Zhan Zhao Adventures - Chapter Two (Part I)

Chapter Two: The Curtain of Twilight (Part I)

The youth in the yellow robe turned around, staring at Mu Xiuquan’s corpse. It took him a long while to fully grasp what had just happened.

 

For no rhyme or reason, in the span of a single night, he had already provoked two of the most powerful factions in the martial world: the Tang Clan and the Cloud-Rising Manor. He let out a heavy sigh. He was so young; this was hardly the age for him to be sighing. In the end, his experience in the jianghu was simply too shallow. The dark, convoluted depths of the human heart were things he still could not comprehend.

 

He scanned his surroundings, his eyes filled with doubt. Who had thrown that short halberd? Since this mysterious ally had intervened twice now, why refuse to show their face? Wherever his gaze landed, he saw only the cowering, distant faces of a dozen or so onlookers. Under his scrutiny, every single one of them shrank back.

 

When he looked back down, his beloved hound still lay motionless on the ground. The companion that had been by his side since childhood was now separated from him by the boundary of life and death. For a fleeting moment, a profound emptiness washed over him, as if he were entirely alone in this vast world.

 

Stepping softly to the hound’s side, he called out, "Innkeeper, I must trouble you to bury him. There is poison in his system, so please tell your men to be careful and avoid touching him directly."

 

With a flick of his right wrist, a large silver ingot landed on the counter with a sharp clack. As he lowered his head, a single tear fell, splashing onto the cold floor.

 

The plump innkeeper couldn't help but sigh as well. "Rest assured, young master. I’ll have the boys carry him to the back first. Once the rain stops, we’ll bury him on the mountain behind the courtyard." He gestured for a few waiters to come over. They found some wooden planks, placed the hound’s body onto them, and carried it away.

 

When the youth in yellow turned back around, he discovered that the frail boy had vanished in the chaos. He let out a soft exclamation of surprise, his thin eyebrows knitting together. Searching the area, he finally spotted a small silhouette slipping stealthily toward the main courtyard gate under the flickering candlelight, clearly trying to escape amid the confusion.

 

Before the youth could give chase, the boy let out a wretched cry and tumbled backward, as if he had slammed face-first into something massive at the entrance.

 

A black-maned bay horse charged into the courtyard like a whirlwind, followed closely by a dozen armed soldiers.

 

The man sitting imperiously atop the bay horse didn't even bother to dismount before bellowing at the top of his lungs, "Old Cai! It’s pouring buckets out here, and you’re just sitting inside? Have your dog legs snapped? My men have been drenched in the rain for an hour! Hurry up and brew some ginger soup and hot water! — Hey, you blind, sickly little brat, are you looking to die running straight into my horse?!"

 

The plump Innkeeper Cai immediately hurried out to greet him, bowing, scraping, and forcing a sycophantic smile. However, the smile was frozen solid on his face, looking worse than if he were crying. He had encountered far too many disasters tonight, and he had already forced far too many smiles.

 

"Ah, if it isn't Commandant Feng, Master Feng from the Prince of Xiangyang’s Manor! You just graced my humble establishment with your presence this morning, Master Feng; Old Cai never expected you to return so soon. — In fact, Old Cai was just about to report a crime to the authorities, and by some miracle, here you are. Aren't you just a living immortal, possessing such foresight?"

 

"What? Report a crime? Let me tell you something, Old Cai. I, Feng Shao, am a dignified commandant of the Prince's Manor. These past few days, I've run myself ragged tracking down a fugitive of the realm. Why are you bothering me with trivial, petty matters?"

 

"Master, it is no trivial matter! It’s murder! Over a dozen lives!"

 

Puffing out his chest and stomach, Commandant Feng swung himself off his horse. The inn's waiters frantically rushed out into the rain to lead his mount to the stables.

 

"Rebellion! Utter rebellion! Although this isn't Xiangyang proper, it still falls under the jurisdiction of the Xiangyang Prefecture. How dare anyone commit such an outrage here! — Where is the killer?!"

 

Just as Commandant Feng was about to step into the main hall of the inn, he caught sight of a youth clad in a short yellow tunic and robe. Holding a bamboo umbrella, the youth walked out of the hall and helped the "sickly little brat"—who was still lying in the mud after nearly being crushed under the horse's hooves—to his feet.

 

Commandant Feng narrowed his bulging, puffy eyes and said arrogantly, "Old Cai, this pretty boy isn't one of your employees, is he?"

 

The youth in yellow raised his eyebrows, a flash of murderous intent surfacing on his face before vanishing instantly. He turned and led the boy into the main hall. Caught in the sweep of the youth's icy glare, Commandant Feng couldn't help but shudder.

 

The innkeeper hurriedly intervened, "This young master is indeed a guest at our inn. — Master Feng, you had better come inside and see the hall for yourself."

 

Commandant Feng wanted to press further, but seeing the youth’s extraordinary bearing, his luxurious attire, and the brilliant pearl gleaming on his collar, he realized the boy clearly had a powerful background. Hesitating for a moment, he swallowed his reprimand. Naturally, he vented this frustration onto the plump Innkeeper Cai instead, barking, "Old Cai, are you trying to rush me to my grave?!"

 

While berating Old Cai, he led his men into the main hall. The thick, metallic stench of blood hit them squarely in the face.

 

Commandant Feng’s eyes immediately fell upon the corpses of the Cloud-Rising Manor’s men. He froze. Though he served the immensely powerful Prince of Xiangyang and had witnessed many bloody battles, the gruesome scene inside the hall still made his heart skip a beat.

 

"Rebellion! Utter rebellion! Where... where is the killer?!" Even though his words remained fierce, his knees were secretly beginning to tremble.

 

Innkeeper Cai asked carefully, "You wish to know about the ones who slaughtered these people? — They have already left."

 

Commandant Feng instantly felt a massive wave of relief wash over him. He slammed his hand hard against a table, shouting, "Utterly preposterous! You... how dare you let criminals escape?!"

 

Terrified, Innkeeper Cai fell to his knees with a heavy thud. "Officer Feng, I have been wronged! Those three possessed terrifying martial arts and killed without blinking an eye. How could a mere civilian like me stop them? All the guests here can testify for me. I beg you to investigate thoroughly!"

 

"Old Cai, why are you shaking like that? Officer Feng isn't strictly blaming you," a constable chimed in, stepping forward to give Innkeeper Cai a light kick. "Get up, quick! Hurry to the kitchen and bring out your best wine and food. Say a few more pleasing words, and Officer Feng won't hold it against you."

 

Innkeeper Cai eagerly complied and hurried away.

 

The constable then leaned closer to Feng Shao, offering a sycophantic smile. "Officer Feng, Commander-in-Chief Shao is currently nearby. Since a brutal murder has taken place here, it’s hard to guarantee it isn't connected to that royal fugitive we're tracking. Why not take this opportunity to invite him over to handle the investigation? It would save you a great deal of trouble. What do you think?"

 

These words instantly struck a chord with Commandant Feng. He nodded repeatedly, exclaiming, "Reasonable! Most reasonable! Men, quick, light the sky-piercing signal flare!"

 

One of the soldiers immediately answered the call, took out a signal rocket, lit it, and walked out into the courtyard. With a sharp, piercing whistle, a streak of red light shattered the curtain of rain. Amidst the howling wind and downpour, it burst into the massive shape of a white longsword, hanging in the sky for a long time without fading.

 

The youth in yellow had initially disdained entangling himself with the government forces and was about to lead the boy out of the hall to return to his room. However, upon seeing the signal flare, he froze. To anyone's surprise, he turned back and reseated himself at his table in the corner of the room.

 

Meanwhile, Commandant Feng had ordered his constables to clear the corpses to one side while he arrogantly picked a choice table and sat down.

 

The kitchen hands had already stoked the fires, quickly serving hot ginger soup and tea. Innkeeper Cai personally attended to the guests, ordering the kitchen to prepare a feast of fine food and wine.

 

Once the bloody stench in the room was cleared away, it was replaced by the savory aroma of stir-fried dishes. The raucous shouting of the soldiers soon drowned out the sound of the wind and rain outside. Were it not for the bodies piled in the corner of the wall, no one would have believed that a dazzling, lethal battle had just concluded here.

 

As Innkeeper Cai served the wine and food, he maintained his placid smile and asked, "Master Feng, now that your signal flare has been released, may I ask if any other distinguished guests will be arriving? That way, my humble inn can prepare in advance to receive them properly."

 

Hearing his question, Commandant Feng tilted his square face toward the ceiling and announced loudly, "Naturally. When he arrives shortly, you had better serve him with the utmost care. Old Cai, his official rank is illustrious, and he is not as easygoing as I am."

 

Innkeeper Cai hurriedly brought over a pot of freshly warmed wine, poured a cup for him, and asked cautiously, "Master Feng, who exactly is this distinguished guest of yours? Pray tell, so that Old Cai may broaden his horizons."

 

Delighted by the flattery, Commandant Feng grew even vaster in his arrogance. He declared boisterously, "This master is, of course, the absolute number one expert under the command of our Prince of Xiangyang—the 'Blood Without Trace,' Lord Shao Jizu!"

 

The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp pfft echoed through the room. The youth in yellow spat out a mouthful of wine, having choked on it. He began to cough uncontrollably, his face flushing crimson.

 

Unbothered, Commandant Feng continued, "Not only does Lord Shao possess an illustrious official reputation and unmatched martial arts, but he has also received an imperial decree from the Emperor himself. In a matter of days, he is to marry Miss Linglong of the Linglong Manor! If it weren't for the hunt for the Prince's fugitive, an esteemed figure like him would never deign to visit a place like this. When he arrives, you had better pull yourself together and serve him flawlessly."

 

While the other patrons listened with bated breath to his endless bragging, the face of the youth in yellow grew increasingly pale. From the moment the name "Shao Jizu" fell from Commandant Feng's lips, the youth looked as though he had seen a ghost.

 

The frail boy sat right beside him, mud and water still dripping from his clothes. His small eyes darted back and forth across the youth's face, unable to suppress his curiosity. Even when facing formidable enemies, this youth in yellow had remained smiling and perfectly composed. Why did the mere mention of "Blood Without Trace" Shao Jizu make him look as if he had met his ultimate nemesis?

 

What the boy did not know was that the youth in yellow desperately wanted to turn on his heel and flee at that very second. However, the youth also knew that leaving right now would draw far too much suspicion. Thus, he continued to pour himself wine, forcing an air of calm, though his hands had begun to tremble slightly.

 

Right at that moment, the distant sound of thundering hooves echoed through the wind and rain. Judging by the sound, a troop of dozens of riders was galloping hard toward the inn. Instantly, the main hall fell so silent that only the howling of the storm could be heard.

 

The hoofbeats drew closer and closer, yet there was no clamor of human voices—clearly a sign of highly disciplined, elite cavalry. In the blink of an eye, the riders arrived at the entrance.

 

Commandant Feng let out a massive sigh of relief and barked, "This must be Lord Shao arriving with his elite guard!" Standing up, he grabbed Innkeeper Cai and led the crowd out to greet them.

 

The youth in yellow had been waiting for precisely this moment of chaotic movement. He placed a finger to his lips, giving the boy a sharp "shh" signal. Taking advantage of the frenzy, he executed his lightness skill, darting toward the inner chambers of the inn. Since the main exit was blocked, his only choice was to hide inside.

 

A yellow shadow flashed, graceful as a startled swan, and he vanished without a trace.