Chapter 13: Infiltration
At first, Chu Qing's attention had been focused on Chu Yunfei's grand banquet.
If that "wandering physician" had never appeared, all he needed to do was deliver a warning to Chu Yunfei and leave.
But now that this new variable had surfaced, his plan had to change. Just as he was contemplating his next move, he overheard that unexpected conversation—and somehow, the gossip even involved himself.
"So, she really said something like that?"
Chu Qing couldn't help but laugh quietly.
The young lady of the Wu family, Wu Qianhuan, was the only daughter of Wu Ganqi, the City Lord of Tianwu City.
A true daughter of heaven, she had been showered with affection since birth and was two years younger than the young Chu Qing.
Their acquaintance stretched far back into childhood—so far that he still remembered when she ran around bare-bottomed with twin braids, chasing after him through the streets and joining in his mischief.
They were, in the truest sense, childhood sweethearts.
The Chu family was the foremost clan in Tianwu City, and their fortunes had long been tied to Wu Ganqi's.
In a martial world where the strong devoured the weak, Wu Ganqi could not have stood firm against the storms of all directions without powerful allies.
Thus, the two families had always maintained a close bond.
Wu Qianhuan, two years younger than Chu Qing, had been an annoyingly lively little girl.
As a child, she followed him everywhere, copying whatever he did.
Her persistence irritated him to no end, yet he could never shake off that shadow trailing behind him.
After she began training in martial arts, Chu Qing disliked her even more.
Her talent and comprehension far surpassed his own. At first, he could still suppress her with two extra years of practice—but soon, that advantage vanished. When children fought, they seldom held back, and Chu Qing often ended up beaten black and blue.
Later… their families arranged a marriage between them.
To the original host, this was not only incomprehensible but also a devastating blow.
However, the current Chu Qing understood that Chu Yunfei's decision had been a deliberate and farsighted move for his future.
Chu Tian was set to inherit the entire Chu family; his path had been decided long ago.
Chu Fan had entered the Taiyi Sect—his talent ensured a bright future.
Only the youngest son, lacking both literary and martial excellence, had an uncertain fate.
As long as Chu Yunfei lived, Chu Qing could remain a carefree idler within the family.
But once the household passed to Chu Tian, everything would change.
After all, Chu Tian would marry, and relationships within the family would shift.
If there was no strong bond between them, and if his sister-in-law whispered in Chu Tian's ear day after day, then without their father's restraint, even a brother's affection could wear thin over time.
Once Chu Tian grew tired of him, Chu Qing's days of ease would be over.
To prevent that, Chu Yunfei had sought another path for his son.
For him to lower his dignity and personally propose the marriage to Wu Ganqi showed just how deeply he cared.
The union would not only strengthen ties between the two families but also ensure Chu Qing's security. After all, Wu Qianhuan was Wu Ganqi's only child—once her father passed, the vast Tianwu City would be hers.
As her husband, even if Chu Qing were utterly useless, his future would still be secure.
And with the Chu family's backing behind him, even if Wu Qianhuan came to despise him after marriage, she would never dare go too far.
There was hope in that arrangement.
But the original host had failed to understand, taking it as proof that his father did not believe in him—thus giving rise to the thought of leaving home.
Of course, how much of that decision had truly come from concern—and how much from fearing that after marrying Wu Qianhuan he would be beaten down by that fiery girl every day—was open to interpretation.
In any case, what was done could not be undone.
What he hadn't expected was that the incident had clearly left a deep mark on Wu Qianhuan.
She had even said something like "the shame of the Chu clan must be remembered forever."
"That little girl can't be serious, right? From what I remember of her, she's proud and stubborn—she'd never have accepted the marriage in the first place."
By now, Chu Qing had learned all he needed. He tossed a few coins onto the table, rose, and left the teahouse.
Once he stepped outside, he put thoughts of Wu Qianhuan behind him.
Walking leisurely along the main street, he bought a few fresh peaches from a roadside stall, eating as he planned.
"If it's him, then I can already guess what he'll do tomorrow.
"Still, since the Mirror of Retribution failed this time, their next move will surely be harder to guard against. Who exactly wants Chu Yunfei dead? Does the old man have any idea?
"It looks like tomorrow will be a busy day.
"Hmm… Zhiwei Pavilion and Emerald Bamboo Courtyard will both be sending cooks and servers to help in the Chu family kitchens. The kitchens are close to the rear courtyard—perhaps I can slip in through there."
With his plan taking shape, Chu Qing grew calmer and more deliberate in his actions.
He wandered through a few shops, bought some supplies, and finally rented a room at the Eight Directions Inn.
That night passed without incident. Before dawn the next morning, Chu Qing was already awake.
He changed into a set of night garments.
Moving under the dim sky, he used the fading darkness as cover and reached a narrow alley within moments.
There he heard a chorus of footsteps and a hurried voice urging, "Move quickly! The Chu family's banquet begins at sunrise.
"The Chu family's name carries weight—if we handle this well, everyone gets a bonus. Don't waste time!"
They were workers from Zhiwei Pavilion.
There were many of them—not only cooks but also plenty of servers.
Following them were porters carrying shoulder poles.
Some of the poles held bundles of firewood. With a three-day banquet ahead, fuel would be needed in great quantities.
Others carried jars of wine—Zhiwei Pavilion's famous brew, Immortal Drunk, a must-have for every Tianwu City feast. The Chu family had ordered plenty, so porters were abundant.
All of this matched Chu Qing's expectations.
He silently watched the group file through the alley. Then, shifting his weight, he vaulted down from the wall like a diving wild goose. Midair, he twisted his body, the fall slowing at the last instant before landing noiselessly right behind one of the porters.
He placed a hand on the man's shoulder, and before the porter could react, he struck his acupoint and dragged him into a side alley.
Setting down the shoulder pole and the jars of Immortal Drunk, Chu Qing swiftly stripped off the man's clothes and put them on himself.
Within moments, the transformation was complete.
He bound the man's hands, gagged him, and made sure he wouldn't regain movement too soon.
Acupoint sealing would fade naturally once internal energy dispersed, so Chu Qing prepared a backup plan to delay him further.
After hiding him safely, Chu Qing tucked two taels of silver into the man's waistband.
After all, he had taken the man's tools and ruined his day's work—it was only fair to leave compensation.
He placed the silver in his waistband so that, if anyone discovered him, they wouldn't be tempted to steal it and cause further trouble.
When everything was done, Chu Qing hoisted the pole and strolled forward, moving effortlessly as he joined the line ahead.
His light steps made no sound; the transition was smooth and flawless.
Not a single person noticed that the porter among them had been replaced.
(End of Chapter)