Yin Yingying had lost all interest in looking at the jewelry. "Let's go!" she said coldly. "What are you still looking at?"
With that, she stormed out of the shop in a huff.
Jiang Che hurried after her and whispered,
"Something feels off about that Young Master in the shop. I suspect he's the flower thief!"
Yin Yingying frowned. "He's handsome, but he looks nothing like the portrait! Don't tell me you're just jealous he's better-looking than you?"
Jiang Che's expression was grim. "Trust me. My intuition is sharp; I'm not wrong about this. You go get help, quickly. I'll keep an eye on them here!"
Seeing how serious Jiang Che was, Yin Yingying hesitated.
"Catch the flower thief!"
Suddenly, someone on the street shouted loudly.
Jiang Che and Yin Yingying couldn't help but turn to look.
A figure was seen dashing down the street. His steps were light, and he seemed to have practiced Qinggong.
Jiang Che looked closely and saw that the man's face was a near-perfect match for the one in the portrait!
Chasing behind him were several constables and a few young men in the Disciple's Robes of a Martial Arts Hall.
They were the very people who had been at the Government Office earlier, discussing how to capture the flower thief.
One of the constables saw Jiang Che and Yin Yingying standing in front of the jewelry shop and shouted impatiently,
"What are you two gawking at? Get after him!"
Yin Yingying shot Jiang Che a glare. "So much for your intuition! You almost made me report a false alarm!"
With that, she also dashed off in pursuit.
Jiang Che started to follow, but then he abruptly stopped.
He practiced Qinggong as well, and he could tell that although the flower thief was fast, the power in his steps was nowhere near the level of the Stone Skin Realm!
He glanced back into the shop and saw only Miss Shao. The handsome Young Master had vanished.
'Huh? Where did he go?'
Jiang Che immediately went back inside the jewelry shop.
He walked straight up to Miss Shao.
"Excuse me, where did the Young Master who was just here go?"
"Do you know Young Master Zhang?" Miss Shao asked, surprised. "He stepped out for a moment. He'll be right back."
Jiang Che hesitated for a moment before continuing,
"He just looks familiar, though I'm not sure if he's the person I'm thinking of. As I recall, that man isn't a local, so I was surprised to run into him here."
Miss Shao's eyes lit up. "Young Master Zhang isn't a local, it's true! He said he's from Cangzhou. Could you tell me about him? I'm quite curious, but he's so secretive."
Jiang Che frowned. "So, you've only just met him?"
Miss Shao nodded. "Just yesterday. He has a keen eye for jewelry, so he invited me to appreciate some pieces with him today."
Jiang Che said with utmost seriousness, "From what I know, the Young Master Zhang you speak of is very likely a wanted flower thief. Miss Shao, you must be careful!"
The color drained from Miss Shao's face. She said coldly, "I'll ask you to say no more. I know perfectly well who Young Master Zhang is! Please see yourself out!"
Her guards immediately closed in, their expressions menacing.
With no other choice, Jiang Che left.
As he stepped out of the shop, he saw Young Master Zhang returning.
He saw Miss Shao laughing and chatting with the man before she waved her guards away and followed him out the back door.
'This is bad!'
Sensing trouble, Jiang Che rushed back into the shop and out the back door in pursuit.
The back door opened into a small grove.
Miss Shao and Young Master Zhang were walking side-by-side, still laughing and talking.
Jiang Che used his Flying Swallow Step to trail them, ducking behind a tree whenever they seemed about to turn.
Before long, they reached a clearing in the middle of the grove and stopped.
Young Master Zhang pulled Miss Shao into his arms, and his hands began to wander.
But Jiang Che was certain this was not a normal romantic interaction.
Miss Shao's body was rigid, and her gaze was vacant. She didn't look like herself at all.
"N-no..."
Miss Shao protested weakly, but she felt completely powerless, almost entirely at his mercy.
She was consumed by regret. How could she have failed to see through his disguise?
A kind person had even tried to warn her, and she had chased him off.
Now her guards were gone, dismissed by her own hand. What could she possibly do?
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a stone hitting the ground.
Immediately after, Young Master Zhang stopped his assault.
"Who's there!"
Young Master Zhang roared.
The voice was laced with Strength. Jiang Che was now certain: this Young Master Zhang was, without a doubt, in the Stone Skin Realm!
Jiang Che had thrown that first stone wide on purpose, worried he might be mistaken and harm an innocent person.
Now that he knew the man was no ordinary person, Jiang Che was sure he was the flower thief, though he couldn't explain the change in appearance.
He hurled another stone, this time aiming straight for the man's face!
Young Master Zhang caught the stone with one hand, then crushed it to dust with a gentle squeeze.
"Who are you?! Show yourself!"
The sharp roar was coarse and powerful, nothing like the voice of a refined Young Master!
After throwing the stone, Jiang Che turned and bolted.
Young Master Zhang watched Jiang Che's retreating figure, wondering who he was.
He wanted to give chase but feared an ambush.
'Forget it. I'll just find a different spot!'
After a moment's thought, he scooped up Miss Shao and decided to find a new location.
Seeing the man didn't give chase, Jiang Che thought, 'He's a cautious one,' and began to follow again.
Young Master Zhang carried Miss Shao into a patch of tall grass.
He bent over, just about to put Miss Shao down.
But he suddenly sensed the sound of something whistling through the air behind him!
He dodged in a flash, and a stone grazed past his ear.
"You again!"
Young Master Zhang whipped around. Seeing it was Jiang Che again, he became utterly infuriated.
Jiang Che immediately ran again.
But this time, he had been thoroughly provoked. He threw Miss Shao aside and charged!
Seeing the man charge after him, Jiang Che immediately used his Qinggong at full strength, sprinting out of the grove.
All the while, he kept throwing stones behind him to slow his pursuer.
Young Master Zhang dodged several stones in a row, only to miss one, which hit him squarely on the toe.
Even for someone in the Stone Skin Realm, a blow to the toe was still painful. He faltered for a step, his speed dropping.
"You little brat! You're courting death!"
Young Master Zhang pushed his Qinggong to its limit. His speed exploded, and in an instant, he was right behind Jiang Che, his hand reaching for his neck!
Jiang Che sensed the rush of wind behind him and knew the man had caught up. He instantly entered the Heart Stream state. His Flying Swallow Step flared, and he shot forward ten feet.
'This kid knows Qinggong too!'
Young Master Zhang was surprised.
'He's only in the Bull Skin Realm, though. Just a parlor trick!'
He put on another burst of speed, closing the distance in an instant!
Seeing that he couldn't pull away, Jiang Che reached for his waist and threw a handful of lime back over his shoulder.
Young Master Zhang reacted instantly, shutting his eyes. The lime only dusted his face, missing his eyes.
He wiped his face and had just opened his eyes when he saw another stone flying out from the cloud of lime!
THWACK!
The stone hit him on the forehead and shattered on impact.
He quickly shut his eyes again to keep the fragments from getting in.
THUD!
At the same time, he heard another thud and, thinking Jiang Che had thrown another Hidden Weapon, quickly dodged.
When he opened his eyes again, Jiang Che was already gone.
"You!"
Having been repeatedly tricked, Young Master Zhang was furious. He closed the distance again, his hand shaped like a claw as he grabbed for Jiang Che's shoulder!
But Jiang Che spun around and threw a punch.
Fist met palm, and Jiang Che was sent flying back.
'This guy is at least at the Mid-stage of the Stone Skin Realm! He's much stronger than that Young Servant from before!'
Alarmed, Jiang Che used the force of the impact to spin around and flee.