Chapter 17: His Highness, the Easy Target
The back of the Dragon’s Roar Pavilion faced a small street nestled between two districts. Snowflakes swirled in the absence of moonlight, casting the street in a dim, lampless gloom.
Xu Buling vaulted over the district wall, landing on the street. He looked up and saw a flurry of flashing blades in the distance.
A figure clad in black, their face hidden beneath a bamboo hat, wielded a long, green-tinged sword, battling six Heavenly Stem Wolf Guards. Walls and rooftops crumbled under their clash, eliciting screams from startled residents.
Old Xiao, leaning on his cane, leaped from rooftop to rooftop with surprising agility, landing steadily beside Xu Buling. He frowned:
“This person’s martial arts skills are formidable. Their swordsmanship resembles the Tang family style, but lacks its essence. It seems they learned it secretly. They must be a martial artist seeking revenge.”
Xu Buling nodded, unsurprised by the appearance of an assassin in the capital.
Ten years ago, the previous Emperor had passed away, and Prince Song Ji had ascended the throne.
Over the past two centuries, the Great Dynasty’s emphasis on martial prowess had fostered countless martial arts families and sects. Even the capital, Chang’an, was filled with martial arts schools. Bonds of loyalty, tradition, and grudges had woven these factions into a complex web, their influence rivaling that of the scholar-officials who had once dominated the court.
With so many martial artists, it was inevitable that some would resort to violence, engaging in banditry and defying the law. Remote provinces had even become private domains of certain powerful families and sects, operating as states within a state.
Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Song Ji’s first act was to suppress these unruly factions. He ordered the most influential martial arts families to submit to the Investigation Bureau and dispatch their experts to eliminate those who refused to comply. This period was known as the “Iron Eagle Hunts the Deer.”
The intention behind the “Iron Eagle Hunts the Deer” was clear: to support established and organized families, suppress smaller, independent factions, and guide martial artists towards serving the interests of the court, encouraging them to “use their skills for the benefit of the Emperor.”
However, the court had misjudged the reaction of the martial world.
The key difference between martial artists and scholars was their “inner blade.”
A warrior’s anger could easily lead to bloodshed. Faced with the court’s suppression, many chose to resist.
Over centuries, these factions had developed intricate webs of alliances and grudges. Those who submitted to the court found it difficult to eliminate their former allies or rivals, leading to selective enforcement and personal vendettas.
Within a year, the situation spiraled out of control, with rebellions erupting in various regions.
The Emperor’s wrath was swift and merciless.
The seven princes received imperial decrees, mobilizing over 800,000 troops to crush the uprisings, effectively breaking the backbone of the martial world.
Princess Su, Xu Buling’s mother, came from the Lu family of the Eastern Sea, another prestigious family like the Lu family of Jinling.
The Lu family of the Eastern Sea had disagreed with the court’s actions and refused to comply with the imperial decree, leading to their annihilation by the Western Liang army.
In the aftermath of the battle, the head of the Lu family was killed, and Princess Su died of heartbreak. Prince Su’s refusal to remarry was a testament to his grief.
If even a heteronymous prince with control over twelve prefectures could be affected so deeply, one could only imagine the devastation inflicted upon the martial world.
Ten years had passed, but those seeking revenge in the capital were still numerous. Every year, hundreds of martial artists died at the hands of the Wolf Guards.
Xu Buling observed the battle for a moment, unable to discern which faction the assassin belonged to. He only knew that their skills were exceptional. He asked softly:
“Is Zhang Xiang dead?”
Old Xiao shook his head:
“Zhang Xiang is the Commander of the Investigation Bureau. He’s not that easy to kill. He sensed the assassination attempt and struck the assassin with a palm strike. They won’t escape.”
Xu Buling nodded. He needed to access the archives to gather information, and the archives were personally guarded by Zhang Xiang. He was considering whether this assassin could be of use when a shout suddenly came from the distance:
“Get out of the way!”
“Your Highness, watch out!”
Xu Buling looked up in surprise and saw the assassin charging towards him, sword in hand.
Old Xiao narrowed his eyes and chuckled:
“This kid has no sense. They think His Highness is an easy target…”
He was about to intervene, but Xu Buling raised his hand, stopping him. He then feigned a look of terror:
“Protect me!”
…
The wind howled.
The assassin, wielding their long sword, was being pushed back by the Wolf Guards’ hooked spears and goose-feather sabers. Having failed their assassination attempt and injured by Zhang Xiang’s palm strike, their lips were turning blue, and their steps faltered.
As more Wolf Guards surrounded them, escape seemed impossible. The assassin’s eyes hardened with determination. They were about to make a desperate attempt to charge back into the Dragon’s Roar Pavilion when they noticed a young man in a fox fur cloak and an old servant watching from the corner of the wall.
They had seen the young man once before at the Sun family’s shop. His pale complexion and poisoned state had left a lasting impression. They had overheard from passersby that he was the son of a prince, a person of high status.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have bothered with such an insignificant noble. But now, trapped and desperate, they saw a valuable hostage standing before them. What choice did they have?
The assassin didn’t hesitate. They kicked off the ground with explosive force, shattering the bluestone pavement, their figure soaring through the air. In the blink of an eye, they covered over ten zhang and reached the young man.
“Protect me!”
The young man cried out in fear, scrambling to escape.
The old servant panicked, dropping his cane and fleeing, abandoning his master without a second thought.
The assassin seized the opportunity, grabbing the young man’s shoulder and pulling him close, their sword pressed against his throat. They faced the approaching Wolf Guards.
“Stop!”
The Wolf Guard captain was horrified and ordered his men to halt. They knew that Xu Buling possessed some martial arts skills, but weakened by the Dragon Locking Gu poison, he was no match for this assassin. If the Prince of Su were to die at the hands of an assassin, everyone from Commander Zhang Xiang to the Wolf Guards present would be held accountable.
The captain stopped three zhang away, his saber drawn, and shouted:
“Audacious villain! Release His Highness!”
The assassin was slightly shorter than Xu Buling. Holding his shoulder with one hand and pressing the sword against his throat with the other was awkward. They panted, their gaze sweeping over the surrounding Wolf Guards:
“Get out of my way!”
Their voice was clear and cool, hinting at a refined temperament.
Their breath, carrying a faint fragrance of orchids, brushed against Xu Buling’s ear.
Xu Buling raised his hands, feigning terror, and urged the Wolf Guards to stay back:
“Stay back! Don’t do anything rash…”
“Shut up!”
The assassin snapped, then grabbed Xu Buling’s waist and leaped onto the wall, fleeing towards the outskirts of Daye District:
“If you follow me, I’ll kill him!”
The Wolf Guards turned pale, torn between pursuing and obeying. They stood frozen, unsure what to do.
With the Prince of Su as their hostage, they dared not give chase openly. If they cornered the assassin, they might choose to fight to the death, taking everyone with them. They could only grit their teeth, seal off the roads, and prevent the assassin from escaping Chang’an…
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