By the time Blackstone City appeared on the horizon, dusk was approaching.
The towering city walls were pitch-black, like a giant beast crouched upon the earth. They stood a full thirty meters high, and from a distance, a dark red sheen was visible on their surface.
That was not paint.
It was the mark left by blood.
The caravan gradually slowed.
Mounted on his horse, the mercenary leader Malone shouted, "Once we enter Blackstone City, the mission is complete! Everyone can make their own arrangements!"
The caravan immediately grew lively.
Merchants called to their workers, mercenaries checked their weapons, and people gathered in twos and threes to discuss where to stay after entering the city.
Keane poked his head out of the carriage and stared wide-eyed at Blackstone City's walls.
"With walls that tall, it must be much livelier inside than in our little town."
Jenny reached over and pushed his head back inside.
"Keane, don't run off."
She wore a broad-brimmed hat today, its brim pulled low, and a thin veil covered her face. Only those who knew her well could recognize her by her figure.
Lambert sat at the front of the carriage, his hand resting beside his longsword the entire time.
"Miss, we shouldn't linger too long after entering the city."
"Mm," Jenny answered softly.
Linley rode on Haeru's back, with Bebe crouching behind Haeru's neck.
Haeru was so large that passersby moved aside as soon as they spotted him in the distance. He released no aura, but the body of a magical beast at the peak of the ninth rank was frightening enough on its own.
Doehring walked beside Linley.
He gazed at the distant walls, his brows creasing slightly.
"Quite a few people have died here."
Linley nodded. "You can tell from the walls."
"I'm not talking about the walls."
Doehring looked up above the city gate. "Be careful once we're inside."
Linley did not press him.
The caravan reached the city gate.
The guards had been inspecting the caravan, but as Haeru approached, several of their expressions changed.
One tightened his grip on his spear, yet its tip involuntarily drooped.
"This is..."
"My magical beast," Linley said.
The guard looked at Haeru, then at the Edgeless Heavy Sword on Linley's back. In the end, he asked no more questions and simply waved them through.
"Go on in."
The caravan slowly entered Blackstone City.
The streets were much wider than those outside.
Shops, taverns, and inns crowded both sides of the road, with pedestrians streaming past without end. Keane watched through the carriage curtain for a long time, exclaiming in wonder now and then.
Linley walked beside the carriage, but his gaze was not on the shops.
His spiritual energy had already spread out.
There were many people near the city gate.
Their auras mingled.
Ordinary people's footsteps, merchants' cries, mercenaries' weapons, and several deliberately subdued sounds of breathing.
Linley suddenly stopped.
A passerby ahead had just turned sideways.
Two points of cold light shot out from behind the crowd.
The arrows were not aimed at Linley, but flew straight toward Jenny and Keane inside the carriage.
"Watch out!"
Linley stepped forward.
His figure left an afterimage where he had stood, while he was already blocking the front of the carriage.
His right hand rose.
He caught both arrows in one grasp.
The shafts were still vibrating, their tips less than half a foot from Jenny's veil.
Jenny's face turned pale.
Keane froze completely.
Linley looked toward the direction the arrows had come from.
Two men turned and walked away without the slightest pause.
Linley flicked his wrist.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The two arrows shot back.
Two dull thuds came from behind the crowd.
Both men clutched their throats at the same time, swayed a few times, and collapsed.
The street instantly descended into chaos.
Pedestrians screamed and backed away to either side. Nearby vendors fled without even bothering to pack up their stalls.
Linley tossed the arrows to the ground.
"Keep moving."
Keane finally recovered his senses.
"Just now..."
"They were only two ordinary assassins," Linley said. "Don't be afraid."
Keane swallowed, his face still somewhat pale, but quickly puffed out his chest.
"I'm not afraid."
His voice was still trembling a little.
Bebe poked his head out from Haeru's back and glanced at the fallen assassins in the distance.
"Boss, those two were way too weak."
Haeru gave a low growl.
Bebe translated, "He says they couldn't even aim their arrows properly."
Linley cast an unobtrusive glance at Jenny and the others.
Jenny's fingers tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.
Lambert's expression had darkened as well.
"Lord Lei, let's find somewhere to stay first."
"Mm."
Linley did not question them in the street.
Doehring walked over to where the two assassins had fallen and lowered his head to examine their wounds.
"Decent archery, mediocre fighting skills."
He returned to Linley's side, lowering his voice a little.
"This was a probe."
"I know."
"And you still intend to keep escorting them?"
Linley glanced at Jenny.
"I accepted a gold coin."
Doehring chuckled. "You didn't sign yourself into servitude."
"But I gave my word."
"Escorting them to Chier County City and helping them reclaim the city lord's position are two different things."
"I won't take the initiative to interfere in their family's struggle."
Linley's gaze settled ahead, his voice calm.
"But as long as they're still under my protection, I'll stop anyone who tries to kill them."
Doehring watched him for a moment.
"You'd best remember what you just said."
Linley did not answer.
They soon found an inn.
The innkeeper paled a little when he saw Haeru. Linley rented an entire private courtyard outright. Once he had paid the gold, the innkeeper asked no further questions and personally led them there.
The courtyard was small, with exactly four rooms and a sitting room.
Linley had Jenny, Keane, and Lambert stay inside, while he took a room on the other side. Haeru lay near the courtyard gate, and Bebe disappeared into the shadows at the corner of the wall.
Once dinner was delivered, they sat together in the sitting room.
Roast meat, bread, and hot soup covered the table, but Jenny had little appetite.
She held her spoon with her head lowered, starting to speak several times only to stop.
Linley glanced at her.
"If you have something to say, say it."
Jenny stiffened.
"Big Brother Lei..."
She no longer addressed Linley as Lord Lei, but the restraint in her voice had not diminished.
"Today's assassins were after us."
"Mm."
"You've probably already guessed."
"Some of it."
Lambert opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to stop Jenny.
But Jenny gently shook her head.
"Grandpa Lambert, let me tell him."
She set down her spoon and placed her hands on her knees.
"The truth is, Keane and I have lived in a small country town since we were six. We lived there for many years and had almost no contact with Chier County City."
Linley did not interrupt.
"We only decided to return after Mother passed away. Father's principal wife, our eldest mother, has already lost her son. Keane is Father's only son, so under imperial law, he can inherit the city lord's position."
Jenny's voice grew quieter and quieter.
"But we don't know whether she'll let Keane return without trouble."
"She's already made her move," Linley said.
Jenny nodded gently.
"Yes."
"You knew someone would come after you before you left the caravan?"
"Grandpa Lambert suspected it."
Lambert said gravely, "The first madam has built up her influence in Chier County City for years and has quite a few people around her. Our sister and brother haven't been there for years. She won't readily let the young master return."
"If you knew it was dangerous, why go back?" Linley asked.
Jenny raised her head.
"It was Mother's dying wish."
Her eyes were clear, yet she did not shrink back.
"Mother wanted Keane to take back what belonged to him."
Linley fell silent for a moment.
He thought of his own father, and of Doehring, who had already died.
There were some things people had to do even when they knew the danger.
"Big Brother Lei." Jenny bit her lip. "Now you know. The road ahead may be far more dangerous than we told you before."
"Mm."
"So you can stop protecting us."
Jenny's voice was already trembling a little as she said this.
"Forget about that one gold coin. We have no way to give you the remaining gold, either. You don't need to oppose the wife of Chier County City's lord for our sake."
Keane hurriedly said, "Sister!"
Jenny shook her head.
"We can't put Big Brother Lei in danger because of us."
Linley looked at her.
This girl clearly needed protection most, yet she was worrying about whether he would get into trouble because of it.
"Finished?"
Jenny froze.
"Yes."
"Then keep eating."
"Huh?"
"I promised to escort you to Chier County City," Linley said. "I won't change that agreement just because someone fired a couple of arrows."
"But..."
"The wife of a county city's governor isn't enough to make me back down."
Linley's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable confidence.
"As long as she hasn't brought in a Saint Realm expert, I can protect you."
Jenny's eyes widened slightly.
Lambert, too, stared blankly at Linley.
"Big Brother Lei, you really aren't leaving?"
"No."
Jenny pressed her lips together, and a smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank him just yet," Doehring suddenly said.
Only Linley could hear his voice.
"You've already promised too much."
Linley paused slightly.
"I said as long as there isn't a Saint Realm expert."
"I'm talking about you." Doehring looked at him. "You'll have to be especially careful for the rest of the journey."
Linley held his spoon and fell silent for a while.
"I know my limits."
"Knowing your limits doesn't mean you can be overconfident."
Linley did not argue.
A moment later, he looked up and said to Jenny, "Keep eating. Don't leave the courtyard tonight."
"All right." Jenny nodded.
After the meal, Jenny and her younger brother returned to their rooms.
Lambert, however, stayed in the sitting room and checked the doors and windows again.
Linley stood in the courtyard and looked up at the inn's main building.
Several presences there were not particularly well concealed.
Doehring walked over to his side.
"At least four people."
"How strong?"
"Stronger than those two earlier." Doehring paused. "But still not strong enough."
Haeru raised his head by the courtyard gate, a low sound rumbling in his throat.
Bebe's voice came from atop the wall. "I noticed them too. Someone up in the main building is watching this place."
Linley nodded.
"We'll deal with them tomorrow."
Bebe was puzzled. "Why not go catch them now?"
"Since they haven't acted immediately, they're waiting for an opportunity," Linley said. "Let them make their move."
Doehring looked at Linley's hand gripping Edgeless's hilt.
That hand was steady.
"Planning to test your sword on them?"
"Just confirming my own judgment."
"You're becoming more and more like a true warrior."
"Wasn't I one before?"
"Before, you were more like a little fellow who only knew how to charge ahead."
Linley smiled.
The night deepened.
Outside the courtyard, the wind blew past the eaves.
Behind a third-floor window in the main building, four archers had already drawn their bowstrings in silence.
They had not noticed a pair of small black eyes quietly watching them from the shadows at the corner of the wall.
Haeru lay before the courtyard gate, his tail gently sweeping the ground.
Linley returned to his room and sat down cross-legged.
Doehring stood by the window, gazing at the floors of the building opposite.
"They'll come again at dawn tomorrow."
"Then we'll wait until tomorrow."
Linley closed his eyes.
The Edgeless Heavy Sword lay before his knees, while the Purple Blood Soft Sword was wrapped quietly around his waist.
Outside the window, Blackstone City was still ablaze with lights.
And in this city they had only just entered, someone was already prepared for a second killing.