Chapter Ten: Shaking Off the Pursuers

Just as Ding Li had feared, less than fifty meters after leaving the Sayidgard household, several tails began shadowing them from behind. Of course, Ding Li would never disclose any of this to Liu Sheng, who walked anxiously by his side.

Ding Li was not particularly familiar with the layout of the Fan Quarter, but it was dawn and the streets were relatively empty. Wandering aimlessly with Liu Sheng and Sayidgard for a while, Ding Li ended up leading them toward the morning market. Sayidgard, bewildered, watched as Ding Li bought two sea fish.

This half-hour of wandering was not without purpose. Ding Li had already sketched the general outline of the Fan Quarter in his mind and made note of several inns and taverns. With the tails still following, he resumed his circuit through the quarter.

They entered several inns in succession but left each in haste for various reasons, leaving Sayidgard exhausted and complaining, unable to fathom Ding Li's intentions.

"Sayid!" Ding Li, leading the way, suddenly spoke without turning his head as Sayidgard's eyelids battled the fatigue of a sleepless night. "Do you remember the second inn we visited?"

"Yes?" Sayidgard jolted awake and nodded quickly, "I remember, the Fortune Gathering Inn! It's just four streets away!"

"Exactly, that's the place," Ding Li said, his gaze fixed on a small alley ahead to the right. His tone grew serious as he instructed, "Keep following me. In a moment, you take Sheng’er and head there. Once I lose the tails, I’ll come find you."

With that, Ding Li quickened his pace. Sayidgard paused, then understood, glanced back discreetly, and followed Liu Sheng, dashing into the alley.

The sudden acceleration caught the trackers off guard. They exchanged glances and rushed after them, fearing their quarry might slip away.

It took only a moment. When the pursuers entered the alley, they glimpsed a familiar figure vanishing around the corner. The alley was empty otherwise. Alarmed, they realized failure would cost them dearly, so they charged ahead.

"Ah!" The first thug to round the corner froze in place, his body halted, only to be shoved forward by a companion arriving behind him.

A sharp slap echoed—the scales of the sea fish scattered as water sprayed. The unsuspecting thug stumbled, falling hard to the ground, his eyes rolling back just like the sea fish lying unconscious beside him.

There were more than ten pursuers, now gathered at the corner, staring in disbelief at their fallen companion and the shimmering sea fish. The scattered scales sparkled in the morning light like fragments of diamond.

Without hesitation, Ding Li hurled the remaining fish in his left hand into the crowd. The hefty fish whipped through the air, sending the men scattering in panic.

---

The sea fish attack was avoided, but Ding Li plunged into the midst of the crowd. His fists struck like stone, instantly knocking two men unconscious.

Those sent to follow Ding Li were no cowards—Lai Five had chosen capable men. The rest surged forward without a second thought, throwing punches and kicks.

Ding Li, once the youngest elite commando of the Great Empire, was unmatched in single combat. Even surrounded, he remained calm, his deep gaze unwavering. His peripheral vision fed him every movement, allowing him to adapt and counterattack with precision.

He was occasionally struck, but his taut, muscular body shrugged off blows as if they were mere tickles. In contrast, every punch or kick he delivered sent another attacker crashing to the ground, unable to rise.

In less than half a minute, the group assault ended with bodies sprawled across the alley, some slumped against the wall. Their eyes were filled with terror, as if facing a furious beast, certain that it could tear them apart at any moment.

Fortunately, the beast seemed uninterested in them. Their pride was wounded, but at least they wouldn’t be beaten any further.

Ding Li surveyed the scene, ensured no one could follow, then turned and slipped deeper into the alley, leaving behind a ghostly warning that lingered in the air.

"Go! Tell Old Lai Five his days are numbered!"

Ding Li left, not heading straight to the Fortune Gathering Inn, but toward the southeast corner of the Fan Quarter. He’d noticed a house for rent earlier while wandering the city—a small place, but less conspicuous than an inn, owned by a devout follower of the Faith of Submission and Peace.

After a brief exchange, Ding Li handed over everything he had, most of it loot from North Leg’s room the previous night, just enough to cover the rent. He paid a generous commission, asking the landlord to prepare some necessities.

By the time Ding Li brought Liu Sheng back from the Fortune Gathering Inn, it was nearly noon. Sayidgard, worried about his father’s likely rage, hurriedly bid Ding Li farewell. Ding Li instructed him to send word to the dock, reassuring Gouzi and the others not to worry and to keep working as usual.

Liu Sheng was adept in the kitchen—soon, she served vegetables and braised fish. Watching Ding Li devour six bowls of rice, Liu Sheng hesitated, concern etched on her brow, but chose not to ask what had happened.

After lunch, Ding Li, weary, went straight to bed, while Liu Sheng busied herself arranging their new home. An hour later, she finally sat at the table, gazing blankly at the freshly wiped memorial tablet in the corner.

The orange sunlight slanted through the window, casting a gentle glow on the tablet. Dust drifted in the sunbeams, while Ding Li slept soundly, his breathing even, seemingly unaffected by the morning’s events.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was knocked on urgently. Liu Sheng turned in fright, and Ding Li sprang up, alert. Listening carefully, he reassured Liu Sheng in a low voice, "It's nothing. It's Sayid."

---

"Brother Li! Trouble!" As soon as the gate opened, Sayidgard, drenched in sweat, called out, "Gouzi and the others were taken not long ago! Even little Li, still recovering at home, was seized by Lai Five’s men! They’ve spread word at the dock: if they don’t see you by midnight tonight, Gouzi and the others will be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!"

"Come inside! No one followed you, right?" Ding Li frowned, pulled him in, peeked outside, then locked the gate securely.

"Brother Li, what do we do?" Sayidgard stood outside the door, anxious. "Should I gather some men and confront Lai Five at the dock tonight? Even if we can’t win, at least we’ll give them trouble!"

"It’s useless! Numbers don’t matter!" Ding Li shook his head, dismissing the idea. He explained, "South Fist and North Leg died last night. Lai Five can’t have many capable men left. If I’m right, Liu Third must be behind this! If it comes to manpower, we’re outmatched by several times!"

"So what do we do? Brother Li, Lai Five has already come for us. We can’t hide, and by your account, we can’t fight either. What now?" Sayidgard, never having faced such a crisis, was utterly lost, and even with Ding Li present, he still felt like a headless fly.

"No choice—we have to meet Lai Five!" Ding Li replied without hesitation. At that moment, a soft sound came from behind; he turned to see Liu Sheng leaning against the door, her misty eyes seeming to want to speak.

Sighing, Ding Li patted Sayidgard’s shoulder and instructed quietly, "Do this, Sayid: go home, gather a few brave, reliable brothers, prepare some jars and oil. I’ll come find you later. Tonight we’ll set the dock ablaze, rescue Gouzi and the others first, then decide what next."

"Alright! No problem!" Sayidgard’s eyes lit up. The thought of turning the dock into an inferno thrilled him, and after nodding earnestly, he took his leave.

"Brother Li, will it be dangerous?" Liu Sheng, as ever, did not ask for details. She stepped aside and gently took Ding Li’s arm, asking softly as they entered the house.

"Don’t worry, it won’t," Ding Li withdrew his arm and drew Liu Sheng into his embrace, smiling faintly as he shook his head. He turned to face the setting sun, golden light brushing his confident face, serene and unflustered. Even Liu Sheng, held close, was momentarily entranced.

"When will you leave?" Her face slightly raised, lips parted, her eyes filled with complex emotion. She could no longer suppress her anxiety, and finally spoke, "Brother Li, must you go? Isn’t there another way?"

"Let me stay with you a bit longer." Ding Li didn’t know how to answer. After a moment’s hesitation, he tightened his embrace and whispered, "Remember to save dinner for me. I want your braised fish."

As dusk fell, Ding Li left home as promised. Liu Sheng, after bolting the door, leaned against it, two tears sliding down her cheeks. Yet a smile of happiness appeared on her lips as she turned toward the water jar in the courtyard, carefully selecting a plump fish.