Accomplice

Heroics are one thing, but running for one's life is another.

After consulting with Old Ma and the others, Chen Wu decided to flee immediately.

Chen Wu was the primary culprit behind the killings. Having slain two men in broad daylight—both of whom were from the Crown Prince's Mansion, one in the Concentrated Spirit Realm and the other in the Mystic Realm—this was, in the eyes of the authorities, the height of arrogance and lawlessness.

To sit idly in Jincheng Prefecture waiting for the Crown Prince's Mansion to mobilize their forces for an arrest wouldn't be heroic; it would be plain stupidity.

Wu Chengyi also had to flee at once. As an escaped convict who had reappeared at Daya Hall, it didn't take a genius to realize he was now on the government's wanted list.

The only one who didn't need to rush was Monk Zhongcheng. He had merely sparred with Zhang Iron Ruler. As for the assassination, it had absolutely nothing to do with the Great Monk, and he would thank others not to sully his reputation.

Once they had reached an agreement, the group split up to act.

Chen Wu waited until nightfall before slipping back into Jincheng Prefecture under the cover of darkness.

Shui Family Garden, guest courtyard.

Chen Wu vaulted over the wall and landed in front of a room.

The curtains were drawn, but the light inside remained on, casting a familiar silhouette against the window.

"Ahem—"

Chen Wu coughed and tapped twice on the window.

Creak—

The door opened, and Chen Wu slipped inside to find Wang Zhenyi's smiling face.

"You have some nerve!" Wang Zhenyi said. "You kill men from the Crown Prince's Mansion and instead of fleeing, you actually come back into the city!"

"I wanted to see someone."

"Don't tell me you wanted to see me?" Wang Zhenyi stared at Chen Wu.

"That..." Realizing his words were ambiguous, he quickly corrected himself. "I wanted to see General Shui, but the Shui Family Garden is too large and I didn't know where he lived, so I came to ask you."

"Oh—" Wang Zhenyi's tone was complex as she asked, "When did you get to know Senior Brother Shui?"

"Only a few days ago."

"Forget it, that's none of my business," Wang Zhenyi said. "Follow me!"

Wang Zhenyi led Chen Wu, avoiding the paths frequented by servants, through a garden of rockeries until they reached a two-story courtyard.

"That's the one!" Wang Zhenyi pointed to the second floor. "The room with the light on in the northwest corner is where Senior Brother Shui stays."

"Many thanks!" Chen Wu bowed, then prepared to vault up.

"Chen Wu—" Wang Zhenyi called out, "Are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Indeed!"

"Then remember, I am now affiliated with the Department of Astronomy and Mathematics at the Dashun Academy of Sciences. If you ever reach the capital, you can come find me."

"I still need to select a site for the observatory and will be staying in Jincheng Prefecture for a while, so don't go too early."

"Understood—" Chen Wu took one last deep look at Wang Zhenyi before leaping onto the wall.

Shui Ziyi was hunched over his desk, writing a letter with a quill pen.

The navy spent their lives on warships where the waves caused constant motion, making hard-tipped pens like quills far more convenient than brushes; thus, they had become popular. Having spent years in the navy, Shui Ziyi was long accustomed to writing with a quill.

The scratching sound was constant, and soon, he finished the letter to his eldest son.

Just as Shui Ziyi was about to put the letter away, a figure suddenly appeared outside the window.

With a surge of true qi, Shui Ziyi stood up immediately and grabbed the saber hanging on the wall.

"Is General Shui in?"

Upon hearing the voice, Shui Ziyi relaxed. "Please, come in!"

Chen Wu pushed the door open to find General Shui alone in the room.

"You are truly bold, sir!" Shui Ziyi spoke first. "After committing such a grave act, you don't flee, yet you dare return to the city."

"I only returned to return something to the General!" Chen Wu pulled a medal from his robes—it was Shui Ziyi's Sea-Settling Medal. "The General helped me arrange the meeting with Yang Yuchun. I have used up that favor, and it must be repaid."

Shui Ziyi shook his head and laughed. "Before today, I certainly would have taken it back. But today, you killed Yang Yuchun and Li Changgeng—with such power, I no longer wish to reclaim this favor."

"To build a friendship, one must owe each other. You owe me a favor, I owe you a favor; the more we owe, the deeper the bond. I truly wish to befriend an expert like you, so I really don't want to take this medal back."

Shui Ziyi spoke with refreshing candor. Though his words were worldly, they were not off-putting; he even subtly flattered Chen Wu. He was truly a man with more wit than the legendary Bi Gan.

Chen Wu understood. "General, one thing is one thing. Since I used the favor, I must return the medal. Whether you accept it is your business; whether I return it is mine."

"That is well said."

Shui Ziyi nodded, took the Sea-Settling Medal, and placed it into a wooden box.

Chen Wu had sharp eyes and caught a glimpse of dozens of medals of various sizes stored inside the box.

If this were in his past life, it would surely have made Xunzong cry with envy.

Shui Ziyi put away the box and smiled, "Now that you have committed such a great deed, you certainly cannot stay in Jincheng Prefecture any longer. Have you decided where to go?"

"I have already made plans."

"Very well, I shall not pry," Shui Ziyi said. "I have a son who serves as an admiral in the Southern Ocean Fleet. If you truly have nowhere else to go, you may seek him out in the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is not like the mainland; it is a place where all sorts of people mingle, and there are matters the imperial court chooses to turn a blind eye to. Going there to lay low for a few years is a viable path."

"Many thanks, General. If that day truly comes, I will certainly go to seek his aid."

"What of Shopkeeper Ma? I heard the authorities have sealed the West Wind Inn, and Shopkeeper Ma's whereabouts are unknown."

"Old Ma, as an informant for your Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, has been exposed. He will certainly have to flee with me."

"How about this..." Shui Ziyi pondered for a moment. "Your offense is too grave; you have no choice but to flee. But Shopkeeper Ma need not run."

"He is merely an informant for your Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower and did not participate in the assassination directly. Even if the imperial court comes to investigate, I have enough influence to ensure his safety."

Chen Wu cupped his hands in a salute, knowing he owed General Shui yet another favor.

"Chen Gawa, thank you!" Standing by the banks of the Yellow River, Old Ma expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

"Why thank me? You should thank General Shui; it was he who secured your safety."

"I am well aware of that, but General Shui only agreed to protect me because of your influence," Old Ma said.

"Between us, there is no need for such talk. I must be going!"

With that, Chen Wu kicked the sheepskin raft on the bank into the Yellow River and stepped onto it.

Wu Chengyi was traveling west with a merchant caravan today, heading out of Xingxing Gorge, and would not return to the Central Plains for a year or more. As for Chen Wu, he intended to ride the sheepskin raft downstream to seek out the Master of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower.

Taking the Yellow River waterway would allow him to bypass numerous checkpoints and strike unexpectedly.

Seeing Chen Wu board the raft and pull away from the bank, Old Ma suddenly roared toward the water.

"Chen Gawa! My life is set as it is, but you must become a Grandmaster—no, a Great Grandmaster!"

"Become a Great Grandmaster—!"

Hearing this, Chen Wu set down his oar and drew his precious sword.

Hum—

True Qi surged, emitting waves of sword hums as a farewell to Old Ma.

Old Ma heard the sword ringing out from the river and watched the vast sky and wide waters, the rising peaks, and Chen Wu standing upon a single raft, charging toward the distance.

Two lines of hot tears streamed down his cheeks.