Therefore, he did not want to die.

"Lord Chen, save me, I do not want to die yet." Zhao Chong called out to Chen Mo for help.

Chen Mo didn’t know Zhao Chong had already considered selling out his mother for glory, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Hu Mei’Er: "What do you want to do?"

"Let us go, and give me the Red Sun Bell you hold," Hu Mei’Er said.

Looking at the sword in Hu Mei’Er’s hand pressed against Zhao Chong’s pale skin, leaving a trail of blood, her two assassins stood experiencedly at her sides to prevent anyone from shooting her with an arrow. The corner made it impossible for Chen Mo to forcibly rescue Zhao Chong.

"Alright, I agree to your terms, but I do not have the Red Sun Bell with me." Chen Mo replied.

"Don’t play tricks, quickly hand over the Red Sun Bell, do you want to see him die?" The sword’s edge was already deep into Zhao Chong’s flesh, just a bit deeper, it would definitely slit Zhao Chong’s throat. Hu Mei’Er’s expression was somewhat unsettled as she said.

Die Dance had been lurking beside Chen Mo for so long, searched everywhere in Chen Mansion, and found no trace of the Red Sun Bell. The only possibility was that Chen Mo carried it with him.

Thus, Hu Mei’Er didn’t believe Chen Mo’s words.

"Fine, I’ll get it, but I only have one here on me, for the rest, I’ll send someone to fetch them, okay?" Chen Mo rummaged around his body, intentionally letting Hu Mei’Er watch closely as he shook the Red Sun Bell given to him by Zhao Qianyi in front of her.

"Alright." Hu Mei’Er nodded and gestured to the assassin on her left to fetch it.

Seeing Hu Mei’Er on such high alert, Chen Mo didn’t play tricks either, allowing the assassin to take the Red Sun Bell while pretending to give High Zheng some instructions.

"Calm down, I’ve already sent someone to fetch it," Chen Mo tried to reassure Hu Mei’Er.

"Have your person bring the Red Sun Bell to the East Gate of Bianliang City, place it under the first tree outside the city, and now let us leave, don’t let your people follow us," Hu Mei’Er scanned left and right as she spoke.

"That’s not possible, what if you take the thing and don’t release him, how would I explain myself?" He couldn’t agree to her so easily.

"Do you want to see him die?" Seeing Chen Mo still playing tricks with her, her eyes reddened with burning anxiety.

"Lord Chen, save me." Zhao Chong, watching Hu Mei’Er’s trembling hand holding the sword, feared she might not know restraint and cut his throat.

Chen Mo pretended to consider for a moment: "Okay, but move the sword a bit away from His Majesty, if anything happens to His Majesty, it will not be good for either of us."

He had his men fall back a bit, then loudly instructed High Zheng, all to make Hu Mei’Er relax.

High Zheng understood immediately and led people away.

Hu Mei’Er moved the sword away slightly, then took Zhao Chong hostage as they left, chanting, "Don’t follow, or I’ll kill him."

"Alright, we won’t follow." Chen Mo called out loudly: "Everyone listen, without my orders, no one should act recklessly. If anything happens to His Majesty, I’ll make you answer for it."

"Understood."

Hu Mei’Er and her two accomplices took Zhao Chong and left Gen Yue.

Once they disappeared from sight, Chen Mo acted. He concealed his presence and stealthily followed them.

...

Outside Gen Yue, Hu Mei’Er chose a small path and didn’t go to the East Gate. She wasn’t foolish, having managed to escape was already difficult, and going for the Red Sun Bell would truly make escape impossible.

Chen Mo wouldn’t easily let her take it away either.

The demand for the Red Sun Bell was merely a decoy from Hu Mei’Er.

She blocked Zhao Chong’s mouth with something as she walked, while vigilantly observing, preventing any followers.

Soon, she arrived at Hu Mansion.

There were still their people inside Hu Mansion.

As Hu Mei’Er entered, those inside Hu Mansion immediately alerted themselves.

Hu Mei’Er no longer held the sword to Zhao Chong’s throat; she headed towards the backyard, letting others handle Zhao Chong.

Inside, there was a tunnel dug long ago, leading straight outside the city.

She had started digging it before entering the palace, to leave a way out for herself in the future.

She originally thought she wouldn’t need it.

But never had she imagined...

"Chen Mo, it’s all him..." Hu Mei’Er’s hatred for him reached the extreme. If it weren’t for him, her plan to restore the nation would have long been achieved. Once she was out, she would certainly take crazy revenge on Chen Mo and those around him.

"...Mmm mmm..." Zhao Chong’s fear increased, and he began to struggle, making muffled sounds with his blocked mouth.

The two assassins holding him followed behind Hu Mei’Er as they moved through the corridor and turned around a corner.

"Sa!"

A sharp sound of breaking wind suddenly came, the left-side assassin’s hand holding the knife against Zhao Chong was slashed off with a swoosh, and the immense pain caused the assassin to cry out lamentably.

Having noticed the commotion, Hu Mei’Er and those beside her tried to act, but it was already too late.

Chen Mo shifted form and position, appearing next to Zhao Chong, quickly dispatching the remaining holding assassin, and kicked Hu Mei’Er trying to grasp Zhao Chong again, sending her flying.

He showed no pity for her, instantly shifted out, and crippled her cultivation the moment she got up.

Watching Hu Mei’Er lying on the ground twitching, pale-faced, he coldly glanced at her, grabbing her with one hand and Zhao Chong with the other. The moment the people in the mansion rushed forward, he soared and left Hu Mansion.

Chen Mo wasn’t afraid of these people, mainly worried about Zhao Chong’s safety, fearing an accident that would make explaining to Yunxi difficult.

...

Outside the East Gate of Bianliang City.

From front to back, High Zheng arranged people everywhere, even passing pedestrians were his people.

Strong Crossbows, Crossbow Carriages, Divine Archers...

All were prepared and ready, as long as Hu Mei’Er dared to come to the East Gate, High Zheng ensured that, without harming Zhao Chong, he could capture Hu Mei’Er.

Yet High Zheng waited and waited, never seeing Hu Mei’Er appear, nor did any scouts find Hu Mei’Er’s presence.

As High Zheng suspected Hu Mei’Er had already escaped, a soldier came to report that Hu Mei’Er had been captured by the lord, and His Majesty had been successfully rescued.

High Zheng: "..."

...

The esteem for Chen Mo nowadays was profound, even garnering popular support, so this upheaval caused by the remnants of Nan Zhou did not result in a bloodbath in Bianliang City like before; large-scale conflict didn’t occur, and casualties were few.

Conversely, the Black Shadow Killer Organization was nearly wiped out, struck down. Chen Mo also fulfilled the promise he made to Luo Zhen back then.

What disappointed Chen Mo, however, was that after ensuring Zhao Chong’s protection, he led people to surround Hu Mansion, thoroughly searched both inside and out of Hu Mansion, then searched Yong’an Palace, yet aside from the one he gave Hu Mei’Er, there was no trace of the Red Sun Bell with her.

He could only proceed to interrogate Hu Mei’Er.

For matters concerning the Nan Zhou Treasure, Chen Mo didn’t want others to know, so instead of imprisoning her in Celestial Prison, he had her taken to Chen Mansion, strictly guarded, to prevent suicide.

Arriving at Chen Mansion, the Imperial Physician had just finished examining her.

Apart from becoming a cripple, suffering severe internal injuries, Hu Mei’Er’s life wasn’t threatened.

The underground cellar at Chen Mansion had now become the place for holding Hu Mei’Er.

The cellar was kept clean, with a bed made out of straw in the corner.

Hu Mei’Er sat on the bed, shackled hands and feet, with female warriors guarding beside.

Seeing Chen Mo arrive, the two female warriors respectfully greeted him.

All Hu Mei’Er’s eyes contained was disdain.

"You both go out," Chen Mo commanded.

"Understood."

Once the female warriors left the cellar, a trace of panic finally appeared in Hu Mei’Er’s eyes: "You...you want to do what?"

Chen Mo stared at her, originally wanting to see her eyes, but his gaze unavoidably drifted to her bosom. The tattered fur clothing barely contained that fulsome stature, creating an illusion of urgency.

And Chen Mo’s gaze increasingly showed her a sense of terror and disgust.

"Originally, dying a thousand times wouldn’t suffice; now I give you a chance: surrender the last Red Sun Bell and recite the mantra of the Top Grade Magical Artifact, and I’ll spare your life."