Chapter 87: Ji Ying Attacked
The charcoal fire had already warmed the room ahead of time.
A meal that was complete in color, aroma, and taste was also laid out on the desk.
Even if the post station was ever so rudimentary, now that they knew the Inspector would pass through here, the nearby government would do their utmost dutifully.
Ji Ying was accustomed to such things. He took off his cloak but did not go to eat. Instead, he sat down in front of the desk.
His close attendant hurriedly said, “Lord Ji, eat first. You’ve been traveling all day.”
Ji Ying took out the letter that the postmaster had just given him, his expression complex. “Let’s read the letter first.”
Family letters were something that made one unable to resist reading them right away. The close attendant was about to smile and tease a bit when he suddenly saw the seal on the letter. His expression froze, and he said in a low voice, “Why did the Marquis write a letter?”
To avoid suspicion, the Marquis rarely associated with Ji Ying. If there was something, it was conveyed by word of mouth, leaving no written record.
What was this about? What big event had happened?
The close attendant’s gaze turned to the letter.
A thin sheet of paper.
Ji Ying’s brows knitted. “It doesn’t say.”
His gaze looked at the four words on the letter paper.
Return to the capital city immediately.
The handwriting was vigorous and powerful; it was indeed Marquis Yichun’s script.
……
……
The post station, which had just quieted down, became lively again.
“Lord Ji, why not wait until dawn to leave?” the postmaster advised, then looked up at the sky. “The snow has already started falling.”
Ji Ying had already mounted his horse. He pulled up his hood and looked up at the night sky, feeling the cold snow particles falling. He lowered his head to look at the postmaster. “Snow is no problem; it won’t affect the journey.” He added, “I’ve already sent my attendants to inform the prefectural government so they won’t wait in vain.”
The postmaster hurriedly said, “Lord Ji, rest assured. I will personally go tell the prefect. You have urgent family matters and are returning to the capital.”
Ji Ying nodded without saying more. He wrapped his hat and cloak tightly and urged his horse forward. Under the escort of dozens of soldiers, accompanied by blazing torches, he galloped into the night.
The postmaster led the postmen standing at the door, watching the procession like a fiery snake gradually recede into the distance.
“Lord Ji’s mother is dying?” one postman said, his expression tinged with some joy. “Great, after this trip back, he won’t return for a while, and our prefect won’t have to live in fear welcoming inspections.”
The postmaster raised his hand and smacked the back of his head.
“What nonsense! Be more reserved!” he cursed, but then his own face couldn’t help but break into a grin. He kicked the postman again. “Warm up the wine and food. It’s a snowy night with nothing to do; let’s relax too.”
The postman chuckled and agreed, happily going off.
…….
…….
The night grew darker, and the snow particles turned into snowflakes, dancing wildly in the sky.
But it truly did not affect the journey. The ground as far as the eye could see was a blanket of white, shimmering brilliantly under the torchlight.
“Lord Ji, once we cross this ridgeline, there is an abandoned temple,” a soldier said beside Ji Ying. “Would Lord Ji like to rest a moment?”
Ji Ying shook his head. “We just changed to fresh post horses. Continue onward until the next post station.”
The soldier agreed. Just as he was about to urge his horse forward, the corner of his eye caught a flash of light amid the swirling snowflakes.
What…
The thought flashed subconsciously, and the light reached him with a buzz, piercing through his throat.
Ji Ying’s consciousness stalled for an instant. The soldier falling from his horse, the dancing snowflakes, the burning torches—all seemed to slow down until the next moment, when someone held him and flipped him off the horse.
Amid the spinning world, his consciousness recovered, and noisy shouts filled his ears.
“Careful—”
“Protect Lord Ji—”
……
…….
Ji Ying lay prone on the ground. The soldiers around him raised their shields and armor, blocking the arrows coming from the wind and snow, but they could not block the thundering hooves, the shouts, and the clash of weapons.
What was happening?
Who were these people?
He had no time to think deeply; the shields protecting him began to waver.
“Take Lord Ji and go—”
“There are too many of them—”
Ji Ying was helped up by his close attendant. Several soldiers held up shields and armor, protecting him as they retreated in one direction.
Torches fell to the ground, trampled by hooves and footsteps. Ji Ying’s vision was blurry, but he could see soldiers lying on the ground and some men in black.
More and more soldiers fell, while men in black poured in from the dark night like snowflakes.
A gap was torn in the encircling shields.
Accompanied by a fierce sword gleam, the close attendant protecting him from behind let out a miserable scream and fell to the ground.
Ji Ying cried out in pain, calling his close attendant’s name. In the next moment, a saber gleam came at him from the front.
Ji Ying instinctively raised his long sword.
Clang.
The long sword held off the long saber.
The attacking man in black did not advance further. His eyes bulged wide on his black cloth-wrapped face, then he gripped his saber and toppled over.
An axe was embedded in his chest.
Ji Ying was slightly stunned, looking at the axe. He subconsciously turned his head and saw another group of riders charging over amid the heavy snow.
These people were also dressed in black, but they were not charging at the soldiers—they were lunging at the previous men in black.
“Reinforcements!”
“Kill—”
Someone had come to rescue him? Ji Ying was dazed. In the next moment, something struck his head, his vision went black, and he fell gripping his sword.
……
…….
“Lord Ji…”
“Lord Ji…”
The calling voice came close then far. Ji Ying only felt his head splitting with pain. Had he overslept?
Moreover, it seemed he had a terrible dream—dreaming that he received a letter from Marquis Yichun, left the post station, encountered an assassination, his close attendant died, and he…
Ji Ying abruptly opened his eyes.
His vision swam. Seven or eight people surrounded him, their faces blurred, and they burst into cheers simultaneously.
“He’s awake!”
“He’s not dead!”
“That’s great!”
“If he died, how would we explain it to the Young Master!”
Noisy voices rang in his ears. Ji Ying felt dizzy and disoriented. Was he dreaming now, or had the previous events been a dream?
In the next moment, a voice said, “Master Hong is here.” The noisy voices and bobbing heads around him instantly receded.
Ji Ying’s consciousness sharpened further. Clear footsteps sounded in his ears, and a clear face appeared in his vision.
This was a man in his forties with a fair and kindly face.
“Lord Ji,” he said with a cheerful smile. “You’re awake?”
Ji Ying looked at him, his gaze shifting to take in the surroundings. He found himself lying in a cave.
“Lord Ji, do you still remember what happened?” the man asked again.
Ji Ying’s gaze turned back to him and he slowly nodded. As he did, his face twisted again, and he hissed, raising his hand to his head.
The man had already steadied him first. “Lord Ji, be careful. You were hit on the head by a shield.”
……
……
He had only been struck on the head, but almost everyone else was dead.
Ji Ying leaned on his cane and slowly walked out of the cave. The snow had stopped; it was nearing dusk. The mountain forest covered in heavy snow resembled an ink painting.
Ji Ying had no mind to appreciate the scenery. His gaze turned to the ground, where rows of corpses were laid out. Their disheveled robes and mangled, bloodied flesh looked hideous, showing how terrifying the slaughter that night had been.
Ji Ying saw the soldiers and close attendant who had guarded him. He walked over, propped on his cane, and half-knelt down, his expression filled with grief and anger.
“Lord Ji, condolences,” the man said. “Can you identify any of these attackers?”
Ji Ying suppressed his sorrow and walked to the other side where the corpses of the men in black were laid.
The black cloths covering their faces had been pulled off, but…
Ji Ying’s gaze swept over them, and he slowly shook his head. “Since they came to assassinate me, they surely wouldn’t be recognizable to me.”
The man nodded. “We’ve checked too. These people have no marks revealing their identities.”
Ji Ying slightly lowered his eyes, then looked at him. “May I ask, do I have any surviving soldiers left?”
He didn’t know the attacking men in black and couldn’t tell anything, but with one glance earlier, he knew the number of his soldiers didn’t match.
The man said, “We arrived in time. Ten of your guards survived.” At this, he smiled. “Lord Ji needn’t worry; we’ve arranged for them separately.”
Ji Ying looked at him. “May I ask the hero’s esteemed name? When I return to the government office, I will properly repay you all.”
The man smiled again. “We dare not claim the title of heroes. We’re hunters on this mountain. We happened to encounter bandits committing violence and drew our blades to help out of righteous indignation.”
Hunters. Ji Ying looked at the man, then at the men sitting or standing around—various builds, appearances, and ages, dressed casually. But as his gaze swept over them, each had sharp eyes…
Hunters.
What hunters could wipe out a group of dead men?
Moreover, what hunters would leave their homes comfortably on a snowy midnight to coincidentally encounter a crime?
Those men in black wouldn’t have come to kill him for no reason, nor would these hunters save him without cause.
Ji Ying suddenly recalled a sentence he heard right after waking.
“Your Young Master is also a hunter?” he suddenly asked.
The man laughed heartily. “To tell Lord Ji the truth, our Young Master once personally witnessed you interrogating cases, catching criminals, eliminating violence, and bringing peace. He was deeply impressed and instructed us to protect upright officials like you, lest you be harmed.”
Personally witnessed him interrogating cases, catching criminals, eliminating violence, and bringing peace? Ji Ying frowned. Had he? This was just casually made-up lies, wasn’t it?
“Also,” the man looked at him and smiled faintly, “Lord Ji cannot return to the government office for now. You must stay with us for a while.”
Stay? Ji Ying’s face turned ashen. It should be called imprisonment.
