The sole remaining black-clad figure leaped out through the wide-open window.

Several guards were already stationed outside the window and immediately brought down their long blades in a flurry.

The black-clad figure covered his head with both hands, rolled to avoid most of the attacks, pushed off the ground with his hands, and leaped up to run outward.

“Catch him!”

Countless guards surged forward.

The black-clad figure struggled to evade, flung out an object that he tossed onto the wall top, and climbed up the high wall gripping the rope.

“Don’t let him escape—shoot arrows!” someone among the guards shouted.

Immediately several cold bows aimed at the black-clad figure hanging on the wall, and countless feathered arrows flew out with whistling sounds.

Though the black-clad figure quickly climbed to the highest point and swung his sharp blade to knock down many arrows, two arrows still embedded themselves in his shoulder.

After a moment of bodily rigidity, the black-clad figure struggled mightily and flipped over, jumping outside the wall.

The sky held neither stars nor moon—pitch black—and snow was still falling.

More and more guards surged in this direction, lanterns swaying with people’s running movements, the light drawing closer and closer.

The black-clad figure ran swiftly along the wall corner, pulling out the two feathered arrows embedded in him as he ran.

Blood gushed out. He could clearly feel his strength draining away, while the chaotic, urgent footsteps behind him grew ever nearer.

A hand reached out and pulled him into an alley.

“Follow me!”

The black-clad figure stumbled. Before he could react, the person crouched down to carry him on his back and sprinted through the small lanes.

The sounds from the pursuing soldiers grew alternately distant and near. The black-clad figure lying on that person’s back struggled to speak: “Wu, Wulang, put me down…”

Zhu Wu’s steps faltered, his voice carrying surprise: “Uncle Xing, so it’s you!”

He had hidden outside the government offices, not daring to approach nor stray too far, watching helplessly as reinforcements rushed over batch after batch, his heart burning with anxiety.

But waiting and waiting, he only managed to catch one of their own people escaping over the wall.

It turned out to be Uncle Xing!

Zhu Wu knew he shouldn’t be so overjoyed—after all, the Vermillion Bird Guards Uncle Xing had brought were all his brothers—but who didn’t have selfish motives?

That his uncle could escape with his life was truly wonderful!

“Scoundrel, I told you to put me down! If we delay any longer, neither of us will escape…” Uncle Xing cursed intermittently.

Zhu Wu remained unmoved and instead quickened his pace.

They finally reached his dwelling.

Zhu Wu rushed inside, bolted the door from within, and carried Uncle Xing into the house.

Compared to the icy, snowy world outside, the room with its heated kang was much warmer. The candle flame on the desk table had never been extinguished.

Zhu Wu set Uncle Xing down and by the lamplight saw his pallid complexion and slightly closed eyes.

“Uncle Xing, how are you?”

Uncle Xing struggled to open his eyes, his lips completely bloodless: “Took arrows in the shoulder, suffered several blade wounds on my body…”

“Let me treat your wounds.” Zhu Wu swiftly removed Uncle Xing’s clothing and took out the wound medicine, clean cloth strips, and strong liquor he had prepared in advance, busying himself.

For Zhu Wu, this was an essential skill he had to master.

Uncle Xing’s several wounds were quickly bandaged.

Zhu Wu fetched clean clothes to change Uncle Xing inside and out, stuffing all the removed garments into the stove chamber.

The blood-stained clothes were licked by flames and quickly burned to ashes.

At this moment, violent knocking sounded from outside.

Zhu Wu and Uncle Xing exchanged glances, their expressions changing slightly: “So fast!”

Uncle Xing was much calmer and urged: “Quickly hide me in the secret chamber.”

By the time the knocking outside had turned to pounding, growing louder and louder, Zhu Wu opened the door with a calm expression, asking sleepily: “Who is it—” Seeing constables holding blades, his expression immediately changed as he asked in a trembling voice: “Constable, constable sirs, it’s so late—what’s the matter?”

By the light from the lantern one constable carried, he could see another team of constables entering a different household.

The lead constable asked coldly: “Why did it take so long to open the door?”

Zhu Wu looked aggrieved and bewildered: “Constable sir, look what hour it is—this commoner was sleeping soundly. The moment I heard the commotion, I immediately crawled up to dress and open the door—”

“We’re pursuing an escaped criminal!” The lead constable said this sentence and pushed past Zhu Wu, striding inside.

“Constable sir, constable sir—” Zhu Wu hurried after him. “What escaped criminal? At the foot of the Son of Heaven, living in peace and contentment—how could there be escaped criminals?”

The lead constable glanced at him, saying impatiently: “Stop jabbering!”

In the middle of the night—did he think they were comfortable? Who didn’t want to be lying in a warm bed?

Zhu Wu didn’t dare speak further and withdrew to the side submissively.

Several constables searched inside and out. Before long, they all came to report: “Chief, there’s no one else.”

The lead constable examined Zhu Wu with scrutinizing eyes: “You live here alone?”

Though this residence wasn’t large, its location was good, yet this person’s clothing didn’t suggest he was wealthy.

Zhu Wu forced out a smile: “Just this commoner alone.”

“Is the house yours, or rented?”

Zhu Wu hesitated.

The lead constable’s eyes narrowed: “What?”

He should know that the blood droplets scattered in the snow had led them to this area before the trail broke off. No help for it—tonight’s snow was too heavy, and the traces left behind were quickly covered.

At a time like this, they couldn’t let any anomaly pass—who knew, they might earn enormous merit and rise through the ranks in no time.

“It’s like this—this house was arranged for this commoner by my master. Otherwise, as a mere accountant, how could I afford to rent a house here?”

“Your master is—”

“Miss Luo.”

The lead constable was stunned.

Zhu Wu hastily added: “This commoner is the accountant for Youjian Tavern. Miss Luo is this commoner’s master.”

The lead constable’s mouth twitched.

He naturally knew of Miss Luo’s Youjian Tavern. Since he was Youjian Tavern’s accountant, he certainly had nothing to do with tonight’s incident.

The lead constable cupped his hands toward Zhu Wu: “Pardon the disturbance.”

Zhu Wu hastily said: “Constable sirs, please stay for some hot water.”

“No need, we still have business to attend to.”

Watching the several constables leave, Zhu Wu closed the door and straightened his back.

Uncle Xing, hiding in the secret chamber, was brought out and appeared even weaker.

“They left?”

Zhu Wu nodded: “Don’t worry. I sent them away. As soon as they heard I was Miss Luo’s accountant, they left quickly.”

Uncle Xing fell silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly: “Never thought that in the end it would be the secret passage Miss Luo created that saved me.”

He remembered when he discovered that a young lady had overheard their vital matters—his only thought had been to silence her.

Zhu Wu thought of Luo Sheng, his mood also somewhat complicated. His tone grew heavy as he asked: “Uncle Xing, those brothers—”

After a long silence, Uncle Xing finally spoke: “They’re all dead…”

His emotions low for a moment, Uncle Xing’s eyes lit up again: “But this operation succeeded!”

“Excellent!” Zhu Wu pumped his fist.

The two men looked at each other and both fell into silence.

In their hearts, they knew those hostages were innocent—they could only say each served their own master.

Given their position, if they wanted to accomplish anything, bloodshed was inevitable. It might be them, it might be their opponents, or it might be innocent people.