Wu Zheng, disguised as "Lin Chong," seized the moment when the waiter was tidying the private room to slip outside and head down the stairs.
His heart was in his throat. He wanted to hurry, but remembered the words of his benefactor, Second Brother Ding, and forced himself to slow his steps, using breathing techniques to keep his heart from pounding so violently.
After reaching the street safe and sound, Wu Zheng relaxed considerably, partly because he had grown accustomed to this state, and partly because he had confirmed that no one was paying attention to "Lin Chong." He got his bearings and headed toward the north of the city.
Nothing happened along the way, but Wu Zheng strictly followed his benefactor's instructions, walking and stopping by turns, sometimes examining goods that interested him, sometimes asking someone for directions, no different from the common folk coming and going around him.
About an hour later, he arrived at Academy Street.
Phoenix Terrace Studio was here.
This, too, was a building with a shop in front and a courtyard behind, but it occupied an enormous area, almost half the street. Its gates stood wide open. There were places selling brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and paintings and calligraphy by famous figures, all manner of schools introducing young children to learning, and different classrooms teaching Bronze Script and other subjects.
Merely standing at the street entrance, Wu Zheng could hear clear voices reciting from within the studio. He saw some people whose colors were dull and others who dazzled brilliantly. Every color was present inside, while outside lay a stretch of gloomy gray.
Remembering his benefactor Second Brother Ding's warning that there might well be people here waiting to intercept him, Wu Zheng grew nervous again.
In his heart, he kept repeating the Eight-Character