pretend he didn't know. At this moment, he really missed Jing San; she was such a capable person. If only she were here.

He sighed and went out. He couldn't make the decision himself; it depended on Yu Meng's wishes. But Yu Meng was in seclusion, so he went directly to find Nangong Tianshou.

Looking at the sky outside, then at Secretary Wu standing by the door, Nangong Tianshou narrowed his eyes. "What's the rush?"

Secretary Wu shook his head and went inside. "These clueless people send me all sorts of messages. I'm at a loss, so I came to ask you for advice."

Nangong Tianshou ushered him into the living room, saying, "I'm a patient, I should be resting at this time."

"Teacher Yu is in seclusion. If I don't contact you, who else can I contact?" Secretary Wu's words were somewhat shameless. There was no other way; the matter was too big for him to decide.

"Tell me, what could possibly stump our head secretary?"

"Our men saw the Hou family's steward, Han, being chased on the front lines and asked me if I would help him."

"The Hou family? The young master who came for treatment?"

"right."

"Ask our people if they can rescue people without exposing themselves?"

Secretary Wu's lips twitched. They were talking quite intimately. "Our people?"

"I didn't ask? I got angry as soon as I saw this message. I'm asking now, and you can ask me anything too."

Secretary Wu turned on the intercom, "How far are you from them right now?"

The 10th squad replied quickly: "They're not far. They're close to the exit, but instead of going out, they've hidden in the woods."

"Can you determine which force is hunting them down?"

"It's uncertain; there are several factions involved."

Secretary Wu looked at Nangong Tianshou.

Nangong Tianshou gestured for him to turn off the communication bell. Then he asked, "Old Wu, is it necessary to save him?"

Secretary Wu sighed. "I came here to ask you, should we save her or not?"

Nangong Tianshou stroked his chin. "So, if we're going to save him, you're confident you can do it?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but we can try to find a way," Secretary Wu said frankly.

"Then there's only one question: what benefits will we get if we save them?" Nangong Tianshou asked bluntly.

Secretary Wu shook his head. "I only see the downsides, not the upsides."

"Then you still want to save him?" Nangong Tianshou looked at him in confusion.

"The Fourth Battlefield was once the territory of a reclusive family, but it has now changed hands. You should know how powerful this new force is without me having to explain. If the First Battlefield also changes hands, just think about how terrifying that would be."

"The fourth battlefield has changed hands? How come I didn't know?"

"I have secret channels, and my information is absolutely accurate." Secretary Wu did not mention Hua Shulang.

"So, you do want to save them. Then why did you come to me?"

"I have this idea, but I don't understand the big picture. You have to convince me and let me see the value in saving them."

Nangong Tianshou laughed, "I think you're just coming to me looking for an excuse, so you'll have something to say when you emerge from seclusion."

"Chief Nangong, you see through me but don't say anything, give me some face!"

Nangong Tianshou sat there thinking for a while, then shook his head. "That was the Hou family's old steward, very loyal. If I'm not mistaken, the old patriarch of the Hou family is probably in trouble. But even if he's in trouble, those people wouldn't go so far as to hunt down a steward," Nangong Tianshou said as he pondered, "unless..."

"Unless there's another important person with Butler Han, or Butler Han took something important with him," Secretary Wu continued.

"The person is probably the young master who left from here—Hou Yulin."

"If he were here, would we save him?" Secretary Wu asked.

"The Hou family, the Hou family of Kyoto is an old and top-tier family, even older than the Zhou family. If we save a future heir, it should be a worthwhile investment."

"Really worth it?" Secretary Wu asked again.

"I said should, but how would I know the specifics?" Nangong Tianshou couldn't give a definite answer on this matter either.

"Sigh, why did Teacher Yu go into seclusion? If he makes the wrong investment, it's a reclusive family. If they go crazy, who can withstand it?"

"If, and I mean if, we can secretly rescue them, this investment should be worthwhile."

"Do you still have manpower on the first battlefield?" Secretary Wu asked earnestly.

Nangong Tianshou raised an eyebrow at Secretary Wu, who coughed, covering his mouth. "If you have any, make a scene, and my people will have a better chance."

"Even if they did, I wouldn't be able to contact them. They don't have a communication bell." Nangong Tianshou was quite frank this time.

"That's no problem. Just give me the code word, and I'll have Jingchuan's people send a few over," Secretary Wu said magnanimously.

"You have a lot?"

"You want it?"

"Hmm, a few will do for me too."

Secretary Wu nodded. "Okay, but let me make this clear from the start: the devices I have are equipped with location tracking and surveillance capabilities. If you give them to your people, I'd like to know if their information can be accessed."

Nangong Tianshou's face darkened. "You can look at mine too?"

Secretary Wu looked completely bewildered. "I didn't give you this, so what could I possibly see?"

Nangong Tianshou let out a sigh of frustration, then thought that it was Yu Meng who gave him the information. Could Yu Meng see his information?

Secretary Wu, seeing his changing expressions, knew he had misunderstood. She couldn't help but laugh out loud, "The one Teacher Yu gave me didn't have those functions. The people on the battlefield were just worried about their safety."

Are you sure?

Secretary Wu's lips curled up. "It's not just that, you have secrets."

Nangong Tianshou was truly relieved this time.