Returning to an Old Place

The starlight had faded, and the moon had vanished. It was the moment just before dawn.

The back gate of the Chu Family was bustling.

By the time Chu Qing arrived with a Carrying Pole slung over his shoulders, following the others, workers from several other inns and restaurants had also gathered.

They crowded together in a jostling throng. The back gate wasn't wide, and even though it had been opened early and people were being let in one by one, it still took time.

The Chu Family's chief steward, Zhou Miao, stood guard with several servants and armed guards. They gave the goods people carried a quick inspection before letting them in.

After quite a while, it was finally Chu Qing's turn.

He glanced at Zhou Miao, the chief steward, and dipped his head slightly.

As the Third Young Master of the Chu Family, Chu Qing had practically been raised by this chief steward. He knew him far too well.

Although Chu Qing had disguised himself the night before, there was no telling whether Zhou Miao might spot some clue.

And as Zhou Miao looked at the young porter, he did feel a strange sense of familiarity.

But today he was far too busy, with too much to do, and had no time to take a closer look.

After a couple of glances confirmed he didn't recognize the man, he paid him no more attention.

Once a servant beside him had finished inspecting the goods and confirmed there was nothing wrong, Zhou Miao let Chu Qing through the gate.

Only after he was out of Chief Steward Zhou's sight did Chu Qing finally breathe a sigh of relief. That was the first hurdle.

But once he was past it, the rest would be easy.

Everything around him was achingly familiar.

The Chu Family estate was vast, but every corner lived in Chu Qing's memory. After all, it was his home.

If he wanted, he could simply announce who he was and walk in openly. No one would stop him.

But that would bring a great deal of trouble.

It wasn't that he minded having a father and two older brothers again. Though inheriting this body did feel a little awkward, it wasn't enough to make him disown them.

The problem was, the Sin Mirror Platform was still hunting him.

If no one knew who he was, that was one thing. But if they found out, there was no telling whether he might drag them into this mess.

Besides, given the situation, staying hidden suited him better.

Following a servant's directions, Chu Qing carried the wine to a storeroom in the rear courtyard.

The servant told him to leave the wine there. Once it had been inspected and cleared, he could go.

Chu Qing nodded to show he understood. The servant didn't linger and headed back to the rear gate.

A few servants were stationed inside the storeroom as well.

Several were yawning nonstop, clearly short on sleep. That was only natural. They were all young, some fourteen or fifteen, others sixteen or seventeen.

Boys that age could eat and sleep like bears. They'd been dragged out of bed before sunrise—how could they not be tired?

Chu Qing set down the wine for inspection. One man yawned as he took out a silver needle half a foot long and carefully slid it through a gap. When he pulled it out and saw it hadn't changed color, he nodded and set it aside.

After they had checked everything, they told Chu Qing he could leave.

Chu Qing acknowledged them, hoisted the Carrying Pole, and walked out.

Servants had led him the whole way in, but no one escorted him on the way out. They were simply too busy. The front and rear courtyards both needed staff, and no one had time to waste on porters. The armed guards could keep an eye on them.

But what could those armed guards do to keep an eye on Chu Qing?

He took advantage of a blind spot, shifted his steps, and slipped behind a rockery with the Carrying Pole.

He hid the pole out of sight, then followed the rockery's winding path. A moment later, a wall blocked his way.

Without hesitation, he vaulted over it.

At this hour, no one should be in this courtyard. If anyone was, they certainly wouldn't be from the Chu Family.

Because this was Chu Qing's courtyard.

He landed without a sound. As expected, the courtyard was empty, but not neglected. Someone clearly came to clean it regularly.

The doors and windows were shut tight. Chu Qing walked up to the door and gently pushed. It creaked open.

The furnishings inside came into view, one by one.

The living quarters were on the left. A new quilt had been spread over the bed.

The wooden sword hanging by the headboard was the birthday gift Chu Yunfei had carved for him when he turned three.

The study was on the right. There were plenty of books, though Chu Qing had read few of them.

As a boy, he'd been lazy and preferred martial arts. But his lack of talent held him back, while he loathed reading.

Chu Qing picked up a book at random. It was in excellent condition, clearly taken out and aired from time to time to keep it from rotting or being eaten by bugs.

Nothing had changed. Everything was just as it had been when he left home.

He pulled out a chair and sat down, letting out a quiet breath. A feeling of ease washed over him that he couldn't quite describe.

"He'd had a chip on his shoulder, so instead of enjoying the good life he had, he'd insisted on running away from home. What had been the point?

"For the past seven years, life hadn't been good either. He'd brooded over that chip on his shoulder, determined to make something of himself, and in the end he'd been tricked into becoming an assassin..."

Thinking of this, Chu Qing couldn't help shaking his head.

At the moment of his death... what had he been thinking?

For nearly a month, he hadn't once recalled that final moment.

But sitting here now, he suddenly felt that perhaps... he'd been thinking of home.

The first light of dawn glimmered. The long night was almost over.

Morning light spilled into the room, and Chu Qing suddenly came back to himself. Why had this return to his old home turned so melancholy?

He shook his head and was about to stand.

Then he heard footsteps approaching. His expression didn't change; only his gaze shifted slightly.

"So... he came after all."

He rose unhurriedly. Before the figure appeared, he had already leaped onto the crossbeam.

The next moment, a figure appeared at the entrance.

Dressed in black, with a mask bearing a painted face.

The Sin Mirror Platform.

A chill smile touched Chu Qing's lips.

He hadn't come here just to revisit his old home.

He knew that man far too well.

Since the man had come to Heaven's Dance City, he would naturally have gathered whatever information he could.

So he must know that Chu Yunfei had a son who'd run away from home seven years ago.

And the Chu Family's patriarch missed this son terribly, often visiting his youngest boy's room to reminisce.

No matter who you were, there were times when you were vulnerable. Even though Chu Yunfei's martial arts were peerless, at moments like this he was just an ordinary father.

So the plan was to slip in early, while the Chu Family was bustling about in the morning, and hide in Chu Qing's room.

When Chu Yunfei came by and sank into melancholy, the assassin would strike without warning!

Unfortunately, Chu Qing had arrived first.

The assassin entered the room, swept his gaze around, and leaped up to hide on the crossbeam.

But in that instant, the corner of his eye caught a flash of steel.

His pupils contracted, and he reached for his sword—but it was already too late.

The sword, barely half drawn, slid back into its sheath. A severed arm hung from the hilt.

Blood filled the air, each drop falling like rain onto plum blossoms.