The carriage raced through the night, turning toward the western district, in the direction of Fang Yuan's home.
Its wheels rolled over the bluestone road, producing an urgent rumble.
Before long, the carriage stopped before an ordinary little courtyard in a secluded alley.
Fang Yuan was the first to jump down. He nodded to Wang Pangzi and Uncle Zhang, then strode forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.
Wang Pangzi watched Fang Yuan's back vanish through the gate before slowly turning his gaze to Uncle Zhang, who still stood beside the carriage with his saber in his arms.
The alley was very dark. Only scattered lights in the distance cast a faint glow, leaving the expression on Wang Pangzi's round face indistinct.
Uncle Zhang stood silently beside the carriage with his arms around his saber. His posture remained straight, but the composure in his eyes was gone,
replaced by an indescribable desolation.
Wang Pangzi turned to look at Uncle Zhang. The usual joking expression had vanished from his face,
and though his tone was calm, it carried an irrevocable decisiveness. "Uncle Zhang, when we return, don't follow me anymore. I'll explain it to my father."
Uncle Zhang's body trembled slightly. He raised his eyes to Wang Pangzi, his lips moving, but in the end he merely cupped his fists and answered in a low voice:
"Yes, Young Master."
He understood that although his choice today had been to protect the Young Master, he had still disobeyed the Young Master's orders.
There was no ripple on Wang Pangzi's face. What he needed was a guard who obeyed orders absolutely,
not some "senior" who weighed the pros and cons for himself and shrank back at a critical moment.
Besides, if Uncle Zhang continued following him in the future, Junior Brother Fang would