THE SHADOW BEHIND THE GOVERNOR
949 Words
The narrow alley fell silent.
Three men armed with thick wooden clubs blocked the only exit. Their leader, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his cheek, smirked as he twirled the club in his hand.
"Did you not hear me?" he sneered. "Hand over your money."
The elderly woman trembled behind Zhao Yun, clutching the empty rice sack in her hands.
"Young Master," she whispered, "please leave. These men work for..."
Before she could finish, the scar-faced man glared at her.
"Old woman, keep your mouth shut if you value your life."
Zhao Yun slowly turned his head.
"You threaten an elderly woman?"
The man laughed.
"I threaten anyone who gets in my way."
Without warning, he swung his club.
Zhao Yun stepped aside with effortless grace. The heavy weapon slammed into the brick wall, sending fragments of stone flying.
Before the attacker could recover, Zhao Yun struck his wrist with the back of his hand.
The club clattered onto the ground.
The other two men charged together.
One aimed a punch at Zhao Yun's face while the other drew a short dagger from his sleeve.
The prince remained calm.
He caught the first man's arm, turned with the force of the attack, and threw him into his companion. Both crashed onto the stone pavement with cries of pain.
The scar-faced leader reached for the dagger.
Only then did Zhao Yun draw his sword.
The blade slid from its scabbard with a clear metallic ring.
Moonlight shimmered along its polished edge.
The alley became deathly quiet.
The scar-faced man stared at the sword, then at the calm expression of the young traveler before him.
"You... you're no ordinary merchant."
"I never claimed to be."
The sword stopped just beneath the man's throat.
"Now tell me who sent you."
Fear replaced arrogance.
"We... we were only following orders."
"Whose orders?"
The man's lips trembled.
"The Black Riders collect taxes for Lord Wu..."
He stopped abruptly.
A sharp whistle echoed from somewhere above the rooftops.
The man's face turned pale.
"No..."
An arrow shot through the darkness.
It struck him squarely in the chest.
He collapsed before another word could escape his lips.
The other two men looked toward the rooftops in horror.
Another volley of arrows rained down.
Neither survived.
Zhao Yun looked up.
A shadow stood on the tiled roof of a nearby building.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
The figure wore black robes and a silver mask.
Then, with astonishing speed, the stranger vanished into the night.
Someone had silenced the attackers before they could reveal the truth.
---
Captain Lu Feng arrived moments later with several guards.
"Your Highness!"
He looked at the bodies on the ground.
"What happened?"
"They were murdered."
"Murdered?"
"They were about to reveal their master's identity."
Lu Feng examined one of the arrows.
Its shaft was painted black, while its feathers were dyed deep crimson.
"I have seen these arrows before."
"Where?"
"They belong to elite assassins."
"They never leave witnesses."
---
The elderly woman, though still shaken, knelt before Zhao Yun.
"Thank you for saving me."
"There is no need to kneel," Zhao Yun said gently, helping her to her feet.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Granny Wu."
She hesitated before speaking again.
"If Your... if Young Master truly wishes to help Qinghe, there is someone you must meet."
"Who?"
"The former magistrate."
"He was the most honest official this province ever had."
"What happened to him?"
"He opposed Governor Chen's taxes."
Her voice cracked.
"The governor accused him of corruption."
"He was dismissed."
"No one has seen him in three years."
Zhao Yun frowned.
"Do you know where he is?"
Granny Wu looked around cautiously before whispering,
"They say he lives somewhere in the Green Bamboo Forest."
---
The following morning, Governor Chen received an unexpected visitor.
Inside a hidden chamber beneath his residence, the silver-masked assassin knelt before him.
"The men in the alley are dead."
Governor Chen slammed his fist onto the table.
"Idiots!"
"They failed to kill one prince."
"They almost exposed us."
The assassin remained silent.
Governor Chen poured himself a cup of wine with trembling hands.
"This Fourth Prince..."
"He asks too many questions."
The assassin finally spoke.
"Then stop waiting."
Governor Chen looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"The prince trusts too easily."
"We do not need another ambush."
"We simply need someone close enough to earn his confidence."
Governor Chen's eyes slowly narrowed.
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"I know exactly who."
---
Later that afternoon, Zhao Yun and Captain Lu Feng secretly left the governor's residence dressed as ordinary travelers.
Their destination was the Green Bamboo Forest.
Mei Lian insisted on accompanying them.
"I know the mountain paths better than anyone."
As they entered the forest, sunlight filtered through the tall bamboo stalks, painting shifting patterns across the ground.
The air was cool and peaceful.
Birdsong echoed in the distance.
Yet Lu Feng never relaxed his grip on his sword.
"Your Highness..."
"We're being followed."
Zhao Yun stopped walking.
The forest fell unnaturally silent.
Then came the faint sound of bamboo bending in the wind.
Someone was there.
Watching.
Waiting.
A calm voice drifted through the trees.
"I have been expecting you, Fourth Prince."
The three travelers immediately turned toward the sound.
An elderly man in plain gray robes stepped out from the bamboo grove, carrying nothing but a fishing rod.
His eyes were clear, his posture straight despite his age.
Granny Wu's words echoed in Zhao Yun's mind.
The former magistrate...
The old man smiled faintly.
"You have come seeking the truth."
"But once you hear it..."
"There will be no turning back."
- Writer
