**CHAPTER 18 — Shadows in the Courtyard**
Night settled over the Wu residence like a velvet shroud, its silence heavy and trembling with unspoken tension. Jason Wu stood alone in the training courtyard, the air around him still vibrating faintly from the residual energy of his earlier breakthrough. The cracked stone tiles at his feet glowed faintly, as if still remembering the martial pressure unleashed moments ago. He inhaled deeply, letting his breath settle, letting his mind sharpen. The dangers around him were shifting—he could feel it.
A soft rustle came from behind the old willow tree. Jason didn't turn. "You can come out," he said quietly.
Lily Chen stepped from the shadows, her expression conflicted. Her long hair fluttered in the cold wind, and the faint blush on her cheeks was impossible to hide under the moonlight. "You… you were pushing yourself too hard. Anyone could hear the shockwaves from the courtyard."
Jason Wu tilted his head. "Were you worried about me?"
"Of course!" Lily snapped—then immediately looked away, flustered. "I mean… I'm just making sure you won't collapse and make more work for the household…"
Jason smirked. "Sure. Completely understandable concern."
Lily's face reddened. "Jason Wu, if you tease me once more, I swear—"
Before she could finish, a faint metallic whistle cut through the courtyard.
Jason reacted instantly. His arm shot out, and two fingers caught the small black dart aimed directly at Lily's throat.
Lily froze. "A… an assassination attempt?"
Jason's eyes darkened. "Not the first. Probably not the last."
He examined the dart—coated in poison, the metal etched with a sigil belonging to the Crimson Wraith Hall, an underworld organization rumored to target rising talents. The fact that they dared attack within the Wu residence itself was a direct provocation—not against Jason alone, but the entire Wu bloodline.
Footsteps rushed in from the gate. It was Leon Fong, Jason's closest brother-figure. "Jason! Are you alright? I sensed killing intent from outside the estate."
Jason tossed him the dart. Leon caught it, his face paling. "Crimson Wraith Hall… why would they target you this early?"
"Someone wants to delay my rise," Jason said flatly. "Or stop it entirely."
Leon cursed under his breath. "I'll alert the guards—"
"No." Jason raised a hand. "If we make a big scene, they'll simply retreat and plan a larger attack. For now, let them believe their attempt failed unnoticed."
Leon met his eyes, understood immediately, and nodded. "Then what's your plan?"
Jason Wu turned toward the willow tree once more, staring into its wavering silhouette as though it held the answers. "If the shadows want to hunt me," he murmured, "then I'll hunt them back."
Lily stepped closer, lowering her voice. "But Jason… the Crimson Wraith Hall is infamous. Even major clans avoid provoking them."
Jason Wu's expression softened briefly. "Lily. If I let fear dictate my path, I would've died years ago."
Her eyes trembled with something like worry—and something more tender beneath.
Leon grinned suddenly, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, the Jason Wu I know would probably hunt them down just for interrupting his training time."
Jason sighed. "You're not wrong."
The momentary laughter faded. A heavier silence returned to the courtyard—thick, watchful.
Jason suddenly crouched and pressed his palm to the ground. "There are traces. Footprints. Three assassins entered the estate, but only one approached directly."
Leon knelt beside him. "Meaning two are hiding nearby?"
Jason nodded. "Still within the walls."
Before Leon could react, Jason moved. His figure shot forward like a streak of silver lightning. He pivoted behind a pillar and struck with his palm; a muffled grunt echoed as a masked assassin fell from the rooftop tiles.
Lily gasped. "He was that close?!"
Jason didn't answer. His gaze was sharp, scanning the darkness. "One more."
He spun—and caught a blade between his fingertips.
The final assassin trembled. "Y-you… monster…"
Jason Wu's voice was cold. "Tell your employer: If they wish to kill me, send someone stronger."
He flicked his fingers. The blade shattered. The assassin collapsed unconscious.
Leon whistled low. "You've gotten terrifying, Jason."
Lily stepped forward cautiously, brushing dust from Jason's sleeve. "You also got reckless."
Jason looked at her hand—and didn't pull away. "I'll be careful."
Her blush returned instantly. "G-good. Because I'm not healing you if you get stabbed again."
Leon snorted. "Lily, you literally healed him three times last week—"
"LEON!"
The courtyard echoed with comedic bickering, but beneath it ran an undercurrent of danger, thicker than ever.
Jason turned his gaze toward the night sky. "The enemy is moving. Which means…" His eyes sharpened. "…so must I."
Tomorrow, he would begin his investigation. Tomorrow, the hunt began.
And the world would soon learn why the name **Wu** made even assassins tremble.