Chapter 25: Ambush
Near North Street in Tianwu City, a narrow alley held a wonton stall.
A wandering physician sat clutching a bowl, slurping with relish.
The wontons had thin wrappers, generous fillings, and a broth made from baby bok choy, sprinkled with dried shrimp and drizzled with chili oil.
The physician's nose glistened with a fine sweat as he ate.
After a while he swallowed the last mouthful, tossed the large bowl onto the nearby stack, patted his belly, and sighed with contentment.
"Delicious. Master, your wontons are Tianwu City's finest. Zhimei Pavilion and Cuizhu Hall can't compare," he said.
The stall owner sat idly, bored.
Business had been poor today. The Chu family hosted a banquet; anyone who offered congratulations could be seated, so the small wonton stall saw few customers.
Hearing the physician's praise, the owner remained wary and asked, "You're not planning to dine and dash, are you?"
In these times many went hungry; though Tianwu City fared reasonably under Wu Ganchi's governance, not everyone had full bellies.
Some idlers gorged at inns and then lay in wait for a beating when the bill came due.
The wandering physician laughed softly, produced the wonton money, and tossed it onto the table.
Rising, he breathed lightly, "Feels like rain's on the way. Hope I can come again."
He lifted his signboard and headed out of the alley.
The owner pocketed the money, glanced up at the clear sky, and muttered, "Crazy man," before closing up and preparing to attend the Chu banquet.
The physician left the alley and headed east, passing through the east gate and taking a narrow path instead of the main road.
When he reached a concealed spot he threw the sign into the grass and began removing his outer garments.
At that moment several figures in cyan clothing appeared and surrounded him.
The physician paused and forced a smile. "Gentlemen, do you seek money or my life?"
"Come with us," one of the cyan-clad men stepped forward and said coldly.
The physician feigned compliance, folding his hands as if surrendering.
A man reached for a rope behind him to bind the physician when the physician's hands moved like flying flowers and a white powder erupted into a cloud.
The cyan-clad men had assumed an easy capture; only one remained cautious and held back. The rest found themselves covered head to toe in the white dust.
In the next moment, a flash of steel appeared.
Several of them choked and fell to their knees, clutching their throats.
Blood gushed from the gaps between their fingers.
The last blue-clad man saw things go wrong and turned to flee—he had just killed several companions and knew he couldn't stand against whoever had struck them, so he needed to return and warn others.
Before he could take a few steps, a whistling wind came from behind.
He spun, then shuddered.
A shuttle dart had already pierced his throat.
When the white mist dissipated, the wandering physician grinned wryly.
"This is troublesome, truly troublesome… They found me so quickly? Something's off."
He rubbed his temple and began erasing traces from the scene.
Then he stripped off his outer garments, took another blue robe, and carried it without wearing it.
That was meant to confuse any pursuers—those who arrived would see the physician's clothes on the ground and one blue robe missing and assume he'd disguised himself as one of them.
They did not know that beneath his outerwear he wore a black combat suit.
After putting on a show that he'd fled east, he then actually leapt up and headed north in black.
He walked for nearly half an hour in circles; only after making sure there were no pursuers behind him did he relax.
Just as he was about to continue, his expression changed.
He spun around and saw a figure spring into the air, a single palm thrust out as though it had raised a wall of qi.
"Azure Void Palm!!"
He could scarcely believe his eyes—Azure Void Palm was a secret technique of the Chu family.
In the Chu clan's transmission it was a core palm art.
At first its power seemed ordinary, but as inner strength grown through the Ruoxu scripture increased, its effects became extraordinary.
How had someone from the Chu family tracked him here?
He did not hesitate. He placed both palms forward in a mirrored stance; faint currents seemed to flow between his hands.
Then he turned and pushed.
A tremendous force surged out, colliding violently with the Azure Void Palm.
Boom!
With a muffled sound, the man suddenly relaxed midair and was thrown back.
He was not an assassin but a liaison; whoever had struck him had no desire to tangle with Chu family talent.
Seizing the moment of the other's retreat, he tried to flee.
But as he turned, a long sword suddenly pierced through his shoulder.
"What—"
Shock flashed across his face, but his reflexes were quick.
As the sword was drawn from his body, he spun and tried to release a hidden palm strike with inner force—but behind him there was nothing.
His ankles went cold; his legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
A bloodstained long sword rested at his throat.
A voice he knew intimately whispered at his ear, "Baiqi, you survived—why didn't you tell me?"
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