Chapter 73: The Great Escape from the Capital

“It’s you?”

The newcomer wore a white robe but had only one arm. Upon seeing Lu Xin, his expression shifted swiftly from shock to rage. This was the very man who had once fought the Palm-Print Bodhisattva, Shidao’an, in the abandoned temple. His identity was that of an Onmyoji from the Imperial Shrine.

Lu Xin had almost forgotten about this man altogether, never imagining he’d encounter an old enemy in Chang’an. That severed right arm? It was the work of the Wandering Immortal Sword.

Old enemies meet, and hatred flares anew!

At this moment, the white-robed man’s pupils burned scarlet, his gaze nearly spitting fire. Lu Xin froze for a second, then snapped to his senses and bolted in the opposite direction. The enmity of a lost arm—there was no resolving that. Besides, thirteen elite soldiers had died in that incident; if caught, Lu Xin would surely be blamed for them all.

“Hahaha! Heaven does not wish for my destruction—truly, the rewards are rich! Boy, this is Chang’an, the domain of the Imperial Shrine. Run? Where could you possibly run to?”

Wang Quanyi laughed with a vicious sneer, oblivious to the reactions of those around him. Even with one arm, he could still wield talismanic arts with ease. He swallowed a yellow talisman, and his figure shot forth like a gale, charging into the crowded street at blinding speed.

“If memory serves, he can divide his focus four ways—he must be at the fourth level of the Void-Gazing Realm. Without the Wandering Immortal Sword, I stand no chance against him face-to-face.”

Lu Xin had seen Wang Quanyi fight before and knew all too well the ferocity of his talismanic arts. And this was Chang’an, the heart of the Imperial Shrine’s power. Never mind fighting back—just pausing for half a breath could spell disaster. Attacking an imperial envoy and killing soldiers—such crimes would ruin anyone.

One pursued, one fled, weaving through almost every alley in Xingdao Ward. Lu Xin ducked into the thickest crowds to avoid Wang Quanyi’s attacks, but the man was simply too fast, his magic far superior. Soon after leaving Xingdao Ward, Lu Xin heard Wang Quanyi close in behind—less than ten paces separated them.

Now, the crowds on the street were thinning. Large open spaces separated the wards; in the open, Wang Quanyi’s abilities would be even deadlier. With no other options, Lu Xin darted into a narrow alley, hoping to use the Draconic Step to escape his pursuer.

“Boy! You severed my arm and ruined my cultivation—this hatred is irreconcilable. Today, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

Wang Quanyi charged into the alley and struck a palm through the air. Three talismans flew from his sleeve, transforming into sword-like energy as they sliced toward Lu Xin. The alley was narrow—luckily, Lu Xin launched himself off the walls, leaping onto the rooftop and barely evading the attack. Wang Quanyi, instead of growing angrier, grinned and leapt onto the roof in pursuit.

They had entered Kaihua Ward, where the rooftops were low and easily visible from the street below. Lu Xin had barely taken a few steps when, from both sides, dozens of arrows whistled through the air, fast and forceful enough to shatter the tiles they struck.

Lu Xin was startled—these arrows were real, not conjured by magic. Glancing toward the source, he saw two squads on the street, all clad in silver armor and helmets. Each team had a dozen men, closing in from left and right.

“No unruliness beneath the feet of the Son of Heaven! Those on the roof, come down at once or face death without mercy!”

The two captains spoke almost in unison, their words identical. As soon as they finished, everyone nocked arrows and aimed at the rooftop. Lu Xin had no intention of obeying; with a flicker, he dropped back into the alley below. Soon after, Wang Quanyi’s shout echoed from the rooftop.

“Brothers of the Flying Cavalry Battalion, I am Wang Quanyi of the Imperial Shrine! This man is a major criminal—please assist me in capturing him!”

“So it’s Immortal Wang. If he’s a criminal, our Flying Cavalry will not shirk duty. Brothers, follow me!”

“Flying Cavalry Battalion? Damn it, disaster truly finds me!”

Lu Xin looked up but saw no sign of Wang Quanyi. Suddenly, the sound of many footsteps approached—clearly, those squads were hunting him. He could no longer doubt the fortune-teller’s warning of “disaster and bloodshed.” Worse still, ahead lay the main street—if he ran out, he’d be like a lamb thrown to wolves.

“What now? There’s nowhere left to run.”

Lu Xin halted, caught between advancing and retreating, hesitating. Just then, a door in the alley creaked open. Qian Xiaoyue peeked out and waved him over frantically.

“Senior brother, this way!”

“Damn, Xiaoyue, your timing is perfect!”

Lu Xin slipped inside, his heart pounding with relief, nearly to tears. Two seconds after Qian Xiaoyue shut the door, footsteps and Wang Quanyi’s voice filled the alley. Glancing around, Lu Xin saw they were in a small backyard—there was a well in the center, surrounded by lush flowers and plants.

“Immortal Wang, where did he go?”

“That brat vanished into thin air? An invisibility talisman? Impossible… He must be hiding in a nearby house. Generals, could you search door-to-door?”

“Well…”

“Immortal Wang, the Flying Cavalry Battalion is tasked with patrolling the city and preventing assassins from reaching the palace. We have no authority for house-to-house searches. Even the Court of Judicial Review needs an imperial order to enter homes. I’m afraid we can’t help you, brothers, let’s go.”

The Flying Cavalry departed quickly, leaving Wang Quanyi sneering coldly in the alley before stomping away. Only when silence returned did Lu Xin finally relax, collapsing to the ground.

“Senior brother, how did you end up in trouble with the Flying Cavalry? And that Wang fellow—who is he, really?”

“It’s a long story. And you, how are you here?”

“Of course I came to help you find someone! Your cousin is such a celebrity—I wanted to see what kind of person he is. Then I saw you being chased. Scared me half to death!”

Qian Xiaoyue patted her chest, breathless, as if she’d been running a long time.

“What is this place?”

“A cloth shop—my father’s, in fact. Out the front yard and you’ll be in Chongyi Ward. Lucky you ran into this alley; otherwise, not even immortals could save you.”

“Hehehe… The girl is right—no immortal could save him.”

A sinister laugh. Suddenly, the back door split apart, startling Qian Xiaoyue into a shriek. Lu Xin didn’t have time to think—he grabbed her wrist and ran deeper into the courtyard. Past the backyard was a narrow corridor with two paths ahead. Qian Xiaoyue pointed left, signaling that was the exit.

Wang Quanyi’s presence drew rapidly nearer. Reaching the main hall of the cloth shop, Lu Xin released Qian Xiaoyue—Wang Quanyi was after him, not her.

“Senior brother, don’t go up on the roofs again. The Flying Cavalry are expert archers and the emperor’s guards. Head to the East Market—there’s a crowd there, you might lose him.”

“Hmph, meddlesome girl!”

Wang Quanyi entered the hall, casting Qian Xiaoyue a venomous glare. But Lu Xin was already gone, and Wang Quanyi wasted no time, bursting through the main doors.

Lu Xin crossed Chongyi Ward, then ran straight east. In less than five minutes, he entered Xuanyang Ward. According to Qian Xiaoyue, the East Market was just beside it.

“Boy, I’ve already sent word to the Imperial Shrine. The Grand Steward will soon dispatch men to arrest you. If you stop running, maybe I’ll leave your body whole.”

Wang Quanyi’s voice clung to him like a shadow, but his presence grew weaker—he was clearly exhausting his magic. Lu Xin, with his robust stamina, was far from spent. He guessed Wang Quanyi would tire soon and saw no reason to stop.

He was about to exit Chongyi Ward when, at the mouth of an alley, he saw men from the Court of Judicial Review. At their head was Wei Qing, whom he’d met briefly the night before. Lu Xin panicked, slowing his step—any encounter with state officials now would be perilous.

Wei Qing recognized him, signaling his men to halt and walking over.

“Young hero, we meet again. What are you—”

Before he could finish, Wang Quanyi’s cold laugh echoed down the alley.

“Court of Judicial Review! Boy, let’s see where you run now!”

Wei Qing’s words were drowned out as Wang Quanyi’s presence drew near. Lu Xin could only smile bitterly, wishing he could slap Wei Qing for showing up at the worst possible moment.

“Wang Quanyi of the Imperial Shrine?”

Wei Qing seemed to recognize him, glancing between the two with a puzzled look.

“Thank you, Lord Wei, for helping me apprehend this major criminal.”

“What? A major criminal?”

Wei Qing was shocked, and at his shout, his men drew their blades, glaring at Lu Xin like wolves.

“Wang Quanyi, you must be mistaken. This man helped me catch a thief last night—how could he be a criminal?”

“Mistaken? This lost arm, all these wounds—they’re all his doing. And the thirteen soldiers I brought from Xiangzhou Prefecture? All slaughtered by his hand. I’ve already reported it to the Imperial Shrine. If you don’t believe me, ask the Grand Steward yourself.”

“Wang Quanyi, that’s nonsense! I didn’t kill anyone!”

Lu Xin turned and roared in anger, but before he could finish, a dagger burst from Wang Quanyi’s chest, blood spilling everywhere. Wang Quanyi coughed up blood, his body convulsing, and collapsed instantly. The scene was so sudden that even the Court of Judicial Review’s men were stunned.

“Who’s there!”

After Wang Quanyi fell, a shadow darted into a nearby alley. Wei Qing was the first to react, drawing his sword and giving chase. Seeing this, Lu Xin wasted no time and sprinted for the street.