Turning Back

It was still deep in the night, but sleep was impossible.

Elder Yue said, "County Princess, the False Emperor's lackeys are pursuing us relentlessly. This is no place to linger. We should travel through the night and reach Yingshui Commandery as soon as possible, where we can join up with the reinforcements."

Princess Dongyang lowered her head in thought for a moment, then suddenly asked Qin Sang, "Young Master Qin, based on what you know, how many assassins has Jiangshan Tower gathered in Three Witches City?"

Qin Sang shook his head cautiously. "I don't know. I fear there are at least several dozen."

Princess Dongyang nodded. "Young Master Qin killed two, yet only ten appeared this time. That means our tracks were not completely exposed. Either Jiangshan Tower's assassins split their forces, or Granny Li and the others fought half of them to the death. Elder Yue, what if we turn back to Three Witches City overnight?"

Elder Yue was horrified. "County Princess, absolutely not! Three Witches City has already become a land of tigers and wolves. King Zhenshui may very well have defected to the False Emperor. All the other guards were assassinated, leaving only the few of us. Should we encounter an encirclement, even if we fought to the death, we could not ensure the County Princess's safety. How could I answer to the Prince?"

Princess Dongyang smiled faintly. "If one wishes to accomplish great things, how can one cherish one's own life? If even you, Elder Yue, dare not let me return to Three Witches City, the False Emperor's lackeys will surely never expect it. As for King Zhenshui, I do not think he has necessarily sided with the False Emperor. Otherwise, the False Emperor would not need such underhanded tricks that cannot bear the light of day."

Before Elder Yue could speak again, Princess Dongyang shook her head. "Elder Yue, there is no need to persuade me further. My mind is made up. Commander Bai, ride with Guard Zhou on one horse and take the severed arm. Return to Three Witches City at once. There is an Imperial Physician in King Zhenshui's residence. Perhaps the severed limb can be reattached."

Bai Jianglan hurriedly replied, "Yes!"

The horses were still there. Though Princess Dongyang was a woman, she showed not the slightest frailty. She swung herself onto a horse and rode without rest until, near dawn, they saw the northern gate of Three Witches City.

Sure enough, they encountered no Jiangshan Tower assassins along the way.

Like the southern gate, the northern gate had a side entrance open. Qin Sang knew the way like the back of his hand and helped Princess Dongyang and the others scatter and blend into merchant caravans. Only Water Monkey's injuries were too conspicuous, so Qin Sang found a secluded courtyard outside the city and stayed behind to care for Water Monkey, while Princess Dongyang, Elder Yue, and Bai Jianglan went to see King Zhenshui.

Exhausted and severely wounded, Water Monkey fell into a deep sleep.

Qin Sang sat in the courtyard, waiting for news from the County Princess while keeping watch on the movements outside, ready to flee at any moment.

From the scattered remarks of Princess Dongyang and Elder Yue, Qin Sang could roughly make out the threads of the matter. The False Emperor they spoke of should be the current emperor of Great Sui. Jiangshan Tower had originally belonged to the emperor—no wonder they dared to assassinate a governor in broad daylight.

It was said that King Dongyang and the current emperor had been born of the same mother, and that King Dongyang was the elder brother. Yet after the late emperor passed away, it was the younger brother who ascended the throne, while the elder brother had to settle for being a commandery prince. That went against the natural order.

There were surely many hidden grievances involved, though outsiders could hardly know the truth.

Now, Heavenly Calamities plagued Great Sui without end. In the four northern commanderies alone, countless people had raised banners in rebellion. Blades and armies rose everywhere, and chaos reigned supreme.

Great Sui was swaying in the wind and rain, its foundations unstable. The people all said the new emperor was without virtue. Perhaps King Dongyang had also glimpsed an opportunity and could no longer endure loneliness. Whenever Princess Dongyang, Granny Li, and Elder Yue spoke of Jiangshan Tower, they called them the False Emperor's lackeys. That was proof enough.

If King Dongyang raised the banner of punishing the False Emperor, the first thing he needed to do would be win King Zhenshui over.

Zhenshui Commandery and Dongyang Commandery were as close as lips and teeth, one in the west and one in the east, standing like twin pillars over Great Sui's south. If King Dongyang did not bring King Zhenshui aboard, his rear courtyard would be unstable. How could he speak of sending troops to crush traitors?

Princess Dongyang had risked herself to come alone to Three Witches City, likely to persuade King Zhenshui. Unexpectedly, word had leaked midway, Jiangshan Tower had learned of it, and they had ordered an interception and assassination.

Who knew how many undercurrents churned beneath the surface of Great Sui now.

At first, Qin Sang had known nothing of the situation and had boarded King Dongyang's pirate ship by accident. There had not been no opportunities to escape, yet he had still chosen to remain.

His goal had never changed. Whether Great Sui's emperor was King Dongyang or the current ruler, he did not care in the slightest. What he wanted was to find a shortcut that would let him come into contact with immortal masters.

They said heroes emerged from troubled times. Following King Dongyang into rebellion was undoubtedly a fine opportunity.

Now, it depended on whether Princess Dongyang could persuade King Zhenshui.

If she could not, Princess Dongyang would be walking a road to death. Qin Sang would not stay behind to die with her. At worst, he would slaughter his way out and flee to another country.

By noon, Qin Sang suddenly heard a burst of footsteps heading straight for the small courtyard. He rose alertly and cocked his ear to listen.

People were speaking. It did not sound as though swords had been drawn and bows bent.

Qin Sang set Yanwang aside. Before long, he saw the courtyard gate pushed inward. Bai Jianglan entered first alongside an old man carrying a medicine chest. Princess Dongyang walked beside a richly dressed middle-aged man, speaking warmly with him, with no sign of anything amiss on her face.

Only then did Qin Sang let out a breath of relief. He called Yanwang back and stepped forward to greet them.

The man speaking with Princess Dongyang was King Zhenshui himself. The old man beside Bai Jianglan was the Imperial Physician of King Zhenshui's residence. After examining Water Monkey's wound, the Imperial Physician stroked his long beard and studied the severed arm for a long while before shaking his head. "Reporting to Your Highness and the County Princess, this severed arm has been damaged too badly. All vitality is gone, and too much time has passed. I fear it cannot be reattached."

Bai Jianglan's gaze immediately dimmed.

Princess Dongyang said, "Then I must trouble the Imperial Physician to stop Guard Zhou's bleeding and treat his wound properly, lest his life be endangered."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The Imperial Physician opened his medicine chest and tended to the wound.

King Zhenshui said from the side, "Rest assured, niece Anning. Imperial Physician Wang's medical skill is miraculous; he will certainly preserve this warrior's life. I have already prepared fine wine and a grand banquet. Why not follow me to the residence first to dine and rest?"

"Thank you, Uncle." Princess Dongyang gave a formal curtsey, exhaustion impossible to conceal in her voice. "Anning came only to pay Uncle a quiet visit, so there is no need for such extravagance. Now that Anning's concerns have been settled, I must trouble Uncle to send someone to escort me back to Dongyang Commandery, lest Father worry over Anning's safety and wait until his heart is scorched with anxiety. That would make Anning unfilial."

King Zhenshui said angrily, "Who would have thought that a mere jianghu assassin organization would dare stir up wind and waves in Zhenshui Commandery and assassinate royal nobles? I have already ordered men to scour the entire commandery. I will leave neither chicken nor dog alive among them, and give Eldest Brother and niece Anning an answer! Since Anning insists on returning... Men! Prepare a large ship and arrange a banquet aboard it. Also, pass my command to General Zhao Xiang: have him dispatch his most elite soldiers to escort the County Princess back to Dongyang Commandery. If the County Princess loses so much as a single hair on the road, I will hold him accountable!"

"Yes!"

Qin Sang, Bai Jianglan, and Water Monkey rode together in a carriage, with elite soldiers guarding them before and behind. When they passed Cuiming Mountain, Qin Sang lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside.

His own future was uncertain, so he did not disturb them.

They boarded the ship and traveled downstream. Three days later, they arrived at Chun City, the commandery seat of Dongyang Commandery.

Qin Sang followed Princess Dongyang back to the Prince's residence under the tight escort of its guards. As he took in the sights along the way, he only felt that Chun City's customs and local character differed greatly from those of Three Witches City.