In the time it took to blink, the scholar’s resolve firmed. The Assembly of the Clear-Eyed had only taught him two spells: one that aided his perception of the body’s systems and another to speed his thoughts. He mobilized his qi to cast that second spell now, the world seeming to slow around him as the magic took effect.
Like a cascade, one thought led to the next: the Rock Knives we chased underground sacrificed the man with the shield to win time; that time was used to meet with at least one ally hidden further in; that ally set fire to the gang’s records and to set a trap; the person or people to be caught by the trap depends on this enemy’s choice of targets; Hong Fei is in the room with the enemy and therefore easier to reach; there are two people in the passage, a more tempting set of targets; Yu Yong must not be allowed to die.
That last thought had also been another of the instructions laced into the word, “run.”
By then, Sun Han’s body had completed its turn. He saw the confusion on Yu Yong’s face. A word was beginning to form on the young master’s lips.
The room behind the scholar was filled with fire. Sun Han felt the heat of it across his back. There’d also been a glimpse of a woman among the flames dressed in red, likely in the Qi Blossoming realm. It would be logical then for the enemy’s attack to be based on fire-aligned qi, some sort of highly energetic or explosive power. And that attack was likely immanent. There was no time to explain the situation.
Among Sun Han’s rapidly proliferating thoughts, one fell clear of the others: This is going to hurt. It was meant to apply to both himself and Yu Yong. The scholar initiated the motion for a toe kick to the young master’s groin.
Truly, fate worked in strange ways. Just recently, Ugly Dog had demonstrated the usefulness of such an attack in collapsing a man’s stance, which was exactly what Sun Han needed from Yu Yong. This way, the scholar’s next kick would be more effective and the young master’s profile would be smaller, which would hopefully help him avoid the trap’s effects.
The toe kick landed, and Yu Yong’s eyes bulged in surprise and pain. He began the process of bending over, letting Sun Han ready the next step. Once the boy was in position, a qi-empowered kick sent him flying.
Sun Han was starting to expand his stance to fill the passage with as much of his body as he could when it was his turn to hurt, hit from behind by a column of super-heated air. His thoughts still speeding, he felt his neck, ears, and hands searing. His hair briefly ignited, as did his robes. Pain surrounded him, yet his resolve kept him from gasping and thereby scalding his lungs.
The attack flung Sun Han down the passage, tumbling him across the now-hot stone. He wasn’t used to hurting like this and wanted to curl up from the pain. He forced himself upright instead. The scholar stumbled from the passage’s exit and to the side, out of harm’s way in case another blast should come through.
Sun Han let go the spell speeding his thoughts and fell onto the ground, disoriented by the pain and sudden shift in how he perceived the world. The whole of him throbbed, and he gritted his teeth to keep from crying out.
The scholar turned his head and saw that Auntie Ling was safe. She’d backed away from the passage after hearing the warning from Fate’s Attendant. Ugly Dog and the rest of the soldiers appeared unharmed, as well. They were gathered around Yu Yong, helping the young man to stand.
A crashing sound came from the passage. Auntie Ling and Cai Shi carefully approached the entrance to examine the situation inside. Moments later, there was the sound of a second, more muted crash.
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“Get the young master out of here!” Cai Shi commanded. “We’re withdrawing.” He turned to walk toward Sun Han and knelt to examine the scholar’s injuries. “Oh lad, you look like a shrimp that’s been boiled.”
Sun Han wheezed in response, the words he’d intended incoherent. He’d protected his lungs, but any movement sent agony radiating through him.
“Over here now,” Cai Shi ordered his squad. “Use one of them tables to carry the scholar out. In good order, hear me? This is a retreat, not a scramble.”
The soldiers moved quickly. A pair of them hurried the young master to safety, while Ugly Dog chopped off the legs of what was likely an expensive table. She and a soldier gently lifted Sun Han onto its surface before carrying him out.
Cai Shi strode alongside Sun Han’s improvised litter. “Our dūtóu, what happened to him?”
The scholar gulped, fighting to stay conscious, to get the necessary words said: “He’s—he’s facing a dangerous enemy.”
“Alone?” Ugly Dog blurted. “Can he win?”
Sun Han still existed in this world, which meant that Fate’s Attendant did too. “Hong Fei yet lives. That’s all I know.”
###
Yu Yong shook off the soldiers helping him up the stairs. He could walk on his own now, if somewhat stiffly. He caught himself before he could glare at the men who’d lent him their shoulders. Instead, he muttered, “Thank you. I can manage the rest.”
The soldiers nodded in reply, and they ran ahead to warn those above about the retreat. He heard the shout picked up and carried forward.
When Yu Yong checked himself, he found only scraped skin from where he’d slid across the stone floor and a lingering ache elsewhere. Though uncomfortable, his injuries were nothing like the ones suffered by Sun Han. The blast from the passage had carried with it the scent of burning hair, smoldering clothes, and seared meat.
Would he have suffered as badly if he hadn’t needed to protect me? Yong Yu questioned. The answer’s probably not, he replied to himself, and swallowed the guilt that followed. He felt it join the ball of the stuff filling his belly. Another thing to make amends for. Another fear to disregard. He began to take the steps two at a time. We’ll reward Sun Han with a Life’s Bounty pill to heal his injuries. The raid’s successful enough to warrant purchasing a few. Hong Fei will surely need one too.
He’d heard Sun Han say that the dūtóu was alive. Yu Yong refused to believe that anything or anyone could defeat the Hong Fei. That’s unrealistic, he thought, but his fists clenched in fervent hope that it was true anyway.
Yu Yong waited at the top of the stairs to count the soldiers following after. Cai Shi glowered at him in passing, but a flat stare in response meant that Yu Yong got his way. The shízhǎng was just as stubborn, however, and he lingered at the corridor’s turn to guard the young master.
After the last soldier was accounted for, Yu Yong realized that Auntie Ling hadn’t yet arrived. Cai Shi must’ve noticed it too, because the shízhǎng frowned. He approached to look down the stairs.
“Could she have gone after the dūtóu?” Yu Yong asked.
“The way was blocked,” Cai Shi answered. “Not that she couldn’t bull her way through, but she always followed Dūtóu Hong’s orders before. Would she disobey him if he was in trouble? You know her better than I do. What do you think?”
Yu Yong recalled the times he’d seen the giant badger fight. She’d been protective of Hong Fei but did indeed seem to strictly follow his orders. “It could go either way,” he said.
Cai Shi’s lips narrowed. “Stay here,” he instructed. “I’ll quickly check.” When Yu Yong began to protest, the shízhǎng added. “I’m also not above kicking you out of harm’s way. I reckon the duchess will reward me for it after I explain why.”
Yu Yong blinked at the man’s impertinence, then looked aside. “I understand.”
Barely a handful of breaths passed before Cai Shi returned. Though it was a short while, the furrows on his brow had deepened while he’d been gone. “She’s not below.”
“Auntie Ling chased after the dūtóu?” Yu Yong asked.
“I don’t know,” Cai Shi answered. “The passageway is still blocked, but she’s nowhere to be found. It’s like she disappeared.”
A soldier came jogging from around the corner. She saluted the shízhǎng before reporting, “Sir, there’s smoke rising from a building across the street.”
Cai Shi took a breath, focusing on the soldier. “Scouts to the rooftops. Track anyone fleeing to find out where they’re going. Treat those being followed as cultivators, at the Qi Gathering realm or possibly higher.”
“Sir!” The soldier saluted once more then ran to carry his orders.
“We’ll withdraw and escort our prizes back to the estate,” Cai Shi said to Yu Yong. “Ling… she knows herself and her tamer best. Whatever magic she’s invoked probably will benefit rather than harm, though we’ll send a message to the constables to let them knows she’s loose on her own.”
“I don’t like leaving people behind,” Yu Yong said, the feeling stuffy.
“Neither do I,” Cai Shi replied, “but that’s what sometimes required of command.”
ten chapters ahead. :)
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Auntie Ling, a summons
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Sun Han, a summons
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Cai Shi, a shízhǎng of the House of Yu
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Yu Yong, the young master of the House of Yu, brother of the duchess