Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 31 It Came

Jiang Xun suddenly lost interest in watching any longer and turned to leave the square.

He bought the medicine, returned to Willow Lane, pushed open the courtyard gate, and found Liu Qing squatting in the yard sunbathing, squinting like an old cat.

"Why are you only just getting back?" Liu Qing asked lazily, without even lifting her eyelids.

Jiang Xun recounted the events at the arena.

After listening, Liu Qing nodded.

"I've heard of Huang Hu. He calls himself the Guardian of the Sword. After the Sword God died, he's been wandering around the martial world under this name. It sounds a lot like a street performer."

Jiang Xun scratched his head: "Do you think this old man is a fraud?"

"How would I know?" Liu Qing glanced at him sideways, her gaze probing. "You want to compete for the title of Sword God's successor?"

Jiang Xun shook his head, decisively.

"In no mood."

Liu Qing raised an eyebrow: "Why?"

Jiang Xun thought for a moment.

"I'm not aiming to be the best in the world, so why bother competing for that?"

Liu Qing smiled.

"You're quite clear-headed, kid."

He stood up and patted Jiang Xun on the shoulder.

"It's better not to compete. The title of Sword God's successor sounds glamorous, but it's actually very troublesome. Whoever gets it will become a target, being watched every day."

He walked into the house, but after taking two steps, he turned back.

"But it's good for you to take a closer look at their moves and techniques. That way, you'll know what to do if you run into them in the future."

Jiang Xun nodded, agreeing with his master's words.

The next few days passed uneventfully.

That morning, he went out to buy medicine as usual. When he reached the door of his usual pharmacy, he suddenly stopped.

A few more people appeared outside the shop.

One person was squatting in the corner sunbathing, but his eyes kept glancing into the shop.

A man stood by the tea stall across the street, holding a bowl of tea, but hadn't taken a sip for a long time; the tea had gone cold.

There was another person who pretended to watch the street performers, but his eyes kept darting over this side.

Jiang Xun felt a pang of anxiety, but he didn't show it on his face. He continued walking forward, passing by the entrance of the pharmacy, but didn't go in.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, as if he were just passing by.

He finally let out a long breath after turning the corner.

Officials.

They've tracked them down here.

Jiang Xun walked around two streets and went to several remote pharmacies to buy all the medicine.

On the way back, I deliberately took a long detour to make sure no one was following me before returning to Willow Lane.

After listening to his description, Liu Qing remained silent for a while, then suddenly smiled.

"Not bad, kid." He looked at Jiang Xun with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I've honed my eyesight over the past few decades, and you've already got it in half a month."

Jiang Xun scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "It's just... I've stolen too many things in the past, so I've seen too much of it."

"Stealing a lot of things takes skill." Liu Qing's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You're right, those people are most likely government officials."

Jiang Xun's heart tightened: "Is it here for you?"

"It's pretty much a done deal." Liu Qing sighed. "Those golden-feathered guards with their keen senses really did catch up with us. I'm already incredibly lucky that my 'golden cicada shedding its skin' trick managed to fool them for a month."

"What do we do then?" Jiang Xun asked, a little panicked. "Should we run?"

"Run?" Liu Qing shook her head. "If we run now, we'll just run right into their arms."

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Don't go out for the next few days. How many days' worth of medicine do you have?"

"Enough for three days."

"Three days it is." Liu Qing opened her eyes, her gaze calm. "After these three days, we'll think of something else."

Jiang Xun nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

His mind was in turmoil, but seeing Liu Qing's calm demeanor made him feel inexplicably at ease.

For the next three days, Jiang Xun really didn't go out.

During the day, I stay indoors, looking at sword manuals, spacing out, and sleeping.

In the evening, I listened to Liu Qing talk about things in the martial arts world—which sect was the most hypocritical, which master was the worst, and which place had the most beautiful girls.

Liu Qing spoke with great enthusiasm, while Jiang Xun listened with great interest.

But every time he spoke, Liu Qing would suddenly stop and listen intently to what was happening outside.

After listening for a while, he continued talking as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Xun knew that he was listening to see if anyone was watching him from outside.

On the morning of the fourth day, Jiang Xun could no longer hold back.

"The medicine is gone," he said to Liu Qing. "I have to go out for a bit."

Liu Qing looked at his wound and thought that after a few more dressing changes, it should heal completely.

He thought for a moment and nodded: "You can go, but be careful. Take a different route, don't take the usual ones."

Jiang Xun responded and went out the door.

Instead of going through the main gate, he climbed over the wall to the neighboring courtyard, and then went around to another alley through the back gate of the neighboring courtyard.

This was something he had observed a few days ago—the thief had taught him: always have a way out.

Everything on the street was as usual.

There were vendors selling vegetables, fabric, and steamed buns; people came and went.

Jiang Xun mingled in the crowd, but his eyes darted around.

As he walked past his usual pharmacy, he deliberately slowed his pace—the two people at the door were still there, in a different pose, but still there.

He switched to another company.

This small pharmacy is located in a secluded alley, and there are usually not many people there.

Jiang Xun went inside, bought the medicine, paid for it, and put it in his pocket.

When he came out, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

There was another person at the alley entrance. He was squatting there, head down, as if sunbathing.

But Jiang Xun noticed that the man's eyes were glancing in their direction.

Jiang Xun didn't stop, and continued walking forward at a moderate pace, his face expressionless.

As he walked past the alley entrance, he glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye—the man had stood up.

Jiang Xun's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.

Turning the corner, he went straight into a narrower alley, winding his way through several turns, and finally emerged through a dog hole into another street.

No one followed behind.

He breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and strode towards Willow Lane.

Back in the courtyard, after closing the door, he told Liu Qing about what had happened that day.

After listening, Liu Qing remained silent for a long time.

He didn't speak until Jiang Xun thought he had fallen asleep.

"Kid, listen to me." Liu Qing's voice was calm, unnaturally so. "We might not be able to leave."

Jiang Xun's heart sank: "What do you mean?"

Liu Qing pointed outside: "When you came back just now, did you notice the area around this house?"

Jiang Xun thought for a moment, then his expression changed.

"Outside..." He swallowed hard, "it seems there are two more vegetable vendors."

"It's not two," Liu Qing shook her head, "there are seven or eight more."

Jiang Xun looked regretful: "It's all my fault."

"It's not your fault," Liu Qing comforted him. "Yesterday, I noticed the footsteps outside sounded strange. Even if you hadn't gone out, they would have found their way here sooner or later."

Jiang Xun's heart pounded.

Liu Qing looked at him and suddenly laughed: "What, scared?"

Jiang Xun swallowed hard but didn't say anything.

"It's normal to be afraid," Liu Qing sighed. "If I were you, I'd be afraid too. But being afraid is useless."

He slowly stood up, supported himself on the ground, walked to the door, and peeked out through the crack.

In the sunlight, several figures could be vaguely seen outside the house, moving around furtively.

"The Golden Feather Guards," Liu Qing said softly, "they arrived very quickly."

He turned around and looked at Jiang Xun.

"Kid, remember what I'm about to say."

Jiang Xun nodded.

"Don't move before dawn tomorrow. No matter what happens outside, don't come out."

"And what about you?"

"Me?" Liu Qing smiled. "I'll just play along with them."

Jiang Xun opened his mouth as if to say something, but Liu Qing raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Stop talking nonsense. You're no help, you'll only be a burden. Just stay put and wait until dawn, then we'll find a chance to run away."

Jiang Xun lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment.

When he looked up again, his eyes were very clear.

"Master, if the Golden Feather Guards discover you're missing, will they let me go?"

Liu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then honestly replied, "No."

Jiang Xun nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Then you can't leave me behind."

Liu Qing stared at him for a moment, her brow twitching slightly.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Jiang Xun dusted off his bottom and stood up.

"I have a solution."