Chapter 5: Sudden Change

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In the dead of night, when all was silent, a shadow moved swiftly within the Ouyang residence.

Suddenly, a patrol appeared ahead, carrying lanterns. The shadow twisted, darting straight into a cluster of flowers. The two patrolling guards, without much scrutiny, passed by directly.

Once more, the shadow moved, slipping past several patrols, and finally arrived at a secluded courtyard.

This shadow was none other than A-Feng.

Earlier that day, A-Feng had overheard people outside the Ouyang estate inquiring into the case of the Ouyang family head, their expressions grave. Since ancient times, officials and outlaws have stood opposed. Though A-Feng had the intent to assassinate, he had not yet acted. Now, all signs pointed to a scheme directed at him; if he did not uncover the mastermind, would he not be toyed with like a puppet?

Thus, A-Feng resolved to investigate the Ouyang residence once more.

Casting his gaze about, he saw that the side courtyard was brilliantly illuminated, and through the windows of a nearby building, the shadows of people moved.

A-Feng crept forward until he reached a window, where he heard voices from within.

“Wine, I want wine,” a voice called out.

“Young master, don’t talk nonsense. Mind your tongues, all of you. If anyone outside catches wind of this, you’ll be skinned alive. Understood?”

A few timid female voices replied, “Understood.”

“Go, all of you.”

Soon, several maids left the room, closing the door behind them.

A-Feng melted into the shadows. Before long, voices rose again from inside.

“Master Yun, mind your words and actions. Your father has only just passed away. You mustn’t be reckless. Everyone is grieving, how can you ask for wine in public? If caught, what then?”

“Oh, Brother Ping, thanks for the reminder. I was just upset. Big brother scolded me in front of so many people today—it left me in a bad way.”

“A-Yun, endure for now. Your eldest brother is not favored by the dowager or your mother. Once your father’s affairs are settled, the entire Ouyang estate will be yours. Take heart—there’s plenty of time ahead.”

“Yes, when the time comes, I’ll tell Mother to give big brother his share and be done with it.”

“Haha, then you’ll be free to do as you please, won’t you?”

Their laughter drifted out, followed by furtive murmurs.

A-Feng strained to hear, wishing to draw closer for clarity, when, unexpectedly, a shadow flashed across a distant rooftop.

He hesitated only briefly before deciding—the shadow was likely the same assassin from the previous night.

Such a clue could not be ignored; it was an opportunity to discover the mastermind.

Keeping a safe distance, A-Feng tracked the shadow ahead.

After some time, the figure paused, searching the surroundings, as if looking for something.

A-Feng, observing from afar, held his breath, steadying himself as he watched.

The shadow produced an object from within his clothing and, as though unafraid of discovery, approached a lantern, inspecting it closely and glancing up now and then, as if confirming something.

From his movements and stature, A-Feng felt a flicker of familiarity.

Could he be mistaken?

While he pondered, the black-clad figure finished his task and hurried off in another direction.

A-Feng collected himself and followed in silence.

Before long, the figure arrived at another secluded courtyard, where faint lights shone and the sounds of women’s voices occasionally drifted out—he had reached the quarters of the female residents.

Soon after, the lights within the courtyard were extinguished. The figure crept silently to the main house, produced a slender tube, and fiddled with the window.

Sedative incense!

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A-Feng snapped to attention—the man’s technique was so practiced, he must be an old hand.

Hidden in the darkness, A-Feng frowned. Was all this effort merely to abduct someone?

After the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn, the black-clad man slipped away, leaving no sign of disturbance within.

Moments later, he returned, carrying something over his shoulder, shut the door behind him, and hurried off.

He twisted and turned, arriving at a rockery, where he made a soft “coo-coo” sound. Two more black-clad figures emerged, took the burden from him, and melted into the shadows.

The first man then turned, heading quickly in another direction.

A-Feng hesitated—which way should he follow?

In a split second, he trusted his intuition and continued after the original figure—surely he had yet to complete his mission.

The man moved nimbly, soon arriving at a courtyard of clearly higher status. This time, he did not hesitate, slipping inside.

Not long after, a commotion arose—whether the man had failed or was unintentionally discovered was unclear.

“Screams! An assassin! Help, someone, an assassin!”

Several shrill female cries, breaking with fear and tears.

The intruder burst out, his blade already stained with blood, appearing even more ghastly in the lamplight.

Whether intentional or not, he glanced toward A-Feng’s hiding spot before vanishing into the night.

At that moment, A-Feng’s pupils contracted, a chill running down his spine.

Was this another trap?

Torn by doubt, A-Feng saw the man fleeing and threw caution aside, giving chase.

The people running within the courtyard, seeing yet another shadow, screamed all the louder.

“My lady has been injured!”

“Hurry, an assassin! Catch the assassin!”

“My lady—!”

...

A-Feng could hear no more than snatches, but the word “lady” reached him, and his heart jolted. So the target was the wife of the Ouyang patriarch—then who had been in the earlier courtyard?

Ahead, the black-clad figure, perhaps aware of pursuit, quickened his pace, vaulting over walls to a remote spot.

A-Feng halted as the man stopped as well, apparently aware of being followed, and ceased his flight.

The figure slowly turned, silent, as A-Feng scanned the area—a rarely visited annex, with no tracks to be seen.

Suddenly, A-Feng shifted right, retreating just as another assailant struck from behind—a second figure in black, blade flashing coldly even in the night.

In that instant, A-Feng understood—he had been spotted after the earlier exchange at the rockery.

Now was no time for regret—he was beset before and behind, his life hanging by a thread.

He steadied himself, advanced instead of retreating, and with a swipe at his waist drew a short blade, gripping it in reverse and lunging for his opponent’s midsection.

“Careful!” came a warning from the distance—the voice oddly familiar, deepening A-Feng’s confusion.

In a flash, the warned man turned nimbly, redirecting his weapon at A-Feng’s face.

A-Feng rolled left to evade, barely regaining his feet when a shout rang out:

“Together!”

The two black-clad men attacked from both sides, showing no mercy.

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A-Feng defended with all his might, but soon, outnumbered, fresh wounds began to mark his body.

The two assailants, too, had their share of cuts—though not serious, should they delay much longer, the household guards would surely arrive.

Exchanging glances, their blades grew even more urgent, pressing A-Feng hard.

Suddenly, a commotion sounded in the distance, and A-Feng sensed their growing desperation.

In that instant, he steeled himself and, facing one opponent head-on, let the blade pierce his left shoulder.

The man hesitated, only to see a flash of cold steel—his throat grew hot; he tried to speak, but no words emerged. Looking down at his hands, he saw only blood as his strength left him and he collapsed.

All this, though intricate in telling, happened in a mere blink.

Seizing the moment, A-Feng retreated, the blade still lodged in his shoulder, a wave of pain and cold sweat washing over him.

The remaining attacker, seeing his companion fall, did not flee but pressed his assault.

A-Feng raised his hand to block, but faltered, earning a slash to his arm.

The man’s blade gleamed, darting forward—about to land a fatal blow.

Yet A-Feng’s eyes hardened; with his right hand, he seized the blade in his left shoulder, yanked it free, and, in a horizontal sweep, plunged it into the man’s neck.

The intruder’s knife drove an inch into A-Feng’s flesh before stopping—he had no strength left and fell.

Gazing at the half-foot blade, A-Feng knew the only way to end it swiftly was to bait his foe, exposing himself and, in a lightning move, turn his own wound into an attack.

To defeat the enemy, he had hurt himself deeply, but these men were like a cancer—if not eradicated, they would never cease.

He had taken a desperate gamble, but succeeded, and now felt no further qualms.

Checking his injuries, he found most were superficial; the shoulder wound, though deep, had not pierced his lung.

Looking down at the black-clad man convulsing on the ground, not yet dead, A-Feng tore off his mask—and was shocked to see it was the innkeeper he knew.

In a flash, memories of the past month flooded A-Feng’s mind. Had he been discovered from the very start? Such a meticulous plan had surrounded him completely—was it all just to frame him?

“Damn!” A-Feng suddenly realized: tonight’s assassination was orchestrated to incriminate him. By appearing here, he had played into their hands.

His hiding place was now exposed, and his long inaction had made the mastermind impatient enough to set him up, pinning all these murders on him.

Afterward, they would either kill him outright or let the authorities discover him, leaving him defenseless against the accusations.

Such venom—who could be behind it?

A-Feng was left stunned.

“He’s not here!”

“There’s one courtyard left to search!”

The noise grew louder and closer, snapping A-Feng back to reality.

Ignoring the pain, he scanned the area and vaulted over the wall in a few breaths.

As he cleared the wall, the courtyard gates burst open, and guards flooded in.

“There are two bodies here—quick, report to the young master and the steward!”

The courtyard erupted into action.

To be continued.