Chapter 195: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 195: Stirring the Fury
The moment Feng Min stepped over the old threshold, she instinctively turned her head, sensing something.
But it was precisely this backward glance that allowed the sharp blade to reflect in her pupils, causing them to contract violently in shock.
Driven by the primal instinct to survive, she screamed and stumbled backward.
The two figures wielding knives closed in on her. In her panicked attempt to evade them, she tripped and fell to the ground. She didn’t bother to pick up her bundle and scrambled to her feet, just about to run forward when she felt a chilling sensation from behind!
“Pssht—”
She seemed to hear the sound of a blade slicing through the fabric of her clothes and then cutting into the flesh and muscle of her back.
“Thud!”
Feng Min collapsed onto the ground.
The agony of her back being torn open and the numbing coldness from rapid blood loss enveloped her as she stretched out her hand, desperately crawling forward.
In that moment, an image flashed in her mind: the sight of Changsun Xuan’s maidservant lying in a pool of blood, struggling to crawl forward.
That maidservant had also tried to crawl to safety.
But she had chased after her with a rock, shutting her eyes and gritting her teeth as she struck down hard.
Then, again and again, she smashed it down until the maidservant could no longer move. The bright red blood had seeped into the fiery maple leaves, dyeing the entire grove a deeper crimson.
Afterward, she had dropped the rock, collapsing on the ground trembling, as tears of terror streamed uncontrollably down her face.
She had killed someone.
Killing was a terrifying act. She had been utterly horrified.
No matter how hard she tried to avoid thinking about it, what had happened that day haunted her like a nightmare, threatening to drag her into the abyss. She had always assumed it was the most horrifying experience of her life.
But in this moment, she finally understood that being on the verge of being killed—helpless, desperate, and utterly desolate—was far more terrifying.
When she had killed that maidservant, she felt no hesitation or pity.
Now, she was about to meet the same fate.
Tears welled up in Feng Min’s eyes. It was unclear whether they came from regret, fear, or pain.
Just as the bloodstained blade closed in on her again, and she thought she was doomed, the blade suddenly clanged and was knocked aside by something, falling to the ground with a metallic crash.
A towering, burly figure emerged like the wind. With a swift slash, he severed the throat of the unarmed attacker, ending him decisively.
As the other assailant charged forward with his knife, the newcomer delivered a flying kick to his chest, sending him crashing against the wall. The attacker slumped to the ground, coughing up blood.
In the brief interval, the rescuer picked Feng Min up, slinging her over his shoulder, and disappeared into the thick night in a matter of moments.
---
“She was taken away?!”
“You lost her right under your noses… How did you handle this?!” Granny Liao was both shocked and enraged when she heard the news.
The injured assassin explained, “The person who came was highly skilled and appeared suddenly. We were caught off guard and completely overpowered. Zhang Qi is dead, and I was about to give chase, but I heard someone coming out of the Feng family residence and had to prioritize cleaning up the scene to avoid drawing attention to the killing.”
This was indeed the correct course of action.
Chang Shi had repeatedly instructed that if action was necessary, everything had to be handled cleanly, without leaving loose ends that could attract trouble or the authorities’ scrutiny.
But Granny Liao was still furious. After all, the girl was gone!
“Did you get a look at the person?”
The assassin replied, “He had his face covered, but he was tall and his movements were not like those of an ordinary martial artist.”
Hastily, he added, “But that girl from the Feng family was gravely injured. Even if she was taken away, she’s unlikely to survive!”
“She’d better not,” Granny Liao said coldly. “Or you and I will be taking her place in the afterlife!”
Given her injuries, it was likely she had left a trail of blood. Granny Liao immediately sent additional men to track her while ensuring the scene was thoroughly cleaned.
---
Elsewhere, others were already clearing away the blood trail left by Feng Min.
When Chang Ren carried Feng Min back to the Chang residence, Chang Suining hurriedly threw on her clothes and rushed over. She saw Chang Ren covered in blood and Feng Min lying unconscious, her face pale and lifeless.
“Uncle Ren, are you hurt?”
“Please punish me, Lady!”
Chang Ren knelt immediately, but Chang Suining spoke at the same time.
“I am unharmed,” Chang Ren said. “But this young lady from the Feng family is gravely injured. I did my best to stop the bleeding on the way, but her condition is critical.”
Chang Ren continued, “I was stationed at the rear main gate of the Feng residence. However, the young lady exited through a side gate. By the time I realized and reached her, I was already a step too late!”
He had miscalculated.
Feng Min, aware she had been discovered before attempting to escape, had avoided the main rear gate and instead chosen the rarely used side gate.
“To avoid alarming the enemy, I only had Uncle Ren guard the Feng residence. When the plan met with complications, it was no easy feat for him to manage to bring her back alone.”
Chang Suining did not reproach him. While speaking, she quickly approached Feng Min, who had been temporarily set down. Bending over, she checked Feng Min’s breathing. Noticing there was still a faint breath of life, she promptly ordered, “Quickly, summon Physician Sun!”
Then she immediately corrected herself, “No, take her directly to Physician Sun’s place!”
Calling for the physician would take too much time with the back-and-forth; sending her there directly would be faster.
“Yes!”
Chang Ren hoisted Feng Min onto his back once more and hurried to the guest courtyard where Physician Sun resided, kicking open the courtyard gate in one swift motion.
Physician Sun, who had been fast asleep, was startled awake.
What was that noise?
A thief?
But this was the General’s estate—what thief would have such a death wish?
If not a thief, could it be... confiscation of property by the authorities?
After all, the young master of the household was embroiled in a murder case!
Just as Physician Sun was debating whether to pack his belongings and flee, the door to his room was violently kicked open.
“Physician Sun, save this person immediately!”
In the dim light, Chang Ren set Feng Min down. Soon after, Xi'er entered with a lantern, illuminating the chaotic scene. Physician Sun, still sitting dazed on his bed, looked over—and then froze in shock.
He must have been jolted awake too quickly; how else could he have encountered such a bloody mess without warning?
As Physician Sun wondered if he was still dreaming and debated whether to lie back down, Chang Ren yanked him off the bed with one strong pull.
At that moment, Physician Sun was profoundly grateful that he hadn’t maintained his habit of sleeping unclothed in unfamiliar places.
Otherwise, he wasn’t sure if he could save the person lying on the ground, but he was certain he wouldn’t survive the encounter!
Chang Suining soon arrived as well.
“I’ll have to trouble you, Physician Sun,” she said simply. “If you can save her, I will reward you with an additional hundred taels of silver as your fee.”
She then instructed Chang Ren and Xi'er, “Uncle Ren, wait with me outside. Xi'er, bring several basins of hot water to assist Physician Sun.”
---
“Don’t worry, my lady. The bloodstains along the route have already been cleaned up. No traces will be left behind.”
Out in the corridor, Chang Ren finally had the chance to report the details to Chang Suining.
She nodded.
Whether or not traces were left behind, the Ming family would inevitably suspect her. But mere suspicion was useless, just as she suspected Ming Jin yet could not hold him accountable in any way.
After Chang Ren temporarily withdrew, Chang Suining instinctively retrieved a note from the inner pocket of her cloak.
---
(End of Chapter)
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