Getting Framed

It was only enough time for a scream to escape his throat.

The scream was loud enough to be heard throughout the Hundred Flower Hall, just like the last scream an animal would make to save itself from slaughter. It was a pity because all attempts were useless.

Ah Yu, who was on the roof was also startled by the scream. Her eyebrows knitted. Would this impede the investigation? It was merely a lecherous man who was killed. She snorted in contempt, why should she care whether he lived or died. It might bring trouble, so it was best to leave as soon as possible.

A body fell in the hallway, the dim lights flickering as though possessing a will of its own. The movements were so quick, that it could have been a shadow demon that left the wall, committed unthinkable sins, only to return to the wall as it had always been.

On the third floor, Lady Lan was startled. She heard only the aftermath of the assassination but did not sense anyone entering the Hundred Flower Hall from the outside. There was no human breath, as though the assassin had been some creature that came from beyond.

But…. why was it that such a powerful figure would assassinate a lowly official of a border town?

Lady Lan heard the sounds of footsteps outside on the rooftops and hurriedly pursued. These footsteps did not belong to the assailant, but someone who was watching in the shadows. Whether or not the person survived was none of her concern, however, when it came to being investigated by someone, this was something she could not stand.

Her footsteps were light, and under the night, her blue robes blended quite well in the show. She was a gliding figure in the darkness. Ah Yu who was also going fast narrowed her eyes as she felt someone chasing her. This person was not so powerful that she would freeze from simply being in proximity, but she knew that the person's martial abilities were above hers.

The steps of her running never slowed. But Lady Lan slowly caught up. Lady Lan did not say a single word to her before attacking with a long blue ribbon. The material of the ribbon looked like a thin piece of silk, but the thin piece of silk was hard in her hands and could break bones and slice through flesh as mud. The piece of silk was a match to lady Lan's clothes, as icy and bone piercingly chilly. Ah Yu looked to the side, dodging with all her might. The long silk ribbon did not hit her, but the ground beneath where she was running. The vibrations shook the ground and snow scattered violently in the air. The ground beneath had already cracked, one could only imagine what would happen when the ribbon hit actual flesh.

The silk ribbon receded into Lady Lan's hands as her steps drew closer, the snow blowing around her almost made her feel ethereal, like some lofty immortal descending into the realm of mortals if not for the vicious killing intent burning within her eyes that made her resemble a demon. Her face was cold as always, with only one focus this entire time.

Ah Yu tried her best to remain calm. She leapt off the ground and took off on the roofs once more, in hopes the person chasing her would not be so deranged as to destroy the entire rooftops with that destructive weapon of hers.

Lady Lan followed in pursuit. The silk ribbon following. Their speeds were quick, and the sounds people heard below the rooftops could be passed off as the howling winds blowing over.

The silk ribbon shot forward this time, like a steel sword. Piercing through the winds, and returned. The person in front that had been running away trembled for a bit, but leapt over the wall, disappearing into the dense forest.

Lady Lan frowned at the silk ribbon that carried a hint of blood, scoffing before returning to the Hundred Flower Hall. Her gaze did not change the slightest bit as she looked ahead. The forest ahead was one that was endless, with only a few towns littered sparsely in between. Now that the person was wounded, the scent of blood would attract all those beasts that lived there. The idea of a good feast was one that easily aroused them. Her lips silently curved upwards before turning around and returning.

It was simply chaos for madam Lu within the Hundred Flower Hall. She had already helped put Wang Bo into the nearest room and onto the bed. Upon seeing lady Lan enter, she immediately came up to her and said "Check his wounds."

"I'm not a doctor." She frowned upon seeing the man on the bed. He seemed to be sleeping. There was the slightest bit of blood on his clothes. If it were not for the nauseating scent of blood that was coming from him, she would not have known that he was wounded.

"But you have experience in these wounds, no?"

Lady Lan obliged, and went up to the man. Unceremoniously untying his clothes. There was a wound on his chest, right by his heart. The wound was about three inches long, made by a rather discrete weapon. The blood was not much, but as she sent some of her internal energy to probe, her brows knitted tightly. Lady Lan frowned as she finished inspecting, "He will not die instantly, but he will slowly slip away." She said in a lowered voice. The wound had not caused any massive bleeding externally, and made it seem as though the wound was not severe, but the sword had nearly severed the heart meridian, causing the bleeding to be internal. Now, as they were speaking, the blood was slowly filling up within his body.

"What should we do?" Madam Lu was dazed for a good while, before she looked up towards lady Lan, asking for her advice. This was the first time she had taken it upon herself to ask for advice from her competitor.

"What? Can't bear for him to die?" Lady Lan asked with a smirk.

Men were expendable, madam Lu knew that well. He had been so subservient to her, despite his status. Perhaps it was the mysterious power backing him that made him so, however, she would not forget how she was able to make her follow her every whim and will. There would be other magistrates of the bordertown, but who would guarantee that they would all be as obedient.

Lady Lan then said calmly, "Listen well, we should report this incident as soon as possible to make it clear that we are cooperating, we will make sure that everything regarding this assassination points to Northern Wei, it is them who assassinated a Jin official on the territory of Jin. I chased a spy from your windows, all the way to the outer city walls. I don't think they were expecting the magistrate to be assassinated. It doesn't matter what they were trying to find, after this event, no one will dare approach, in fears of getting charged with treason."

Madam Lu nodded as she listened intently. She felt that it made sense, but frowned as soon as she heard there was someone by her window. "Did you by chance… " Madam Lu's hand went across her neck in a murderous manner.

"Now you're worried?" Lady Lan sighed, shaking her head, "No, but the other party was wounded and escaped into the woods. With that type of injury, it will easily attract the beasts within the forests. But don't worry, I will send an expert tracker to follow the trail." Of course, she knew it was impossible to rely on wild beasts alone to kill that person, and she was a firm believer of when alive, see the person and when dead, the corpse should be presented.

Hearing this, madam Lu's heart was at ease. She helplessly looked at Wang Bo's face that was beginning to pale. His face was now tranquil, when she had arrived after hearing that scream, his face had been contorted with so much fear, she did not know a human face could make such an expression. Now, he looked as though he was in a deep slumber. A slumber he will never awake from.