Chapter 109: Disaster from the Blue (Part II)

After a satisfying meal at the Guangfu Restaurant, Yang Yaozong and his companions stepped out into the street. Yang smiled at Ayi and said, "Thank you for your generous hospitality, Ayi."

Ayi glanced at him and retorted, "Hmph! Fifty taels of silver for nothing but some lamb, fish, chicken, and a few vegetables—that’s certainly one way to call it hospitality!"

Yang teased her, "It only cost you fifty taels; I didn't even order any rare delicacies!"

Ayi narrowed her eyes and stared at him. "Are you implying you were saving me money?"

Yang looked into her beautiful blue eyes and replied with another question, "Well, what did you think of the food today?"

Ayi curled her lip, though she admitted, "Not bad. It was actually quite good."

Yang nodded, his eyebrows raised. "There you have it. We ate well, we’re full, and we had a good time. Isn't that fifty taels money well spent?"

Ayi placed her hands on her hips and stated, word by word, "Hmph! That is money *exceptionally* well spent!"

Yang’s eyes widened in mock surprise. "My, my! I didn't realize you knew such idioms!"

Zhang Lie and Serwu watched their banter with amusement, laughing heartily. Zhang Lie suggested, "Alright, enough, you two. You bicker every time you meet. You were fine during the meal, but now that it's over, you're at it again. Should we stroll around a bit more, or head back to the ship?"

Ayi insisted, "It’s not often we come to Jining Prefecture; we must explore properly. Come on, let’s go check out the market ahead."

The four of them, accompanied by the horse, walked toward the bustling market, unaware that four figures were tailing them, and that danger was slowly closing in. Yang and Zhang accompanied the two girls from stall to stall. Heiyao followed obediently by Yang’s side. Though the girls bought nothing, they were clearly enjoying the excursion.

As they reached the center of the market, the four pursuers—led by Liao Qiniang—suddenly quickened their pace. Liao closed in behind Ayi, the man known as Third followed Yang, the maid tailed Serwu, and the fourth man shadowed Zhang Lie.

Liao signaled to Third, who lunged forward and vaulted onto Heiyao’s back. The plan was for the horse to react violently, causing a commotion. In the ensuing chaos, Liao and her cohorts would feign concern, separate Ayi, Serwu, and Zhang Lie from Yang, and then return to seize Yang, forcing him to calm the horse and follow them. Third, being the best rider among them, was tasked with spooking the animal.

However, things did not go as expected. As Liao and the others prepared to shove their targets and scream, they stood frozen in shock.

The moment Third mounted the horse, he jammed his feet into the stirrups, gripped the reins tightly, and clamped his legs against the horse’s flanks, bracing for a wild struggle. But Heiyao’s reaction was entirely different from what they had anticipated, which only made Liao more determined to steal the magnificent creature.

Feeling a stranger on its back, Heiyao grew restless and tried to dislodge him. Yang, sensing this immediately, stroked the horse’s mane to soothe its rising temper. Feeling its master’s touch, Heiyao merely snorted, stomped its hooves a few times, and stood still.

Yang stood tall, frowning as he looked at the man on his horse. He recognized him instantly as one of the two men with a sinister air he had encountered in the corridor of the passenger ship. They locked eyes for a moment. Suddenly, Yang reached out and struck the man’s lower leg, knocking his foot from the stirrup, and yanked the man’s leg downward with great force.

Third, never expecting the scholar to strike first, tried to kick his other foot free and release the reins to jump down. But Yang’s strike was devastating. A loud rip of fabric echoed, followed by a sharp *crack*. Third let out a pained cry, "The target is tough!" He landed on the ground in a forced split, with Yang pinning his thigh down firmly.

Everything happened in an instant. Liao, the maid, and the fourth man saw the struggle. Liao reacted quickly; abandoning the plan to shove Ayi, she grabbed her instead and rushed toward Yang, while the others did the same with their targets.

People in the immediate vicinity scattered, watching from a distance. When Third hissed a criminal slang term implying the situation was troublesome, Yang, who had some knowledge of the underworld's jargon, tested him: "Who sent you to mark me?"

Third was stunned by the question. Before he could answer, Liao arrived, holding Ayi by the throat. "Friend! I can see you’re a man of the world who understands how things work. We only want to invite you as a guest; surely you wouldn’t want your three friends to suffer on your account?" She squeezed Ayi’s neck, causing the girl to whimper in pain.

Yang didn't know all their slang, but he understood the threat. He saw the cold, murderous intent in the eyes of the woman disguised as a man. He wanted to stall for the authorities, but he wouldn't risk his friends. He pressed his foot harder onto Third’s thigh as a warning. Third let out a strangled cry, his face pale, and he even lost control of his bladder from the sheer agony.

Yang stared at Liao, unfazed. "We are strangers with no grievances. Why insist on inviting me?"

Liao, knowing his ploy, looked at him with contempt and drove her knee into Ayi’s ribs. Ayi let out a sharp cry, choked by the hand still gripping her throat.

Seeing his friends in danger, Yang realized his stalling had reached its limit. "Fine! I will go with you. Release them!"

Liao replied, "I will let them go once you come with us. Help him onto your horse and follow me."

Yang helped the injured man onto Heiyao and followed Liao toward a narrow alley. By the time the local authorities arrived, the group had already vanished without a trace.