C10 Leave the City

Eight days later, in the warmth of the afternoon sun, Lee Fei sat unceremoniously on the ground in the courtyard. His face was streaming with sweat, and his clothes clung to him, thoroughly drenched. He had just wrapped up an intense workout and felt somewhat drained.

In recent days, he had dedicated himself to daily meditation to enhance his magical energy. However, if he meditated for over three hours at a stretch, he would become extremely fatigued and unable to continue. Following his meditation, Lee Fei would practice Dark Magic until he had depleted all his magical energy. He had mastered two basic spells: Quicksand and Slow.

His primary focus was the dark element blade spell, which allowed him to inflict direct damage on his enemies. Its incantation was straightforward, making it particularly effective for surprise attacks. Lee Fei spent the rest of his time pushing his physical limits with rigorous training until he was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. Then, he would collapse onto his bed to recover.

These six days had been incredibly productive, and his hard work had paid off with a swift increase in his strength.

After resting on the ground for a short while, Lee Fei stood up, grabbed a four-cornered hat from the wall, placed it on his head, and strode towards the door.

Today was significant. Zhang Qiao'er had learned when the birthday tribute would be dispatched to the capital—it was set to leave in half a month. Lee Fei knew that merely planning behind closed doors was insufficient. He needed to survey the official road in person to devise a better strategy to reclaim what was rightfully his.

But before embarking on this task, he had one more thing to do: exact revenge on Chen Kuo. Despite the inherent risks of exposure, Lee Fei was confident enough to venture out. After all, he had been missing for many days, and conventional wisdom would suggest he had long since fled the city. Who would expect him to linger within its walls?

Furthermore, according to the updates from Zhang Qiao'er, the city had not initiated a widespread manhunt—only the city gate was under strict scrutiny.

Lee Fei left his house and soon arrived at the pawnshop, where he found a hiding spot in a corner across the street. The pawnshop's doors were securely closed, and the bustling street in front was teeming with people, none of whom noticed Lee Fei tucked away in his corner. His gaze was fixed on the pawnshop, his mind a bastion of calm.

The pawnshop had recently bolstered its security. In addition to the usual doorman, four burly men with bulging waists, clearly armed, stood guard. Chen Kuo must have learned of the dreadful events that transpired in the dungeon and, fearing retaliation, decided to increase his defenses.

"He's certainly cautious," Lee Fei mused silently.

Time flew by, and the sun discreetly took its leave, tucking away its dazzling rays as dusk descended, painting the sky a stunning shade of red. Nightfall was approaching, and Lee Fei frowned; he couldn't afford to spend the entire night here. If Chen Kuo didn't show up soon, he would have to seek another opportunity.

But fortune soon shifted. A portly middle-aged ministry councillor appeared outside the pawnshop, engaging in conversation with the doorman and slipping him some silver coins. The doorman, clearly pleased with the tip, turned and entered the pawnshop with a spring in his step.

Before long, Chen Kuo, the man Lee Fei had been obsessing over, emerged from the pawnshop. He looked noticeably worn since their last encounter.

A sly grin spread across Lee Fei's lips as he watched Chen Kuo's retreating figure, a cruel smile playing on his face. He raised his hand, whispering an incantation, and began gathering the magical energy within him, ready to unleash a dark element blade. He was a little over two meters from Chen Kuo, an ideal distance for his purpose.

Outside the pawnshop, the ministry councillor greeted Chen with a respectful bow, "Brother Chen, it's a pleasure to see you. It's truly been too long."

Chen Kuo responded with a weary smile, "Honestly, I've had some trouble recently. I fear someone might be plotting against me in secret, hence the need for extra caution."

The middle-aged ministry councillor was skeptical. Dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand, he said, "Chen, you must be joking. Everyone knows the Magistrate has got your back. Who would dare cross you, knowing what they'd be up against?"

Chen Kuo was about to invite him inside to discuss matters further when a cry of alarm interrupted him.

"Be careful."

A sharp "chi" sound followed, and a slender, black blade shot straight out from behind him.

In an instant, the dark element blade struck his back, slicing open his skin with terrifying speed before burrowing deeper.

Chen Kuo screamed in agony, propelled forward by the force of the blow. He stumbled and then crashed to the ground.

Panic seized the middle-aged ministry councillor. He flailed his arms, shouting, "Chen Kuo! Help! Someone, save him!"

"Don't let him escape; he's the one who killed the shopkeeper!" the doorman accused, pointing at the ministry councillor.

Four burly men, upon hearing this, tackled the ministry councillor to the ground without hesitation.

"You've lost your minds! I am your lord's friend," the ministry councillor protested vehemently.

The doorman, unmoved, tossed a handful of silver coins at his face, retorting, "Friend? You're the murderer who sent the shopkeeper to his grave!"

In the aftermath of the incident, someone had to be blamed. The doorman, having invited Chen Kuo out, could not easily shirk his involvement.

The old adage rang true: strike first or suffer the consequences. By pinning the crime on the ministry councillor, he might just save his own skin.

The commotion drew the attention of passersby, some drawn to the spectacle, others murmuring from a safe distance.

Meanwhile, Lee Fei had already turned his back on the scene, walking away from the city. He spared Chen Kuo not even a glance, embodying the essence of the phrase, "Once the affair is concluded, depart without attachment."

The security at the city gate was far tighter than the relaxed atmosphere within the city itself. Soldiers were stationed at the gate, meticulously inspecting carriages and wagons—potential hiding spots for people—and they spared no civilian in their scrutiny.

Over the past few days, several monks who had come to the city to beg for alms were detained for their lack of long hair.

Much of this heightened vigilance could be attributed to Lee Fei, who had slain six constables. The fabricated identity of an 'enemy spy,' courtesy of Magistrate Hu, had drawn the serious attention of local authorities.

The tension in the neighboring counties would persist until Lee Fei was apprehended.

As night enveloped the sky, Lee Fei stealthily trailed a merchant caravan, which comprised roughly twenty individuals with ten carts of merchandise, making their way toward the city gate.

The gate was the only area illuminated by torches; the surrounding darkness provided Lee Fei with ample cover. Despite the rigorous checks, he remained calm, having devised a plan in advance.

Upon noticing the approaching caravan, the deputy general responsible for the city's defense stepped forward, gesturing for the caravan to halt.

"Which merchant group do you belong to, and why are you departing the city at this hour?" the deputy general called out.

A woman descended from the lead carriage, her face obscured by a thin veil. She approached the deputy general and spoke gently, "Good evening, General. My name is Lee Furong from Hao Province. My father, Lee Ying, is the Suzerain of Emberhollow. We are transporting a shipment of salt back to our hometown for trade. Given the long journey ahead, we wish to make use of the night. I kindly ask for your convenience, General."

While speaking, she discreetly slipped several banknotes into the deputy general's hand.

The deputy general accepted the bribe yet remained vigilant, replying indifferently, "If there's nothing amiss with your cargo, a quick inspection shouldn't be an issue. Please, Miss, lead the way."

With a smile, Lee Furong responded, "Certainly, General." She then led him to a carriage, drew back the curtain, and allowed him to inspect. After a cursory glance and seeing no one concealed within, the deputy general gave a nod of approval.

After inspecting several carriages without finding any issues, the lieutenant had seemingly completed his duty and commanded his soldiers to allow passage. However, every man was required to remove his hat for inspection.

The carriages moved ahead, with the merchant group following. The procession had smoothly passed seven carriages when suddenly, a skeleton appeared at the roadside. Its eye sockets glowed with an eerie green light as it lurched toward the crowd.

"Ah, there's a monster!"

"It's coming our way. Run! The monster's going to capture someone!"

Panic ensued among the merchants as they scrambled forward in a frenzy.

The lieutenant, visibly annoyed by the commotion, bellowed, "Form a line and remain calm!"

Lee Furong, observing the skeleton, remarked, "General, the last thing you want on a night journey is to come across something unclean. Please bear with us."

The lieutenant found her point valid and decided to let the merchants be. He led his soldiers to encircle the skeleton, brandishing their torches to embolden themselves.

The skeleton soldier, summoned by Lee Fei to sow disorder and divert attention, simply stood still, bewildered by the encircling troops. Meanwhile, Lee Fei seized the moment to blend into the crowd and slip out of the city gate.

The soldiers, tense with anticipation, feared the skeleton might suddenly lash out, yet none dared to provoke it.

Once the lieutenant noticed the carriages and people had all departed, he ordered with authority, "Close the city gates. I intend to find out who's behind this mischief."

A soldier at his side pointed to the skeleton soldier and inquired, "Sir, what should we do with this creature?"

After a moment's thought, the lieutenant replied, "I'll fetch some rope. Keep it surrounded for now."

Unbeknownst to them, Lee Fei had already commanded the skeleton soldier to remain motionless before his departure. Regardless of their actions, the skeleton soldier would maintain its current stance, never attempting to flee.