Chapter 27: The Hunt

"Don't you think you might have offended someone?"

Lu Chenzhou had also noticed that they had picked up a few tails.

Shen Hua deliberately pretended not to notice they were being followed. Feigning ignorance of Lu Chenzhou’s implication, she replied, "I haven't offended anyone, though those things are likely plentiful. However, I have a habit in my line of work: I don’t like people standing behind me when I’m busy."

"In your estimation, how many are there?"

Lu Chenzhou scanned the surroundings quickly. He estimated there were about seven or eight of them, and their skills appeared to be quite formidable.

"How would I know?" Shen Hua said coldly. "But let’s be clear: if it comes to a fight, I will prioritize my own survival; you’ll have to handle the rest yourself."

Lu Chenzhou suspected that Shen Hua had known about the followers long before he did, perhaps even earlier. "How are you so certain they are here for me?" he asked.

"If they wanted to kill me, they wouldn't choose this location, nor would they wait until the middle of the night."

In truth, Shen Hua was still worried. Her medical kit contained some sensitive items, and it would be troublesome if they fell out during a skirmish. She quietly tucked the kit away beneath the counter of a closed-down stall.

"Tools of the trade certainly need to be well-hidden."

Lu Chenzhou had no weapons on him. Fearing that fighting empty-handed would put him at a disadvantage, he picked up a wooden stick from the ground.

"Here."

Shen Hua handed him a short blade, adding, "That thing of yours will snap after two strikes."

Lu Chenzhou didn't stand on ceremony. After taking the knife, he asked, "You've given me the blade, what will you use?"

"I'll run."

Shen Hua raised an eyebrow with a faint smile, though her eyes were filled with murderous intent. She looked coldly at the two heads peeking out from the nearest vantage point, mentally calculating how to eliminate these tails without revealing her own flaws.

As expected, four masked men in black swooped down from the rooftops, swords in hand. Several others remained on the roofs, armed with crossbows. Shen Hua recognized them instantly as hired assassins.

In an instant, the two were surrounded. A scent of damp earth filled the air, and a few raindrops fell upon their faces. Several blades lunged toward Lu Chenzhou and Shen Hua. They moved in perfect synchronization, dodging and reappearing behind their attackers like ghosts. The short blade in Lu Chenzhou's hand glinted coldly as it silently slit a black-clad assailant's throat.

Blood sprayed out, and the man collapsed slowly to the ground without even a chance to scream.

"One."

Lu Chenzhou counted aloud. He caught a glimpse of Shen Hua out of the corner of his eye. She moved with the grace of a swallow, flickering before an attacker. When the man swung at her, she didn't panic; with a deft twist, she dodged, causing the man to slash at empty air.

"Magistrate Lu, behind you!" Shen Hua warned.

Two men in black attacked Lu Chenzhou simultaneously from both sides.

Lu Chenzhou was a beat too slow. One of the blades sliced across his left arm, instantly staining his clothes with blood.

Shen Hua did not step in to help. Although she was being engaged by two or three men, she could have dispatched them in a few moves had she wanted to escape. She simply wanted to gauge Lu Chenzhou’s true capabilities.

While parrying, Lu Chenzhou shouted, "Shen Hua, are you really going to stand by and watch me die?"

"Magistrate Lu, I’m barely managing to save myself here!"

Shen Hua pivoted her body, delivering a sharp side-kick that landed squarely in an attacker's midsection, forcing him to double over in pain. She seized the opportunity to snatch the blade from his hand and slit his throat. Blood didn't spray; it seeped out slowly.

"Two."

"Magistrate Lu, I’ve already taken care of one for you."

Shen Hua deliberately announced the count to Lu Chenzhou. She had no intention of interfering with the remaining two. Watching Lu Chenzhou tangle with them, she could still tell he was holding back his true strength. She didn't need to guess his motives; she knew that from the very beginning, Lu Chenzhou had never stopped doubting her.

As soon as Shen Hua finished speaking, the men on the roof finally launched their attack. Several arrows whistled down from the side. Shen Hua swung her right arm, using the blade to deflect the fierce barrage. With a stomp of her feet, she vaulted into the air and landed in front of one of the archers, slashing across his waist. Before she could catch her breath, another arrow flew toward her. She quickly arched her back, spun her body, and flicked several silver needles from her sleeves, causing the archer to tumble from the roof.

One archer remained. Seeing the turn of events, he hesitated, then aimed not at Shen Hua, but at Lu Chenzhou. Lu Chenzhou had just finished off another assailant but had failed to notice the incoming arrow. By the time he reacted, the arrow was already heading for his chest, and at the same moment, the remaining assassin lunged at him with a sword.

Seeing the danger, Shen Hua didn't hesitate. Moving at maximum speed, she caught the arrow with her bare hand just two fists' distance from Lu Chenzhou. Before the assassin could react, she plunged the arrow into his neck, killing him instantly.

The last remaining assassin, seeing the tide turn, fled. Neither Shen Hua nor Lu Chenzhou pursued him. Looking at the seven corpses lying in the rain, Shen Hua sighed, tossed the blade aside, and retrieved her medical kit.

She examined Lu Chenzhou’s wound. "Let's get you to the Ministry of Justice to have that treated, or you might lose your life to infection."

Lu Chenzhou joked, "Dr. Shen, if not for you today, it would likely be me lying on the ground."

"These people were definitely here for you," Shen Hua replied. "That arrow from the roof is proof enough."

Lu Chenzhou nodded with a bitter smile. His lips were pale, and his limbs were growing weak; had Shen Hua not held him up, he would have collapsed.

Shen Hua helped him to a nearby corridor and sat him down. Only then did she discover an arrow lodged in his leg—a poisoned one. She hurriedly took a Purple Heart Pill, an antidote for a hundred toxins, from her kit and forced it into his mouth, then crushed the remaining pill and applied it evenly to the wound.

Once Lu Chenzhou was slightly more lucid, Shen Hua said, "My Purple Heart Pills are very expensive. I used four just now. They are twenty taels each; that makes eighty taels in total."

Lu Chenzhou managed a strained smile. "Very well. I will certainly compensate my savior when I can."

Shen Hua allowed herself a rare smile in return.

"I didn't think Dr. Shen knew how to smile."

Seeing Lu Chenzhou teasing her, her smile vanished instantly. "I was laughing at the fact that a dignified director of the Ministry of Justice was hunted down in the streets and ended up in such a sorry state."

Lu Chenzhou braced his hands on the ground, summoned his strength, and stood up with difficulty. He pulled a cloud-piercing arrow from his waist and fired it.

"Why didn't you use that earlier?" Shen Hua asked, watching the arrow fly into the sky.

"I didn't think of it."

"Then who is this for?"

"The men from the Ministry," Lu Chenzhou replied. "I'm in no condition to walk back now; they have to come and get me."

Within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, his subordinates arrived on horseback. Upon returning to the Ministry of Justice, Shen Hua treated the wound on Lu Chenzhou’s arm. Afterward, the subordinates took Shen Hua to perform an autopsy on the tomb-guarding eunuch. It took about an hour before she returned.

"Well?"

Lu Chenzhou, his leg and arm both injured, was sitting in a chair. Seeing him in such a state, Shen Hua found it somewhat amusing, though she dared not show it.

"He was poisoned with 'Seven-Day Dissolve,'" Shen Hua replied.

Seeing Lu Chenzhou’s confusion, she explained, "So-called 'Seven-Day Dissolve' means the poison only takes effect seven days after ingestion. Whether he was poisoned by someone else or took it himself, I cannot say."

Lu Chenzhou fell into deep thought. He suspected Zhou Zheng was the most likely culprit, as he was the only one with access to the two eunuchs and clearly anticipated the case being exposed.

"High, truly high. A pity he is nothing but a grave robber."

Shen Hua heard his words. She knew he was referring to Zhou Zheng, but he didn't know Zhou Zheng was a member of the Netherworld Pavilion. That explained why he possessed such rare poisons and could accurately calculate when the plot would be unmasked.

"Dr. Shen, there's no decent food at this hour, so you'll have to make do."

Shen Hua looked at the tea in her bowl, satisfied. "A cup of tea is enough."

She took a sip and asked, "Have you figured out who is behind this?"

Lu Chenzhou shook his head, then asked with a smile, "Why don't you analyze it for me?"

Shen Hua spread her hands. "You know my rules."

"I know, it's about the money!" Lu Chenzhou said with a touch of helplessness. He was curious why she valued money so much. "You own a pharmacy and have that pair of eyes—you must earn quite a lot. You’re wealthier than most in Nanjing. Why do you put money before everything else?"

"Is there anyone who complains about having too much money?" Shen Hua replied calmly. "Besides, I like money because I don't have enough, and I have to work hard to earn it. Magistrate Lu, you have never known the struggle of hunger or cold since birth; you’ve lived in luxury. The hardships of people like us are something you will never understand."

Lu Chenzhou did not refute her; there was no denying her words. However, her claim was not entirely true. She, too, had known a life of luxury in her childhood. It was only after entering the Netherworld Pavilion that she learned a truth: one must constantly make oneself stronger, and sometimes, money is needed to pave the way. That was why, since coming to Nanjing, she had focused primarily on making money. What she told Wei Shiqi was not a lie—her ultimate goal in earning money was indeed to buy back the former Xia residence.

"Chief, eight days left."

Lu Chenzhou’s subordinate reminded him. The number was like another blade thrust into his heart. He had barely survived today, and he still didn't know who was behind it.

"The attackers were professional assassins," Shen Hua remarked suddenly.

"But who in the imperial court would be tied to such people?"

This was the question haunting Lu Chenzhou. The attackers clearly knew his whereabouts and could avoid the patrol times of the Five Cities Military Commission. This proved it was someone familiar with Nanjing. He did have someone in mind, but without concrete proof, saying anything was useless and might even lead to a counter-accusation.

Shen Hua had someone in mind, too: Wen Lun. When she saw him at the manor today, the look in his eyes when he watched Lu Chenzhou was not that of a father-in-law looking at a son-in-law, but that of an enemy. Coupled with the things Lady Zhang had said, it was clear that Wen Lun was the true old fox.

Lu Chenzhou’s subordinate suddenly spoke up: "Sir, could it be the Netherworld Pavilion?"

Shen Hua lifted her teacup, the lid sliding gently against the rim. Lu Chenzhou glanced at her from the corner of his eye and replied, "No. The assassins from the Netherworld Pavilion are far stronger than those today. Their style is such that even if they can't survive, they won't give up on killing their target. Yet today, one of them managed to escape."

"I see. By the way, someone sent a letter from Jiming Temple today."

The subordinate took a letter from his robe and handed it to Lu Chenzhou.

"Jiming Temple?" Lu Chenzhou confirmed.

The subordinate nodded.

Shen Hua’s heart tightened. She had finally received a response, but the sender was unexpected. She had assumed the letter would be sent to the newly appointed Director of the Imperial Observatory; she never imagined the old monk would send it directly to Lu Chenzhou.

The subordinate was a discreet man. Everyone knew the status of the monk at Jiming Temple in the eyes of the Emperor, so when Lu Chenzhou broke the seal, the subordinate turned away, simultaneously blocking Shen Hua’s view.

Lu Chenzhou stared at the paper for a long time. It only contained two lines, but it sent him into deep contemplation.

Shen Hua finished her tea and ate two snacks, but Lu Chenzhou still hadn't recovered from his trance. She cleared her throat deliberately. "Magistrate Lu, it is the third watch."

Lu Chenzhou didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the letter. His subordinate felt it necessary to remind him, so he gave him a gentle nudge. "Sir, I will go and see Dr. Shen out."

Lu Chenzhou didn't look up, only nodded slightly.

Although Shen Hua wanted to know the contents, she had to leave. If the letter concerned her, leaving as soon as possible was the safest course of action.

After they left, Lu Chenzhou burned the letter. Its contents panicked him, but he wasn't puzzled by what the old monk said, but rather by the monk's guest.

'Eliminate the remnants of Jianwen. Utilize the Netherworld assassins.'

Those ten words left Lu Chenzhou restless.

How could the old monk, who never left Jiming Temple, know these things? The first part might have been learned through the Imperial Guard. But the key was the latter. Lu Chenzhou wasn't certain if the monk was referring to Shen Hua, but based on her cold-blooded efficiency in killing today, she certainly fit the profile of an assassin.

On her way back, the more Shen Hua thought about it, the more she realized she couldn't remain passive. If the letter contained anything detrimental to her, then Lu Chenzhou could not be allowed to live. She plucked a leaf and blew a sharp note. Sure enough, Jiang Huaiyu, who had been lurking in the shadows, appeared.

"Senior Sister, you called for me?"

"I need a favor."

"Who am I killing?"

Jiang Huaiyu was always direct. She knew that if Shen Hua called for her, it must be a problem she couldn't handle herself.

Shen Hua looked into the distance, her voice cold. "Lu Chenzhou."