Chapter 219
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Fissure (1)
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Fissure : Splitting open like the patterns on a turtle's shell. A metaphorical expression for such gaps.
The Eight Roads Hall was located near Lianxing Gate, the eastern gate of Chang'an City. And it was quite large. Given the nature of their business—storing goods for delivery to the military—they needed vast spaces.
With all those tempting items for bandits, the compound resembled a small, sturdy fortress.
Even accounting for that, this seems excessive.
That was Ui's conclusion after arriving at the Eight Roads Hall and surveying the surroundings.
There were too many oddities. The security was ridiculously tight, like guarding the imperial palace. Even at this hour, when the streets were deserted, people and carts were steadily coming and going. The constant murmur from inside the compound said it all.
The Eight Roads Hall was wide awake deep into the night.
And this atmosphere... It's not like they're preparing a feast. More like war drums are beating. But... has the Eight Roads Hall ever clashed with other sects through force? In the jianghu, they always came across as a profit-driven merchant group. Hmm.
In the end, she'd have to slip inside and see for herself. With that thought, Ui sprang into action.
A moment later.
A patrol guard passed along the outer wall, and Ui appeared in his wake. She uncoiled the rope from her waist, tossed it over the wall, and waited briefly to ensure no one approached. Then, gripping the line with her hands and kicking off the wall with her feet, she scaled it in a flash. The wall stood three zhang high, but she summited it in the blink of an eye.
Thud.
Ui flattened herself on the wall top and began crawling. Peering into the compound as she went. From afar, she looked like a serpent-like shadow slithering in and out of view.
What she saw inside was...
Worth the trip, I suppose? Ha~ And they're practically begging me to come in.
The Eight Roads Hall compound teemed with more warriors than expected. They were scattered about, gathering in small groups of twos and threes, resting in whatever comfortable poses they fancied—chatting here, dozing sitting up there, polishing weapons over there. But none strayed from their spots. It looked exactly like soldiers on standby, awaiting deployment.
What caught Ui's eye was that most of these warriors weren't Eight Roads Hall escorts. She could tell because distinct groups of outsiders had clustered together. This place was a rally point for fighters from all over.
She didn't know who they were after yet, but the Western Bureau was a prime suspect.
So, what now?
She'd have to infiltrate deeper for concrete details. That explained her mutterings about the trip being worthwhile or how they kept tempting her inside.
Ui double-checked her route to the targeted spot inside, the surroundings, and the guards' positions. Then she slipped from the wall into the compound.
......
Ui prowled the grounds for about two gak.
She didn't rush or force anything, avoiding crowded or risky areas. Her goal was to gauge the overall situation and mood.
Of course, not just anyone could pull this off. It took ghostly footsteps and fluid movements, honed senses for navigation, accumulated experience, and bold ingenuity for surprises. She had it all.
Her tour yielded plenty of extra intel, from which she inferred several things.
One. The gathered warriors numbered well over a hundred, set to depart at dawn. Less than a few si remained.
One. Besides this Eight Roads Hall, there were at least two more rally points. So the dawn operation involved a minimum of three hundred.
One. They weren't all heading to one spot. Groups would split off to their assigned zones. These seemed tasked with encirclement and blockade. Meaning the main strike force was elsewhere.
One. It felt like a Lion Hall solo op. If it were the Martial Qin Alliance, no need for this secrecy—Shaanxi was their turf. Nor was it likely the Eight Roads Hall or a sect of that caliber; the scale was too grand. Factor in who backed the Eight Roads Hall, and the answer was obvious.
Why would Lion Hall move now? A lightning raid, no less? Is this even their show? The size fits, but something's off... Maybe just a specific faction within Lion Hall?
Her head throbbed, so Ui paused her thoughts and gazed skyward.
The late-rising moon had noticeably waned. It felt full just days ago.
Come to think of it, she hadn't gazed at the moon much lately. Her line of work kept her nocturnal, so she'd seen plenty before.
Blame Flying Tiger. She'd bitten on his personal commission, fixating on bodyguard duty. Thanks to him, her recent life had been disgustingly wholesome.
Wholesome.
A compliment to some, but not the path Ui craved.
How had she ended up here?
It was when Jeong Unit returned to base after clashing with the Yellow Turban Squad. Ui had been disguised as an old pine merchant guide when Flying Tiger tapped her for the job. She'd been crashing at an inn near the northern plateau's edge, catching some rare deep rest.
That day, Flying Tiger made his request.
Ten taels of gold.
For just one month of protection. Ui thought she'd hit the jackpot and snapped it up. But it turned out to be heavy coin. He claimed it was everything he had.
Out of merchant honor, she'd offered to cut her fee. A grand gesture, born of her fondness for him. Though the pay dwarfed the work, pricking her conscience a bit.
"Whoa, all of it? That's too much. Want me to knock some off?"
Flying Tiger had replied:
"No, it's my mindset as the client. I couldn't bear hearing she died while I was off gallivanting."
"All of it" meant he'd be left penniless, save for her safety.
And this kid called it his mindset.
Unlike some, he was a man worthy of love. Worth rooting for.
Ui shook off the reverie and lowered her eyes from the night sky and moon. A breather taken; back to work. But she was nearly done. She'd mapped the situation; just verify a few details.
Like:
Is your target really the Western Bureau?
Why's Lion Hall so desperate to crush them?
Ui melted back into stealth and moved. She picked a suitable spot and waited for a fitting mark.
Plan: kidnap, interrogate, bury.
Couldn't do it in the heart of enemy turf. And wasting effort on some clueless grunt? No. Choosing the right place and target decided success.
Luckily, Ui had a plan. It'd need some luck, though...
Looks like my luck's holding today? Everything's going smooth as planned.
A liaison had just entered the compound. Rose embroidery like a lady might wear, but the upward-curling ends of his eight-character mustache marked a striking middle-aged man.
Many had come and gone from Eight Roads Hall today, including types like Yongho Sect assassins. Prepping for the imminent op meant lots to exchange and confirm.
The mustached man was one of many, but special. Eight Roads executives rushed out barefoot, bowing obsequiously.
The perfect mark Ui had awaited.
High rank meant deep knowledge, and he'd retrace his steps out. Ideal. Sure, fat fish had thorns—some skill likely—but she could handle it.
Nice. Let's see if my luck holds to the end.
Ui slipped away quietly.
Half a gak later, the mustached man exited the main gate, met his waiting attendant, and hurried off.
And the assassin Ui, who had already exited and lain in wait, began shadowing him silently.
"Patrol Division Leader, isn't Lotus Flower Gate the other way?"
The mustached man veered from the main road into an alley, prompting his trailing attendant to ask.
"Patrol Division Leader" kept walking and replied.
"No."
"Then where are we headed?"
"The City That Never Sleeps."
"Pardon? You mean... the one I know?"
"Probably."
"Suddenly?"
The attendant hustled after, brimming with curiosity. It was too out of left field.
The mustached man fiddled with his mustache, explaining to satisfy his nosy underling—lest his ears itch all night.
"Direct orders from the boss. Drop everything and report to him the moment you hear about the woman."
"Ah... so we're off to pay our respects."
"Something like that. But while I will, you probably won't get face time."
"Heh, just saying. Doesn't matter. Finally visiting that famed City That Never Sleeps... Wait. The boss is there now?"
"Heh heh heh. There? He's at there. You'll be shocked. Only downside: what you see and hear stays there. Got it? No bragging to your pals. Always watch your mouth. Understood?"
"......"
"No answer?"
Why not?