Startling Developments in the Meadow

Xiao En knew he was finished. After hitting the ground, he relied on his decades of experience; he covered himself with rotten tree leaves, hiding his scent and quietly escaping the forest.

Since Fan Xian and the seven other Tiger Guards had followed him through the reeds along the lakeside into the forest, he had definitely left them some kind of trace. Xiao En covered his mouth with his hand to stifle his coughing. 20 years of life in prison had damaged his circulatory system. Falling that high from a tree, he realized with some sorrow that his brain reacted more slowly than his body.

If this were 20 years ago, he believed he could have calmly killed Fan Xian in the process of falling. Even if there were seven expert swordsmen under the tree, as long as he retained his familiarity with the mists of the Northern Sea, Xiao En still strongly believed he could easily escape.

But... old age comes to all of us eventually.