The sun had already set, and it had been seven or eight hours since Zhou Ruoyu went missing.
Because the roads were mountainous and had many forks, searching for Zhao Ziyang and Zhou Ruoyu was quite slow.
But fortunately, they occasionally found snack wrappers along the way, providing important clues for the search.
According to the villagers who reported the incident, the man suspected of being a beggar had snatched a large quantity of snacks from the convenience store, presumably to give to the young girl Zhou Ruoyu.
Thus, the snack wrappers found on the road were easily explained.
The little girl, having finished her snacks, threw the wrappers by the roadside. Perhaps it was unintentional, but it was like a guide for Ye Cangtian and the others.
After a while, on a hillside, the group finally discovered the two individuals resting.
One big and one small.
The smaller one, around four or five years old, with a tender and pretty face, was asleep against a large rock, looking tired.
Beside her sat a man in tattered clothes, looking rather disheveled.
Zhao Ziyang!
"Finally found them!" Ye Cangtian exhaled softly.
If it were just Zhao Ziyang, they wouldn't have been able to catch up. But with a young child in tow, his pace was naturally slower.
This gave them the opportunity to catch up!
"Ruoyu!" Zhou Haiyue cried out and rushed forward.
However, after only two steps, Ye Cangtian pulled her back. Zhao Ziyang had already looked up, his unfocused pupils and emanating killing intent suggesting he could lash out and kill at any moment.
Ye Cangtian was somewhat solemn. It was his first time seeing Zhao Ziyang, but the impression the man gave him was one of extreme danger.
This was definitely a formidable opponent!
"Mommy!"
Zhou Ruoyu, leaning against the large rock, woke up. After rubbing her eyes, she stood up with a surprised joy.
However, Zhao Ziyang held her hand, preventing her from running over.
Zhou Haiyue shouted with a hint of tears, "You scoundrel, why did you take my daughter? Let her go! Come at me if you have a problem!"
Zhao Ziyang indifferently glanced at everyone, then said to Zhou Haiyue, "She is my daughter!"
"No, she's not your daughter. Zhao Ziyang, look closely, is she really your daughter?" Ye Cangtian suddenly spoke.
Zhao Ziyang looked down at Zhou Ruoyu. The four or five-year-old girl looked unfamiliar at this moment, but then her image seemed to overlap with that of his own daughter.
He shook his head. In his vision, it remained the same; one moment she didn't look like his daughter, the next he felt she was.
Ye Cangtian added, "Zhao Ziyang, think carefully. Your daughter died eight years ago. This little girl is innocent; she is not your daughter!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zhao Ziyang's head snapped up, and he gritted his teeth, "How could my daughter possibly die! She's not dead!"
Ye Cangtian knew Zhao Ziyang was not of sound mind.
It was precisely because of this that the man mistook the four or five-year-old Zhou Ruoyu for his daughter!
Ye Cangtian walked towards him step by step and spoke again, "Zhao Ziyang, do you remember eight years ago? Eight years ago, a local bully molested your wife and daughter, causing their deaths. In your rage, you single-handedly slaughtered over a hundred people from the bully's side."
Zhao Ziyang listened to the explanation and for a moment fell into memory. Then, he painfully clutched his head.
He seemed to be in immense pain, so much so that Zhao Ziyang was frantically hitting his own head with his fists.
As expected, he had gone mad, and quite severely! Ye Cangtian sighed.
At that moment, Zhou Haiyue, somehow breaking free from his grip, rushed towards Zhao Ziyang. "Ruoyu!"
"Come back!"
Ye Cangtian wanted to grab her but it was too late.
Zhou Haiyue had already reached Zhou Ruoyu and hugged her daughter tightly.
"Seeking death!"
Zhao Ziyang suddenly stopped his self-inflicted torment. His face turned indifferent, and he raised his hand to strike Zhou Haiyue.
If this palm strike connected, given Zhou Haiyue's ordinary physique, she would undoubtedly be killed instantly.
However, Zhao Ziyang's hand suddenly froze, stopping mid-air.
The little girl Zhou Ruoyu looked up, her innocent and pure eyes gazing at Zhao Ziyang: "Uncle is a good person. Good people don't hit my mommy!"
Zhao Ziyang looked at the little girl before him. His unfocused pupils regained clarity, and he became much more sober.
He knew that the little girl before him was indeed not his daughter, but her innocent and pure eyes brought a sense of peace to his heart.
She resembled his daughter's gaze from years ago.
At this moment, Zhao Ziyang was lucid!
He said to the mother and daughter clinging to each other on his knees, "Let's go! All of you, go!"
Zhou Haiyue's heart had been pounding in her chest. Even now, she was somewhat weak from fright.
However, to get away from this madman as quickly as possible, she hugged her daughter and stumbled towards Ye Cangtian and the others.
"Everyone else can leave, but you cannot!"
Suddenly, Zhao Ziyang's voice rang out again.
Ye Cangtian knew he was referring to him and smiled, "Of course, we will have a battle sooner or later, won't we?"
It was clear that Zhao Ziyang had regained his senses and knew his purpose in Yangzhou was to kill him!
But Ye Cangtian had no intention of leaving. Rather than constantly being on guard against this man back in the city, it was better to settle things here and now.
"Brother Ye!" Xu Shian frowned.
"This is between him and me. You protect her and the child, and wait for Liu Zhendong to bring people to pick them up!" Ye Cangtian stated firmly.
Xu Shian sighed. He was aware of Zhao Ziyang's strength; he was a very powerful individual.
However, seeing Ye Cangtian's resolute attitude, he could only take a deep breath and say, "Be careful!"
Ye Cangtian walked forward, looking at Zhao Ziyang, known as the Great Demon. Although his clothes were ragged, his chiseled face showed that the man, when lucid, was quite charismatic.
This rugged tough guy image, with a little tidying up, would likely be favored by many girls!
Honestly, he admired this former top expert of the Dragon Group.
It was just a pity that the murder of his wife and daughter had driven him completely mad, causing a drastic turn in his life.
One could only say, what a shame!
Ye Cangtian stopped about five meters away from Zhao Ziyang and smiled, "Actually, I'm very curious. For a man like you, how did Yuwen Chengji persuade you?"
Zhao Ziyang remained silent.
Ye Cangtian was not surprised, his smile bright, "It's fine if you don't say. Being able to spar with the former top expert of the Dragon Group is enough!"
Zhao Ziyang frowned slightly, then said sternly, "I will not hold back. You will die!"
"Who dies is not yet decided!"
...
"Boom!"
The two attacked almost simultaneously, without weapons, without any particular combat techniques, only the most primitive form of hand-to-hand combat!
After all, both Zhao Ziyang and Ye Cangtian were top-tier experts, and combat techniques were almost useless in such a battle.
From afar, watching their fight, Xu Shian's expression was grim.
Zhou Haiyue showed a worried expression. Ye Cangtian was fighting this madman to help her find her daughter.
"Mommy, why are the two uncles fighting?" Zhou Ruoyu asked, her innocent and pure eyes wide with confusion.