How could Master Zhu Liu be absent?
He was injured at the mausoleum that day.
Could it be his wounds haven't healed, confining him from even leaving home recently?
But those seemed merely superficial external injuries. She remembered he didn't even appear pained. On the brink of leaving he even teased her costume, nearly earning a punch.
While worrying over Zhu Liu's well-being, Jiang Kui nevertheless inquired after another matter: "Have you seen this 'White-Haired Oldster' before?"
A-Rong shook her head. "You know the code all brokers abide by. They never reveal faces."
"I overheard of this assignment at the Drum Tower tavern. Met the contact beneath the northern city walls that night."
"He spoke from within a pitch black carriage, handing over eight hundred silver as down payment through the door."
"The sole certainty was...he's no elderly man, but someone quite young instead."
That much was simple to deduce. The monikers brokers assumed rarely correlated with actual identities. Even the storied Master Zhu dubbed himself "Old Gent" initially. Yet everyone in the mundane realm knew he was a young gent.
"From my understanding, this 'White-Haired Oldster' conducts business very unlike Zhu Liu," A-Rong continued. "He intentionally maintains distinct territory, not impinging on Zhu Liu's domain."
"Master Zhu only accepts assignments stemming from grudges amongst the mundane realm. Whereas this 'White-Haired' focuses solely on courtly schemes. Such affairs promise enormous profits despite higher risks. Lately with Master often absent, the Oldster's reputation rose meteorically instead."
"Killing Prince Xie Heng risks losing your head." Jiang Kui murmured softly.
She didn't know Xie Heng well, only remembering how Xie Yao's gaze would brighten seeing him. His death might devastate her.
A-Rong rose while responding. "I won't take this job any more and will return the deposit tomorrow. I'm grateful to you sir for...the pawn proceeds from those ornaments may help temporarily. When Master Zhu returns I'll seek him out for assignments again."
Jiang Kui nodded. "Very well."
"It grows late, hurry back to your little one still waiting right? Additionally, keep low profile next few days." She added considerately, "Some martial experts at the Autumn Festival Banquet tonight discerned your murderous air. Best lie low awhile more."
A-Rong voiced acquiescence before leaving. Watching her punt into the murky distance, Jiang Kui lightly sprang onto an adjacent bamboo raft and poised gracefully at waterside. Amidst stirring ripples she turned back, long dress fluttering elegantly.
Only after A-Rong disappeared did Jiang Kui pivot to slowly head back upon the floating bamboo walkway. Dense night had dispatched nearly all guests, leaving her sole wanderer alongside drifting lapping sounds.
Mulling over how to explain herself to Father, whether that appointment with Consort Pei still stood, plus nagging thoughts about Zhu Liu's unusual absence.
She first met Zhu Liu as a young girl nearly a decade past, early one autumn dawn with zephyr chilled airs.
Clutching a spear much taller than herself then, she was led by her mentor through the bustling bookstore to push open carved doors of a cozy second floor chamber redolent with lingering tea fragrances. Another figure already occupied space beyond the split bamboo divider.
Concealed by the screen, she glimpsed nothing of him save hearing a gently teasing voice greet amusedly - "Falling Blossom's Speartip, Sir Jiang, pleased to make your acquaintance."
Amidst rich tea bouquets she suddenly discerned wisps of clear, crisp, wintry plum.
Back then Zhu Liu remained wholly obscure. Not until years later did his prominence swell as the capital's most famed broker, his notoriety resounding throughout the mundane realm.
Later on...since when could she be certain of seeing him anytime she wished? He was always reclining nonchalantly behind that partitioned chamber's divider, casually bantering words aimed to provoke her into childish tantrums which he then smugly watched unfold with vast amusement.
When has he ever been absent before?
For inexplicable reasons, she recalled amidst crumbling skies his palm gently cupping the rim of her ear.
Abruptly her heart raced with fiery urgency, restive moods churning erratically within her breast.
Too preoccupied inwardly, she failed noticing peculiar bubbles sporadically disturbing the smooth surfaces flanking this walkway through hitherto still and silent waters.
The next instant, with an explosive splash - an assassin hurtled forth, longblade streaking straight for her throat!
Jiang Kui's head jerked back, long hair flying as the razor edge barely grazed her neck, shearing off a single strand!
At the same time, her left hand shot back, fingers clenching the flat of that extended sword blade before savagely wrenching it from his grip! Her right hand spun the purloined weapon edge over edge, whipping it round for a horizontal cleave!
The flat slammed into her attacker's chest, eliciting a pained grunt as his charge abruptly ceased. Clutching himself where a long but shallow cut now bled freely, he skidded to an unsteady halt several paces back upon the raft before regaining balance to glare icily at Jiang Kui, features obscured behind a black face-wrap like his two companions now also erupted from the waters on either side of her. One brandished a spiked iron chain while the other hefted a massive sledgehammer, coordinated perfectly to catch her in a pincer.
Swaying sharply sideways to evade the sledgehammer, Jiang Kui cut contemptuously towards the whipping chain instead! A clear piercing note resounded amidst intensive clanging vibrations as snaking links entwined and collided with her commandeered blade, both weapons deadlocked in struggle.
"Hmph!" Jiang Kui gave a delicate sniff of disdain.
Power gathered through her wrist into her twisting torso. Abruptly her entire frame spun round, swirling the trapped sword in such cyclonic velocity its links finally ripped loose to fling the chain aside!
Halting the spin, she snapped her weapon instantly downpoint at waist level. With a graceful toss of her long damp hair, chin uplifted to behold all three assailants down the elegant line of her nose, frosted eyes narrowed.
The brawny trio were dressed identically in somber colors, faces hidden by dark scarves. Of weaponry, one man wielded a chain, another a hammer, and the last still irately gripped his half-drawn personal blade after its momentary misappropriation by their intended victim.
"Not for nothing is it said Falling Blossom's Speartip Sir Jiang excels even disarm techniques." The wielder of chains croaked out in admiration. "Such smooth skill seizing a weapon mid-strike to injure its owner! Expertly done."
"You flatter me unduly." Jiang Kui replied indifferently. "Though I'm afraid your chain skills remain rather wretched."
"You dare disparage me so!" The sledgehammer brute roared and charged, hefting his colossal weapon.
Thunderous stomps shattered bamboo shoots in his wake amidst surging sprays. Swinging the massive sledge high, he brought it whooshing down in a vortex of battering force that utterly clove the raft in two!
Yet the expected bloody impact never manifested. For the space his target occupied seconds prior now contained...nothing whatsoever.
Overhead came the shriek of parting air! He jerked his head up just as the delicate girl's lithe form twisted gracefully down from midair, landing behind him in time to nestle the tip of her stolen blade snugly against his lower spine. Parting cloth, the icy steel edge prickled his skin.
Cold sweat drenched the giant's back.
"Judging from your skills, it remains unlikely any of you could truly injure me." Jiang Kui stated evenly. "Now tell me, whom do you serve?"
Outwardly nonchalant, inward consternation mounted.
Even when openly wandering the mundane realm, Jiang Kui habitually remained hooded, never revealing her true face before others.
While notoriety of "Falling Blossom's Speartip" resounded loudly on rivers and lakes, scant souls connected the mysterious swords-woman with esteemed youngest daughter of the prominent Jiang clan's military lineage. After all, what parallels could reasonably be drawn between a frail girl perpetually confined by illness behind inner quarters versus the capital's legendary chivalrous hero?
Despite stunning all spectators during her performance at tonight's Autumn Festival Banquet, Jiang Kui intentionally restrained any overt martial displays. Those unversed in martial arts perceived mere dynamic swordplay conveying feminine grace. Nothing unusual given a general's daughter practicing dancing arts.
Even if some discerned spearmanship essence behind her peerless choreography, organizing assassination attempts this rapidly exceeded plausibility!
Yet clearly this trio were already privy to her identity, right down to signature techniques like opportunistic disarming maneuvers against armed foes when empty-handed herself.
In truth, wandering heroes addressing themselves as "Falling Blossom's Speartip" seldom carried actual spears during travels, as the long weapons tended to invite excessive attention. Jiang Kui very often ventured weaponless outside.
If ambushed when unarmed...she simply snatched whatever weapons her attackers wielded, then defeated them with their own arms instead!
This tactic garnered considerable notoriety as "Injure with Disarmed Blade" or more literally "Seize Blade to Injure Person".
Tonight's encounter was undoubtedly premeditated assassination! Someone intimately aware of her background had directed these thugs!
But whom?
"If Sir wishes answers, may you find them only below yellow springs." The lead whip-wielder rasped back cryptically. "We three brothers today send you there forthwith!"
With those ominous words, he hurled forth his spiked chain alongside the knife-wielding brute again clutching both weapons - his initial reluctance at losing one blade vanishing beneath opportunity for revenge!
The hammer-wielder pinned under Jiang Kui's knife apparently mattered little, for his partners showed no hesitation at his plight.
Kicking that giant away, Jiang Kui spun her singing blade aloft, deflecting incoming chain and knife! Downright unbelievable strength channeled through her dainty wrist enough to stalemate three burly attackers simultaneously.
Yet amidst grinding screeches of metal, her slight frame shuddered once.
That inexplicable fiery restlessness still churned within her chest, compounding the off-kilter unsteadiness disrupting inner force circulation.
Just then the sledgehammer giant - seemingly impervious after being booted into deep waters earlier - erupted forth anew behind Jiang Kui, sleeve-drying hammer already whistling a skull-crushing arc towards her slender neck!
Jiang Kui concentrated intensely, forcefully tamping down the foreign heat devouring coherent focus, barely regaining sufficient clarity for her body to pirouette cleanly through empty space between hammer and nape. Repeated midair flips allowed her to alight balanced upon a broken raft section, relying on just that lone commandeered sword to somehow deter three formidable weapons all at once!
Stirred by the river breeze, even waterlogged skirts swayed about the young beauty with elegant poise.
Abruptly canting her head, she laughed - a wispy tinkle. Beneath glittering starshine brilliance, eyes and teeth flashed beguiling as a demoness.
"Oh? Can't outmatch me huh, Hammer Guy?"
She looked up, simpering. A bone-freezing aura vanished as if spring winds fluttered through swaying willows, her mien naughtily playful. Yet perceived as sheer provocation by the giants facing her.
"You!" bellowed the incensed sledge-wielder.
"Yes, me?"
The elfin girl seemed vastly entertained, eyes brimming with sly mockery.
Temper slipping, the sledgehammer thug roared and recklessly heaved his massive weapon down again!
"Fool! Stand down!" The chain fighter hissed sharply.
Too late! The crushing sledge was already beyond recall...once more the raft's bamboo lattices detonated into explosions of splintered shards amidst spraying water, blinding all combatants.
As their vision cleared, the terrain revealed...no sign of their original target!
"She fled!" exclaimed the lead black scarf in frustrated realization. "Pursue!"
Having already vanished sprinting fleetly atop precarious bamboo footholds during the diversionary chaos, Jiang Kui raced desperately into dimness.
Using inner force barely repressed the frenzied heat smoldering her chest. She fiercely resisted destructive violent impulses threatening to overwhelm all coherent thought. Her pale cheeks flushed deeper with each ragged gasp as emotions seesawed unpredictably.
It must be something in the wine. The one Consort Pei so adamantly insisted she imbibe earlier.
Some potion slipped during their brief encounter - and presently its effects emerged.
Normally one girl against three posed no complications whatsoever. But current rampant restlessness coupled by this foreign heat devouring inner equilibrium rendered ongoing battle impossible.
Far ahead, she glimpsed a modest lacquered skiff adrift nearby, beyond which beckoned only open waters. Its prow lantern swayed lonesomely - a winking diminutive starlet.
A notion sparked within Jiang Kui's mind.
From the raft she vaulted impressively onto the deserted boat!
Splashing loudly within the cabin, she started slightly glimpsing an ominous shadowy crimson expanse.
What was Xie Wuyan doing here?
With no chance to ponder the coincidence, she swiftly stole behind him, left hand wielding the sword flat against his chest while her right muffled his mouth. Murmuring urgently by his ear - "Don't move-"
Beads of moisture glimmered like fine drizzle amidst her damp tresses.
How could Master Zhu Liu be absent?
He was injured at the mausoleum that day.
Could it be his wounds haven't healed, confining him from even leaving home recently?
But those seemed merely superficial external injuries. She remembered he didn't even appear pained. On the brink of leaving he even teased her costume, nearly earning a punch.
While worrying over Zhu Liu's well-being, Jiang Kui nevertheless inquired after another matter: "Have you seen this 'White-Haired Oldster' before?"
A-Rong shook her head. "You know the code all brokers abide by. They never reveal faces."
"I overheard of this assignment at the Drum Tower tavern. Met the contact beneath the northern city walls that night."
"He spoke from within a pitch black carriage, handing over eight hundred silver as down payment through the door."
"The sole certainty was...he's no elderly man, but someone quite young instead."
That much was simple to deduce. The monikers brokers assumed rarely correlated with actual identities. Even the storied Master Zhu dubbed himself "Old Gent" initially. Yet everyone in the mundane realm knew he was a young gent.
"From my understanding, this 'White-Haired Oldster' conducts business very unlike Zhu Liu," A-Rong continued. "He intentionally maintains distinct territory, not impinging on Zhu Liu's domain."
"Master Zhu only accepts assignments stemming from grudges amongst the mundane realm. Whereas this 'White-Haired' focuses solely on courtly schemes. Such affairs promise enormous profits despite higher risks. Lately with Master often absent, the Oldster's reputation rose meteorically instead."
"Killing Prince Xie Heng risks losing your head." Jiang Kui murmured softly.
She didn't know Xie Heng well, only remembering how Xie Yao's gaze would brighten seeing him. His death might devastate her.
A-Rong rose while responding. "I won't take this job any more and will return the deposit tomorrow. I'm grateful to you sir for...the pawn proceeds from those ornaments may help temporarily. When Master Zhu returns I'll seek him out for assignments again."
Jiang Kui nodded. "Very well."
"It grows late, hurry back to your little one still waiting right? Additionally, keep low profile next few days." She added considerately, "Some martial experts at the Autumn Festival Banquet tonight discerned your murderous air. Best lie low awhile more."
A-Rong voiced acquiescence before leaving. Watching her punt into the murky distance, Jiang Kui lightly sprang onto an adjacent bamboo raft and poised gracefully at waterside. Amidst stirring ripples she turned back, long dress fluttering elegantly.
Only after A-Rong disappeared did Jiang Kui pivot to slowly head back upon the floating bamboo walkway. Dense night had dispatched nearly all guests, leaving her sole wanderer alongside drifting lapping sounds.
Mulling over how to explain herself to Father, whether that appointment with Consort Pei still stood, plus nagging thoughts about Zhu Liu's unusual absence.
She first met Zhu Liu as a young girl nearly a decade past, early one autumn dawn with zephyr chilled airs.
Clutching a spear much taller than herself then, she was led by her mentor through the bustling bookstore to push open carved doors of a cozy second floor chamber redolent with lingering tea fragrances. Another figure already occupied space beyond the split bamboo divider.
Concealed by the screen, she glimpsed nothing of him save hearing a gently teasing voice greet amusedly - "Falling Blossom's Speartip, Sir Jiang, pleased to make your acquaintance."
Amidst rich tea bouquets she suddenly discerned wisps of clear, crisp, wintry plum.
Back then Zhu Liu remained wholly obscure. Not until years later did his prominence swell as the capital's most famed broker, his notoriety resounding throughout the mundane realm.
Later on...since when could she be certain of seeing him anytime she wished? He was always reclining nonchalantly behind that partitioned chamber's divider, casually bantering words aimed to provoke her into childish tantrums which he then smugly watched unfold with vast amusement.
When has he ever been absent before?
For inexplicable reasons, she recalled amidst crumbling skies his palm gently cupping the rim of her ear.
Abruptly her heart raced with fiery urgency, restive moods churning erratically within her breast.
Too preoccupied inwardly, she failed noticing peculiar bubbles sporadically disturbing the smooth surfaces flanking this walkway through hitherto still and silent waters.
The next instant, with an explosive splash - an assassin hurtled forth, longblade streaking straight for her throat!
Jiang Kui's head jerked back, long hair flying as the razor edge barely grazed her neck, shearing off a single strand!
At the same time, her left hand shot back, fingers clenching the flat of that extended sword blade before savagely wrenching it from his grip! Her right hand spun the purloined weapon edge over edge, whipping it round for a horizontal cleave!
The flat slammed into her attacker's chest, eliciting a pained grunt as his charge abruptly ceased. Clutching himself where a long but shallow cut now bled freely, he skidded to an unsteady halt several paces back upon the raft before regaining balance to glare icily at Jiang Kui, features obscured behind a black face-wrap like his two companions now also erupted from the waters on either side of her. One brandished a spiked iron chain while the other hefted a massive sledgehammer, coordinated perfectly to catch her in a pincer.
Swaying sharply sideways to evade the sledgehammer, Jiang Kui cut contemptuously towards the whipping chain instead! A clear piercing note resounded amidst intensive clanging vibrations as snaking links entwined and collided with her commandeered blade, both weapons deadlocked in struggle.
"Hmph!" Jiang Kui gave a delicate sniff of disdain.
Power gathered through her wrist into her twisting torso. Abruptly her entire frame spun round, swirling the trapped sword in such cyclonic velocity its links finally ripped loose to fling the chain aside!
Halting the spin, she snapped her weapon instantly downpoint at waist level. With a graceful toss of her long damp hair, chin uplifted to behold all three assailants down the elegant line of her nose, frosted eyes narrowed.
The brawny trio were dressed identically in somber colors, faces hidden by dark scarves. Of weaponry, one man wielded a chain, another a hammer, and the last still irately gripped his half-drawn personal blade after its momentary misappropriation by their intended victim.
"Not for nothing is it said Falling Blossom's Speartip Sir Jiang excels even disarm techniques." The wielder of chains croaked out in admiration. "Such smooth skill seizing a weapon mid-strike to injure its owner! Expertly done."
"You flatter me unduly." Jiang Kui replied indifferently. "Though I'm afraid your chain skills remain rather wretched."
"You dare disparage me so!" The sledgehammer brute roared and charged, hefting his colossal weapon.
Thunderous stomps shattered bamboo shoots in his wake amidst surging sprays. Swinging the massive sledge high, he brought it whooshing down in a vortex of battering force that utterly clove the raft in two!
Yet the expected bloody impact never manifested. For the space his target occupied seconds prior now contained...nothing whatsoever.
Overhead came the shriek of parting air! He jerked his head up just as the delicate girl's lithe form twisted gracefully down from midair, landing behind him in time to nestle the tip of her stolen blade snugly against his lower spine. Parting cloth, the icy steel edge prickled his skin.
Cold sweat drenched the giant's back.
"Judging from your skills, it remains unlikely any of you could truly injure me." Jiang Kui stated evenly. "Now tell me, whom do you serve?"
Outwardly nonchalant, inward consternation mounted.
Even when openly wandering the mundane realm, Jiang Kui habitually remained hooded, never revealing her true face before others.
While notoriety of "Falling Blossom's Speartip" resounded loudly on rivers and lakes, scant souls connected the mysterious swords-woman with esteemed youngest daughter of the prominent Jiang clan's military lineage. After all, what parallels could reasonably be drawn between a frail girl perpetually confined by illness behind inner quarters versus the capital's legendary chivalrous hero?
Despite stunning all spectators during her performance at tonight's Autumn Festival Banquet, Jiang Kui intentionally restrained any overt martial displays. Those unversed in martial arts perceived mere dynamic swordplay conveying feminine grace. Nothing unusual given a general's daughter practicing dancing arts.
Even if some discerned spearmanship essence behind her peerless choreography, organizing assassination attempts this rapidly exceeded plausibility!
Yet clearly this trio were already privy to her identity, right down to signature techniques like opportunistic disarming maneuvers against armed foes when empty-handed herself.
In truth, wandering heroes addressing themselves as "Falling Blossom's Speartip" seldom carried actual spears during travels, as the long weapons tended to invite excessive attention. Jiang Kui very often ventured weaponless outside.
If ambushed when unarmed...she simply snatched whatever weapons her attackers wielded, then defeated them with their own arms instead!
This tactic garnered considerable notoriety as "Injure with Disarmed Blade" or more literally "Seize Blade to Injure Person".
Tonight's encounter was undoubtedly premeditated assassination! Someone intimately aware of her background had directed these thugs!
But whom?
"If Sir wishes answers, may you find them only below yellow springs." The lead whip-wielder rasped back cryptically. "We three brothers today send you there forthwith!"
With those ominous words, he hurled forth his spiked chain alongside the knife-wielding brute again clutching both weapons - his initial reluctance at losing one blade vanishing beneath opportunity for revenge!
The hammer-wielder pinned under Jiang Kui's knife apparently mattered little, for his partners showed no hesitation at his plight.
Kicking that giant away, Jiang Kui spun her singing blade aloft, deflecting incoming chain and knife! Downright unbelievable strength channeled through her dainty wrist enough to stalemate three burly attackers simultaneously.
Yet amidst grinding screeches of metal, her slight frame shuddered once.
That inexplicable fiery restlessness still churned within her chest, compounding the off-kilter unsteadiness disrupting inner force circulation.
Just then the sledgehammer giant - seemingly impervious after being booted into deep waters earlier - erupted forth anew behind Jiang Kui, sleeve-drying hammer already whistling a skull-crushing arc towards her slender neck!
Jiang Kui concentrated intensely, forcefully tamping down the foreign heat devouring coherent focus, barely regaining sufficient clarity for her body to pirouette cleanly through empty space between hammer and nape. Repeated midair flips allowed her to alight balanced upon a broken raft section, relying on just that lone commandeered sword to somehow deter three formidable weapons all at once!
Stirred by the river breeze, even waterlogged skirts swayed about the young beauty with elegant poise.
Abruptly canting her head, she laughed - a wispy tinkle. Beneath glittering starshine brilliance, eyes and teeth flashed beguiling as a demoness.
"Oh? Can't outmatch me huh, Hammer Guy?"
She looked up, simpering. A bone-freezing aura vanished as if spring winds fluttered through swaying willows, her mien naughtily playful. Yet perceived as sheer provocation by the giants facing her.
"You!" bellowed the incensed sledge-wielder.
"Yes, me?"
The elfin girl seemed vastly entertained, eyes brimming with sly mockery.
Temper slipping, the sledgehammer thug roared and recklessly heaved his massive weapon down again!
"Fool! Stand down!" The chain fighter hissed sharply.
Too late! The crushing sledge was already beyond recall...once more the raft's bamboo lattices detonated into explosions of splintered shards amidst spraying water, blinding all combatants.
As their vision cleared, the terrain revealed...no sign of their original target!
"She fled!" exclaimed the lead black scarf in frustrated realization. "Pursue!"
Having already vanished sprinting fleetly atop precarious bamboo footholds during the diversionary chaos, Jiang Kui raced desperately into dimness.
Using inner force barely repressed the frenzied heat smoldering her chest. She fiercely resisted destructive violent impulses threatening to overwhelm all coherent thought. Her pale cheeks flushed deeper with each ragged gasp as emotions seesawed unpredictably.
It must be something in the wine. The one Consort Pei so adamantly insisted she imbibe earlier.
Some potion slipped during their brief encounter - and presently its effects emerged.
Normally one girl against three posed no complications whatsoever. But current rampant restlessness coupled by this foreign heat devouring inner equilibrium rendered ongoing battle impossible.
Far ahead, she glimpsed a modest lacquered skiff adrift nearby, beyond which beckoned only open waters. Its prow lantern swayed lonesomely - a winking diminutive starlet.
A notion sparked within Jiang Kui's mind.
From the raft she vaulted impressively onto the deserted boat!
Splashing loudly within the cabin, she started slightly glimpsing an ominous shadowy crimson expanse.
What was Xie Wuyan doing here?
With no chance to ponder the coincidence, she swiftly stole behind him, left hand wielding the sword flat against his chest while her right muffled his mouth. Murmuring urgently by his ear - "Don't move-"
Beads of moisture glimmered like fine drizzle amidst her damp tresses.
