Chapter Twenty-Three: Plot Within a Plot

Drip, drip— The light rain began to fall, pattering on the eaves, the small bridge, the rock garden, and the suits of armor—

A group of armored men stood in the courtyard beneath the autumn rain. The cold wind seeped under their armor, but their faces remained expressionless. At their head was Ma San, gripping a massive iron saber, its serrated, dark-red spine catching the moonlight.

“Reporting, sir! We’ve spotted the enemy!” one man announced, kneeling on the wet ground and splashing droplets of water.

“Speak,” Ma San replied coolly.

“The thief was ambushed near the rock garden and fled toward the flower house. It seems he intends to escape south—possibly into the Lady Sixth’s chambers.” The man hesitated.

“Throwing himself into the net? Have those brats finally run out of luck?” A flicker of surprise crossed Ma San’s face.

Suddenly, a cold arrow shot from a distant tower. Before it lost momentum in the air, Ma San snatched it effortlessly.

“Commander! There’s a message on the arrow!”

“Oh?” Ma San read the note, his expression shifting. He watched, silent, as a swarm of armored soldiers surged toward the small building.

A paper umbrella slowly unfurled, and a delicate beauty approached Ma San with graceful steps.

Lady Sixth, Chun’er, said wistfully, “My lord, I’ll go on ahead.”

Ma San suddenly interjected, “Wait, my lady. Let me accompany you.”

Chun’er hesitated, “My lord, don’t you have other matters to attend to?”

Ma San shook his head with a bitter smile. “That’s my oversight. This estate was once the villa of a prince from the former dynasty—vast beyond measure! Searching with soldiers would take forever. I’ve already sent for gunpowder and cannonballs from the Qiantang water camp. Since this place is useless to us now, why not just blow it up? What do you think, my lady?”

Chun’er’s face paled. Her voice trembled, “It’s foolproof, but my lord, isn’t that a bit extreme? After all, this is our home...”

“As long as you’re with me, anywhere is home.”

“Then, my lord, could you wait a moment? I just remembered I left some trinkets inside.”

A twitch flickered at the corner of Ma San’s mouth; in the firelight his face was unreadable, but his voice suddenly turned hoarse: “My lady, they’re just trinkets. I’ll buy you new ones overseas.”

“But, my lord, they were left to me by my late mother. They mean everything to me!” Chun’er pleaded, urgency in her voice.

“Go quickly, and return just as fast,” Ma San said, watching her retreating figure. His once broad and sturdy frame seemed to shrink and stoop in the shadows.

Chun’er entered the room, shut the door softly, peered through the crack to ensure the soldiers weren’t watching, and let out a sigh of relief. She hurried around the screen, retrieved a token from a secret compartment in her dressing table, its red lotus emblem as vivid as blood.

She stripped off her elegant pink gauze gown, pulled out her hairpin, revealing her alluring figure, and took out a night outfit from beneath her garments, tucking a short blade into her boot. With effort, she moved the dressing table, exposing a dark tunnel beneath. Tossing her discarded clothes inside, she slipped down and triggered a mechanism; with a grinding sound, the table slid back into place, leaving the chamber empty—no sign of the noblewoman remained. Moments later, a squad of fierce soldiers burst in.

Bathed in moonlight, Chun’er moved swiftly, her masked figure agile and silent—no one would ever imagine this was the famed courtesan of unmatched beauty and talent. She knew every inch of the estate, each blade of grass, every stone; the soldiers couldn’t even touch the hem of her dress. Yet her heart raced—not with panic, but with urgency. Soon, the entire estate would be reduced to ruins. She had to warn the holy order without delay.

Just then, she heard shouts from the north: “Catch him, quick!” “That brat’s running south!” “Ready the crossbows!”

Chun’er felt a mix of hope and anxiety. If the boy was caught or killed, maybe Ma San would abandon his plan to destroy the governor’s mansion. But if he fell into her husband’s hands, it might jeopardize the holy order’s great cause.

She dashed south, arriving at the woodshed in the time it takes for incense to burn. Just as she reached for the door, she caught the faint sound of breathing within. Tensing, she drew her short blade silently and eased the door open.

A sudden gust met her, but she was ready—her blade slicing toward her opponent’s palm. Yet he was no novice: his hand twisted from cutting to grasping, his body dropping and springing up, clawing for her face. With that one move, Chun’er judged the stranger had at least a decade of hard monkey fist training; his “monkey reaching for the moon” move was executed flawlessly.

Chun’er remained unflustered, arching back to dodge as she exhaled, her slender waist bending like a bow. With a light slap of her jade hands on the floor, she shot forward like an arrow, propelled by lung power alone. Most people could only inhale and exhale forcefully four or five times; Chun’er had done it over ten times now. This “arrow shot stance” combined eyesight, waist strength, and internal force. Her foe felt a tremendous impact; three or four ribs snapped, and he spat blood.

Though the fight took many words to describe, it was over in a flash, and their skills were instantly revealed: Lady Sixth Chun’er had reached the level of a true master.

Chun’er approached lightly, swaying with effortless grace, a captivating smile on her lips. “So it’s you, boy. Luck is on my side tonight.” Her gaze looked down on the disheveled Tan Hou’er.

“Who are you?” Tan Hou’er spat blood, his voice full of hatred.

“I am the Outer Saint Envoy of the Red Lotus Order, known in the martial world as Lady Nether. And you, young man, why are you here alone? Where are your companions?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Tan Hou’er retorted coldly.

“No matter. Please accompany me to the Red Lotus headquarters for a few days. After all, you’re the son of a high official, a distinguished guest—our master has a fondness for important visitors,” Lady Nether said coyly.

“And if I refuse?” Tan Hou’er struggled to rise.

“You have no choice!”

Lady Nether escorted Tan Hou’er deep into a secret passage beneath the dry well, winding through darkness. Every dozen paces, she tapped her token against a recess in the stone wall. The passage echoed with clear, ringing notes, the sound reverberating deep within. Tan Hou’er’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“You guessed right—these stones are echo rocks, formed over a hundred years by the fierce winds atop a thousand-foot peak. My Red Lotus brethren and I use them to pass secret messages,” Lady Nether explained suddenly.

“Our holy order holds countless treasures, rare herbs, and secret manuals. You’ll see more soon.”

They continued in silence for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn. Ahead, light flickered. Tan Hou’er thought, “Just as I expected.”

Forced at knifepoint, Tan Hou’er climbed up by a rope, single-handed, to an exit cunningly hidden in the heart of a rockery, at the center of a flowerbed. These flowers were no ordinary plants—no servant would ever stumble in by accident.

It was deep night. The garden was deserted, save for traces of soldiers’ searches. Not long after, three black shadows vaulted over the wall.

“Red Lotus Descends!” one called out.

“Maitreya Reborn!” Lady Nether replied.

“Lady Nether, what business have you with this old woman?” a rasping voice asked. Granny She hobbled over on her staff, followed by two burly men with dragon-like strides and taut temples—clear signs of external martial arts mastery. They were Lin Tai, known as “Palm Holding the Pagoda,” and Wei Fourth, “Flying Heavenly Pixiu”—both renowned fighters in the martial world, now secretly serving Red Lotus.

“So this is that Tan Hou’er?” Granny She exclaimed, a note of delight in her voice.

“I caught him by chance. But Granny, how did it go on your end?”

“That damned Ma San, that butcher—he managed to get so many of the Funiu crossbows! He must be colluding with the Tiger and Leopard Army’s armory! My right hand was grazed—I barely fought my way out, nearly lost my reputation at the end!” Granny She cursed bitterly.

Lady Nether now noticed Granny She’s right hand was bandaged, the injury clearly serious.

Suddenly remembering something, Lady Nether said urgently, “Granny, Ma San is planning to blow up the entire governor’s residence with gunpowder. What should we do?”

Granny She and her two companions were shocked. Wei Fourth pressed, “Is the envoy’s information reliable?”

“Ma San told me himself. I’m sure I didn’t give myself away, or I wouldn’t have abandoned my identity as Lady Sixth and given up on assassinating Ma San.”

“Granny, let’s retreat! I still want to serve the holy order, if only in body!” Lin Tai’s face showed fear.

“Our order has suffered heavy losses this time. You two only escaped because Six Gates was chasing you. You know as well as I how many elite members have been killed or captured—hundreds, even the young master fell in battle. If we return with only this boy, how will we explain ourselves? Have you forgotten what our master is capable of?” Granny She’s voice was harsh, her dragon-headed staff striking the ground with a thud, leaving a small crater.

“We know what kind of person the master is—ruthless, relentless, a true overlord. If we catch that Zhou boy as well—it’s just a son, after all—the master won’t mind. Who knows, if our master conquers both the martial world and the court, we might all become founding heroes,” Granny She’s voice rose, shrill as a crow in her excitement.

“But we have no idea where that boy is! And Ma San will blow up the whole place soon!” Wei Fourth hesitated.

“He knows,” Granny She said coldly, her crow-like eyes fixed on Tan Hou’er.

“Boy, you’ve been around the martial world a while—you must have heard of Granny She. My fighting skills are nothing compared to my ways of torture! Want to try my Black Gold Gu or Bone Extracting Hand?” Granny She’s tone was sinister and terrifying.

“What do I get in return?” Tan Hou’er asked bluntly.

“Before you meet the master, I swear not a hair on your head will be harmed!”

“Fine. I’ll talk,” Tan Hou’er said, betraying his companions with a calm face.

“Good, good! The wise know when to yield!” Granny She’s shrill laughter pierced the night.

Meanwhile, Ma San sat sullenly, listening to his confidants argue, clutching a second arrow-message.

“Commander! Why withdraw the troops from the inner courtyard? We almost had those thieves!” Hu Yifei, one of Ma San’s earliest followers from the martial world, protested angrily. He knew this wasn’t just a beheading offense—it was a crime that could wipe out nine generations!

“Exactly, sir! I’m a rough man, but I know the Red Lotus Order is not to be trifled with—their methods are eerie and terrifying. Some say their master wields sorcery!” Ma San’s right-hand man, Zhou Shuai Qian Si, rubbed his bald head, clearly uneasy.

“Sir, please reconsider!” the strategist pleaded.

“Enough! My mind is made up. Take ten of my best men and follow me to the designated spot in the inner garden to retrieve the third letter—no one else is to follow!” Ma San seemed a volcano on the verge of eruption, his face twisted with rage.

“Sir…”

“I’ll make that traitor regret this day…”