Chapter 56: Not Falling for the Trap (Bonus Chapter for 400 Pink Votes)
The night was deep and silent, with a bright moon hanging high in the sky.
Most of Xi'an Prefecture had drifted into slumber, save for the streets in the western part of the city, where rows of red lanterns hung high, still alive with song and dance, their clamor only accentuating the quiet stillness of the ancient city's night.
Suddenly, over a dozen shadowy figures emerged onto the roof of the Rising Joy Inn. Light as swallows, their faces concealed and crossbows strapped to their backs, they swiftly dispersed across the small courtyard.
Under the cold moonlight, the arrowheads gleamed with a frosty brilliance, silently exuding a chilling intent to kill.
A towering man, standing eight feet tall, strode to the center of the courtyard and bellowed in a deep voice, "Zhao Ling, come out and meet your death!"
Though his voice was low, it crashed down like a mountain upon the courtyard, thick with murderous intent. Even Mo Yi, hiding inside the room, felt it. "Who is that?" he asked.
"Lin Chi, the Marquis's personal guard."
Mo Yi was stunned. "Lin Chi? The one hailed as the best in the northwest?"
Tao Mu nodded.
Mo Yi let out a quiet "Oh" and silently moved to the window, pushing it open just a crack to peer outside. "It would be a shame to miss a duel between masters," he murmured. Before he could finish his sentence, the creak of a door sounded, and Zhao Ling stepped out, sword in hand.
Beneath the moonlight, his expression remained unshaken, steady as a mountain.
Lin Chi leaped into the air, his robust body light as willow catkins, his Crescent Moon Saber slicing through the night with a shrill whistle as it arced toward Zhao Ling's head.
With a metallic clang, Zhao Ling raised his sword seemingly at leisure, yet perfectly timed to block the descending saber. Lin Chi was thrown back as if struck by an invisible force, landing a zhang away and stumbling several steps before regaining his footing.
"Impressive skill!" Tao Mu exclaimed, stepping closer to Mo Yi.
Mo Yi sneered. "What good is skill? Once he's lured into the courtyard, there's no escape for him."
As they spoke, the two fighters had already exchanged seven or eight moves. The clashing of metal rang out like the striking of fine jade, crisp and melodious, yet Mo Yi and Tao Mu, standing by the window, felt an oppressive force bearing down on them, making it hard to breathe.
"Truly a battle between masters," Tao Mu remarked, his eyes gleaming.
Lin Chi's blade danced with the ethereal grace of a celestial being, while Zhao Ling stood firm as an ancient temple, unmoved by the storm. No matter how elusive Lin Chi's attacks were, Zhao Ling merely flicked his sword casually, sending Lin Chi crashing back to the ground like a fallen immortal.
The difference in their skill was already evident.
"This isn't working!" Tao Mu muttered. "Forget luring Zhao Ling into the courtyard—Lin Chi might not even last much longer." He turned to Mo Yi. "Didn't you say Zhao Ling was injured internally? Who diagnosed him?"
"Qu Yunxiang," Mo Yi replied, his eyes fixed on the scene outside.
Qu Yunxiang, the peerless expert by the Sixteenth Master's side, was skilled in medicine.
Tao Mu no longer doubted him. Frowning, he pondered for a long moment before saying, "We may need to reconsider our plans regarding Zhao Ling."
Mo Yi caught his implication and turned his head. "What?" His face was full of disbelief.
"We underestimated Zhao Ling," Tao Mu said gravely. "Our options now are either to step in and help Zhao Ling deal with Lin Chi, putting on a show for him, or to assist Lin Chi and ambush Zhao Ling when he least expects it. Either way, we must ensure he dies tonight."
Mo Yi hesitated briefly.
Was Zhao Ling truly that formidable?Suddenly, the sound of arrows whistling through the air like a torrential downpour erupted from outside.
The two men's expressions changed instantly.
No matter what they thought, there could only be one outcome today.
Zhao Ling stepped into the center of the courtyard—the God Crossbow Unit had made their move.
Mo Yi and Tao Mu couldn't help but glance outside.
Under the bright moonlight, arrows streaked like meteors, while sword gleams flashed like white silk. The meteors shot through the night sky toward the white silk enveloping Zhao Ling, clinking and clattering as they all fell harmlessly at his feet.
Lin Chi stood rigidly beneath the eaves, his life-saving Crescent Moon Sabers hanging limply at his sides.
Mo Yi and Tao Mu both paled. One turned to grab his Nine-Ring Broadsword, while the other whipped out a soft whip from his waist, both dashing toward the gate.
Just then, Zhao Ling let out a clear, phoenix-like cry. The quiet Renshou Street suddenly erupted with the loud, clanging sound of a gong, accompanied by a hoarse, duck-like voice shouting, "Help! Someone's robbing the Rising Joy Inn! Help! Someone's robbing the Rising Joy Inn!"
The two men halted in their tracks, exchanging bewildered glances.
The street filled with the clamor of hurried footsteps and rough, impatient shouts: "Who's making such a racket in the dead of night?"
The hoarse voice rang out clearly: "Officers, officers! There are armed robbers at the Rising Joy Inn!"
Armed—that made them not mere thieves but outright bandits.
"Where? Where?" Nervous shouts echoed down the street.
Tao Mu gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Let's hope Lin Chi still has the strength to get out of here."
"Should we help Zhao Ling?" Mo Yi hesitated, still reluctant.
Tao Mu shot him a deep look before pulling open the door. "Brother Zhao, what's happening?"
Lin Chi immediately understood and signaled to the crossbowmen lurking in the shadows. Like a receding tide, they vanished without a trace.
Zhao Ling sheathed his sword but didn't pursue. Instead, he flicked his toe—a cold gleam flashed as a broken arrow shrieked through the air and embedded itself into the gate, trembling with a resonant hum, like a peerless blade unsheathed.
Mo Yi, standing behind Tao Mu, turned pale. A chill ran down his spine before he managed to ask, "Brother Zhao, what's going on?"
Zhao Ling stood tall as a pine tree, turning slowly with a composed expression. His dark eyes shone as bright as morning stars.
"And you are?" He looked at Tao Mu with a faint smile, even warm and friendly. Yet, amid the scattered broken arrows around him, Tao Mu inexplicably felt a bone-piercing coldness that left his limbs numb.
With a smile, Tao Mu stepped forward and clasped his fists in greeting. "I am Tao Mu, Brother Mo's sworn sibling..."
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After hours of questioning and signing statements, Zhao Ling, Mo Yi, and Tao Mu finally stepped out of the magistrate's office as dawn broke.
Zhao Ling cupped his hands toward the two men. "Elder brothers, what are your plans now? If you don't mind, allow me to host breakfast for us all."
The two returned the gesture and were about to reply when the released innkeeper rushed up to them.
"Master Mo! Master Mo!" he wailed as if mourning his parents. "What in the world happened? Who exactly did you provoke? How could military-grade crossbow arrows be involved?" He tugged at Mo Yi's sleeve. "You must vouch for me in front of our owner—this has nothing to do with me! I'm just an innkeeper..." He refused to let Mo Yi leave no matter what.
Since Mo Yi had rented the courtyard, the innkeeper naturally sought him out.Mo Yi's temples bulged with veins. The argument had already drawn a crowd, and under so many watchful eyes, how could he possibly make a scene!
Zhao Ling stepped forward with a smile: "Brother Mo, it seems I'll have to invite you another day. It's getting late, and I still need to visit the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission to pay respects to Secretary Wu Xin, Official Wu." With that, he nodded apologetically at Tao Mu before turning to leave.
Tao Mu rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Mo Yi couldn't help but curse loudly, "Damn it all!"
The innkeeper's expression darkened at the words: "Master Mo, I respect you as my honored guest. How could you insult me like this..."
Amidst the chaotic clamor behind him, Zhao Ling felt as if he had shed a heavy shell he'd been carrying—an unprecedented lightness.
If not for the Ninth Miss of the Fu family stirring up trouble and convincing Yucheng and Sanfu to stay at the Rising Joy Inn, would he have reconsidered this matter?
Probably not!
All along, what had occupied his thoughts was returning to Jiangnan—that land always shrouded in misty rain, where even the air carried a damp scent... He had never considered taking a step back.
Yet, the Ninth Miss of the Fu family had inadvertently touched his weak spot.
Jiangnan was important, but it couldn't compare to these brothers who had followed him through life and death, nor to A Sen, whom he had raised with his own hands.
He had no choice but to reconsider.
Seeking refuge with the Sixteenth Master was an enormous risk, but it was also a rare opportunity.
The General Commander of Gansu, the commander of the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission, the Guangdong General Commander... What other cards did the Sixteenth Master hold?
The relationships were so intricate, yet this might very well be his chance.
If he succeeded, whether he returned to Jiangnan or not wouldn't matter anymore.
Zhao Ling paused in his steps, standing amidst the crowd with a faint smile—one tinged with an affection he himself didn't recognize.
If he refused, she'd have Yucheng pester him shamelessly. If that didn't work, she'd find a way to steal his Name Card and force him to meet Wu Xin... To think of such a simple, almost childish solution—only someone as fearless as the Ninth Miss of the Fu family could come up with such an idea!
Fu Tingyun's flower-like, radiant face suddenly surfaced in his mind.
By now, she must have received the news.
How delighted would she be?
Suddenly, he longed to see her, to witness her smiling face.
Would she wear a triumphant grin after getting her way? Or would she feign ignorance while secretly flashing a sly smile behind his back?
Zhao Ling found himself looking forward to it.
A loud voice interrupted his thoughts: "Young master, are you buying or not?"
Zhao Ling turned toward the sound.
A burly fruit vendor glared at him impatiently: "If you're buying or not, at least say something! Standing there like a wooden board is blocking my customers!"
The pears gleamed golden, the apples shone red, and the watermelons looked fresh and inviting.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was just two days away—this would be her first time spending it away from home, without her family.
The thought crossed his mind, and as if guided by some unseen force, he pointed at a watermelon in the basket: "How much for one?"
The vendor rolled his eyes: "How much? Do you think this is a year of good harvest? This is a famine year! Three taels of silver for one!"
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Carrying the watermelon, Zhao Ling knocked on the gate of the Willow Lane residence. Master Lu, Madam Lu, Yang Yucheng, A Sen, and Zheng San all rushed over excitedly.
"Ninth Master, are you alright?"
"Amitabha! You've returned safely at last!"
"Ninth Master, you should've seen Mo Yi's face—it turned completely green!"
They all chattered at once.His gaze, however, lingered on Fu Tingyun, who stood beneath the eaves of the main house in the distance.
She wore a moon-white Songjiang cloth short jacket with a right lapel and a deep blue coarse cloth skirt. Her jet-black hair was casually tied into a bun, adorned with two small jasmine flowers. Though she looked no different from the young girls passing by on the street, her presence was like a radiant pearl beside him, making it impossible for him to look away.
Fu Tingyun widened her eyes as she looked at him. "Ninth Master, are you feeling unwell?" She scrutinized him from head to toe, and seeing nothing amiss, added, "Why are you back so early? Young Master Yang said you would go to the Provincial Military Command early to pay respects to Official Wu. Did you not get to see him?"
Her bright gaze made Zhao Ling uneasy. He lifted the watermelon in his hand. "Ah, I happened to come across a vendor selling these. They're quite rare, so I bought a few for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I’ll head to the Provincial Military Command now..."
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Not good at writing fight scenes... (>_
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