The three of them dashed breathlessly into Fried Rice Alley.
Darren Chang had already fallen asleep, but Harris Ma shook him awake. The moment Darren opened his eyes, he caught the scent of blood and leapt up. "Something happened? Where's the boss?"
"There was an ambush on the road — someone struck with a black blade. The boss is fine, I'm fine, but Jack Golden took a cut on his arm. Nothing serious. The boss said to boil some water for washing." Harris Ma spoke as he stepped out to the veranda, already stripping off his clothes.
Relieved, Darren Chang threw on a robe, stoked the fire, and soon had several copper kettles of water boiling.
Lena Sanders came out freshly washed, wrapped in her thick fur coat, and sat down on a chair beneath the eaves.
"Was it the Marquis of Yongping's men?" Darren handed her a steaming cup of tea and crouched before her, asking in a low voice.
"Probably not." Lena accepted the tea, warming her hands around it and sighing with relief.
"Then who could it be? We've only just arrived in Castleton; haven't even had time to offend anyone yet," Harris said, squatting beside Darren, a puzzled look on his face.
"That man surnamed Yin?" Jack Golden raised his injured arm slightly.
The cut was shallow — ten days or so and it would heal — but it still stung.
"Hiring thugs costs a fortune. Doesn't seem like something that Yin fellow could afford," Darren muttered darkly.
"No use guessing. Let's rest for now," Lena said, glancing at Harris. "Tomorrow at first light, go take a look around that place."
"Got it. I'll head out before dawn," Harris replied quickly. Seeing Lena rise, he stood as well and asked, "Boss, should we inform Prince Heir about this?"
"Eh? Why would we do that?" Lena looked at him, puzzled.
"Yeah, right," Harris chuckled awkwardly. "No reason to bother him!"
"Even if the assassins were from the Marquis of Yongping's estate, we should confirm it first before going to him," Lena said, waving her hand to dismiss them. "Go get some sleep."
At first light, Lena was already up. She went to check Jack Golden's wound — no swelling, no rot, only a faint redness at the edge. The blade hadn't been poisoned.
Relieved, she washed up, wrapped herself in her fur coat, and sat outside under the veranda.
Darren brought out a table, then filled it with buns, fritters, porridge, and pickled soup.
They were just settling down to breakfast when Harris burst in.
"Boss, something's off!"
"Slow down. Sit, have some soup first," Lena said calmly.
"Look at you — flailing like a chicken!" Jack jabbed at Harris with his chopsticks from across the table, full of disdain. "Didn't the boss teach you? Even if Mount Tai collapses, you stand steady! Look at yourself!"
Harris shot him a glare that said I'm talking business, not wasting time with you.
"Boss, when I got there, the two bodies were still lying there — one crosswise, one lengthwise. I didn't dare stop, so I kept walking, circled around, and when I came back, there was already a night watchman guarding the alley entrance with a few onlookers nearby.
"I didn't stop then either. Took another loop, and by the time I returned, a small crowd had gathered. I joined them to see what was happening.
"Constable Zhang from the magistrate's office showed up — he lives nearby — brought a coroner, that fellow surnamed Sun.
"Zhang didn't go in, but Sun did. Barely half a quarter-hour later, he came out and whispered to Zhang. Then Zhang just waved his hand and shouted, 'Disperse, disperse! Two men fought and killed each other — nothing to see here!'
"After a few words, he left. Sun and the watchman stayed at the alley entrance for a while. Two hours later, men from Luoze Garden came, loaded the corpses onto a cart, washed down the street with a few buckets of water — and everyone left."
Harris flung his hands out, incredulous. "Boss, tell me — two dead men, lying there like that, and they just… dismissed it?"
"What? How could that be?" Jack was stunned.
"Was it really the Marquis of Yongping's people?" Darren asked, glancing at Lena.
"If it was, they're far too brazen," she said quietly, then turned to Jack. "The one who came at you yesterday — was he aiming for me?"
"Yes!" Jack nodded emphatically.
"If it were the Marquis of Yongping, they'd have killed everyone — no need to choose targets. Besides, Prince Heir's assassination attempt was only just resolved. Even if the Marquis wanted revenge, he wouldn't strike so soon.
"A family of that standing wouldn't be so impatient — especially during the New Year season, when the noblefolk care most about auspiciousness."
"Mm," Darren agreed. "Boss is right."
"From now on," Lena ordered, "even when you sleep, keep your weapons close. You two — go find that coroner Sun or Constable Zhang. Chat with them."
They nodded, gathered their gear, and headed out.
Darren went inside, fetched a small hand crossbow, and handed it to Lena.
She took it carefully, fastening it around her wrist. The weapon's short range made it unreliable beyond a few paces — but a little poison on the bolts could make up for that.
Yet in Castleton, a city bustling with life and hidden rules she didn't yet understand, she dared not smear any of the strange toxins that Blind Mi had given her.
Darren brought out an assortment of blades, spears, and his spiked mace, sitting beside her to sharpen and oil them one by one.
Before noon, Harris and Jack returned, crouching beside Lena, eyes wide with excitement.
"Boss, they said— they were assassins!" Jack exclaimed, waving his hand animatedly.
"Look at you, all worked up. What about assassins?" Lena said coolly.
"But it's true!" Harris said, gasping between words. "That's what Coroner Sun said — they were killers, definitely killers!"
"Speak properly," Lena frowned.
"What's wrong with that? Didn't the Blind Master say our boss herself walks the assassin's path?" Darren muttered.
"Exactly! Let me tell it," Harris leaned forward eagerly. "Boss, here's what happened: Jack and I went to the magistrate's office.
"Before we got there, we spotted Constable Zhang eating at a small tavern opposite the gate, surrounded by half a dozen clerks from his office. We sat nearby, ordered two baskets of buns and bowls of soup, just to listen in.
"Sure enough, they were talking about the bodies from the alley."
"Old Ma here leaned right in with his bowl," Jack cut in, grinning.
"I told them we were newcomers, staying at the old Cui place nearby, and that we hadn't expected Castleton to be so dangerous — scared the life out of us."
"Boss, you know Harris — he's a master at looking pitiful," Jack added. "Constable Zhang and his men laughed, said, 'What are you afraid of? Those were assassins. You couldn't afford one of those even if you sold yourself.'
"Zhang even clapped Harris on the neck and said, 'You could scrub that neck clean and offer it up, and an assassin still wouldn't bother. They kill for big money.'"
"We asked a few more questions," Harris continued seamlessly. "Zhang said the dead men each had a small wooden tag — one on the wrist, one on the neck — engraved with the words "Life and Death by Fate."
"He said when the corpses carry nothing but that tag, it means they're hired killers. They kill for gold, die by fate, and the authorities don't meddle."
"Zhang also said assassins are expensive — ordinary folk could never afford one," Jack added.
"The Marquis of Yongping?" Darren looked toward Lena, whose face was unreadable.
"Jack," Lena said after a pause, "go to Prince Rui's estate and find Master Wen. Tell him I need to see him — urgently. Same teahouse as last time.
"Harris, head to your broker's house, chat a bit, and see if anyone's heard of this 'assassin trade.'"
She spoke softly, but her tone left no room for question.