After three hours, both groups set out simultaneously to track the young man who had fled to exhaustion.
Ma Yunlong's constables had their own tracking techniques; two of Woguer's men were from hunting backgrounds and were also skilled at tracking.
At sunset, they finally found the young man sleeping by a small pond.
When the young man woke up with a start, Ma Yunlong's knife was already at his neck.
Young Lord Wen smiled and said, "You ran so far, no wonder you passed out. You know, after fighting with me, the best way to recover is to lie down and rest right where you are?"
The young man knew he had no chance and no strength left to escape, so he simply closed his eyes and said, "If you're going to kill me, do it, I won't tell you what you want to know!"
The young man's stubbornness was clearly written on his face.
Such a young man would not be broken by torture.
Woguer said impatiently from the side, "If you people have no way to make him talk, leave it to us! I guarantee we won't hide any information we get out of him!"
Ma Yunlong was in a difficult position. He really didn't want to be responsible for the young man's fate, but he couldn't just let the barbarian tear him apart and flay his skin. He had to find Shi Qingquan, and if he didn't, his own end would be just as tragic.
He felt very unlucky. Why did these people always have to drag him into their troubles?
"Let me try," he suggested.
Ji Yaohua had somehow approached without him noticing.
Almost everyone instinctively thought, "Would Ji Yaohua use her beauty to make the young man reveal Shi Qingquan's whereabouts?"
Young Lord Wen's expression changed slightly.
Ma Yunlong sighed inwardly.
Ji Yaohua walked over to the young man, crouched down, and spoke softly, "You don't want to tell us where Shi Qingquan is because you're his disciple, right?"
The young man's eyes widened.
Ji Yaohua continued, "And if we find your master, we'll do the same to him, won't we?"
Her voice was gentle, but her words were sharp.
The young man's expression changed, and he bit his lip, but he didn't say anything.
Ji Yaohua suddenly reached out and touched seven key points on the young man's body, causing him to freeze. She smiled and said, "If you want to kill yourself or bite your tongue, my movements are faster and more accurate than yours. I don't want to use this method because I don't want to turn you into an idiot. Don't you believe me? You've probably seen my earlier pressure point technique; that's the 'Flower of the Hunt' from the Emei Sect. You must have heard that Emei also has a needle pressure point technique that can make people lose their minds. When you're confused, you'll reveal everything you know. And when you regain consciousness, you'll become a madman or an idiot because of the damaged meridians. You're probably thinking that this needle pressure point technique has only been passed down to the Emei Sect's leader, and I couldn't have learned it? Let me tell you, with me, anything is possible. Do you want to try it? Your expression is already a bit stupid, so becoming an idiot probably wouldn't make much difference. It's a pity that Shi Qingquan only has you as a disciple; his lineage will end with you."
The young man's eyes widened even more.
Ji Yaohua smiled again, "Now I'll tell you something else: when the snipe and the clam struggle, it's the fisherman who benefits. Do you want your master to be that fisherman?"
The young man was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses.
Ji Yaohua watched his suddenly enlightened expression and said, "If you're willing to tell us where your master is, blink three times. Be careful, don't try to deceive me. You can't bite your tongue faster than my hand. I'll only give you one chance."
With a flick of her right hand, the young man found he could speak again and quickly said, "My master should be at the Yuhua Terrace!"
Ji Yaohua looked at him, "The Yuhua Terrace in Jinling?"
The young man replied, "Yes. He said he wanted to see the spring rain flowers."
Ji Yaohua smiled, "Then we'll trouble you to come with us. It's also an opportunity for you to explain to your master that you're not betraying him, but saving him."
The two groups set off that night, with the young man under Ma Yunlong's supervision.
Young Lord Wen rode alongside Ji Yaohua, silent for a long time before asking, "Miss Ji, have you really practiced the Emei Sect's needle pressure point technique?"
He really wanted to ask her which sect she belonged to, where her home was, and who else was in her family. But after much hesitation, he only asked this one question.
Ji Yaohua turned and looked at him, "I won't let anyone know the answer; that's what makes people wary. Even if it were you, young Lord, in that situation, you wouldn't dare to take the risk, would you?"
She still refused to let anyone know more about her, but this time, there was an unconscious playful tease in her refusal, which made young Lord Wen feel, in a moment of distraction, that the distance between them was no longer so far. He couldn't help but smile slightly.
Ji Yaohua suddenly realized that her tone of speech had been a bit too casual and flirtatious, and she immediately returned to her usual solemn and cold demeanor.
Young Lord Wen's smile deepened.
Ji Yaohua's cunning and experience in coercing the young man were just a facade.
The real her was still just a young girl burdened with too many responsibilities, unable to indulge herself but inevitably showing a daughter's coquettishness.
Ji Yaoguang watched all this from behind them.
After a long time, a faint smile appeared on his lips, as if out of resignation, or perhaps pity.
