Chapter 112: Embroidery Workshop Terror

The night was so thick it wouldn't lift, and Li Ping'an slipped like a black shadow over the continuous roof ridges. The night wind howled at his ears, yet he could hear his own thudding heartbeat. Shanben Yilang was about to go after Su Shifu, which was like poking a hornet's nest.

The embroidery workshop was just ahead, dark as a blind lamp, eerily quiet. Li Ping'an landed lightly in the back yard, and his nose suddenly caught a rust‑like smell.

His heart tightened, and he darted to the window edge. In the moonlight he saw a person lying in the courtyard, none other than the ever‑cheerful helper Xiaoshunzi. The youth had a dagger stuck in his chest, his eyes still staring at the heavens.

What a sin… Li Ping'an clenched his teeth and gently pushed the door open.

Inside, everything was turned upside down; the embroidery frame lay on the ground, silk threads scattered everywhere. Su Shifu was nowhere to be seen.

The back door hung ajar, and a suppressed sob came from the alley outside. Li Ping'an crept closer and saw two dark figures dragging a constantly struggling old lady.

Behave! a dark figure lowered his voice, "Move again and I'll make you bleed!"

Li Ping'an's gaze hardened, and he gripped two copper coins in his hand. Just as he was about to act, another dark figure said, "Mr Shanben really wants this old woman? What could she possibly know?"

I heard her disciple is the Li Family boy's sister. Capture her, and we won't fear that boy showing up.

Li Ping'an felt a jolt in his heart. So Shanben Yilang had traced Su Shifu through Pingle! These bastards wouldn't even spare an old woman!

He no longer hesitated; the two copper coins shot through the air.

Ow! The two dark figures screamed in unison as the coins struck their wrists, and the daggers clanged to the ground.

Li Ping'an lunged out like a ferocious tiger, firing arrows to both sides, and two hand‑slashes precisely cut the sides of their necks. The two shadows fell limp.

Ping'an? Su Shifu asked hoarsely, his hair disheveled but his eyes still steady.

Su Shifu has suffered. Li Ping'an helped the old woman up, "We must leave quickly."

Just as they stepped out of the alley, distant headlights flashed. Shanben Yilang's convoy suddenly unleashed a horse‑reversal spear!

Li Ping'an pulled Su Shifu and slipped into the adjacent general store. The shopkeeper Lao Zhao was about to close the door, but upon seeing them he hurriedly let them in.

What's going on? Lao Zhao asked anxiously, "Why is there such a commotion outside?"

The Japanese are rounding people up. Li Ping'an said briefly, "Uncle Zhao, may we use the back yard?"

Lao Zhao nodded repeatedly, "Go quickly! I'll block the door tight."

There was a dry well in the back yard; Li Ping'an lifted the cover, "Su Shifu, you go down first to take shelter."

Su Shifu shook his head, "Ping'an, you take Pingle and leave Beiping quickly. The Japanese have set their sights on you."

How do you know?

The old lady sighed, "The Japanese who came that day saw the swallows embroidered by Pingle, and their faces changed. Later I learned they were looking for someone who could wield a Yanzi dart…"

Li Ping'an suddenly understood. The flaw lay in Pingle's embroidery! That Twin Swallows Spring Painting had the two swallows' postures matching the Yanzi dart's technique; anyone in the know could see it at a glance.

Now's not the time to discuss this. Li Ping'an helped the old woman down the well, "You hide first; I'll go fetch Pingle."

After settling Su Shifu, Li Ping'an was about to leave when Lao Zhao rushed over, "Bad news! The Japanese are searching house to house!"

Sure enough, the sound of doors being smashed and Japanese curses came from outside. Li Ping'an whispered a mantra, and suddenly got an idea.

Uncle Zhao, may I borrow some of your coal ash?

In no time, Li Ping'an became a coal‑delivery worker with his face covered in ash, pulling a handcart out the door. The street was indeed in chaos, Japanese soldiers forcibly breaking down doors.

Stop! a Japanese soldier blocked him, "What are you doing?"

Li Ping'an bowed and said, "Sir, I'm a coal delivery man." He deliberately answered in halting Japanese.

The Japanese soldier shone his flashlight on the coal lumps in the cart, waved dismissively, "Move along!"

Li Ping'an pulled the cart, strolling calmly toward his home. As he passed his doorway, his heart lurched—two dark figures were perched on his house's roof!

He forced himself to stay calm and kept walking. Turning the corner, he immediately dropped the cart and took a detour back home.

Pingle had already fallen asleep, completely unaware of the outside commotion. Li Ping'an gently shook her awake, "Le'er, get up quickly, come with me."

Pingle rubbed her eyes, "Brother, it's so late…"

No questions, get dressed quickly. Li Ping'an hurriedly packed the essentials, remembering to take that Twin Swallows Spring Painting.

Although Pingle didn't understand, she obediently complied. When she produced the embroidered piece, Li Ping'an examined it closely and indeed found the two swallows' flight motions concealed a martial arts technique.

Who else has seen this picture? he asked urgently.

Only Su Shifu and a few senior sisters… Pingle suddenly recalled, "Right, a few days ago a Japanese came to order embroidery and also saw it."

Just as expected! Li Ping'an cursed himself for being careless. Shanben Yilang is a China‑expert; he surely saw through the trick.

The siblings slipped out quietly through the back window. As soon as they hit the ground, they heard the front door being smashed.

Run! Li Ping'an hauled Pingle into the hidden door behind the shoe‑repair stall—exactly the secret room he discovered last night.

The secret room was empty, leaving only scattered documents. Li Ping'an picked up a sheet of paper depicting a merchant cauldron, with two characters noted beside it.

Brother, what is this? Pingle asked.

This is what they're after. Li Ping'an said gravely, "It seems this merchant cauldron has a significant background."

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside. Li Ping'an quickly blew out the oil lamp, shielding Pingle behind him.

The hidden door was pushed open, a flashlight beam spilling in. The newcomer turned out to be Sun Kezhang!

Good fellow! You're really here! Sun Kezhang was both startled and delighted, "Quick, follow me! The Japanese are coming to search right now!"

Li Ping'an stared at him warily, "Sun Kezhang, which play are you reciting?"

No time to explain! Sun Kezhang stamped his foot impatiently, "I'm Lao Zhao's cousin! I'm one of us!"

At that moment, Japanese shouts rose from outside. Sun Kezhang grabbed Li Ping'an, "Trust me once!"

Sun Kezhang pushed them into a detention room, saying, "Just a moment of inconvenience, this is the safest spot."

After Sun Kezhang locked the door, Pingle asked fearfully, "Brother, are we walking into a trap?"

Li Ping'an surveyed the cell, "Not necessarily. If they wanted to harm us, they could have acted already."

Sure enough, after a short while Sun Kezhang left and returned, slipping an oil‑paper parcel through the crack, "A quick bite for your stomach. The Japanese are sweeping the whole city; hide here for now."

Li Ping'an took the oil‑paper parcel; inside were a few steaming buns, and asked, "Why help us?"

Sun Kezhang sighed, "Even though I'm holding this bowl of rice, I can't watch a national treasure fall abroad. That merchant cauldron came from the Yin Ruins, bearing the earliest oracle‑bone script; it must not be taken by the Japanese!"

So that's it! Li Ping'an finally understood why Shanben Yilang was so obsessed.

At night, Li Ping'an tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Listening to the occasional police whistle outside, he realized this contest had already gone beyond personal grudges.

Ping Le suddenly whispered: "Brother, that embroidered piece… I altered a few stitches."

Li Ping'an was startled: "What did you change?"

That day Su Shifu said the essence of the Yanzi dart lay in its concealment. "I tweaked the angle of Yanzi's wing a bit, so the move can't be seen." Ping Le was somewhat proud; later, when that foreigner returned, he stared at the embroidery for a long time, looking quite puzzled.

Li Ping'an couldn't help laughing. He hadn't expected his sister to unintentionally ruin Shanben Yilang's good plan!

In the early hours, Sun Kezhang suddenly rushed in, breathless: "Bad news! Shanben is leading men to the embroidery workshop! He says he's going to set fire to the workshop!"

Li Ping'an sprang up: "Su Shifu is still there!"

"Wait!" Sun Kezhang blocked him, "This could be a move to lure the tiger from the mountain! As soon as you leave the police station you'll be captured!"

Sure enough, at that moment Shanben Yilang's voice came from outside: "Sun Kezhang, I heard you caught a suspicious element? I will interrogate personally!"

Footsteps grew nearer, Li Ping'an gripped his short knife, shielding Ping Le behind him.

At the brink of life and death, a spark could ignite at any moment.