"Who ate shit? What’s wrong with your eyes?" Su Jin said with disgust. "That was dried meat I smuggled in. No one gave me special treatment when I arrived."
"I see..." Du Wenyan lowered his head. "I’m sorry. I misunderstood."
"Enough of that. Let’s make a plan."
"Wait. If you trust me, will you follow my plan?" Du Wenyan asked.
"Tell me first."
"Lu Mingxuan and I have been at odds for a long time. He didn’t dare act while Shen Yufeng was here."
"I was drinking with friends at Drunken Flower House tonight when Lu Mingxuan came uninvited, clearly looking for me. I made arrangements as soon as he appeared."
"I sent a servant to ask friends to leave silver and travel papers outside the south gate. I’ve also paid the night guards there to let us through."
"Jiuzhao City is north, but people know I want to go there. They’ll guess where to look."
"Going south means a detour, but it will hide our trail. The land there is complicated too, which will help if we’re pursued."
Du Wenyan lowered his voice. "Getting out of the cell will be easy, and the search should be limited. The trouble is the curfew. Xuanjia soldiers and Jiantian Guards from Tanyu Temple patrol the city. We must avoid them."
"After we leave, we’ll take different routes south. If one is delayed, the other can wait in a house near the south gate. What do you think?"
Su Jin smiled. "And if you get there first and leave me behind?"
"Sometimes you have to trust someone," Du Wenyan said.
"Even if I betrayed you, you’d lose little. With your abilities, you might even be recruited by the Xuanjia Army if they catch you over a little drinking and an escape."
"Aren’t you worried they’ll catch you?" Su Jin asked.
"I don’t expect that to be hard." Du Wenyan reached behind himself and produced two small pellets. "I have a powder that will put people to sleep. Even a strong opponent will be held up for a moment."
"My dagger can also cut through the wood quietly."
"Thorough and honest." Su Jin nodded. "Let’s wait until it’s quieter, then go."
At last, something had gone right. Du Wenyan seemed dependable.
Once out, Su Jin would follow his original plan and head straight for the north gate.
The fool running south could draw the pursuers away.
Su Jin was not going to travel with a man Lu Mingxuan had marked.
....
About an hour later, only snores could be heard in the prison.
Su Jin put his ring back on and made a final check.
Every prisoner he could see was asleep.
He exchanged a look with Du Wenyan, and they approached the bars.
Du Wenyan thrust his dagger into the wooden bars. It cut through silently.
After a few strokes up and down, the wood loosened.
He laid it gently on the floor. The gap was wide enough for both of them.
Su Jin slipped out first and ran toward the exit.
But after only two steps, Du Wenyan’s footsteps began to recede in the other direction.
Su Jin looked back, his scalp prickling.
Clang! A loud metallic sound rang through the prison.
Du Wenyan had run deeper inside and cut the chain on the inner gate with his dagger.
Su Jin understood at once.
Du Wenyan had lied. He had not come to escape. He had come to break someone out.
The guards’ footsteps were already close.
Su Jin ran forward and took out his pepper spray.
Three jailers appeared. He sprayed them full in the face.
Before they could cry out, he struck again.
Three blows to their necks knocked them unconscious—or perhaps killed them.
He had no time to find out. He glanced back.
Deeper inside, Du Wenyan threw his powder pellets. White smoke spread, and the inner guards swayed.
He had nerve.
At least the sleep powder was real.
One fallen guard struggled to take something from his clothes and pull what looked like a fuse.
Perhaps it was a way to call for help.
Su Jin drew his silver gun and shot him dead.
Then he vanished from the prison like the wind.
The strange gunshot startled Du Wenyan. He stared at the dead guard with the tube, then at the empty corridor.
He recovered and called, "Yunlian, where are you?"
"Brother! I’m here!"
...
"Senior Brother, why the long face? Du Wenyan is locked up, isn’t he?"
Lu Mingxuan looked irritated. "Do you think I’m upset about him? Am I that petty?"
"I’ve just been certified as a Five-Vein practitioner, and Shen Yufeng has gone off. Yet people still say I’m not his equal. He got to ride the Wind Demon Kirin before I ever did. Why?"
"He must be avoiding you," his junior brother said with a grin, holding a lantern. "It’s rare that you patrol with me. Why not have a drink afterward? My treat."
"No. You earn a pittance and spend it all on drinking and women. Save some money," Lu Mingxuan scolded.
"All right. What about Du Wenyan? Aren’t you going to do anything to him?"
"I can’t be bothered. Let him eat prison slop for two months, then do as he pleases. When will Shen Yufeng come back? I need to test myself against him."
"Not for at least five years... Senior Brother! Someone’s there, and he’s fast!" His junior brother ran after the figure with his lantern.
Lu Mingxuan smiled and overtook him in an instant.
"Just in time. Sneaking around like that, it must be a Suzai. You’re not strong enough; stay back!"
He gave chase, but the shadow ahead was fast and kept changing direction. It was even a little faster than he was.
Unable to catch up, Lu Mingxuan formed a hand sign.
He brought his palms together, and bright light burst between them.
His hands became tiger claws as he sent a Mystic Light Technique toward the figure’s back.
Su Jin sensed a strong pursuer behind him. Carrying his bow, arrows, and rope, he was sweating as he pushed the doubling ability to its limit.
A brilliant ball of light passed his shoulder and burst before his eyes.
Su Jin could not see. His steps slowed.
Lu Mingxuan seized the moment and leaped ahead of him.
"Ha! A little Suzai... Wait, why are you a man? You look familiar." Lu Mingxuan stared.
"You again..." Su Jin stopped and lowered the hand shielding his eyes, anger showing on his face.
"You can see already after my Mystic Light Technique? Who are you? Where have I seen you?"
"Mystic Light Technique, is it?" Su Jin breathed in and took something from his ring, pointing it at Lu Mingxuan.
"You want to play magic with me? You’re not ready!"
Lu Mingxuan leaped back, but it was too late.
A forty-thousand-lumen flashlight switched to strobe mode.
"Aah! My eyes!"
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