Chapter 20: Storm Looms, Plantains in Disarray

Night had fallen over Youma County, and the townsfolk hurried along the streets to return home. Lately, trouble had stirred in these parts—it was wiser to be safe and indoors early. Aside from the moonlight shimmering with stars, silence blanketed the entire city.

In a private residence within the city, several men dressed in black lingered nearby, some standing, some pacing. Inside, a burly man in embroidered robes sat listening to a report from several black-clad men kneeling before him.

“Master Wan, there’s still no sign of Jiang Yingying today. It’s been more than ten days already—by now, she should have passed through here. Maybe she never came through Youma County? The brothers haven’t slept well in days—maybe…”

The man addressed as Master Wan slammed his palm on the table and began cursing furiously. “Keep your eyes wide open and patrol thoroughly! You’re well fed and well paid—stop your whining. If you let Jiang Yingying slip past, and my elder brother blames me, I’ll have your hides flayed!”

“Yes, yes, we’ll be extra vigilant,” they replied hastily.

“Hmph. The world is vast, but where can Jiang Yingying flee? She escaped in such haste that day, she dropped a blue jade double carp—a token of the Brocade Snow Pavilion. Who knows which member of the Pavilion she’s connected to? To get there, she’ll have to pass through four or five more towns. This is the first, and most critical, checkpoint. If I catch her, all the rewards will be mine.”

This Wan was called Wan Chongtian, younger brother of Wan Xudong. He had been ordered to Youma County to intercept Jiang Yingying. Despite so much time having passed with no results, and although he knew she was likely to come this way, he could not help but feel anxious and irritable.

At this moment, one of the kneeling men raised his head. He was the black-clad leader Su Mu had encountered at the city gate. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke up. “Master Wan, today a bullock cart entered the city, with a woman and a half-grown child. They seemed suspicious, but word was she had a contagious illness, so we didn’t check closely—just saw the skin on one hand, which didn’t look like that of a young woman. So we let them through. Now that I think of it, it seems odd. Should we investigate?”

Wan Chongtian considered for a moment, then slapped the armrest. “Better kill the innocent than let the guilty go free—find them, and sort it out later.”

Night deepened. The other guests of the Traveler’s Inn had long since retired. Su Mu eyed the parcel Jiang Yingying had given him, curiosity gnawing at him as if a thousand insects scratched within. He dearly wished to open it, yet understood that Jiang Yingying had trusted him greatly; a true man could not betray such trust.

Suddenly, urgent pounding sounded at the inn’s door, mingled with the shouts and curses of several men and the clang of weapons battering the entrance.

“Open up! If you don’t hurry, I’ll tear your lousy inn apart!”

“Coming, coming, sirs, what’s the matter? It’s already late, we’re closed for the night, and all the rooms are full—please seek lodging elsewhere,” came the innkeeper’s anxious voice.

There followed the sound of the inn door opening, then cries of pain from the proprietor and more curses from the intruders. The commotion faded, replaced by the heavy, chaotic tramp of boots ascending the stairs.

Su Mu had pressed his ear to his door, straining to catch every sound outside, heart pounding. He tried to guess who these men were after, an uneasy foreboding rising within him.

Every room in the inn was tightly shut; those inside had long since been roused, but fear kept them from peeking out to see what was happening. The bold pressed close to the door to listen, while the timid cowered beneath their quilts, shivering. For a time, the whole inn was gripped by panic—had they unwittingly provoked bandits?

Up the stairs came several black-clad men wielding broadswords, with Wan Chongtian striding gravely among them. Arriving at Jiang Yingying’s door, he turned and asked, “Is this the place?”

“Yes, yes, sir, I wouldn’t dare deceive you,” stammered the innkeeper, his face bruised and swollen from earlier blows, standing beside an old man covered in blood—the carter Qin, whom Su Mu would have recognized.

“Take them away,” Wan Chongtian ordered with a wave. He paced before Jiang Yingying’s room and announced in a loud voice, “I hear a distinguished guest arrived in Youma County today, though gravely ill. Out of the goodness of my heart, I wished to pay a visit and offer help. Yet I’ve searched every pharmacy in town and haven’t seen any sign of the invalid. At last, word reached me that they were at this Traveler’s Inn, so I have come, hoping for a meeting. Please, open the door so we may speak.”

Jiang Yingying’s room remained silent, as if Wan Chongtian were addressing an empty chamber. In the next room, Su Mu’s heart sank: bad news—these men had found them so quickly, and a fight seemed inevitable. Though young, Su Mu never worried about brawls or injury; if anything, he felt anticipation, for unlike other children, he cared little for pain.

Seeing no response, Wan Chongtian called out again, “Please, open the door. My men are rough—should they injure our esteemed guest, it would be most unfortunate.”

Still nothing. Wan Chongtian’s shame turned to fury. “Ingrate! You think this hovel can shield you? Shall I smash the door down this instant?”

A faint light flashed in Wan Chongtian’s eyes. He struck out with his right hand, sending ripples through the air; the sturdy door exploded into splinters. His black-clad followers surged in, but found the room empty save for an open window.

A subordinate quickly reported, “The woman escaped through the window, sir—her whereabouts unknown.”

“Heh, no matter. I sent Black Hunter back early—where can she run? No doubt they’re already engaged,” Wan Chongtian said. Even as he spoke, a violent noise erupted elsewhere in the city.

“Let’s go. Leave two men behind—seize the child traveling with her.”

“At once!” Two men responded, while Wan Chongtian led the rest toward the source of the commotion. He figured two men would be more than a match for a mere child.

Su Mu heard the explosion too, pacing anxiously in his room, torn between staying and going.

The black-clad men wasted no time deliberating. Approaching Su Mu’s room, they kicked the door in. Su Mu tensed as the two stormed in.

“Kid, come quietly and spare yourself some pain,” one sneered, relieved to see only a child inside.

“No more hesitation—I must go,” Su Mu resolved, his mind made up. As the two advanced, his pulse surged wildly. Suddenly, he lashed out with two fierce punches. The men never saw it coming—the harmless-looking boy transformed into a wild beast, his fists enlarging before their eyes. Then, nothing—unconsciousness claimed them.

Elsewhere in the city, a small open lot once used for storage now lay in ruins, debris scattered everywhere from a recent violent clash. As Wan Chongtian and his men arrived, they saw two figures in the clearing, having just broken apart from combat.

One, a man in black embroidered robes, crouched on all fours like a beast. The other, a woman, clutched her abdomen, blood seeping steadily through her fingers.

A chilling rasp issued from the man’s throat, sending shivers down the spine. Abruptly, he spoke in a hoarse, grating voice.

“You’re still no match for me. Among the Thirty-Six Stars of Tiangang in Pinglong Fortress, you only rank thirtieth. Stop struggling. Hand it over—I’ll give you a swift end.”

“Bah! What right have you to decide anything, you brainless brute?” Though wounded, Jiang Yingying showed no fear.

“You! Still so stubborn on the brink of death? Let me show you my Tiger Rend Claw—next time, I’ll tear your heart out!” The man readied to pounce.

“Black Hunter, wait!” Wan Chongtian rushed forward, seeing Black Hunter about to strike. “My brother wants her alive; she has secrets yet. She can’t die.”

Black Hunter cackled. “Don’t blame me, then—depends how obedient she is.”

“And what good is it to learn a beast’s martial arts? Planning to perform tricks in the street for scraps?” Jiang Yingying retorted, unfazed.

Her words sent Black Hunter into a fit of rage. Ignoring Wan Chongtian, he lunged, his arms swelling and hands transforming into savage claws as a long, dark shadow stretched behind him.

Jiang Yingying drew a pair of white gloves from her waist and slipped them on. She extended her hands, two white beams flaring from her fingertips—force focused by her pulse energy, sharp enough to cleave stone.

The beams lengthened to half a meter, turning her hands into twin blades. As Black Hunter charged, Jiang Yingying raised her arms to meet his claws.

Sparks flew as their blows clashed dozens of times in an instant. The screech of her glowing blades against his claws was unbearable, forcing the surrounding black-clad men to cover their ears.

Wan Chongtian cursed inwardly, channeling his mind force. His eyes glimmered as he focused on Jiang Yingying, raised his hands, and cried, “Strike!”

Ripples of invisible force appeared around Jiang Yingying. Sensing the disturbance, her face changed, and she leaped high. Instantly, violent explosions erupted where she’d just stood. A small tree behind her was reduced to a bare stump—its trunk obliterated.

A cold sweat broke out on Jiang Yingying’s back. Had she hesitated for a moment, she’d have ended up like the tree.

She spun to face Wan Chongtian and shouted, “Despicable wretch—prepare to die!” Ignoring Black Hunter’s renewed attack, she charged straight at Wan Chongtian, arms ready to strike him down.

As she bore down on him, Wan Chongtian moved his hands in circles, conjuring dozens of ripples in the air, like invisible rain falling before him. He waved his hands repeatedly, sending wave after wave of force at her.

Seeing the dense barrage, Jiang Yingying shifted to defense, her hands moving in a seamless blur, scattering the incoming strikes. Cries of agony sounded nearby—some of the ripples deflected into the ranks of the black-clad men, bursting their bodies on impact. Carnage reigned, and the survivors fell back dozens of paces, none daring to remain close.

Seeing Jiang Yingying pressed, Black Hunter let out a monstrous howl and swept his claws at her back in a blur. She heard the whistle of air, but with force still pounding at her from the front, she could only parry awkwardly. Black Hunter’s claws struck faster—a deep, bone-baring wound appeared on her shoulder, the impact smashing her to the ground. Blood welled in her throat and spurted from her mouth.

Su Mu raced nonstop to the clearing, arriving in time to see Black Hunter land his sneak attack. Witnessing Jiang Yingying’s grievous injury, rage ignited within him. He shouted, “Stop! What kind of men are you, ganging up on one woman? Is that your idea of honor?”