Zhang Yu left Azure Dawn and Azure Sunlight behind to guard the residence, then had Li Qinghe and Yan Yuming accompany him to Ming Prefecture.
With his cultivation, reaching Ming Prefecture would have taken no more than a thought. Yet this time, he did not employ any divine ability, instead intending to travel by flying vessel. When the sky had just brightened, he brought the two of them to the Mooring Boat Terrace outside Ruiguang City.
Li Qinghe wore a plain blue robe, while Yan Yuming was dressed as he usually had been when Zhang Yu was in the Eastern Court, with a hooded hat and a longsword in hand. The tabby cat Spoon had been left behind at the residence, and with no tail following behind him, he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
As they reached the entrance to the Mooring Boat Terrace, a broad flight of steps rose before them. At that moment, someone seemed to be hurrying along and, having caught his foot on something, lost his balance and began to topple down the stairs.
Had he rolled down those steps, his injuries would not have been light. Yan Yuming saw this, flashed forward, and was already above him. With a mere reach of his hand, he helped the man steady himself.
Still shaken, the man used Yan Yuming's arm to stand upright. He cupped his hands and said gratefully, "Thank you, thank you, thank you for lending me a hand, sir."
Yan Yuming released him and said, "It was nothing. You should take care when you walk."
The man hurriedly said, "Ah, yes, yes."
After thanking him several more times, he hurried away. Yan Yuming glanced at the case the man carried in his hand. During their brief contact, he had sensed some movement within it.