Fish Meat – Chapter 223
by Little PandaThe First Year of Shunde
Jointly Chasing The Lost Deer (19)
Ze County was a remote minor county in Julu Commandery. As night fell, scattered torches lit the town. The Wei family’s six thousand troops could not all be garrisoned within the town; most remained outside. However, Ze County was very small. If any sudden situation arose, the troops stationed outside could swiftly surround the town and block all gates. When Wei Tingxu entered the town, she brought many soldiers, and was also protected by the Wei family’s customary secret guards. Taking her life at close range was unlikely.
But Yao Zhaoyi was a master assassin. As long as she was given a safe, quiet, undisturbed environment, no one within a hundred paces could evade her arrow.
…No, one person had evaded it.
Zhen Wenjun.
This Zhen Wenjun had grown up in Qi County of Suichuan as a flower gardener’s daughter. She was originally the daughter of Ruan family’s Ah Qiong and had survived alone in chaotic times. Now, holding the Tiger Tally, she had become a regional hegemon1, and had even dodged Yao Zhaoyi’s arrow, which had been aimed with absolute certainty. Previously, when Yao Zhaoyi investigated this person, she had become extremely curious about her—curious about what kind of person Zhen Wenjun truly was, how she could have survived under the Wei family’s exploitation to this day, not only preserving her life but also rising to dominate a region, even making a fortune2 amidst the internal turmoil. Truly a remarkable individual.
Yao Zhaoyi had only seen Zhen Wenjun from afar once. Even though her arrow had drawn Zhen Wenjun’s blood, she had only seen the woman’s appearance through portraits. In the portrait, Zhen Wenjun had long eyebrows, phoenix eyes, a high nose, and thin lips, blending the features of the Yu people and the Hu people—exceptionally handsome and elegant.
Yao Zhaoyi found it hard to believe Heaven favored Zhen Wenjun so much, giving her both a clever mind and a fine appearance3. If she could capture this person one day, she would definitely study her thoroughly.
Her thoughts shifted back from Zhen Wenjun. Yao Zhaoyi had already changed into plain coarse clothes, disguised as a common resident of Ze County, and presented a forged household registration token4 to enter the town. As soon as she entered, she found a beggar, gave him one tael5 of silver, and told him to set fire to the Anfu Inn6 once the Chou hour7 arrived.
Anfu Inn was precisely where Wei Tingxu was staying. After taking the silver, the beggar immediately went to prepare, while Yao Zhaoyi circled the inn, found the spot with the best view, quietly climbed onto the branch of a tree on a small slope, and waited there.
The Chou hour was generally when people slept most soundly and were least guarded. If Wei Tingxu could be burned to death in the inn, that would naturally be best, saving effort. If she ran out, what awaited her was this fatal arrow.
As the largest inn in Ze County, Anfu Inn kept torches lit even at night to attract business. Yao Zhaoyi waited in the tree for a full shichen8, remaining perfectly still9, revealing no trace10.
Soon, the Chou hour arrived. The fire and thick smoke set by the beggar billowed around the inn. The sounds of gongs and shouts pierced the night’s silence. Guests inside the inn, disheveled and panic-stricken11, didn’t even have time to dress properly, rushing outside barefoot.
Yao Zhaoyi watched everyone intently. Since childhood, she had been known in Nanya for her “Eagle Eye”; her vision was extraordinary. The chaotic crowd in the inn appeared as distinct pictures in her eyes, every figure within her surveillance. She hadn’t seen Zhen Wenjun or Wei Tingxu up close, but she didn’t need to see their faces clearly. Wei Tingxu had difficulty walking; even if not in a four-wheeled cart, she would surely be surrounded by guards12. As long as she found such a woman, one arrow through the brain would suffice.
Gazing at the surging crowd, Yao Zhaoyi drew her bow taut.
When she heard the shouts of “Fire!”13, Wei Tingxu had actually just been feeling drowsy. Suddenly awakened by the shouts and hurried footsteps, the guards at her door hesitated to barge in directly, instead pounding hard on the door!
“Young lady! Young lady, wake up quickly! There’s a fire!”
Wei Tingxu quickly dressed. Her legs were already able to walk. As she opened the door and stepped out, she choked on a mouthful of thick smoke, coughing incessantly.
Guards protected her as they rushed downstairs. As they passed a wooden pillar, a dark shadow suddenly flashed through the firelight reflected on it. Before she could think clearly, a guard abruptly pushed her.
Wei Tingxu was pushed to the ground. Looking back, she saw an arrow already embedded in the guard’s shoulder.
“There’s an assassin!”
“Escort the young lady away!”
Yao Zhaoyi secretly clicked her tongue (“Tsk!”) and immediately drew her bow again. But the guard hit by the arrow couldn’t get up. Wei Tingxu looked back and saw his contorted expression; he was suddenly shivering, then tearing at his clothes.
“The arrow is poisoned, everyone be careful!” Wei Tingxu warned the crowd.
Yao Zhaoyi did not loose arrows lightly. Both the resilient arrows themselves and the poison smeared on them were extremely precious. She had to ensure her shots never missed14.
The Wei family members were like ants on a hot pan15. Though they knew someone was shooting arrows, they didn’t know where they came from. The panicked crowd congested the escape route, making it difficult for them to move. Meanwhile, Yao Zhaoyi had already nocked another arrow.
Yao Zhaoyi’s gaze passed between the arrow’s fletching, aiming at Wei Tingxu.
This was the shot.
Just as Yao Zhaoyi was about to release the arrow, an icy sensation suddenly closing in on her neck made the hairs all over her body stand on end.
In just an instant, relying on her instinct for danger, she lunged to the left, falling from the tree. Grabbing a lower branch with one hand, she swung herself around in a half-turn, using the momentum of her body swinging through the air to leap forward, landing in the bushes below the tree.
After landing and rolling twice, Yao Zhaoyi quickly got to her feet and sprinted away silently.
Bow in hand, quiver on her back, Yao Zhaoyi ran hunched over, swift as the wind16, soon reaching an area untouched by the firelight. Her qinggong was exceptional; as she sped past, only a light breeze remained. The winter night’s moon was hidden by dark clouds, and the wind rustling through the grass created sounds that could greatly interfere with a pursuer, greatly favoring her.
Yao Zhaoyi decided to stop advancing and instead circle around behind, maintain distance, and catch her opponent off guard.
Who knew that just as she halted, the dark figure approached like lightning, as if possessing an extra pair of eyes capable of seeing in the dark, perceiving her clearly.
Having no choice, Yao Zhaoyi could only run again. From the bushes to the curfew-enforced streets, from the streets to the western hills covered in grave mounds, Yao Zhaoyi, despite her outstanding qinggong, was already panting for breath. The dark figure behind her seemed tireless, still in hot pursuit. She dared not slow down; slowing even slightly might mean capture.
On this winter night, the front of her clothes was soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to her skin. The cold wind blew, making each breath a searing pain. Since earlier, her neck had been throbbing with pain and itchiness. Running, Yao Zhaoyi touched it—it was blood, which had long since soaked her clothes.
The ambusher’s movements were extremely fast and incredibly stealthy. She hadn’t even seen the weapon, yet when the fingertips were still an inch17 from her neck as she escaped, she had still been cut, bleeding this much. If she had been truly slashed, she would likely be dead under the tree by now, her throat slit.
Who exactly was chasing her? To have such endurance!
As she flew into the grave mound hills, three words suddenly appeared in Yao Zhaoyi’s mind—
Zhen Wenjun.
The graveyard hills seemed even more desolate in winter. Zhen Wenjun abruptly stopped her pursuit of the assassin.
The wind whistled between rows of toppled stone tablets. It was clear this place had been abandoned; no one had come here for a long time. The inscriptions on most tablets were blurred and illegible. Offerings, candlesticks, and similar items were scattered everywhere, their original forms unrecognizable. With every step, she trod on either hard iron objects or soft, decaying unknown matter.
Her eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, could distinguish the stone tablets and vaguely make out nearby objects, but the person she was tracking had vanished. If the person who shot arrows from the tree hid behind any tablet, she would have difficulty finding them. There were so many haphazardly placed tablets here, and no light source; flushing the assassin out would be hard. Moreover, she was tall, making her a large target in the open. If that person shot another arrow from the shadows, it would be almost impossible to defend against.
Zhen Wenjun wasn’t even breathing heavily after running such a long distance, thanks to her usual rigorous training. She simply leaned her back against a tombstone, monitoring all movement around her. As long as the assassin moved, she would surely detect it. If they didn’t move, once dawn broke, there would be nowhere to hide.
She didn’t need to attack; she just had to wait for her prey to reveal itself18.
Zizhuo truly had divine foresight19, predicting this person would launch a sneak attack in Ze County. Wei Tingxu had used herself as bait to lure the “hunter” out, while Zhen Wenjun secretly followed behind Wei Tingxu. Once someone attempted assassination, she, the hidden oriole20, would immediately act. Although somewhat dangerous for Wei Tingxu, compared to the danger, Wei Tingxu more desperately wanted to root out the Yao family member who killed Xiaohua and many loyal members of the Wei family.
Now, that Yao family member was right here. Zhen Wenjun didn’t blink, watching to see how long this person could endure.
Gusts of cold wind battered Yao Zhaoyi. The blood-soaked front of her clothes had frozen solid. She hadn’t dared release the arrow in her hand for a moment, her nerves stretched taut, remaining vigilant while also searching for the best opportunity to escape.
The person chasing her showed no sign of movement. She knew this person hadn’t left and couldn’t possibly leave; they were extremely patient.
Dawn came late in winter. They had run for so long; it would take time for the Wei family to find this place, but Ze County wasn’t large—they would eventually arrive. Though dawn was late, it would eventually come.
Just as the first glimmer of light appeared in the east, Yao Zhaoyi heard distant footsteps and voices.
She couldn’t delay any longer, or she would surely die here.
Yao Zhaoyi decided to risk breaking out.
She took a deep breath and shot an arrow towards her left rear. She intended to use the sound of the arrow landing to attract the enemy’s attention, allowing her to escape quickly.
She was very confident in her qinggong. As long as she gained even a tiny bit more time, she could shake off her pursuer. Below the graveyard hill was an expanse of long-neglected wild grass and woods. Although there was some distance, rushing into it would mean entering a safe zone; the complex terrain would surely help her escape.
Life or death hinged on this move.
As Yao Zhaoyi shot the arrow, she bolted. Having run so far and then sat freezing all night, Yao Zhaoyi had little stamina left. Even sprinting with all her might, she was definitely much slower than before. However, the person behind her had also sat through the whole night, likewise had little stamina left, and couldn’t run fast either. She could shake this person off, she could…
Before her thoughts could complete a cycle, Zhen Wenjun grabbed her in a hug, pressing her down to the ground.
Just as Yao Zhaoyi turned pale with fright21, the person’s arms clamped tightly around her chest from behind, like a giant iron vise gripping her body, making her breath catch. She let out a pained grunt.
“Let’s see where you run now!”
Yao Zhaoyi heard a woman’s voice.
Zhen Wenjun, it was Zhen Wenjun… the person chasing her all along was Zhen Wenjun!
Yao Zhaoyi struggled with all her might to break free from Zhen Wenjun’s arms, but she couldn’t escape her grip no matter what. Zhen Wenjun’s strength far surpassed hers!
The inescapable pain turned into agitation, bringing tears welling up. Her Shifu who had taught her since childhood always yielded to her, and the household servants around her all pampered her. She had always been the one gaining the upper hand and disciplining others; when had she ever suffered such humiliation? Moreover, Zhen Wenjun gripping her chest made her feel utterly ashamed and indignant.
“Let go!” As Yao Zhaoyi spoke, a stream of tears fell, landing right on Zhen Wenjun’s hand.
Zhen Wenjun let out a distinct sound of surprise, “Yi?”22, and shifted her arms, seemingly confirming if the place she was gripping was indeed a woman’s chest.
Yao Zhaoyi was overwhelmed with shame and anger. After confirming, Zhen Wenjun’s arms suddenly slackened. Yao Zhaoyi clenched her teeth, used all her strength to flip over, and kicked Zhen Wenjun in the abdomen, sending her stumbling back.
Zhen Wenjun retreated a few steps but quickly regained her footing. Three arrows came straight for her eyes. She dodged sideways, the arrows grazing past her nose. When she looked again, Yao Zhaoyi had already run far away.
Pursuing again, she found Yao Zhaoyi had leaped into the wild forest and quickly disappeared in the dim morning light.
Annoyed, Zhen Wenjun kicked out fiercely, sending frozen earth and wild grass flying into the air.
Yao Zhaoyi contended with the Wei family guards outside the city for another whole day, only managing to barely shake them off by dusk, returning covered in injuries and utterly wretched. Cao Fei and the accompanying Yao family members were already extremely worried and came forward to support her.
“What happened!” Yao family’s Ah Xiang23, the daughter of Yao Lin born of a concubine, came up to support her elder sister. As soon as she supported her, she saw her sister’s pale face and clenched teeth, becoming even more worried.
“Young lady, where did you go all night? You made us search hard for you!” Cao Fei sounded somewhat angry in his words. Only when Yao Zhaoyi said, “My bone is broken,” did he suppress his temper. “Broken where?”
Yao Zhaoyi couldn’t bring herself to speak. How could she tell everyone that Zhen Wenjun had broken her rib with that embrace?
“Young lady, you were truly impulsive! How could you venture into danger alone to assassinate!” Cao Fei sighed heavily in lament.
“Cao Gong, don’t be angry. It was my pride and underestimation of the enemy. I didn’t expect that Zhen Wenjun would actually be lying in ambush behind.” Yao Zhaoyi couldn’t help but cough as she spoke.
“What? Zhen Wenjun came?” Hearing this, Cao Fei was also taken aback.
“Yes…” Yao Zhaoyi’s eyes glinted fiercely. “Although she made me suffer a great loss this time, I also discovered her fatal weakness.”
“What weakness?” Cao Fei pressed.
Seeing her elder sister standing here being questioned endlessly while severely injured, Ah Xiang said angrily, “Whatever needs to be said can wait until after Elder Sister’s injuries are treated!” With that, she directly pushed Cao Fei aside and led Yao Zhaoyi into the tent.
Footnotes
- 一方霸主 | yī fāng bàzhǔ | Lit. “hegemon of one region”; a powerful local warlord or ruler.
- 发一笔横财 | fā yī bǐ hèngcái | Lit. “gain a sum of unexpected wealth”; often implies windfall profits, sometimes through questionable or opportunistic means.
- 好皮囊 | hǎo pínáng | Lit. “good skin-bag”; a common, sometimes slightly informal or objectifying way to refer to someone’s physical appearance, especially if attractive.
- 户籍符牌 | hùjí fúpái | An identification document used in historical China, verifying residence and identity.
- 1 tael ≈ 37.5 grams of silver.
- 安福客栈 | Ānfú Kèzhàn | Anfu means “Peace and Fortune”; Kezhan means Inn.
- 丑时 | chǒu shí | The second of the 12 traditional Chinese double-hours, corresponding to 01:00–03:00 (1 AM–3 AM).
- 2 hours
- 纹丝不动 | wén sī bù dòng | Lit. “not moving a single silk thread”; completely motionless.
- 不露半点马脚 | bù lù bàndiǎn mǎjiǎo | Lit. “not revealing half a horse’s hoof”; not showing any sign or clue, not giving oneself away.
- 惊慌失措 | jīnghuāng shīcuò | Lit. “alarmed and lose bearing”; flustered, panicked, losing one’s composure.
- 前呼后拥 | qiánhū hòuyōng | Lit. “shouted at from the front, crowded from behind”; describes being surrounded by a large entourage or retinue.
- 走水 | zǒushuǐ | Lit. “water running”; a colloquial term, especially in older contexts or certain regions, meaning “fire!” or “there’s a fire!”.
- 箭无虚发 | jiàn wú xū fā | Lit. “arrows without empty release”; every shot hits its mark, unerring accuracy.
- 热锅上的蚂蚁 | rè guō shàng de mǎyǐ | Lit. “ants on a hot pan”; describes a state of extreme anxiety, agitation, or restlessness.
- 脚下生风 | jiǎo xià shēng fēng | Lit. “wind generated under the feet”; describes moving extremely quickly.
- 寸 | cùn | A traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly equivalent to an inch (modern standard ≈ 3.33 cm).
- 露出马脚 | lùchū mǎjiǎo | Lit. “reveal horse’s hoof”; to expose a flaw or give oneself away, similar to “let the cat out of the bag” but focused on revealing a hidden identity or mistake.
- 神机妙算 | shén jī miào suàn | Lit. “divine strategy, wonderful calculation”; possessing extraordinary foresight and brilliant planning skills.
- 黄雀在后 | huángquè zài hòu | Lit. “the oriole is behind”; From the proverb “The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind” (螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后 | tángláng bǔ chán, huángquè zài hòu). Refers to being unaware of a hidden danger or observer while focusing on one’s own prey or goal.
- 大惊失色 | dà jīng shī sè | Lit. “greatly startled, lose color”; to turn pale with shock or fright.
- 咦 | yí | An interjection expressing surprise or curiosity.
- 姚氏阿香 | Yáo Shì Āxiāng
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