Chapter 173

Clues are too few, hope too slim.

He placed the wooden carving on the table, repeatedly rubbing it, trying to extract more information from it.

His sister Jiang Xiaoyu walked up to his side and asked timidly:

"Brother, what happened?"

Jiang Xiaomu briefly told his sister what had happened.

"Brother, you must be careful," Jiang Xiaoyu's voice trembled.

"Don't worry."

Before the rooster's crow even echoed through Wangzhou City, a sudden rapping on the door startled Jiang Xiaomu from his light sleep.

He flung his eyes open; the room was dim, only a faint light seeping in from outside the window.

Jiang Xiaoyu was sleeping soundly, her breathing even and prolonged.

"Who's there?"

Jiang Xiaomu threw on his outer garment and asked in a low voice.

"Mr. Jiang, Sir Li of the Xian Ya summons you, saying he has found some clues; please come quickly."

A slightly hurried voice came from the yamen runner outside the door.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart tightened; he quickly dressed and gently pushed open the door.

He nodded to the yamen runner guarding outside the door, then quickly followed him toward the Xian Ya.

Wangzhou City was shrouded in the morning's thin mist, the streets empty of anyone, only their hurried footsteps echoing in the silent alleys.

Upon arriving at the Xian Ya, Li Wenqing had already been waiting for a while.

He wore a stern expression, pacing back and forth, and upon seeing Jiang Xiaomu, immediately went up to meet him.

"Mr. Jiang, last night the city guards discovered someone trying to sneak out of the city."

"His behavior was suspicious, so they stepped forward to question him, but he said nothing and turned and ran."

Li Wenqing's tone was urgent.

"The city guards naturally wouldn't let him leave; they clashed, and the thief's martial arts were not weak."

"But in the end, outnumbered, he was slashed by a blade from one of Wangzhou City's elite commanders and fled wounded."

"Did you get a clear look at his appearance?"

Jiang Xiaomu hurriedly asked.

Li Wenqing shook his head and let out a sigh.

"That person had his face covered, wore ordinary clothes, and it was dark, so I couldn't make out his appearance. However..."

Li Wenqing paused.

"According to the city guards' description, the person's build is quite similar to that of the one you described who bought the Seven-Star crabapple."

"I have already sent people to follow the blood trail, but the thief is extremely cunning, and the blood trail disappeared in the western part of the city."

Li Wenqing furrowed his brow.

"I suspect he is hiding in some clinic in the city to treat his wounds."

"I have already ordered that all clinics must strictly scrutinize suspicious individuals, especially those with out-of-town accents and knife wounds."

Jiang Xiaomu, however, shook his head.

"Sir, doing so would probably be inappropriate."

Li Wenqing was taken aback.

"Oh? What lofty opinion does Mr. Jiang have?"

"Given how cautious the thief is, he certainly wouldn't rashly risk going to a clinic, as that would only expose himself."

Jiang Xiaomu analyzed:

"He has sustained a knife wound; if not treated promptly, his life may be in danger."

"Therefore, his greatest likelihood is hiding in some concealed spot to treat his wounds himself."

"Self-treat his wounds?" Li Wenqing's brows locked tightly.

"Wangzhou City is neither big nor small; being unfamiliar with the place, where could he possibly hide?"

Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment, when suddenly a thought flashed through his mind.

"Inns! Sir, the city has many inns, with a large flow of people, a mix of good and bad—perfect places to hide!"

Li Wenqing's eyes lit up.

"What Mr. Jiang says is absolutely right! I will immediately send people to search all inns in the city!"

Jiang Xiaomu, however, stopped him.

"Sir, we must not startle the snake; given that the thief's martial arts are not weak, his vigilance must be extremely high."

"If we conduct a grandiose search, it will only make him more cautious and careful, making him harder to flush out."

"Then, according to Mr. Jiang's opinion, how should we proceed?"

Li Wenqing humbly sought advice.

Jiang Xiaomu lowered his voice and said:

"Sir, this matter still requires long-term planning."

Li Wenqing nodded, his expression solemn.

"What clever plan does Mr. Jiang have?"

"Spread the word that the assassin has already been captured and will be executed on a chosen day."

A gleam of sharpness flashed in Jiang Xiaomu's eyes.

Li Wenqing was taken aback, then immediately understood Jiang Xiaomu's intention.

Assassinating the Prefect is a serious crime; would the real culprit tolerate someone else stealing his 'merit'?

In the next few days, Wangzhou City was in an uproar.

News of the assassin's capture spread far and wide, and various versions of the story circulated in the streets and alleys.

Some said the assassin was a river bandit, some said it was a grudge killing in the jianghu, and others claimed he was a spy sent by a neighboring state.

Jiang Xiaoyu also heard the rumors, and anxiously sought out Jiang Xiaomu.

"Brother, did they really catch the assassin? Could they have made a mistake?"

Jiang Xiaomu patted his sister's head and comforted her:

"Xiao Yu, don't worry, everything is under control."

He did not tell his sister the truth, fearing she would worry.

The day of the public beheading soon arrived.

Early in the morning, the execution platform was surrounded by a crowd, heads bobbing, all eager to see the assassin's true face.

Li Wenqing sat upright on the execution platform, his expression solemn.

Jiang Xiaomu and Constable Captain Pei Dongyong then led a few constables, hiding in the crowd

in the midst, closely observing the surroundings.

"It is already the third watch of noon, carry out the execution!" Li Wenqing shouted.

The executioner raised the ghost-head blade and brought it down heavily on the 'assassin' kneeling on the platform.

A gasp erupted from the crowd; the faint-hearted even covered their eyes, unable to bear the bloody sight.

However, at the moment the ghost-head blade fell, a sudden change occurred!

A black shadow shot out from the crowd, swift as lightning, heading straight for the execution platform.

"Catch the assassin."

Pei Dongyong shouted, drew his sword, and charged forward.

Jiang Xiaomu followed closely, his eyes like torches, fixed firmly on that black shadow.

That black shadow was agile; in a few leaps he jumped onto the execution platform, kicked the executioner away, and then pulled the 'assassin' up.

Only then did the crowd see clearly that the 'assassin' wore a mask.

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain!"

Li Wenqing's face changed drastically; he realized he had been tricked.

The black shadow seized the 'assassin', leapt down from the execution platform, and fled toward the outskirts of the city.

Jiang Xiaomu and Pei Dongyong pursued relentlessly, weaving through the crowded throng like two bolts of black lightning.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Jiang Xiaomu let out a fierce shout, leapt into the air, and struck a palm toward the black shadow's back.

The black shadow seemed to have anticipated it, swiftly turned, and met the palm with his own.

"Bang!"

The two palms collided, producing a tremendous boom.

Jiang Xiaomu felt a powerful internal force surge toward him, shaking his qi and blood, causing him to stagger back repeatedly.

Jiang Xiaomu was shaken back several steps by that strong internal force, his chest surging, a sweet taste of blood rising to his throat.

He steadied himself, drew his long sword, and aimed straight for the black shadow's face.

But this black shadow was slippery like a loach, his form elusive and unpredictable.

Jiang Xiaomu's blade several times narrowly grazed his hem, yet could never truly wound him.

The black shadow's swordplay was even more mysterious and unpredictable, swift as lightning; in the flash of his blade, Jiang Xiaomu already bore several bloodstains.

"Hiss…"

Jiang Xiaomu sucked in a breath of cold air; fortunately the cut was shallow, merely nicking the skin and flesh, not reaching the tendons or bones.

His eyes hardened, his fighting spirit rising even higher.

This bastard's sword technique, though fast, lacks power; evidently he follows a light and agile path.

If so, then let's compete in speed!

Jiang Xiaomu no longer sought a killing blow; instead he made his swordplay more light and agile, searching for an opening.

Blades and swords flashed, they exchanged blows, weaving through the crowded throng.

The onlookers were frightened and scattered in all directions, screaming continuously.

"Catch the assassin!"

"Someone's been killed! Run!"

Pei Dongyong, with a group of constables, finally managed to push into the crowd, only to see blades flashing before his eyes.

Figures flew about, making it impossible to tell who was who.

"Don't panic! Surround them!"

Pei Dongyong shouted loudly, directing the constables to encircle the two.