Volume Three: The Storm at Xuanwu Gate Chapter Eighty: Kidnapped

Mingyu had fallen victim to a plot. He had just thought to retreat, but it was already too late. Tong Dekun arrived in an instant, striking Mingyu on the back of the head with his palm. Mingyu felt a sharp pain and lost consciousness.

Tong Dekun let out a cold laugh. “I thought he’d be some remarkable fellow, but he’s just a fledgling, still wet behind the ears. Old Ma, your trick really does work every time, doesn’t it?”

Ma Boliang blushed, coughed dryly, and protested, “I only used this method because the boy was so tough, and we had to get on with business. I had no choice.” He then instructed the ruffians, “Tie this boy up!”

Hou Jie witnessed everything from behind, watching their shameless tactics—using even the lowest tricks in the martial world, tossing lime dust—and he erupted in curses. “Damn you all! What nonsense ‘Sword of Death’? You dare call yourself a knight? You're worse than dogs, worse than thugs! All you know is ambush and treachery!”

Ma Boliang and his men heard Hou Jie’s outburst but had no wish to argue with a dead man. They raised their swords, ready to finish him off.

Seeing their murderous faces, Hou Jie panicked. He knew his own limits—he was no match for them. Worse, this alley was a dead end, high walls on both sides, escape impossible.

As Ma Boliang and Tong Dekun drew closer, Hou Jie sweated profusely. His leader had fallen, and he had to get word back. Desperate, he came up with a plan—to escape over the wall.

The alley was flanked by grand residences, their walls taller than a man. On any other day, Hou Jie would never clear them. But desperation breeds courage. With a shout, he leapt up, relying on his nimble limbs and martial skills, grabbing hold of the wall’s edge. Elated, he scrambled up and over.

Seated on the wall, Hou Jie steadied himself and shouted, “You turtle-hearted cowards! Wait for me! This isn’t over!” With that, he swung his leg over and vanished into the courtyard beyond.

Ma Boliang moved to pursue, but Tong Dekun pulled him back. “Let him go, Old Ma. The main prize is in hand. Within half an hour, the Prince of Qin will have news. We must hurry! Once we deliver the boy, we’ll get our reward—enough to live in ease for the rest of our days, no more blood and blades.”

Ma Boliang nodded. “Right. The boy’s from the Prince of Qin’s household, and the prince is not to be trifled with. No need for trouble. We hand him over, take the money, disappear forever from Chang’an.”

By now, the ruffians had trussed up the unconscious Li Mingyu. Tong Dekun picked up a dagger, grinning ominously, and approached the Five Ghosts of the Fang family. With swift strokes, he dispatched them all, ending their lives while they were still senseless.

Ma Boliang was startled. “Why did you do that?”

Tong Dekun sneered. “Since they call themselves the Five Ghosts, I’ll send them to the underworld where ghosts belong. That way, there’s more reward for us, less to share.”

Ma Boliang nodded, finding the logic sound, and said no more. He gestured, “Let’s go! The longer we tarry, the more trouble we invite.”

The group hoisted Li Mingyu and took the quietest routes, winding through the alleys of Chang’an, avoiding all eyes. In moments, they vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, Hou Jie had landed in a merchant’s courtyard. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Help! Murder! Somebody help!”

The Western Market was the most bustling part of Chang’an, home to wealthy merchants. The owner of this house was no exception, with servants and guards aplenty.

Hou Jie’s cries startled the household. At first, the owner thought it was a thief and came out with his armed servants.

They found a boy of about ten, thin and disheveled, but dressed like someone from a well-off family.

The owner asked, “Who are you? Why are you shouting in my courtyard?”

With Mingyu abducted, time was critical. Hou Jie yelled, “Quick! Someone’s been kidnapped just outside your wall! Hurry, or it’ll be too late!”

Seeing the owner still doubtful, he revealed his identity. “I’m from a respectable family! My father is Hou Junji, a captain of the Prince of Qin’s guards! My companion was kidnapped, and they tried to catch me too! Please, save him!”

The owner saw the boy’s sweat and confusion, but his urgency seemed genuine. He ordered his servants to investigate.

Soon, they returned in a panic. “The villains are gone, but outside the wall there’s blood and several corpses.”

The owner was shocked—death outside his home, disaster falling from the sky. He hurriedly sent someone to report to the city guards, while grabbing Hou Jie and pleading, “Young sir, when the guards arrive, please explain—this has nothing to do with me!”

Hou Jie, seeing Mingyu gone and his own anxiety rising, shook him off impatiently. “Of course it’s not your fault! Get me a horse—I must report this at once!”

“Yes, yes, prepare a horse!” The owner, reassured, quickly gave orders.

The city guards—called ‘Wuhou’ or ‘Unruly Men’—were akin to modern city patrols.

Within moments, a dozen guards arrived, surrounding the residence. Their captain, chain and ropes in hand, barked orders to seize everyone.

Hou Jie glared at them. “Are you blind? Trying to seize the victim? My father is Hou Junji, a captain in the Prince of Qin’s household! Who dares touch me?”

The guards paused, scrutinizing him. Indeed, Hou Jie bore some resemblance to Hou Junji, and he didn’t seem to be lying.

The city guards were under the jurisdiction of Yongzhou Prefecture, whose governor was the Prince of Qin, Li Shimin. Hou Junji was one of Li Shimin’s trusted generals, well known to the guards.

Their captain smiled. “So you’re Hou’s son. Is this matter related to you?”

Hou Jie pressed urgently, “I passed by here with my companion, and villains attacked and kidnapped him. Issue a city-wide alert! The culprits are Ma Boliang, the Sword of Death, and Tong Dekun, the Laughing Maitreya. They kidnapped a boy from the Prince of Qin’s household! The mastermind is Dugu Jie!”

The captain’s face fell. This was trouble! Neither the Dugu family nor the Prince of Qin’s household could be offended. He spread his hands helplessly. “Young sir, you know we can’t get involved.”

Hou Jie shoved him aside angrily. “If you can’t get involved, stop wasting time! Send someone with me to report this!”

The captain nodded vigorously. “Of course! Where should we report?”

“Of course we should—” Hou Jie paused. Young and inexperienced, he was rattled by the crisis. He’d meant to go straight to his father, but imagining Hou Junji’s grim face, he faltered. If his father learned Hou Jie had led Mingyu to the gambling den, causing this disaster...he might break his legs. Hou Jie shivered, deciding not to go there.

But with Mingyu abducted and his fate unknown, there was no avoiding it. Steeling himself, Hou Jie said, “To the Prince of Qin’s household! Report to the princess first!”

With that, he and two guards mounted the prepared horses and galloped toward the Prince of Qin’s residence.

Hou Jie, anxious, urged his horse on, and before long, the gates came into view.

He didn’t wait for the horse to halt, but leapt off and rushed to the gates, shouting at the guards, “Where’s the princess? Report to her immediately! Something terrible has happened!”

The guards, familiar with Hou Jie’s daily visits to the academy, recognized him and sensed the urgency. They led him inside and sent word ahead.

Hou Jie knew his way around and hurried toward the rear halls, meeting Wang De, the chief steward, halfway.

Wang De was about to question him, but Hou Jie grabbed him. “There’s no time! Take me to the princess! Mingyu—he’s been kidnapped!”

Wang De’s face darkened, and he swiftly led Hou Jie to Lady Changsun.

Lady Changsun was with her daughter, Lizi, enjoying bowls of double-skinned milk.

Hou Jie, soaked in sweat, rushed in and cried, “Princess! Something terrible has happened! Mingyu—Mingyu has been kidnapped by the Dugu family!”

“Ah!” Lady Changsun was thunderstruck, her bowl slipping from her hands and shattering.

But she was Lady Changsun, seasoned and composed. She steadied herself and said, “Little Jie, calm yourself. Tell me everything, step by step. What happened to Mingyu? How did the Dugu family become involved?”

Her calm infected Hou Jie. He collected himself and recounted the events, omitting, of course, their visit to Dugu’s gambling den, instead saying they were strolling the Western Market when villains struck.

Lady Changsun listened intently, probing for details. When she heard Mingyu deduce the culprits were from the Dugu family, her brows shot up, her eyes blazing. She said coldly, “Outrageous! Sword of Death? Laughing Maitreya? These so-called knights are audacious! And the Dugu family—Dugu Jie! Do they think they can rule Chang’an as they please? Such lawlessness! They take our Prince of Qin’s household for fools!”

She stood, gritting her teeth, and ordered, “Wang De, send word to Erlang! Notify Li Junxian! Gather all the guards, and coordinate with the city patrols. Search all of Chang’an! Turn the city upside down if you must—find Mingyu! If he’s harmed in the slightest, the Dugu family and we will be mortal enemies!”