SF 18

Ling Xun stayed in the ruined temple and continued circulating the five-element nurturing method several more times. By now, he could move both knees without any of the previous pain or stiffness, so he made his way back to Minister Liu’s residence.

The atmosphere along the way felt strangely tense. Every household had shut its doors and windows, and not even a single peddler could be seen in the alleys, completely at odds with the usual bustle of the capital. Ling Xun understood the reason. The city had likely been placed under lockdown after last night’s chaos.

To avoid trouble, he kept to quiet backroads, and whenever he passed patrols of soldiers, he cloaked himself in black gauze and slipped past undetected. After nearly an hour, he finally found the section of wall he had climbed over the day before. With a push of his foot, he soared easily over it and landed in the courtyard.

But before he could feel pleased about how quickly his injury had healed, a dense crowd surged forward and surrounded him like fish in a barrel.

“You’ve finally returned, Master Feng,” Minister Liu said. His aged face was ashen, drained of all vitality. Whatever he had been through overnight had clearly left him depleted.

Fortunately, Ling Xun had always been thick-skinned. Even surrounded like this, he managed to put on an innocent smile without a hint of panic. “Minister Liu, what’s the meaning of this? Why are you out here at the crack of dawn, bringing so many people to my courtyard for some fresh air?”

Minister Liu’s long, ginseng-like beard twitched as he let out a cold chuckle. “Master Feng disappeared for an entire night. Don’t you think an explanation is in order?”

Ling Xun raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Did Minister Liu not hear the commotion in the city last night?”

That seemed to strike a nerve. Minister Liu’s eyes suddenly gleamed, locking onto Ling Xun like he meant to pierce straight through him.

“There was unrest in the capital last night. Of course I heard it.”

“Then there you go.” Ling Xun yawned, treating the crowd like air, and stretched as he casually made his way toward the house. “I just went out to see what all the fuss was about.”

But just as he reached the threshold, several of Minister Liu’s household guards rushed forward and blocked his path with spears. Two others stepped up with blades drawn and pressed their sharp edges to his throat.

Ling Xun was caught mid-yawn, and unable to finish or retract it, the discomfort showed plainly on his face. His expression turned cold. “Minister Liu, surely you don’t intend to kill me just because I went out to watch the chaos last night.”

But Minister Liu ignored his feigned innocence, rasping, “I’ll ask only once. Among the formation masters who rioted last night, was Master Feng one of them?”

Ling Xun paused, then chuckled. “Minister Liu is giving me far too much credit. Those formation masters possess real skill. I’m just a flashy trickster who embroiders arrays onto silk. How could I possibly compare?”

Minister Liu clearly did not believe a word of it. Just then, the main gate of the residence rang with a heavy knock, and a servant rushed in to report that city troops had come to conduct a search.

“How dare they! Since when can they barge into my residence for a search just because they please?” Minister Liu snapped.

The servant relayed the officials’ words verbatim: “Minister, His Majesty has issued an order. After last night’s attack by formation masters, a citywide search is underway. No one is exempt, not even the households of royalty or the highest ministers of court.”

Minister Liu let out a cold snort. Though he knew perfectly well who had truly issued that so-called “imperial command,” he could not openly defy it. With no choice, he gave orders to admit the soldiers.

Voices could soon be heard clamoring in the courtyard as the officials entered and began their search. Ling Xun’s position had become rather awkward. He glanced at the blade still pressed to his throat, then turned to Minister Liu. His expression remained serene, even cheerful, as though he were not the one whose life hung in the balance.

Minister Liu hesitated. Everything came down to a single decision. Should they part ways here as enemies, or continue with this uneasy alliance built on ulterior motives?

The man before him remained steady as a mountain, unshaken even in the storm. Minister Liu thought quickly, then made his choice. He waved for the guards to lower their weapons and step back.

Almost at that very moment, the patrol officers poured into the courtyard. Seeing the scene before them, they immediately turned their attention to Ling Xun.

“Minister Liu,” one of them said, “this young man looks unfamiliar. He’s not part of the household, is he?”

Minister Liu, a seasoned old fox, remained calm and composed like an ancient pine tree, unmoved by wind or snow. He simply said, “This is Master Feng, the proprietor of Jinxiu Brocade Hall. He is also a newly recruited guest of the Chief Eunuch.”

The moment the name of the Chief Eunuch was mentioned, the officer in charge no longer dared act rashly. Still, he narrowed his eyes at the guards holding weapons and asked with a strained smile, “If he is a guest of the Chief, why is he here at Minister Liu’s residence? And why were your men holding him at blade’s edge?”

Ling Xun, well-versed in lies, would never miss a chance to put on a good show. “Sir,” he interjected, “the Minister and I go way back. Last night we shared a few drinks, and I overindulged, so I stayed the night. I planned to return to the Chief Eunuch’s residence this morning, but trouble broke out in the city. Out of concern for my safety, Minister Liu arranged for his guards to escort me. However, I have a peculiar habit. I only allow strapping, heroic men near me. Anyone else, I cannot abide. So the Minister had these guards report to me for inspection, that I might pick and choose to my liking.”

Minister Liu’s beard twitched, and he ground the words “too weak to truss a chicken” between his molars. The officer, meanwhile, had never heard anything quite so absurd as choosing guards like beauties in a pageant. He instinctively reached up to rub his weathered face, suddenly feeling a phantom ache in his teeth.

At that moment, Ling Xun could never have guessed how his offhand remark “I only like heroic men” would soon spread like wildfire across the entire realm.

“In that case,” the officer said, “allow me to escort the young master to the Chief Eunuch’s residence personally.”

The man might have had a face only a mother could love, but he was quick-witted. If the story proved false, everything would unravel the moment they arrived, and whether the man was a formation master or not, it would fall to the Grand Chamberlain to handle. If it turned out to be true, then delivering the man safely would earn him a favorable impression.

Minister Liu quickly added, “Excellent. I will accompany Master Feng as well.”

Preparations were swiftly made. Minister Liu personally arranged for a carriage to send Ling Xun off, and once they were inside, he lowered his voice and said, “Master Feng, given the current circumstances, we will have to proceed ahead of schedule. From here on, follow the plan exactly.”

Ling Xun understood that the old fox was trying to toss away this burning-hot potato. By sending him out, not only could he prevent news of the formation master hiding in his residence from spreading, but he could also push Ling Xun into carrying out the assassination of Qin Chao at this time when the entire city was hunting down formation masters. It was a plan that killed two birds with one stone.

“Rest assured, Minister Liu. I will not disappoint.”

Ling Xun spoke casually, not expecting Minister Liu to suddenly leave his seat in the carriage, turn to face him, and clasp his hands in a formal salute, bowing solemnly.

“Then I leave it in your hands, Young Master Feng.”

Startled, Ling Xun gave him another glance, and to his surprise, there was no trace of falsehood in the gesture. With his backside raised and forehead touching the carriage floor, the white-haired old man truly looked pitiable. For a moment, Ling Xun felt a twinge of guilt as he thought of what he was about to do.

“There is no need for such formality, Minister Liu. As the saying goes, every man bears responsibility for the rise and fall of his country. Though I am a formation master, my parents and kin are also citizens of Great Xia. Naturally, I cannot stand by and watch treacherous eunuchs dominate the court. I will do all I can to eliminate them.” He then changed the subject with a well-timed smile. “However, I remain unmarried, with no heir to carry on my line. Should I survive this mission, might I ask that you spare me a way out?”

“Of course.” Minister Liu reached into his robe and solemnly handed him a jade pendant. “I have already prepared a fast horse for you. It waits in the alley west of the Chief Eunuch’s residence. Once your task is complete, present this pendant to claim the horse. Ride to the southwestern city gate. The gatekeeper is my younger kinsman. If he sees this jade, he will treat it as if he is seeing me, and he will not block your path.”

“Then I thank you, Minister Liu.” Ling Xun took the jade pendant, his lips curving faintly.

This was exactly what he had been aiming for during his days of calculated politeness with the old man.

Back at the Yuan residence, Fang Jue had already mapped out the guards and posts at every city gate in the capital. Though they had failed to evacuate all their people in time, they still had about fifty men hidden throughout the city. It would not be difficult for one or two to slip out alone, but with this many people and the need to transport a fortune in goods, it would be near impossible to pass without bribes or favors.

That was why, when Minister Liu’s men came to fetch him, Ling Xun had not resisted at all. On the contrary, he had gone along gladly.

At that moment, the Minister Liu’s carriage was traveling through a narrow street flanked by high walls on either side, all belonging to noble families. As Ling Xun spoke with Minister Liu, he stealthily extended a hand out the window. Four fingers stood straight while his thumb folded in, forming a downward slicing gesture.

From the loft the carriage had just passed, a long, thin shadow detached itself from the green-tiled roof in response to Ling Xun’s silent command. It unfurled into a human form.

The man was none other than Fang Jue. Upon seeing Ling Xun’s hand signal from within the carriage, he curled his tongue and let out a sharp, birdlike whistle. In an instant, shadows erupted from alleys, shops, and inns across a radius of several li. Dozens of figures darted forward at once, converging rapidly on Ling Xun’s position.

Inside the carriage, Ling Xun silently kept time. He drew a square handkerchief from his sleeve, plain white but stitched with hidden patterns, and pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. But just as Minister Liu glanced in his direction, Ling Xun suddenly spun the cloth in his fingers.

That little piece of white fabric flashed before the muddled gaze of the old minister like some kind of hypnotic talisman. Before long, Minister Liu slumped over with a thud and slipped into deep sleep.

“Minister Liu, forgive me for going ahead of you. As for that dog Qin Chao, I will take his life sooner or later, but not as Feng Wuge.”

Ling Xun whispered the words under his breath, eyes darkening with a cold and heavy light. Then he swiftly wrapped the black gauze cloak around himself, vanishing beneath its folds like a serpent. He climbed out through the carriage window and disappeared into the shadows.