Chapter 10

Under the pillow, it was not a book but a flying dagger.

The flying dagger was as swift as lightning, incredibly fast!

However, Yang Ning had always been wary of Xiao Yishui and remained vigilant. When Xiao Yishui waved his hand, Yang Ning immediately sensed something amiss and quickly dodged to the side. The flying dagger narrowly grazed past Yang Ning's cheek. If his reaction had been slightly slower, the dagger would have struck his face.

Xiao Yishui had thought that by attacking in the dim light, he was almost certain to succeed. However, the flying dagger missed, and he was taken aback, his face turning pale. He tried to roll away, but Yang Ning reacted swiftly, slashing down with his saber at Xiao Yishui's neck.

Xiao Yishui's calf was severed, and his movements became sluggish. With a "puff," the artery in his neck was cut, and blood spurted out. Xiao Yishui felt his strength instantly drained, unable even to cry out. He raised his hand to cover his severed neck, his body convulsing, eyes bulging, and after a few struggles on the bed, he lay still.

Yang Ning was not a bloodthirsty person. Killing two people that night, his body trembled slightly, unaccustomed to such violence.

But these people were worse than beasts, their actions devoid of any humanity. Killing such people, Yang Ning felt no guilt.

He knew very well that if such people were not eliminated, more people would suffer. Sometimes, killing was a form of saving.

After calming down a bit, Yang Ning dragged Xiao Yishui off the bed.

In the dim light, he saw that Lady Hua was still unconscious. Yang Ning turned to the table, picked up a teapot, took a mouthful of water, and then returned to the bed. He placed the knife at Lady Hua's neck, seeing her pale, plump body and her breasts rising and falling with her breath. He pulled a pillow to cover her chest and then sprayed the cold water on her face.

His purpose that night was not to eliminate evil but to find Xiaodie. However, the situation forced him to kill. Now that Xiao Yishui was dead, he could only ask Lady Hua about Xiaodie's whereabouts.

The cold tea on her face startled Lady Hua, and she slowly opened her eyes. Feeling the cold blade at her neck, she saw a pair of cold, stern eyes in the dim light. Her body trembled, and she cried out, "Don't... don't kill me...!"

"Where were the girls taken?" Yang Ning asked coldly. "If you tell the truth, you might live!"

Lady Hua trembled and said, "It wasn't me, it was all Xiao... Xiao Yishui. Hero, please spare... spare my life. I... I was forced!"

At that moment, her beauty was gone, and the seductive charm she once had vanished.

"Where did they go?" Yang Ning repeated. "If you hesitate, I'll cut you down!"

Seeing Xiao Yishui's corpse nearby, Lady Hua knew he was not joking. Desperate to live, she confessed, "They were... they were all sent to the capital."

"Where in the capital?"

"I... I really don't know." Lady Hua's face turned pale. "I heard Xiao Yishui mention that Feng Zhengsheng took them away from here and out of the city. Someone outside the city would pick them up and take them directly to the capital."

Yang Ning knew Feng Zhengsheng was the constable nicknamed "Mad Dog." He asked coldly, "Who picked them up outside the city?"

Lady Hua hesitated, her eyes darting. Yang Ning snorted, and she dared not hesitate further. "It was... it was a security company!"

"A security company?" Yang Ning was surprised. It seemed that many forces were involved in this human trafficking.

Lady Hua said, "Xiao Yishui had people who lured these... these young girls and brought them here for training. Once they had some skills, Feng Zhengsheng would secretly take them out of the city." Wanting to please Yang Ning to save her life, she explained, "Xiao Yishui said that if these young girls knew a bit of singing and dancing, their price would be much higher. He made a lot of money this way over the past two years."

"Which security company are you talking about?" Yang Ning asked. "Is it a local one?"

Lady Hua said, "It's a large security company. I asked Xiao Yishui, and he... he told me not to ask too many questions, saying it was one of the top security companies in the capital."

"A large security company in the capital? How could they be involved in this?" Yang Ning sneered. "Are you lying?"

"I wouldn't dare...!" Lady Hua's face changed. "I heard... I heard it from Xiao Yishui. He... he also said...!" Her voice trembled, and she hesitated to continue.

"What else did he say?"

"He... he said that the security company had a powerful backer. The girls were sent to the capital and ended up in the hands of this powerful person." Lady Hua trembled. "This powerful person could use these girls for many things. He also said that even if this matter was discovered, it wouldn't matter because this powerful person would protect them, and no one could cause any trouble."

"A powerful person?" Yang Ning knew that the "powerful person" was the support Xiao Yishui mentioned. He sneered, "He didn't tell you who this powerful person was?"

Lady Hua said, "He wouldn't tell me many things, saying... saying the more you know, the faster you die... I only know this much, nothing more."

"Is there a girl named Xiaodie here?" Yang Ning asked. "Has she also been sent to the capital?"

Lady Hua thought for a moment and said, "You mean Xiaodie? Yes, she... she was also sent away."

"When was she sent away?"

"Three days ago," Lady Hua said. "It takes about ten days to travel from here to Jian'an. They... they should still be on the way."

Yang Ning pondered for a moment, then slowly sheathed his knife. Lady Hua sighed in relief, but Yang Ning said calmly, "Turn your head!"

Lady Hua's heart tightened, and she trembled, "Hero, you...!"

"Turn your head quickly," Yang Ning said coldly. "No more talk."

Lady Hua was terrified but had no choice. She turned her head, and Yang Ning, reversing the handle of his knife, struck her on the back of the head. She let out a muffled groan and fainted.

Although Yang Ning despised Lady Hua's actions, he knew that as a widow, it was not easy for her to survive, and under someone like Xiao Yishui, she had no choice. Her actions were despicable, but not worthy of death. Therefore, he did not kill her recklessly.

He knew that Lady Hua would not wake up for at least three to four hours. He quietly searched the room and found that Xiao Yishui had brought a money bag with a considerable amount of silver, at least twenty to thirty taels, and a few gold leaves. Additionally, there was a jade ring and some of Lady Hua's jewelry. Yang Ning found a bag and packed all the valuables, which amounted to over a hundred taels of silver.

Holding the bag in one hand and the knife in the other, he quietly left the room, closing both the bedroom and the front door. He silently left the courtyard and returned to the stable yard like a ghost.

The courtyard was deathly quiet. Yang Ning quietly approached the row of houses, saw that the door was slightly ajar, and gently pushed it open. There was a commotion inside, and Yang Ning glanced around, seeing that there were now many more people. He whispered, "It's me!"

The girls relaxed upon hearing Yang Ning's voice. Xiuer came forward and said, "Little brother, I've opened several doors and told them. They all want to leave. I told them not to act rashly and to wait for you." She then asked softly, "Little brother, can we really escape?"

Yang Ning knew that in the eyes of these girls, the Hua residence was a fortress of evil, and it was hard for them to believe that a young man could save so many of them. It was no wonder they were anxious.

Yang Ning did not explain much and said quietly, "In two hours, it will be dawn. I will take you all away now. Everyone must be careful and make no noise. If we alert anyone in the courtyard, it will be trouble." He added, "Do you know where your parents are?"

Xiuer said, "There are thirty-two of us. Twenty-three have parents in the city, and a few were separated from their parents before they were brought here."

Yang Ning frowned. "What about the others? Where will they go?"

Xiuer whispered, "We've already discussed it. The girls without parents will follow us, and we will take care of each other."

Yang Ning felt a bit relieved and said softly, "Once we leave the courtyard, don't all stay together. Split into groups to avoid being noticed. As soon as you find your parents in the city, spread the word about what happened here to prevent others from being deceived."

Although Xiao Yishui was dead, Constable Feng was still alive, and no one could be sure he would stop.

"Little brother, how do we leave?" Xiuer asked softly. "The main gate is guarded, and we can't get out."

Yang Ning said quietly, "Prepare everyone now. We will leave immediately." Without further ado, he led the way out of the room, carefully checking the surroundings to ensure no one was around. Soon, a group of people quietly followed him. Yang Ning asked softly, "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone is here!"

Yang Ning then held his knife and led the way, with the girls following like a long snake.

Yang Ning was very familiar with the layout of the back courtyard and moved confidently.

The girls were all anxious but tried to hold their breath, hoping to escape this inhuman place as soon as possible.

As Yang Ning led the way, he kept an eye on the surroundings. Suddenly, a shadow appeared from behind the flower bed. Yang Ning's heart raced, and he quickly raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.

The sudden stop caught some girls off guard, and a few bumped into each other, causing a few "ouch" sounds.

Yang Ning's face changed, and a voice came from ahead, "Who's there?"

The girls were all pale with fear, but Yang Ning did not hesitate. Like a leopard, he pounced forward.