Volume One: The Inspector and the Candidate Chapter Forty-Eight: Just Because I Caught a Glimpse of You in the Crowd

The sight before him truly astonished Huang Ming.

For in that split second of crisis, the ones who had rescued him from beneath the iron chains were, incredibly, the very two suspicious figures whose disguises he had seen through only moments before.

Now, the two of them were still covered in dust and splinters, a trace of blood at the corners of their mouths, but at last their expressions showed relief.

“Young Master Huang, it’s good you’re unharmed.”

“We’re from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, acting under orders to protect you in secret...”

With just those two sentences, Huang Ming immediately grasped the truth: “So the people in that carriage were your men as well?”

When the two nodded, he forced a bitter smile—so that was how it was.

From the very beginning, he had misjudged the situation completely; those seemingly suspicious fellows had actually been members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, tasked with his protection.

Then who were these people who had come after him with murderous intent?

As this thought crossed his mind, Huang Ming’s heart gave a jolt. He suddenly lifted his gaze, looking toward a distant pavilion at the far end of the long street.

A familiar figure immediately caught his eye—Brother Ying, Ying Huo!

That follower of the White Lotus Sect, the man who had feigned friendship with Huang Ming before, only to use the youth’s gratitude to orchestrate a prison break—this terrifying man had returned.

Now, after nearly a month, he was once again targeting Huang Ming!

A sharp glint flashed in Huang Ming’s eyes. He immediately pointed in the man’s direction and shouted, “There is an accomplice of the White Lotus Sect fiend—over there!”

His voice carried far, so not only did those nearby who were still recovering their wits hear it, but even the government troops rushing to the scene caught every word.

Of course, the man himself, high in the pavilion, caught the sound and saw Huang Ming’s pointing finger and gaze.

It was not that he had been careless or slow—events had simply unfolded far too quickly, the shockwaves too powerful.

In the space of just a few breaths, everything had changed, rising and falling in a dizzying succession. He had held the hostage in his grasp, but who would have guessed that Huang Ming had prepared for this? And even more unexpected: that the authorities would have stationed so many skilled guards around such an unremarkable youth—as if they had predicted he would make such a move.

So, for a moment, Ying Huo was stunned and at a loss.

But it was only a fleeting moment—hardly anything, really.

After all, there were still many people on this street hiding in safety, furtively watching events unfold. He himself did not stand out.

And yet, by sheer mischance, he had been spotted at a glance by the still-prone Huang Ming.

And the young man, so decisive, wasted not a moment—calling out his location without hesitation.

Had Huang Ming accused him only of being an assassin’s accomplice, perhaps he would not have drawn so much attention from the approaching officers.

But the White Lotus Sect—just that name was enough to send people scrambling, each eager to seize the villain and claim the credit.

In an instant, a squad of officers arrived from behind, immediately surrounding Huang Ming and his group, demanding an explanation. Meanwhile, more troops swiftly closed in, encircling the entire area around the pavilion.

Seeing this, Huang Ming’s eyes flashed again: “Let’s see where you can run this time!”

He still did not know why that man had targeted him again, but as long as such a threat lingered, Huang Ming could find no peace.

Soon, chaos erupted in that quarter, followed by the sudden clash of battle.

Clearly, the enemy would not surrender without a fight. But with hundreds of soldiers—reinforcements arriving by the moment—there could be but one outcome.

After all, this was Beijing, and only a stone’s throw from the Shuntian Prefecture yamen. If nothing else, there was certainly no shortage of troops!

Finally able to breathe, Huang Ming turned his attention to Yu Mo, who had just been rescued from the carriage—her face deathly pale, still shaken to the core.

“Are you all right? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No... I’m not hurt...” Yu Mo checked herself over, finding nothing but a few bruises. Her heart, though, was still pounding madly.

Nearby, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped in, ensuring that the officers who had rushed over would not disturb Young Master Huang.

Only then, curiosity piqued, did he turn to the guard who still wore the guise of a candied-haw vendor: “How did you manage to stay by my side all this time? Did you know in advance that the White Lotus Sect fiend would target me?”

The man replied quickly, “Of course not. If we had known, how could we have let you face such danger?”

“Then why?”

“We were simply ordered to stay by your side, as a precaution against anyone seeking revenge. You’ve made quite a few enemies, haven’t you?”

Huang Ming finally understood, and laughed at himself.

It was true—he had indeed made many enemies: the Marquis of Jianchang’s household, Yang Shen, and even the two officials who had spoken before him at the classics lecture.

The first two, in particular, certainly had the means to seek revenge or teach him a lesson.

Yet, unexpectedly, none of them had acted; instead, he had stumbled into an even more terrifying attack.

“Was this my father’s doing?” Huang Ming asked.

“And at the behest of the Inspector General and Commander Liu,” the man replied.

Huang Ming smiled and added, “I truly owe my life to the Embroidered Uniform Guard this time. I will never forget this debt of gratitude. May I ask the names and positions of you gentlemen?”

This was the question the guards had been hoping for. At once, each reported his name and post.

They all knew that, while Young Master Huang could not yet reward them as they wished, the eunuch behind him certainly had the power to do so.

As they recounted the whole sequence of events, the fighting in the distance finally ceased.

Just as Huang Ming had predicted, faced with such overwhelming numbers, even Ying Huo, formidable as he was and with arrangements made, could not break free. He was captured alive, bound and brought forth.

When Huang Ming saw him dragged out, battered and dejected, he strode over with several guards at his side.

By now, the officers all knew his identity and let him pass, so he came face-to-face with the wounded, despondent Ying Huo.

It was all because I glanced at you in the crowd.

The two stood facing each other, and the first words out of Huang Ming’s mouth took his adversary by surprise: “Ying Huo is not your real name, is it?”

While the other was still stunned, he pressed on: “I’ve made inquiries, and I learned that within the White Lotus Sect there is one famed for stirring turmoil and manipulating hearts, who takes the name of a heavenly star—Yinghuo. That must be you, am I right?”

Ying Huo’s expression changed again, but then he suddenly laughed. “It seems I really did underestimate you. I thought I had you in the palm of my hand, but who would have thought...” It was an indirect admission of his identity.

With this confirmation, those around could not hide their excitement—this time, they had truly netted a big catch!