There are truly quite a few people who want you dead.

It was the beginning of the Hour of the Boar.

Inside a room that smelled faintly of mold, Gu Fei watched as Ku Ma slowly and meticulously arranged her belongings. Outside, Bai Lu stood guard at the gate with her red-tasseled spear alongside You Er, while Nightingale had been sent by Gu Fei to find Ziyuan.

Although Gu Fei had already taken the initiative to dismantle the network Mo Geyi had brought back from Dajing, she knew his capabilities well enough to realize he would find others before long. They might not be as skilled as his original group, but they would be more than enough to cause her trouble. She would never underestimate Mo Geyi.

Sure enough, before half an hour had passed, movement stirred in the peach forest. Gu Fei knew nothing of the details, but these ruffians were no match for You Er; Bai Lu had dispatched them with a single strike of her spear. After a stern warning from You Er, the lot—who only knew how to bully the weak and fear the strong—scrambled away in a panic. Bai Lu giggled, though You Er gave a low grunt, warning her not to let her guard down.

Gu Fei heard the commotion but did not ask about it. Seeing that the room was mostly in order, she told Ku Ma to go and rest. Ku Ma hesitated, her lips trembling as she said with concern, "Miss, perhaps this old servant should keep watch by the door tonight."

Gu Fei raised her eyes, casting a gaze that was neither warm nor cold at the wound on Ku Ma’s abdomen. "It is fine. Go and tend to your injury, Ku Ma. Only when you are healed can you continue to protect me in the future, right?"

Whether it was mere suspicion or not, Ku Ma felt there was a hidden meaning in Gu Fei’s words. She grew increasingly uneasy, as if the small ruse she had employed to feign injury had been seen through entirely.

"Miss..." she began, but stopped herself.

"Go," Gu Fei said with a faint smile. She turned her wheelchair toward the vanity, pulled out her hairpin, and began to comb through her dark hair, one stroke after another.

Ku Ma sighed, dragging her still-weak body out of the room. After carefully closing the door, she suddenly straightened her back, a sharp, piercing light flashing in her eyes. You Er seemed to sense something and turned his head. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before they quickly looked away. Ku Ma then returned to her room, acting as if nothing had happened.

By the time midnight arrived, Nightingale had returned and retired for the night. Bai Lu sat on the threshold of the courtyard, cradling her red-tasseled spear, her head bobbing as she drifted into a light sleep. You Er had produced a flask of wine from somewhere, taking an occasional sip to stay alert.

A night breeze rose, causing the peach leaves to rustle. In the ninth month, the nights were already beginning to chill, and even wearing a single layer of clothing, one could feel the cold biting at the skin. You Er raised his arm to take another drink. The sharp, burning liquid slid down his throat, jolting him into further wakefulness. But just as he went for a second sip, his movements suddenly froze.

With the flask still pressed to his lips, he tilted his head, a fierce, brilliant light igniting in his large, round eyes. He sneered, and in the blink of an eye, he hurled the wine flask with lightning speed toward a specific spot in the dark.

With a sharp *crack*, the flask shattered into pieces, and the wine splashed in all directions, its pungent aroma wafting far into the thick night. You Er stood up. His sturdy, tower-like frame stood like an impregnable wall at the courtyard gate, poised to hold off a thousand men.

Bai Lu was startled awake by the noise. She gripped her spear and stood up, scanning the pitch-black peach forest. Her palms grew damp, and a surge of adrenaline welled up in her chest—her fighting spirit was already ablaze.

"You thieving rats, come out and meet your end!" You Er’s voice was like a booming bell, the metallic, resonant sound carrying far into the silent night. Bai Lu took a half-step forward, raising her spear, her body taut and ready to strike.

After You Er spoke, there was silence for at least half a quarter of an hour. You Er let out a series of cold laughs. Too impatient for more talk, he flicked his toe, sending a stone the size of a longan fruit flying into the darkness where he had thrown the flask.

"Hmph!" With no room to dodge, a fist shot out from the darkness like lightning, catching the stone and sending it hurtling back with a *thud*.

You Er snorted with cold disdain. He stood his ground, and just as the stone was about to hit him, he opened his palm, snatched it from the air, and gripped it tight. When he finally opened his fingers again, the stone was gone—nothing but a puff of powder fell from between his knuckles.

"Fine technique!" a low, raspy voice emerged from the thick shadows. A man dressed in black, his face obscured by a mask, stepped out. Crossing from the boundary between light and shadow, the darkness seemed to peel away from him like a receding tide. Standing in the dim, vague light, he appeared like a deep shadow himself, radiating intense killing intent—a reaper who had crawled out of hell.

Such a display could not intimidate You Er. He lifted his chin with utter contempt, stepped forward, and attacked with a palm strike, shouting, "Too much talk!"

The man in black met him head-on. His fist, hard as stone, glinted with cold light; he wore sharp brass knuckles on his fingers. They tore through the night air with a shrill whistle, colliding with You Er’s palm. The first exchange ended in a stalemate.

Bai Lu watched from the side, her blood boiling. Her eyes were bright as stars, and the hand gripping her spear trembled slightly. She was overcome with such excitement that she longed to jump into the fray herself. Just as she thought this, she noticed an opening. While You Er was locked in combat with the man in black, four or five other figures in similar black attire were attempting to bypass the front gate and climb over the collapsed wall at the back.

"Want to get in? Ask my spear first!" she shouted, stepping forward with quick, light movements. She didn't hesitate, nor did she consider whether she could handle four or five grown men while she was just a young girl who had yet to come of age.

She charged forward regardless. With a horizontal sweep of her spear, she blocked two of them. Light as a bird, she used the spear to vault over the wall, her legs lashing out in a flurry of kicks. In a single encounter, she caught them off guard and managed to hold all four or five of them outside the courtyard wall.

You Er had been keeping an eye on Bai Lu. Seeing her handling the situation with ease, his heart surged with pride. He kicked the man in black in the chest and laughed out loud, "Good girl! I’ll teach you even better moves later!"

Bai Lu’s eyebrows arched in delight, but her movements remained fierce as she did her utmost to keep the attackers at bay. After a few rounds, You Er’s eyes darted around. He feinted, dashed over to Bai Lu’s side, and with a few swift palm strikes, sent the four or five men flying, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her just as she began to show signs of exhaustion.

The man in black was furious at You Er’s slick tactics. He flicked his sleeve, drew a soft sword from his waist with a metallic *clang*, and stopped holding back. For a time, You Er and Bai Lu held their own against the half-dozen men, though they could not drive them away entirely.

"You have come such a long way, guests; how very courteous of you." The voice was cold and clear, like water dripping in a mountain spring. A chill that seemed to seep into the bones radiated from it, causing everyone to pause.

The man in black was startled. He leaped back, waved a hand, and the others stopped, looking into the courtyard with caution. There, sitting in her wheelchair in a white gown, was Gu Fei, her dark hair cascading like clouds. She sat with a smile on her lips, her pale, delicate face glowing softly in the night. One could almost see the fine, soft down on her skin—pinkish-white and as tender as a babe’s—making one’s breath hitch.

"Miss." You Er and Bai Lu called out in unison, moving closer to her.

"Heh," the man in black chuckled. Seeing the primary target appear, he was no longer in a hurry, seemingly confident that Gu Fei couldn't escape tonight and that she had no reinforcements. He adopted the cruel mindset of a hunter toying with his prey. "Someone wants your life, Miss. I wonder how much silver you are willing to pay to buy it back?" He expected Gu Fei to show at least a hint of panic.

To his surprise, the smile on Gu Fei’s lips deepened, and a chilling edge crept into her cherry-blossom-pink mouth. "Silver? I was just about to ask if you gentlemen brought any silver yourselves. If it’s not enough, it won't be enough to pay for your time in prison."

At these words, the aura around the man in black stiffened. After only a few breaths, he made a decisive choice: "Retreat!"

However—

"Arrest them all!" A stern, authoritative voice rang out. Immediately, countless bailiffs armed with broadswords swarmed in from all sides, surrounding the group. It was like catching fish in a barrel; no one could escape.

The man in black cast a venomous glare at Gu Fei, abandoned his men, and picked a direction to break through with force. But You Er had been waiting there. Seeing him charge, he beamed, "Just in time!"

They traded blows, one desperate to escape and the other eager to fight. After only a few moves, the man in black was defeated by You Er’s palm. The nearby bailiffs didn't hesitate; they swarmed in with their blades drawn, pressing the sharp tips against the man's chest.

You Er laughed, reached out, and pulled the mask off the man's face without a second thought. At a single glance, he gasped in surprise.

In the dim light, Gu Fei narrowed her almond eyes. She saw clearly that the man had graying hair at his temples and looked to be over forty. The face was none other than Ah Da, who used to follow Le Qingbo!

Her eyes darkened. She rubbed her fingers along the armrest of her wheelchair, her dark pupils swirling with an indecipherable color.

Observing Gu Fei’s expression, Ah Da let out a twisted laugh. He eyed her askance and spat, "There really are many people who want you dead."

The implications of his words were vast, leaving Gu Fei with much to ponder—specifically whether Le Qingbo was among those who wanted her gone.

Guo Mian, the Prefect of Yizhou, stood in his official robes, his presence imposing. He watched coldly as the bailiffs dragged the men away. Only then did he turn to Gu Fei. "Miss, you need not worry anymore. I shall personally see to it that this is thoroughly investigated."

Gu Fei nodded in acknowledgment. "My legs are not convenient, so please forgive me, Magistrate. Thank you so much for this. If not for you, I truly would not have known what to do. You are indeed the benevolent father-official of the people of Yizhou—upright and just."

Flattered by Gu Fei’s praise, Guo Mian felt quite embarrassed. He coughed lightly, turning his pale, bearded face away. "Miss, there is no need for such words. Protecting the peace of the people is my duty. Besides, Miss Ziyuan of the Linlang Pavilion has done me a favor, and hearing from her that you are her dear friend, how could I not help?"

Gu Fei knew how to play the game. She signaled to Nightingale behind her and smiled, "I have prepared a small gift of ink sticks. A good official like yourself deserves nothing less than the finest, and I hope you will accept them with a smile."

As long as it wasn't silver, Guo Mian accepted it with a clear conscience. He took the ink box from Nightingale, didn't even bother to open it, and stroked his beard with a grin. "You are too kind, Miss."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. It was late, and Guo Mian, not wanting his wife to wait, left contentedly with the box of ink.

The commotion ended as quickly as it had begun. Gu Fei told You Er and Nightingale to go and rest, then returned to her room. That night, all was quiet, and she finally enjoyed a peaceful, undisturbed sleep. She believed that after tonight, once Guo Mian interrogated those men, an even greater drama was sure to unfold.