The starlight had faded, and the moon's shadow was gone, marking the moment right before dawn.
At this time, the back gate of the Chu Family was bustling.
Chu Qing, carrying a shoulder pole, followed the others here, and the staff from several inns and restaurants had also arrived.
Everyone was crowded here because the back gate was not large. Even though it was opened early for people to enter one by one, it still took some time.
The Chu Family's chief steward was here with a few servants and Hospital Martial Artists, performing a simple check on the items carried before letting people in.
After a while, it was finally Chu Qing's turn.
He glanced at the chief steward, Zhou Temple, and slightly lowered his head.
As the third young master of the Chu Family, he was almost raised by this chief steward since childhood, and was very familiar with him.
Although Chu Qing had disguised himself last night, it was hard to say whether Zhou Temple might notice something suspicious.
And Zhou Temple, looking at this young porter, did indeed feel a strange sense of familiarity.
Today was extremely busy, with too many tasks, leaving no time for a careful look.
After glancing a couple of times and not recognizing him, he dismissed it from his mind.
Once his items passed the inspection with no issues, Chu Qing was allowed through the gate.
Only after leaving Zhou Temple's sight did Chu Qing finally breathe a sigh of relief... This was the first gate to enter.
However, once past this checkpoint, the rest would not be difficult.
Raising his eyes, everything around him was so familiar.
The Chu Family was large, but every corner was etched in Chu Qing's memory, for this was indeed his home.
If he wanted, he could directly announce his identity and enter openly, and no one would stop him.
But doing so would also bring a lot of trouble.
It's not that he minded having an additional father and two brothers... After all, inheriting this body, it might feel a bit awkward, but not to the point of denial.
The problem was, he was currently being hunted by Mirror of Sin.
If no one knew his identity, it was fine, but if they did, it was hard to say whether they would be dragged into it.
Moreover, under the current circumstances, remaining hidden was more advantageous to him.
Guided by a servant, Chu Qing carried the wine to a storeroom in the back yard.
The servant told Chu Qing to leave the wine here and that he could leave once it was checked over.
Chu Qing nodded in understanding, and the servant did not stay any longer, returning to the back door.
Entering the storeroom, there were also a few servants guarding it.
Several were yawning excessively, clearly lacking sufficient sleep... which was understandable, as these servants were all young, some fourteen or fifteen, others sixteen or seventeen.
The half-grown boys could eat and sleep well, but waking up before dawn would naturally make them tired.
Chu Qing placed the wine down for inspection; one yawned and took out a half-foot-long Silver Needle, carefully probing through the seams. Upon finding no change in color, he nodded and set it aside.
After everything was checked, they told Chu Qing he could leave.
Chu Qing agreed, picked up the shoulder pole, and went out the door.
While coming there had been a servant to guide him, leaving did not, after all, it was too busy, requiring manpower everywhere from the front yard to the back yard, rather than wasting time on these porters, with Hospital Martial Artists monitoring them it was considered enough.
But how could these Hospital Martial Artists keep an eye on Chu Qing?
Catching a blind spot in their vision, he turned swiftly with the shoulder pole and slipped behind a rockery.
Hiding the shoulder pole in a concealed spot, he followed the winding path of the rockery forward only to be blocked by a wall shortly after.
He hesitated not, and scaled the wall directly.
At this hour, there should be no one in this courtyard; if there were, they certainly wouldn't belong to the Chu Family.
For this was Chu Qing's courtyard.
Landing silently, the courtyard indeed stood empty, albeit not messy, clearly frequently cleaned.
The doors and windows were tightly shut; Chu Qing approached the door, gently pushed it, and with a creak, it opened.
The layout of the room unfolded before his eyes.
The left side served as living quarters, with a bed laid with fresh bedding.
Hanging at the head of the bed was a Wooden Sword, carved by Chu Yunfei for his third birthday as a gift.
The right side was the study, filled with books, although he hadn't read much.
A teenager fond of ease, lazy but still interested in Martial Arts, however, his natural talents were limited, and he detested studying.
Chu Qing casually picked up a book, well-preserved, evidently someone occasionally took them out for airing to prevent moth and decay.
Everything remained unchanged, just like when he left home.
Pulling out a chair to sit, Chu Qing softly exhaled, a feeling of unspeakable relaxation washing over him.
"Just because of a pent-up feeling, leaving a good life behind to run away from home, what a folly, indeed."
"These seven years have not been good, struggling to make a name for oneself, only to be tricked into becoming an Assassin..."
Chu Qing thought of this and couldn't help but give a light shake of his head.
In that moment of dying... What exactly did his mind entertain?
In nearly a month, he hadn't recalled that instant memory.
But as he sat here, he suddenly felt that perhaps... he missed home?
The dawn was breaking; the long night was nearing its dawn.
The morning light streamed in, and Chu Qing suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling oddly sentimental on this visit back?
Shaking his head, he was about to get up.
Then suddenly, footsteps approached, his expression unchanged, only his eyes shifting slightly:
"They have still... come after all."
Rising leisurely, he leaped onto the beam before that figure appeared.
The next moment, a figure materialized at the door.
Clad in black, with a mask on the face.
Mirror of Sin.
Chu Qing's lips curled into a cold smile.
Of course, he hadn't come here merely for a trip down memory lane.
He understood that person all too well.
Since that person had arrived in Celestial Dance City, they had surely gathered the information they needed.
Thus, they certainly knew that Chu Yunfei had a son who had run away from home for seven years.
And, this Patriarch of the Chu Family missed his son greatly and often came to his youngest son's room to reminisce.
No matter who the person is, there's always a moment of vulnerability; no matter how mighty Chu Yunfei might be in Martial Arts, he was ultimately just an ordinary father at this moment.
Thus, seizing the morning hours as the Chu Family busied about, one would secretly sneak in, hiding in Chu Qing's room.
Waiting until Chu Yunfei drifted into sorrow, it would be the perfect moment to strike with surprise!
Unfortunately, Chu Qing had arrived first.
The Assassin scanned the room before leaping up, intending to hide on the beam.
But in that split second, the corner of his eye caught a flash of brilliance.
His pupils contracted, reaching to draw his sword... but it was already too late.
The half-drawn long sword was re-sheathed with force, an arm severed, hanging from the hilt.
Blood showered the air, falling like rain and plum blossoms.