As the moonlight touched the treetops, Wen Jiu and the others encountered uninvited guests.
"Miss, take the master back inside."
It was Wen Jiu’s first time encountering assassins. She watched them coldly; there were about ten of them. Seeing that Uncle Mu and Xuanling could handle them, she helped the old man into the house.
"Old man, come back to the Capital with me."
"I am not going to that man-eating place."
"Then why did you push me into it?"
"Could you have escaped? Just like today, they are using soft tactics before hard ones. Even if you fled to the ends of the earth, they wouldn't let you be. It is better to face it sooner."
"That is true."
Outside, the sounds of fighting rang out continuously. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all went quiet.
"Uncle Mu, how are you?" A panicked voice interrupted the two in the room.
"What happened?" Wen Jiu hurried out.
"They cheated, the treacherous wretches! They used poison. Uncle Mu, help me, I’ve been hit by a concealed weapon in the abdomen."
"Bring him in quickly!"
"Old man, hurry and see how Uncle Mu is doing!"
"Dig out the weapon, and I will neutralize the poison."
Wen Jiu took out a dagger and said to Mutong, "Uncle Mu, you’ll have to endure this."
"It’s a hardship for you, Miss. I’m not in pain."
"Good. Once it is removed, clean up the courtyard. I will apply medicine to Uncle Mu."
Wen Jiu and Xuanling reached the doorway and looked at the bodies scattered across the yard. For the first time, she felt an impulse to desecrate the corpses.
"Xuanling, come. Load them onto the cart and drag them deep into the mountains. I have work to do."
"Yes."
When they reached an ideal spot—a place where wild beasts often prowled—Wen Jiu pulled out her dagger and drove it fiercely into the hearts of the corpses. She stabbed each one several more times. She was covered in blood, but she was entirely unaware of it.
Seeing the way the poison had taken hold of Uncle Mu, she realized it would be difficult to cure. It all depended on whether the master could stabilize him.
"Miss, Miss, what is wrong with you?" Xuanling looked at her young mistress in disbelief, suddenly feeling as though she were a stranger.
"Xuanling, are you afraid?"
"It’s not fear. I’m afraid you might hurt yourself, Miss."
"They are already dead; how could I hurt myself?"
Wen Jiu’s eyes suddenly turned sharp as she looked at Xuanling. "Xuanling, Uncle Mu’s poison may be incurable. I am worried about the master. He will be heartbroken, and I..."
"Uncle Mu, Uncle Mu... Miss, please, think of a way! Uncle Mu is the best Uncle Mu in the world; he cannot, he simply cannot..."
"We must return immediately. If the assassins fail, the next wave will bring even more men."
"Yes, I am ready to fight at any time."
"No. I want you to escort the master to Jiangnan. The mountains and rivers there are nourishing, perfect for retirement. Once I have stabilized things in the Capital, I will go and bring the master back."
"No, Miss! How could I possibly leave you here alone? If we go, we all go together."
"Do as you are told. Your mistress is not weak. I have to take revenge. After you deliver the master, hurry back toward the Capital. I am going into the city."
"Miss... I..."
"That is enough. Go back now."
Inside, the old man sighed. "Master, don't waste your energy. I know my own body."
"Know? What do you know? Do you not trust my medical skills?"
"Master, go to the Capital with Miss."
"I will not. I would only be a burden there. Let us find a place to retire! Once she is settled, she can come to see us. We can still play chess and drink a little wine—wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"I... Master."
"Alright, rest now. If the girls see you, they will laugh at you for crying over a little wound."
He finished speaking and walked out, sitting on the stone steps. The summer night breeze blew open the courtyard gate, filling the space with a sense of melancholy. When the two returned after cleaning up, they saw the old man sitting there, stripped of his usual spirited aura, replaced by a deep sorrow.
"Old man," Wen Jiu called out softly.
The old man looked up, his eyes focusing on Wen Jiu. He hurriedly stood up and said, "It is nothing. Both of you, go back and sleep."
"Old man, you should rest early. We will keep watch tonight."
"There is no need. Even if there are more assassins, they won't come tonight. It takes time to send men. Take the chance to rest today."
"Very well, but..."
"Don't worry about me. I am going to sleep now. Xuanling, stay alert tonight and keep an eye on Uncle Mu."
"Yes."
After bathing, Wen Jiu lay on her bed, thinking to herself that if they dared to come, then for every one who arrived, she would kill one, and for every pair, she would kill both.
Fortunately, no one disturbed this sanctuary that night.
The first thing she did upon waking was to check on Uncle Mu to ensure he was, for the moment, out of danger. While eating breakfast at the table, she discussed it with the old man.
"Old man, let Xuanling take you and Uncle Mu to Jiangnan. I will come to find you once things in the Capital are handled."
"That was our plan as well. Let him recover for a few more days."
"Not a moment can be wasted. We must hurry."
"Miss." Xuanling stood at the doorway, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Crying won't help. This is a mission I have entrusted to you. Can you complete it?"
"I... I can."
"What 'can'? How could I be at ease sending you alone into a dragon's den? If Xuanling goes with the two of you, she can at least maneuver."
"Old man, can you stop being so stubborn?"
"Hmph. If you want us to go, fine. Xuanling will stay with you, and I will go with Uncle Mu, disguised."
"You..."
"Cough, cough... Miss, listen to the master." Uncle Mu no longer had his usual vigor.
Wen Jiu felt a surge of grief. She only wanted them to leave quickly, to be safe. At worst, she and Xuanling would follow them quietly to the pier, see them off, and then depart...
It was this very idea that caused her to lose her beloved master forever.
Late that night at the pier, two young women were stealthily following an elderly couple. The old woman looked frail, supported by the old man. They kept looking back, seemingly waiting for someone to see them off, though their footsteps were hurried.
"Miss, the wind is picking up. We should go too."
"Wait until I see the old man and Uncle Mu board the ship. Then we leave immediately."
As they reached the point where the two were half a step away from boarding, they were discovered.
*Clang!* Blades were drawn. Uncle Mu cast off his disguise as the old woman and reached out to shield the master behind him, smiling as he said, "Master, it seems we cannot leave after all."
"It matters not. As long as Jiu'er is safe, I am relieved."
"Tell us, where is Wen Jiu headed?"
"Are you asking for her whereabouts to protect her or to murder her?"
"That is no concern of yours."
"I refuse to say."
"Then die." About twenty men rushed out, swarming them.
At that moment, the old man seemed to sense something. He looked toward the side and saw, indeed, that the stubborn girl had not left; she had deceived them.
The old man shook his head, signaling for them not to emerge, telling them to go. His eyes were sorrowful and firm.
Wen Jiu was about to charge out when Xuanling, having seen the master’s signal, struck her young mistress’s pressure point...
"Miss, you cannot go out. Master said we must leave."
"Leave? Go where? Can you watch Uncle Mu and the others being slaughtered and just walk away? That old man doesn't know martial arts! Undo this, or get out!" Wen Jiu’s voice was icy.
"Forgive me, Miss." After speaking, Xuanling also sealed her mute point and leapt into the carnage.
"You..." Before she could finish, she saw that Uncle Mu, already wounded, was hopelessly outnumbered. A sword pierced his abdomen, and he coughed up a spray of blood.
"Mutong! Mutong!"
"Uncle Mu! Uncle Mu! Master!" Xuanling screamed, kicking away their blades.
"Who told you to come back? Go back and look after her!"
"Miss doesn't want me anymore! She doesn't want me! I will avenge Uncle Mu!" The enraged Xuanling gathered all her strength, fighting for her life. Though the assassins were many and suffered wounds, their rotating attacks wore Xuanling down. Just as she knelt on one leg, gasping for breath, she heard a sound behind her—*thwack*—and a liquid dripped onto her face. She touched it; it was hot and sticky...