Chapter 26: Striking Under the Cover of Night—A Living Nightmare

Wu Qinglin felt that this was only because she was his own sister; if it had been anyone else, he would have balled them up into a bundle and kicked them off to stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon.

Yet Wu Tan was insistent on giving Huo Wenshan a sound beating as a greeting before heading to the Huo residence. Such an earnest request was simply impossible to refuse—though—

Wu Tan, crouched by the wall, looked far too excited, her posture betraying her lack of experience. Her impatience soon had her inching forward, betraying her hiding spot.

Wu Qinglin grabbed her by the collar and hauled her back.

Wu Tan, displeased, shot him a glare. “What are you doing?”

Wu Qinglin, a man of considerable patience, nearly rolled his eyes. He muttered, “You’ve given yourself away…”

Wu Tan blinked, glancing down at her feet, about to retort. But just then, in the distance, a sedan chair turned the street corner, carried by four porters, bobbing its way toward them.

Wu Tan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Wu Qinglin, swift and decisive, pulled her behind him. “Don’t move yet.”

This was Wu Tan’s first time assaulting anyone; knowing her inexperience, she obediently held her breath and shrank behind Wu Qinglin, eager to learn.

He pressed himself to the wall, letting the shadows conceal him.

The sedan chair drew closer—it was indeed from the Huo family—but Wu Qinglin made no move.

Even after the sedan and its bearers had passed the mouth of their alley, Wu Tan grew anxious. She reached out to tug at his robe, but even as she did, Wu Qinglin darted out like an arrow.

His movements, honed on the battlefield, were swift and precise. He leapt forward, and before the bearers could react, seized the shoulders of the two rear porters and flung them aside.

The street was not narrow, and the two porters flew to the side like sacks of straw, slamming heavily into the courtyard walls with a pair of dull thuds. They didn’t even manage to cry out before their eyes rolled back and they slipped into unconsciousness.

Almost as their bodies hit the ground, Huo Wenshan’s startled cry came from inside the sedan. With the rear support lost, the sedan crashed to the ground with a bang.

The front two porters, their hands numbed from the jolt, let go of the sedan and only now realized something was amiss. But before they could turn, Wu Qinglin was upon them, his hands moving in a blur, striking them with the edge of his palms and sending them sprawling to the ground.

Every movement was seamless, precise, as fluid as water—an epic display of hand-to-hand combat.

Xiao Lingzi watched, dumbfounded, dazzled by the display. Wu Tan, on the other hand, was exhilarated, her blood racing with excitement.

The sedan slammed to the ground, rocking violently. Within, Huo Wenshan let out two more pained cries, thoroughly dazed and battered, all dignity forgotten as he tumbled out, scrambling for escape.

Inside, it was pitch black—he’d been dozing, never expecting such disaster. As he pulled aside the sedan curtain and caught a glimpse of daylight, Wu Qinglin ripped the curtain free, and, with a deft twist, wrapped it tightly around Huo Wenshan’s head, cutting off all light and air.

By now, Wu Tan, who could wait no longer, charged forward with a wooden club in hand.

She wasted no words, swinging with all her might. The first blow landed squarely on Huo Wenshan’s spine.

Though she was just a young girl, and not particularly strong, Huo Wenshan was a pampered scholar with little fortitude. The blow sent him sprawling face-first to the ground, the heavy curtain binding his head so tightly he couldn’t even cry out for help—only a muffled grunt escaped before he collapsed, as limp as a dead dog.

Wu Qinglin stepped back, leaving Wu Tan to her work.

Huo Wenshan was a court official and a frail scholar; a beating from Wu Tan was just venting her anger, but if Wu Qinglin took matters into his own hands, the man might not survive the day.

Wu Tan, however, showed no mercy, swinging a club as thick as her forearm down upon the writhing Huo Wenshan, each strike fierce and unrelenting. Yet, even in her wildness, she had her limits—she avoided his head, knowing that a death here in the capital, so close to the emperor, would bring imperial scrutiny. So while she beat him mercilessly, she was careful not to kill.

The flurry of blows left Huo Wenshan sprawled on the ground, unable to move. Wu Qinglin, seeing the job done, stepped forward and caught Wu Tan’s wrist, signaling her to stop.

Wu Tan, exhausted and drenched in sweat, tossed the club aside. Still unsatisfied, she kicked Huo Wenshan’s head twice before turning to leave with Wu Qinglin.

Mu Song, Qinglin’s older attendant and battlefield companion, was not present today; Xiao Lingzi, a servant boy of similar age to Wu Tan, was left to tag along.

Lingering at the scene was unwise. Wu Qinglin, seeing Xiao Lingzi still gaping in shock, quickly fetched the carriage, bundled both Wu Tan and Xiao Lingzi inside, and drove away.

They were not far from the Huo residence; given Huo Wenshan’s battered state, it would take him at least half an hour to cry for help and be rescued.

Wu Qinglin drove straight for the Huo residence, heading for the alley by the back gate.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Lingzi wiped the sweat from his brow, looking at his young mistress with a complex gaze before finally blurting out the sincerest words of admiration he could muster: “Second Miss, does your hand hurt?”

The third young lady must be insane to dare oppose Second Miss all these years!

But on second thought, perhaps the third young lady was the truly admirable one, to have survived so long in one piece.

As Xiao Lingzi’s thoughts raced, Wu Qinglin reined in the horses and jumped down.

Wu Tan massaged her aching arm, then lifted the curtain and hopped out after him.

Wu Qinglin looked at the Huo residence’s tightly closed gate. “Huo Yunhua is a woman of the inner chambers—she may not appear easily…” He wouldn’t mind dragging her out himself…

“Brother, you’re not thinking of charming her out with your looks, are you? Even if you’re willing to make the sacrifice, I’m not about to let Huo Yunhua take advantage!” Wu Tan grinned, darted ahead before he could glower, and ran up to bang on the gate. “Leave it to me! I can lure her out!”

Xiao Lingzi was skeptical, but Wu Qinglin was unconcerned—this girl always had her tricks, and today, she had come prepared.

The loud banging soon brought someone to the door—a matronly woman peered out. After a brief exchange, the woman gently closed the door and went back inside.

Wu Tan came down the steps, confidence radiating from her. “It’s settled. She’ll be out in a moment!”

Xiao Lingzi, in awe of his mistress, sidled up to ask for advice. “Second Miss, what did you say to the gatekeeper just now?”

Wu Tan brushed him aside, then vaulted up onto the carriage, swinging her legs leisurely as she waited.

The Huo residence was a four-courtyard compound, not small by any means. Yet Huo Yunhua appeared sooner than expected, and with remarkable cooperation, bringing only her personal maid.

The alley was dim, the only light coming from two lanterns hung under the Huo residence eaves. Wu Qinglin rarely visited in recent years, and today wore only a plain cotton robe. Huo Yunhua, peering out, took him for a lowly guard and paid him no mind, hurrying down the steps toward the waiting carriage.

Wu Tan, too, kept her head down, hiding her face.

“Excuse me—” Huo Yunhua began politely as she drew near, only for Wu Tan to suddenly look up, flashing her a wicked grin.

It was a smile straight out of a nightmare.

Huo Yunhua’s face went white as a sheet.