There is a wonton stall in an alley near the north street of Celestial Dance City.
A wandering physician is enthusiastically eating from a bowl, slurping as he goes.
The wontons have thin skins and are filled generously, with a base broth made from small bok choy, sprinkled with some dried shrimp, and drizzled with chili oil.
The wandering physician's nose was beaded with fine sweat from the spicy flavor.
A moment later, after swallowing the last bit of soup, he threw the large bowl onto the pile of bowls beside him.
He patted his stomach, content, and sighed:
"Delicious, delicious. In my opinion, boss, your wontons are indeed a marvel of Celestial Dance City. The Flavor Pavilion and Bamboo Grove can't compare to you."
The stall owner sat nearby, looking bored.
Today's business was bleak, as the Chu Family was hosting guests with a banquet style feast, where saying congratulations allowed entrance to dine.
His small wonton stall naturally attracted no visitors.
Listening to the wandering physician, the owner was not pleased, and instead looked at the physician warily:
"You aren't planning to eat without paying, are you?"
These days, it's common for people to struggle to find food. While Celestial Dance City is fairly well-governed under Wu Ganqi, not everyone has enough to eat.
Moreover, some people idle around rather than work, and when starving, seek out places like restaurants to dine for free.
They order lavish meals, eat their fill, and after that, call for the waiter, curl into a ball, waiting for a beating.
Restaurants have large businesses and plenty of staff. Even if they haven't hired martial artists as thugs, kitchen hands and woodcutters in the yard can act as muscle.
Such beatings can sometimes be severe enough to kill someone.
Here the wandering physician finished his meal without paying, and heaping praise, he hardly seemed like a decent person.
If he really intended to dine without paying, his small stall wasn't as big and strong as a restaurant.
If a fight broke out, it's hard to say who would win...
The wandering physician chuckled:
"Where did you get that idea, boss? Do I look like someone who doesn't pay for their meals?"
Saying this, he took out money for the wontons and tossed it on the table.
Standing up, he gently exhaled:
"Feels like it might rain, hope I get another chance to eat your wontons."
After saying this, he picked up the sign beside him and walked out of the alley.
The owner watched his back, pouted, took the money, and tucked it into his chest.
He looked up, saw the endless clear sky, and wondered where the rain was?
"Nutter..."
He muttered, then swiftly packed up his stall.
He wasn't working today either and planned to go to the Chu Family banquet.
After the wandering physician walked out of the alley, he headed east, leaving through the east city gate, avoiding the main road, and instead turning onto a nearby winding path.
Once he reached a secluded spot, he tossed the sign into the bushes and started to take off his clothes.
Just then, several figures in cyan robes appeared, surrounding him.
The physician's expression froze briefly, then he forced a laugh:
"Are you after wealth or my life, gentlemen?"
"Come with us,"
One cyan-robed figure stepped forward, speaking coldly.
"Alright, alright, so you're after me,"
He nodded quickly, clasping his hands together as if submitting willingly.
One cyan-robed figure was about to take a rope from behind to bind him, when suddenly the physician flicked his hands, scattering white powder that instantly turned into a white fog.
Initially they thought it'd be an easy capture, since he appeared compliant.
Unexpectedly, this maneuver caught everyone off guard except one cautious figure who hadn't approached, otherwise, all were caught in the mist.
The next moment, a flash of sharp light appeared.
The figures all groaned, clutching their throats and kneeling on the ground.
Blood flowed freely from between their fingers.
The last cyan-robed figure realized something was wrong and turned to retreat... this person had swiftly killed his companions, he was clearly no match, he had to send back word.
But before he took several steps, there was the sound of wind breaking from behind.
He turned hurriedly, but his body jolted.
A shuttle dart had already pierced his throat.
Once the white fog dissipated, the physician grinned:
"Trouble, real trouble..."
"Did they discover me so quickly? Something seems off."
He rubbed his forehead and began clearing the evidence on site.
Then he stripped off his clothes, took a set of cyan robes but didn't wear them, just carried them along.
This was to confuse the pursuing soldiers. Upon reaching the site, seeing the physician's clothes on the ground, with a set of cyan robes missing, they would surely suspect he had changed into them.
Unbeknownst to them, under his outer garment was a set of black attire.
After setting up a fake trail indicating he fled east, he leapt north.
He planned for the pursuers to search east for cyan robes, who would suspect he was in black attire fleeing north?
Walking this route half an hour, with twists and turns, ensuring no pursuers were behind, he finally relaxed.
Just about to move forward, his expression suddenly changed.
He turned rapidly, seeing a figure rising in the air, a single palm extending, creating a wall of qi around.
"Cyan Void Palm!!"
He could hardly believe his eyes; the Cyan Void Palm was a Chu Family secret.
In the Chu Family's legacy, the palm technique was passed down through generations.
Initially its power was ordinary, but as inner strength from Ruo Xu Scripture increased, it gradually revealed remarkable effects.
Why was someone from the Chu Family pursuing him here?
Thinking this, he didn't hesitate, executed two palms together, opposing each other, as if pulses flowed between them.
Then turned and pushed with both hands.
A surge of mighty force emanated from him, colliding fiercely with the Cyan Void Palm's power.
Boom!!!
At the sound of the muffled explosion, the physician felt a moment of relief.
This person used the Cyan Void Palm, but lacked the inner power to unleash its true might, and was knocked flying by his palm strike.
He wasn't an assassin; he was a contact person.
Though unaware of which Chu Family member engaged, he didn't want entanglement.
Catching the opponent off guard, he intended to turn and leave.
Unanticipatedly, as he turned... a sword suddenly pierced through his shoulder.
"What..."
Though clearly shocked, his reaction was swift.
Seizing the chance as the opponent withdrew the sword, he turned, channeling inner strength into his palm, ready to strike, yet turning back, he found no one.
Next moment, his ankles cooled abruptly, losing strength to stand, he collapsed with a thud.
A blood-stained sword pressed against his neck.
A familiar voice whispered by his ear:
"White Chess, you're alive again, why didn't you tell me?"