A Dream of Justice: The First Lady Constable | Chapter 91 | A Bitter Farewell | Novela.app

The last crimson traces of the sunset slowly vanished behind the western ridges. The pale charcoal hue overhead deepened, gradually turning into a thick, inseparable midnight blue. The moon flickered in and out of the clouds, causing the landscape before us to shift through eerie transitions of light and shadow. From our hiding spot, looking down the slope, the tall compound in the center of the clearing was the government granary of Phoenix Fall Slope. This had once been a village, but after being requisitioned by the authorities, the nearby residents had been relocated. Since we entered the city and placed official seals on the doors, the area had grown increasingly desolate. The single-story buildings surrounding the granary were filled with guards. It was late into the night, and most of the soldiers had retired. Aside from fewer than ten sentries posted at the main gate and the granary entrance, only a patrol of less than twenty men paced back and forth within the courtyard. Though their numbers were few, the security was far tighter than it had been at the Qizhuang granary. Qizhuang was about sixteen li from here, home to another government storehouse. A few days ago, Lin Ru had called a meeting at the yamen to discuss which granary would be safer for the final shipment of weapons brought down from the mines. Because both locations had their own defensive advantages, a decision had been difficult to reach. Amidst the indecision, a rumor was leaked that the Phoenix Fall Slope granary contained no weapons. However, the rumor was spread so strangely that anyone who heard it would likely harbor doubts. Whether or not Xiao Rong was the ultimate mole, he would have certainly heard these whispers. Despite the people we had stationed around him, he had shown no suspicious movements. Including tonight, we had been lying in ambush for three full days. During this time, suspicious figures had appeared near both granaries. It seemed they were wary of the rumors. Perhaps the heavy guard at Phoenix Fall Slope would finally convince them that the weapons were indeed sealed here. As the third watch approached, several agile black shadows suddenly flitted across the distant foothills. My spirits lifted instantly. Upon closer inspection, there were only three to five of them, but they were experts who moved as light as swallows, reaching our vicinity in no time. They cautiously scouted the surroundings before leaving two or three behind as lookouts on the perimeter; the rest slipped deftly into the courtyard. In the darkness and at such a distance, I couldn't see exactly how they dealt with the guards, but from the way the sentries slumped over, it appeared they used some form of knockout drug. Before long, the faint sound of locks being picked drifted over. The rasp of iron against iron was piercing in the dead of night. The intruders would pick for a moment, then stop, listening intently to their surroundings. Soon, a heavy *clack* echoed as the double doors swung open. A small-framed man cautiously struck a fire-starter. By the flickering light, I could just make out rows of neatly arranged wooden crates inside the warehouse. The man handed the fire-starter to his companion and pried open the top crate. After a careful inspection, he walked to the door and let out a long, low whistle. Soon, the sound of hoofbeats approached from the direction of the signal. Shadows loomed; a rough count suggested forty to fifty people. They moved with the coordination of well-trained soldiers, working in perfect harmony. Once they entered the courtyard, they began moving the crates with systematic efficiency. I lowered my voice and gave the command: "Strike!" The silence of the night was shattered by the eerie whistle of projectiles. Rows of crossbow bolts, thick as a swarm of locusts, rained down into the encirclement. Chaos erupted in the courtyard. Those who weren't hit scrambled back into the warehouse. I quickly fired a signal flare; as it burst in mid-air, the warehouse grounds were filled with thunderous battle cries. Torches were lit in rings around the perimeter, illuminating the entire compound inside and out. The guards hidden beside me unsheathed their weapons and charged into the fray. In the confusion, I caught a glimpse of two flying daggers hurtling toward me from the side. I swung my scimitar, my body instinctively dodging. Two crisp *clangs* rang out as the daggers struck the scabbard of my Black Tortoise Blade, sending two startling sparks into the dark night. The whistle of a sharp weapon cutting through the air reached my ears; before I could look up, a longsword was already thrust before my eyes. This must have been one of their perimeter reinforcements, and he had likely recognized me. His sword-light was wreathed in thick killing intent, pressing me back step by step, every move a lethal strike delivered with full force. Despite being prepared for a fierce battle, I couldn't help but feel a secret chill at the intense, murderous aura radiating from him. The man had cold, ruthless eyes. Though a mask covered his face, a prominent scar was visible on his brow. Judging by his style, I had never met him before. However, the situation worsened: just as I forced him back two steps and tried to catch my breath, another sword lunged at me from behind. Had I been the one retreating just now, I would never have dodged this strike. This person was also masked, but I didn't need a second look at those eyes to know he was an old acquaintance. I had long suspected he wouldn't die so easily, yet I hadn't expected him to be so impatient to take my life. Ying Hui didn't seem to care that I had recognized him; his sword pressed forward without a moment's hesitation. I suddenly realized that when his eyes burned with murderous intent, his swordsmanship became even more exquisite than before. Perhaps the battle at the cliffside hadn't diminished his strength at all. The scar-faced man paused briefly before joining the assault. With both of them attacking, I began to struggle. Both were masters, and both clearly intended to kill. Within ten exchanges, a sharp *rip* sounded as half of my left sleeve was sheared off by Ying Hui’s sword. A hot, stinging liquid began to trail down my arm. I retreated in haste, only to see the scar-faced man raise his hand and hurl another flying dagger at my face. I dodged, and a *crack* sounded behind me as the blade snapped a tree branch. In that exact moment, Ying Hui’s sword lunged toward my eyes like a bolt of lightning. My Black Tortoise Blade met his edge, but he nimbly disengaged, flourishing his sword into a floral pattern before thrusting straight for my throat. I scrambled backward, but I never expected my heel to catch on a stray branch. I tumbled straight back, and Ying Hui’s sword followed like a shadow, closing in. Behind the tip of the blade were his sharp, triumphant eyes. I saw his scar-faced accomplice behind him, and seeing his gaze, I suddenly understood—that flying dagger had been aimed at the tree behind me all along. The coldness at the tip of his sword traveled from my throat through my entire body in an instant. My blood seemed to turn to ice. I could only watch helplessly as the silver-white blade, glinting eerily in the pale moonlight, drew closer inch by inch. Powerless, I closed my eyes and let out a long, silent sigh. Then, a *clang* rang out by my ear. The sword-tip grazed my neck as it was deflected, leaving a trail of stinging pain. Immediately after, a familiar voice barked a low command: "Retreat!" The sound of clashing weapons echoed briefly. When I opened my eyes, the surrounding hills were silent. Above was a waning moon; beside me were wounded comrades; and below the slope, the granary was brightly lit as soldiers cleaned up the aftermath. There was no sign of Ying Hui’s sword, no scar-faced accomplice, and no sign of the person who had saved me. In the end, could he not bear to see me die before his eyes? Another rapid gallop of hoofbeats echoed from the distant night. A sorrel horse charged straight to the front of the granary, rearing up. The rider didn't even wait to dismount before shouting, "Manager Lin requests the City Lord return to the city immediately! There is urgent military intelligence!" My heart skipped a beat. Military intelligence? Had something happened to Xi Huo at Chixia Pass? Lin Ru’s slender fingers held a thin slip of paper out to me. "Seventy thousand troops. Led personally by King Yi Kai. Their vanguard has already reached the outskirts of Qizhou." A blurry memory of Yi Kai’s chocolate-colored eyes surfaced in my mind. Yi Kai—he had endured for years, finally finding the chance to kill the brothers who coveted his throne. He must be at the height of his ambition now. Ming Shao had long said this man was a strategist, and Feng Yao... I shook my head and looked up at him. "How is Xi Huo’s side?" Lin Ru’s face held a rare, grim composure. "General Xi has also sent word. Chu De’s army suffered a minor defeat the day before yesterday and has already begun their counter-offensive." A dull ache throbbed in my left shoulder. I suddenly understood why Ying Hui had needed so many weapons. "Do we still have landmines in the storehouse?" I turned to ask him. Lin Ru nodded. "Give me a squad of personal guards," I said quickly. "These mines must be laid behind Chixia Pass as soon as possible." Rongxi Ridge sat directly behind Chixia Pass, less than three hundred li away. Extending eastward from Rongxi Ridge was Xilu Pass, just outside White City. By the time the archers were positioned on the heights flanking Rongxi Ridge, it was already the second quarter of the Shen hour (3:30 PM). According to the urgent reports from Chixia Pass, Xi Huo was already engaged with Chu De’s forces. Directly below our hiding spot was the newly laid minefield. As the sun began to sink in the west, the anxiety in my heart grew. Had I truly miscalculated? As the Shen hour drew to a close, a scout arrived: over two hundred men were converging on this location from both sides of Rongxi Ridge. By the You hour (5:00 PM), the two groups met outside the ridge. The sun had already set, and the bright sky was beginning to dim into twilight. I could see the approaching troop with the naked eye. My gaze followed the leading figures, silently calculating the distance between them and the minefield. The light in the valley had grown murky. Thus, when a brilliant burst of fire finally detonated, even I was momentarily stunned. Immediately, a second and third explosion followed. The valley turned into a chaotic mess of screaming men and panicked horses. A golden arrow was notched to the string as I slowly drew my golden bow. This heavy bow had not been used since it accidentally wounded Ming Rui, but as I drew it now, my hands were exceptionally steady. From the moment they appeared in my sight, I had spotted Ying Hui. Even in such chaos, he appeared remarkably calm and composed. That composure held a clear trace of disdain, as if no matter what blow we dealt, it was merely the petty trick of a rebel in his eyes. He was directing his men to retreat systematically to a safe zone. The tip of my arrow moved slowly from the space between his brows down to his throat. Then, a streak of golden light shot out like a bolt of lightning. He seemed to raise his eyes in surprise toward my direction, but in the next instant, his body jerked back, and he fell heavily from his horse. With the release of that arrow, the archers on both sides of the ridge unleashed a volley. In the confusion, several more men triggered mines, causing two more explosions in the valley. In less than half an hour, more than half of the five hundred men were dead or wounded. The rest fled frantically from Rongxi Ridge. Ying Hui was dead. His eyes remained wide open, but his expression was unexpectedly peaceful. It was as if a man had grown tired of walking and had simply lain down to watch the stars. I thought of closing his eyes for him, but decided against it. In my current capacity, I was neither his kin nor his friend; he might not want me to be the one to do it. I crouched beside him and silently retrieved my golden arrow. The image of the smiling Little Hero and the stuffed cloth dog Ying Hui kept in his robes wove together into a vivid, striking picture in my mind. Suddenly, I felt that the arrival of death was but a momentary thing, seemingly simpler than I had imagined. After counting the bodies, a greater doubt surfaced: Ming Shao and the scar-faced man were not among them. For a mission as vital as coordinating with Chu De from behind Chixia Pass, they should have been present. Since they weren't, the only explanation was that they were occupied with something even more important. What could it be? A heavy sense of unease rose within me. From behind Rongxi Ridge, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly approached. A group of riders galloped toward us from the direction of Chixia Pass. In the twilight, I heard an urgent female voice—it sounded like Mingchuan. But Mingchuan was supposed to be at Xi Huo’s side. With the battle raging, how could she be here? Filled with doubt, I stood up. Before I could go to meet her, a petite figure rushed toward me. In the dim light, her leather armor was stained with blood and filth. Her helmet was gone, leaving her long hair disheveled. It was indeed Mingchuan. "Mingchuan?" I called out in surprise. Mingchuan stumbled two steps toward me, her eyes suddenly reddening, and she collapsed onto her knees. I wanted to go to her and help her up, but my throat tightened, and every ounce of strength left my body. "General Xi has fallen in battle," Mingchuan choked out through her sobs. "Chixia Pass... it cannot be held!" *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 落凤坡 | Phoenix Fall Slope | A location near Bingzhou used for a military trap. 官仓 | Government Granary | Official storehouse for grain or weapons. 玄武刀 | Black Tortoise Blade | The narrator's signature weapon. 容西岭 | Rongxi Ridge | A strategic ridge located behind Chixia Pass. 易凯 | Yi Kai | The King of a neighboring state, currently invading. 歧州 | Qizhou | A city/region mentioned as being under threat. 习卢关 | Xilu Pass | A pass located near White City. 流光弹 | Signal Flare | Literally "Light-stream bomb," used for signaling in battle. 地雷 | Landmine | Primitive explosive traps used in the ambush. 金箭 | Golden Arrow | Part of the narrator's specialized weaponry.