The group headed deeper into the alley.
The surrounding residents saw the commotion and hurried inside, peering fearfully through the cracks in their doors.
Soon, they reached a small courtyard at the end of the alley.
The courtyard gate was old and tightly shut.
Gu Shen stepped forward and knocked on the door ring.
After a long wait, the door finally creaked open a crack.
A pale, haggard woman's face appeared. When she saw several strange men with swords standing outside, she was so frightened she started to shut the door.
"Madam Zhang, don't be afraid." Gu Shen spoke up in time. "We're Zhang Gong's colleagues. He asked us to bring you to a new home."
The woman froze, eyeing them warily. "I... I don't know you! My husband... wasn't he taken away?"
Her voice was filled with fear and despair.
Gu Shen understood. Zhang Gong had been gone all night; his family must have feared the worst.
He softened his tone further. "Lord Zhang is safe. He's been reinstated and is now overseeing important affairs at the Heavenly Crafts Institute. He can't leave, so he sent us in his place."
As he spoke, he took a small wooden thumb ring from his clothes and held it out to her.
"This belongs to Lord Zhang. You'll know it when you see it."
Her hands trembling, the woman took the ring. She had made it for her husband herself, and the faint character "Gong" was still carved into it.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"He... he really is all right?"
"He is." Gu Shen nodded. "We're here to protect you."
At last, the woman's wariness melted away. She opened the door and burst into tears. "Quick... please, come in."
Just then, a clatter of footsteps came from the mouth of