Chapter 4: Departure

The next day.

Lin Yan got up before dawn. He first brought the prepared hay to the cowshed, then went to chop some firewood. Once he finished, he squatted nearby and watched the ox eat. It was very old and ate slowly, chewing each mouthful for a long time. Lin Yan didn't rush it; he just watched.

After the ox finished eating, he turned and went back inside to pack. In truth, there wasn't much to take—just an old set of clothes for changing, a piece of flint, and a Firewood Knife. He had bought the knife at the blacksmith's shop a few days ago for twenty coins. It wasn't particularly sharp, but it suited his needs.

Lin Yan wrapped his rations in oiled paper, tucked the Firewood Knife into his waistband at his lower back, and left the house to take on some work. There wasn't much work today. He delivered two batches of goods: one of cloth and one of medicinal herbs. The clients were old acquaintances and paid him quite readily.

After noon, he carried a load of water for an old woman. She stuffed a few flatbreads into his hands, and he didn't decline. The flatbreads were made of coarse grains—very hard, but filling. Lin Yan put the flatbreads together with his rations and went to buy some salted meat.

Upon returning home, he put his things away and chopped another pile of firewood in the courtyard. By the time he finished, the sun had already slanted westward. He looked up at the sky. What had been a relatively clear day was now growing dark. That was how autumn was: the days were short, and it got dark early.

Before the sun completely set, Lin Yan hitched the ox cart and inspected the axle and wheels he had just replaced today. After confirming there were no issues, he spread a layer of hay and an old mattress inside the cart's canopy. Finally, after some thought, he placed that blanket inside as well.

With that, Lin Yan drove the ox cart away from home. The city gates were not yet closed. The guards recognized him; they yawned lazily and skipped the interrogation entirely.

Meanwhile, the most famous brothel in the city was brightly lit.

On the top floor, there were no patrons—only a few men sitting around a round red sandalwood table. Fine wine and delicacies covered the table, but few picked up their chopsticks. They weren't here to drink and make merry, but to discuss a matter of utmost importance.

Sitting at the head of the table was an old man in a navy blue robe. His hair and beard were white, but his face had very few wrinkles. His surname was Zhao, and the largest shops in the city all bore the Zhao name. At this moment, Old Mr. Zhao was playing with the thumb ring on his hand, listening to the others speak.

"Over at the Government Office, Lord Wang has already accepted the silver. The steward has also been bribed. As long as we don't cause a huge scene, they will turn a blind eye." The speaker was a tall, thin, middle-aged man. His surname was Ma; he was the Patriarch of the city's Ma Family.

"As for the servants of the Liu Family, everyone who needed to be bought off has been bought off," another fat man with a face full of aggressive flesh chimed in. "Now, all that's left is to make our move. A widow and a nursing babe—can they really turn the world upside down?" He chuckled, his laughter harsh and grating.

Old Mr. Zhao didn't speak. He simply took a slow sip of his tea. He never drank alcohol. As the warm liquid slid down his throat, he narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.

"A woman is nothing to worry about, but she does have some connections after all. The job must be done cleanly. We cannot leave any loose ends."

"Rest assured. In three to five days, even if she wants to leave, she—"

Before he could finish, a man in black suddenly entered the room. He walked quickly to the old man's side, leaned over, and whispered a few words.

The teacup in the old man's hand paused. A moment later, he suddenly laughed.

"The little sparrow is about to fly away." His voice carried the pleasure of someone who had everything under control. "And she even found a poor cart driver to escort her."

The night wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker wildly.

"Make the move. Tonight."

Midnight.

The moon hid behind the clouds, flickering in and out of view. Lin Yan leaned against the cart's shafts, his eyes closed, breathing evenly.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes. Right at that moment, the moonlight peeked through the clouds. Lin Yan saw two figures stumbling toward him from the direction of the city.

It was Madam Liu and her maid.

Madam Liu wore a dark cloth skirt with a hood pulled over her head, cradling a swaddled infant in her arms. The maid carried a large bundle on her back, panting heavily as she walked. They stopped in front of the cart.

Madam Liu looked up at Lin Yan. "Lin!"

"Get in."

Lin Yan offered no pleasantries. Madam Liu showed her decisive side. Without a word of nonsense, she climbed into the ox cart with her child. The maid followed, shrinking into a corner and clutching the bundle to her chest, lost in her own thoughts.

The ox cart began to move forward.

The night wind brought a biting chill. Madam Liu leaned against the wall of the cart, gazing out at the pitch-black wilderness, as if on guard against anyone or any danger that might suddenly appear. Lin Yan sat at the front; the darkness had no effect on him. He didn't speak, nor did the two women behind him.

They traveled like this for about four hours when torches suddenly lit up by the roadside ahead. One torch ignited after another, illuminating the road down to the smallest detail. Over a dozen figures emerged from the darkness, blocking their path.

Leading them was a burly middle-aged man wearing gray martial attire. A thick-backed, thin-bladed broadsword hung at his waist, and a vicious glint shone in his eyes.

Lin Yan pulled the ox to a halt, his gaze calmly appraising the men. But when Madam Liu saw the burly man's face, all her spirit instantly drained away.

"Zhao Tianbiao..." Her voice was tinged with despair.

The leader of the Flying Tiger Gang. One of the absolute best fighters in the city. It was said that his broadsword weighed twelve catties; a single slash could chop a galloping horse in half. Although Madam Liu was just a woman, she was also a daughter of the Shen Family, so she inherently paid closer attention to matters of the Jianghu. Therefore, she recognized Zhao Tianbiao at a single glance.

She slowly turned her head and looked at the maid beside her. The latter didn't dare meet her eyes. Avoiding her gaze, the maid curled into a ball, trembling even more violently than her mistress.

Madam Liu closed her eyes, unwilling to look any longer. She wondered if this idiot really thought she would meet a good end. Being betrayed by someone so close gave Madam Liu an overwhelming sense of defeat.

Zhao Tianbiao was in no rush to attack. His gaze fell upon Lin Yan. He sized him up and down a few times, then suddenly smiled. "You're that Lin Yan? This matter has nothing to do with you to begin with. Leave the people behind and go. I won't kill you."

Lin Yan looked at him, his eyes showing not the slightest ripple of emotion. "Kill me? With just you bunch of worthless trash?"

"Heh, looks like you're a stubborn ass who doesn't know how to spell 'death'!"

"I don't know." Lin Yan looked at the large broadsword. "But you all will know very soon."

Zhao Tianbiao stared at him for a long time before suddenly throwing his head back in roaring laughter. Before the laughter ceased, he abruptly drew his blade.

"Then let me see who exactly will die! Attack!"

Over a dozen men drew their weapons and surrounded the ox cart. Their footsteps were steady, their eyes filled with a ferocious and ruthless glint. These men weren't the street ruffians under Qian Wantong; they were genuine outlaws who had killed people and tasted blood.

Lin Yan leaped down from the cart, gripping the Firewood Knife in his hand, and looked at these men with a calm expression.

A man who intends to win wears no smile on his face.