Chapter 16: The Truth Comes to Light

The man in black moved like the wind. From the moment he entered the room until he leaped out the window and vanished, not even ten breaths had passed. Clearly, he was a masterful assassin who had likely studied the layout of the western quarters long before making his move.

When Cao An entered the room, Lu Xin was already bleeding from the mouth and nose, completely unconscious. Terrified, Cao An collapsed to the ground, only regaining his senses after a long while and then began to shout for help. Soon, a crowd gathered outside the house. Liu Lai, the steward of the western quarters, was among the first to arrive, accompanied by Feng Li, a first-class servant from the southern quarters.

Upon seeing Lu Xin's injuries, both men's expressions turned peculiar. But with so many eyes upon them, Liu Lai refrained from saying much to Feng Li. Instead, he sent someone to fetch a physician for Lu Xin, tied up Cao An, and retrieved twenty-eight taels of silver from beneath the bed.

Mute Wu's quarters were not far from Lu Xin's, yet he did not appear that night. The man in black, upon leaving the Xu residence, immediately sensed someone tailing him. Only when he reached the bamboo grove in the southern part of the city did his pursuer remain relentless.

At this point, the river lay just ahead. The man in black, having made no preparations for a boat, had no choice but to halt and turn around.

"Your lightness skill is truly extraordinary, yet you deliberately revealed a flaw for me to notice. What exactly is your purpose? If you are here to kill me, then do it now."

He had spent many years as an assassin and prided himself on his mastery of lightness skill, ranking among the best in the martial world. Yet no matter how he tried, he could not shake his pursuer. Clearly, the other's martial prowess and internal strength far exceeded his own. With such a person, if there was intent to kill, escape was impossible.

Mute Wu emerged slowly from the darkness, hands folded behind his back. In the moonlight, he formed a sword with two fingers of his right hand and inscribed lines of characters onto the bamboo beside him. Witnessing this, the man in black's gaze shifted dramatically; even his breath grew ragged.

"Senior, who are you truly? With your martial arts, not to mention a mere Xu residence, even the imperial palace could not contain you."

In just a few breaths, the man in black was drenched in sweat. There were few in the martial world who could carve words into bamboo with their fingertips. Even for those who could, it required great internal strength. Yet this man inscribed words as if writing with a brush, natural and unhurried, as if the wind itself was at his command. Such mastery was beyond the assassin’s comprehension.

"Only answer my questions. Speak one unnecessary word, and you die."

Mute Wu, though silent, exuded a terrifying aura—like a god on high, whose mere gesture could take a head. The man in black dared not utter a word, nodding repeatedly.

"Who sent you to kill the child?"

"This…" The man in black hesitated for barely a second, but a bamboo leaf flew at his face, cutting him before he could even see how it was done. Now, fear consumed him. His legs gave out and he fell to his knees.

"Spare me, senior, spare me! It was Steward Liu from the western quarters of the Xu residence. He offered ten taels of silver for the child's life. I was just following orders; I have no grudge against the boy!"

"Ten taels? Hmph. In these times, is a human life worth less than ten strings of cold, unfeeling coins?"

Mute Wu sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the man in black. From him emanated an aura of killing intent. Yet he did not strike, and as the man in black finally dared to look up, Mute Wu had vanished.

Night pressed in thickly, the rustle of bamboo leaves filling the air. The man in black’s legs trembled as he rose, noticing a line of characters where Mute Wu had disappeared:

"Ten years ago I swore never to kill again. Today, you keep your miserable life. If you transgress once more, there will be nowhere on earth for you to hide."

"The strength in his fingers surpasses the edge of any blade, and these characters… Within this calligraphy lies the way of the sword. Ten years ago… could it be him? If it truly is that man, his cultivation now must have surpassed all boundaries!"

The man in black muttered to himself in the bamboo grove, unable to leave for a long time. By then, Mute Wu had already returned to the Xu residence. He first checked on Lu Xin’s injuries: there was no sign of blunt force trauma, but the internal wounds were severe. This both shocked and relieved Mute Wu. Assassins usually killed with a single stab of the dagger; he had thought Lu Xin doomed. Seeing hope now, he felt a measure of relief.

The physician was still taking Lu Xin’s pulse, while on the bed lay a large piece of brocade, densely covered with writing. Lu Xin had once explained his wish to learn to read, and Mute Wu suspected it was related to this brocade. He quickly put it away.

After being tied up, Cao An had disappeared. In the room, aside from the physician, only Feng Li and two servants stood guard. Feng Li noticed Mute Wu taking the brocade and sneered, but did nothing to stop him.

"Some accursed object he picked up from who-knows-where, and dares wrap it around himself—serves him right!"

Strange talismans were scrawled across the brocade; to the common eye, it was nothing but ominous. Feng Li was no exception. But Mute Wu, feeling its texture, understood at once that this cloth was far from ordinary. He pressed it with the strength of his fingers, yet it remained unscathed. Clearly, Lu Xin’s survival was linked to this brocade.

Soon, the physician finished his examination and began to write a prescription at the table. Having learned the truth from the assassin, and knowing Feng Li was Liu Lai’s man and involved in the affair, Mute Wu drew closer to memorize the prescription.

"This child’s injuries were caused by the internal strength of someone from the martial world. Fortunately, the assassin’s skill was not high, so only his heart and lungs suffered minor ruptures. Brew this medicine and administer it three times daily—he’ll recover within twenty days to a month."

The physician was an old retainer and seemed diligent in his duty. Mute Wu trusted him. However, when the prescription was handed to Feng Li, Mute Wu frowned and snatched it away.

"Hmph, Mute Wu, what do you think you’re doing? Looking for death?" Feng Li roared. He was among the highest-ranked servants in the Xu residence, while Mute Wu was a mere latrine cleaner—how dare he snatch anything from his hand? His fury was matched only by his disbelief. Yet Mute Wu, clutching the prescription, seated himself at Lu Xin’s bedside without even glancing at him.

"You insolent mute! You must have been poisoned by the stench of the privy. Let me show you the rules of the Xu residence. You two, get him!"

Feng Li grinned wickedly, eager to teach Mute Wu a lesson. But just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, followed by the voice of Steward Liu Lai.

"Feng Li, the Master has arrived. Come out and greet him at once!"

"The Master? Brother Li, what about the mute?"

"Hmph, forget it. He won’t run. We’ll deal with him another time."

Feng Li snorted and immediately changed his demeanor. As he turned, the plump Xu Sanjin appeared at the doorway. Feng Li panicked, quickly bowing low to the ground.

"Master, you’re here at last! I have failed you, sir. You entrusted Lu Xin to my care, but the boy secretly trafficked in Dream Soul Paste right under my nose. Now he’s been harmed by enemies, bringing shame upon the Xu residence. I am devastated, and would throw myself at your feet in penance!"

Clearly, Feng Li had prepared his speech. At the sight of Xu Sanjin, he wailed and beat his chest with such conviction that the master’s anger dissipated by half. With Liu Lai whispering in his ear, Xu Sanjin’s frown gradually eased.

"Master, since Cao An has already confessed, there’s little point in questioning the boy further. Though he was hurt by a villain, he broke the rules first and brought this upon himself. In these times, it’s the same everywhere—those who err are punished by Heaven. There’s no need to feel guilty simply because he is young. It’s late; you should rest."

"Indeed, Master. He’s just a lowly servant; there’s no need to trouble yourself. With Steward Liu and me here, all will be handled properly."

"Hmph! An assassin in the house, and a boy nearly killed—how can I sleep soundly? Enough talk. I’ll see his condition myself."

Though Liu Lai and Feng Li tried to dissuade him, Xu Sanjin refused to be turned aside. Yet he had taken only a few steps inside when he saw Mute Wu seated at the bedside. His expression changed at once, and he halted.

"All of you, leave. Now."

"Master? The room is filthy; you can’t stay here alone. Let me—"

"Did I not make myself clear? Are you all deaf? Out! All of you, out!"

Xu Sanjin’s voice thundered, his gaze never leaving Mute Wu. In all his years, Liu Lai had never seen his master like this and was left bewildered. But, fearing to disobey, he led Feng Li and the others away. Xu Sanjin then closed the door and poured a cup of water at the table.

"It has been many years since you left the western quarters. I’ve been busy with mundane affairs—long has it been since we last met."

He did not pour the water for himself, but placed it before Mute Wu. Had anyone seen this, their jaw would surely have dropped. Xu Sanjin was not only the wealthiest man in Yuezhou, but among the richest in all Jiangnan—indeed, few in the world could match the Xu family’s fortune. Yet here he was, serving water to a lowly latrine cleaner—unthinkable.

"You are the master, I the servant. It is better we do not meet. When the old master was alive, I vowed to spend my years in the western quarters in gratitude for his saving my life. You are the only one in this house who knows my true identity. The less you see of me, the safer you are."

"Ah, in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed. Now that the realm belongs to Great Tang, perhaps the world will slowly find peace. You are not like us ordinary folk. That you do not wish to see the glory of Great Tang is a true pity."