Chapter Forty-Four: Unexpected Enemy

The figures in black swept toward Fang Wei and Gu Yu like a whirlwind. With a flash of cold light, a ghost-head saber was already swung right before their eyes. The two hurriedly raised their weapons to parry. After two clashing sounds, Gu Yu felt a numbness shoot through the web between his thumb and index finger, and his right hand instantly lost all sensation. In order to keep his actions hidden from Tang Haiqiu, Fang Wei had deliberately chosen a short blade that could be concealed inside his boot. After exchanging just a single blow with the opponent, the short blade was knocked flying from his hand. Terrified, he closed his eyes and thought to himself: My life is over now. To his astonishment, the opponent abandoned him entirely and instead swung the saber to attack Tang Haiqiu!

Tang Haiqiu, who had originally been lying flat on the ground, suddenly slid smoothly away, dodging the fatal blow, and then sprang up to bolt toward the depths of the forest. The spot where he had fallen happened to be precisely where the short blade in his hand had been knocked away and dropped by Gu Yu earlier. He had used it to cut the hemp rope behind his back and free himself to escape.

Seeing this, the figure in black flicked the saber's tip, transforming the blade into a streak of lightning as he went straight for Tang Haiqiu. By this time, Tang Haiqiu had been frightened out of his wits and could no longer spare a thought for the commotion behind him. The edge of the saber grazed the outer side of his calf. Struck by the pain, Tang Haiqiu lost his footing, and his body pitched forward, just as another figure in black leaped close and raised a saber to hack at him!

Swish, swish, swish! The sound of projectiles piercing the air was endless as several feathered arrows shot in from outside the forest, targeting each of the figures in black respectively. The saber-wielding figure sidestepped to evade them, while Gu Yu lunged out from a slant, extending his iron ruler to block the opponent's steel saber.

Outside the forest, it suddenly grew as bright as day amidst a deafening roar of shouts! Dong Xinfu and Zhou Wei led the way at the front, rushing forward urgently with torches in hand.

The figure in black was too shocked for words by the scene before him. Distracted for a split second, he felt a sharp pain in his arm as Gu Yu's iron ruler struck him. He slashed back with his saber, but Gu Yu retreated just as quickly, guarding Tang Haiqiu's side with the deliberate intention of wearing the enemy down. Realizing there was no longer any possibility of success, the figure in black puckered his lips and blew a sharp, piercing whistle before bolting into the forest. Receiving the signal, the remaining figures in black followed their leader without a moment's hesitation, quickly vanishing into the dense woods.

Seeing that Dong Xinfu had rushed close, Gu Yu's legs turned to jelly and he slumped to the ground. Dong Xinfu held a torch up to his face and asked, "Are you injured?"

Gu Yu simply grinned and stepped aside to reveal Tang Haiqiu behind him. Moving the torch closer and finally recognizing the captive, Dong Xinfu could not help exclaiming with excitement, "You rascal, you actually pulled it off!" When he learned that Fang Wei and two others had left the city at dusk, it made no sense to him logically or emotionally. He immediately considered another possibility: that Fang Wei might have been coerced. The tall man with a mole on his nose was likely Tang Haiqiu in disguise. Knowing that the bounty notices had already depicted his facial features, Tang Haiqiu had disguised himself, but his own cleverness had become his undoing, turning his disguise into a fatal flaw.

He had shared this deduction with the Imperial Inspector of the City Patrol and urged him to rush and report it to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen. Knowing the gravity of the situation, the Inspector naturally did not dare to delay. Meanwhile, Dong Xinfu had quietly followed behind alone, rescuing Fang Wei at the crucial moment.

Behind Dong Xinfu, Wu Haichao looked at Gu Yu with envy, but he quickly noticed the bloodstain near Gu Yu's wrist. "You're hurt?"

Following his gaze, Gu Yu saw blood welling from his wrist. He raised his hand, his expression full of bewilderment. Then, recalling that he had sustained the injury during his clash with the figure in black just moments ago, and remembering the opponent's formidable martial prowess, he felt a lingering fear and said, "Just a single blow was enough to injure me like this."

Over on the other side, Fang Wei had exhausted his last ounce of strength. He crawled on his knees for a few steps on the ground and pulled the unconscious Lady Fang tightly into his arms. Lady Fang remained unresponsive, her eyes tightly closed and her cheeks flushed. Fang Wei reached out to pinch the philtrum beneath her nose, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Xiuxiu, wake up." All the noise and chaos around him seemed to have faded far away; at this moment, Fang Wei could see only the woman in his arms. The surrounding constables walked up behind him, not daring to make a sound or disturb the moment.

A moment later, Lady Fang let out a soft groan and opened her eyes, looking around blankly. Staring at her in a trance, Fang Wei pulled her back into his embrace, holding her fiercely tight. Behind him, Zhou Wei also let out a sigh of relief and called out to the brothers, "All right, clean up the battlefield and take the prisoner away promptly."

Lady Fang was squeezed so tightly she could barely breathe, but she did not show it. Instead, she leaned close to Fang Wei's ear and whispered softly, "Don't be afraid, I am here."

I am here before you fall asleep, and I am here when you wake up. I am here when the sun shines brightly, and I am here when dark clouds fill the sky. I am here when you want to share your joy and your pain, and most importantly, every time you look back, I am here. I hope to become the light, or the wind, filling every corner of your life.

Led by Dong Xinfu, the group of constables dragged their heavy footsteps back toward the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, yet the excitement lingered in everyone's heart. Cheng Jie was waiting anxiously at the entrance of the Yamen. Catching sight of Dong Xinfu, he trotted forward to meet them. When he saw Tang Haiqiu being escorted by the men, joy blossomed across his face. He grabbed Dong Xinfu's hands tightly and exclaimed, "When Old Dong takes the field, the results are truly extraordinary! You've achieved another great merit!"

Dong Xinfu smiled. "That is only thanks to Prefectural Judge Cheng's meticulous planning and proper command."

Cheng Jie beamed from ear to ear, accepting the compliment without a shred of modesty. Dong Xinfu turned back toward Fang Wei and Lady Fang, who was being carried on his back. "You should head back first and let Xiuxiu recuperate properly. Now that Tang Haiqiu has been brought to justice, you need not worry. Rest up and settle everything before you return." Lady Fang's condition along the way had been less than ideal, alternating between lucidity and unconsciousness, and Fang Wei had carried her on his back the entire journey. Hearing this, he nodded, and Lady Fang managed to lift her head slightly to bid farewell to Dong Xinfu.

Dong Xinfu turned to Gu Yu next. "Go and get your wound bandaged first." Still riding a wave of excitement, Gu Yu chuckled. "A mere flesh wound, it's nothing."

Knowing what was on his mind, Dong Xinfu turned to Cheng Jie and asked, "Lord Cheng, shall we conduct a surprise interrogation through the night?"

Cheng Jie thought for a moment and said, "Strike while the iron is hot and nail down his charges." Earlier that afternoon, Prefect Wan had chewed him out fiercely. Although he had managed to distract the pressure by sending Dong Xinfu out to hunt for leads, he still felt a lingering dread regarding Prefect Wan's wrath. If an interrogation could yield results tonight, it would at least give him an account to present to Prefect Wan.

In the second hall, Cheng Jie sat in the center as lanterns and torches blazed all around. Tang Haiqiu was brought into the hall, his head lowered and his spirit utterly crushed. A constable nudged the back of Tang Haiqiu's knee with the tip of his boot, and losing his balance, Tang Haiqiu collapsed heavily to his knees. The bailiffs chanted in unison, "Awe-inspiring!"

Cheng Jie pointed a finger at Tang Haiqiu. "Prisoner Tang Haiqiu, do you know your crimes?"

Tang Haiqiu raised his head, terror written across his face. "Do you have any idea who the people that ambushed me really are?"

Startled, Cheng Jie looked over at Dong Xinfu. He had not yet had the time to learn the detailed particulars of the case, so Dong Xinfu stepped forward and briefly recounted the ambush by the men in black. Never expecting such a convoluted and winding twist to the case, Cheng Jie froze on the spot.

Gu Yu stood slightly ahead and to the side of Tang Haiqiu. Wu Haichao walked up behind him and pressed a roll of gauze into his hand. "Master's orders: bandage your wound first, and we'll have Doctor Sun look at it properly after dawn." Gu Yu nodded and hurriedly wrapped the wound. Sensitively, he noticed that Tang Haiqiu's emotional state seemed somewhat unusual. The kneeling Tang Haiqiu shivered involuntarily. Having participated in countless battles throughout his life, he had never felt杀气 (such a chilling murderous intent) as clearly as he had today. His eyes darted around frantically. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally made up his mind and uttered a heaven-shaking sentence: "I have a hidden grievance to report, and it can save the Wanli Emperor..."

Startled out of his seat, Cheng Jie sprang up from his chair. Looking over at Dong Xinfu, he saw that Dong Xinfu was equally stunned, and terrified, he shrieked at the top of his lungs, "Shut your mouth! You foolish thief, do you have any idea what you are saying?!"