Chapter 17: The Midnight Escape

The smoke swallowed everything.

Zhang Ye's vision vanished. The thick, choking fog blurred the world into shadows and silence.

Tch. Cheap tricks.

He exhaled slowly, gripping his sword tighter. Think.

The assassins relied on speed and stealth. With the smoke, they had every advantage. If he swung blindly, he'd only waste energy.

A whisper of movement.

Zhang Ye twisted just in time.

CLANG!

His blade clashed against a dagger. Sparks flickered in the darkness.

The assassin vanished again.

Wei Han's voice came from somewhere in the fog. "They're trying to separate us!"

Zhang Ye smirked. "Then we don't let them."

Another attack this time from the left.

Zhang Ye didn't dodge.

Instead, he stepped in.

The assassin expected him to retreat. They miscalculated.

Zhang Ye's elbow slammed into their gut.

THUD!

A sharp gasp. The assassin stumbled.

Zhang Ye twisted his sword around their wrist

CRACK!

The dagger clattered to the ground.

Zhang Ye didn't hesitate. He grabbed the assassin's collar and hurled them into the dirt.

One down.

Wei Han's sword flickered somewhere nearby CLANG! CLANG! He was still fighting.

Master He's deep chuckle rumbled through the fog. "Tch. This is getting boring."

Then

BOOM!

A powerful gust of wind exploded outward.

Zhang Ye felt the smoke scatter.

When his vision cleared, Master He stood in the center of the battlefield his massive arms crossed, his opponent unconscious at his feet.

Wei Han, slightly out of breath, had his blade pressed against an assassin's throat.

Only one assassin remained.

The leader.

Their breath was ragged. Their stance lowered.

Zhang Ye smirked, flipping his sword. "You're alone now."

The assassin exhaled.

Then they did something unexpected.

They reached into their sleeve

And threw a small silver dart.

Not at Zhang Ye.

At Wei Han.

Zhang Ye's smirk vanished.

Damn it!

Wei Han's eyes widened. Too late to dodge!

Zhang Ye moved before he thought.

He lunged grabbing Wei Han's shoulder and spinning him aside.

The dart sliced through the air

And buried itself in Zhang Ye's arm.

A sharp sting. Then a burning sensation.

Zhang Ye froze.

The assassin's eyes gleamed. "Poison."

Zhang Ye's fingers went numb. His sword felt heavier.

His vision blurred.

Wei Han caught him before he fell. "Zhang Ye!"

The assassin didn't stay to watch. They turned and vanished into the night.

Master He cursed. "Damn it! They planned this!"

Zhang Ye tried to speak but his throat burned. His limbs felt like lead.

Poison.

Strong. Fast-acting.

Wei Han's grip tightened. "We need an antidote. Now!"

Master He's gaze darkened. "The only place nearby with that kind of medicine is the Tang Clan."

Wei Han gritted his teeth. "Then we move. Now."

Zhang Ye's vision darkened.

His body was shutting down.

The last thing he heard was Master He's voice low, grim.

"If we don't get there in time… he won't survive the night."

Zhang Ye's world faded in and out.

His body felt heavy, distant. The burning in his veins had turned into a slow, creeping numbness. His limbs refused to move. His breath came in shallow gasps.

Poison.

A strong one.

Damn it… I can't even lift my sword.

He barely registered the feeling of being carried. Wei Han had him slung over his shoulder, moving fast. Too fast for a normal person.

Master He ran beside them, his expression grim. "The poison's spreading too fast."

Wei Han's jaw clenched. "Tang Clan is the closest place with an antidote, right?"

Master He nodded. "But getting in won't be easy. The Tang Clan doesn't just hand out their medicines."

Zhang Ye gritted his teeth, forcing out a hoarse whisper. "Then we take it."

Wei Han snorted. "You really don't know how to ask nicely, do you?"

Master He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "He's got the right idea. If we go through official channels, he'll be dead before they even agree to meet us."

Wei Han picked up speed. "Then we break in."

The wind howled past them as they moved. The Tang Clan's compound was still miles away, but they had no choice.

Zhang Ye had until sunrise.

After that He wouldn't wake up.

Zhang Ye's vision blurred in and out. Each breath felt thick, heavy. The poison was spreading fast.

Through the haze, he heard rushing footsteps. Wei Han's grip tightened as he carried him over his shoulder, moving with urgency.

Master He's voice cut through the night. "Almost there."

Zhang Ye forced his eyes open.

Ahead a massive compound loomed in the darkness.

Tall stone walls, thick wooden gates, and lantern-lit watchtowers. Even at this hour, the Tang Clan was heavily guarded. Figures moved along the walls, alert and watchful.

Zhang Ye grinned weakly. "You… call this easy?"

Wei Han huffed. "You should be unconscious."

Zhang Ye chuckled. "I don't like following orders."

Master He's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to negotiate. We're getting in, one way or another."

Wei Han adjusted his grip on Zhang Ye. "I count at least ten guards on the walls."

Master He cracked his knuckles. "Then we do this fast."

Zhang Ye's vision swam. He could feel his body slowing down.

Tch. I won't die like this.

The Tang Clan's antidotes were inside those walls.

And they were going to take one.

No matter who stood in their way.

Zhang Ye's breath slowed. His vision swayed, the poison clawing at his consciousness.

Wei Han crouched behind a cluster of trees, his gaze locked on the Tang Clan's walls. "Too many guards. We can't just walk in."

Master He smirked. "Then we stop walking."

With a low exhale, he picked up a rock and casually tossed it.

CLACK.

The rock bounced off the far wall. Instantly, the guards' attention snapped toward the sound.

"Intruders!" one shouted.

Half of them rushed toward the disturbance.

Wei Han's brow twitched. "That was lucky."

Master He chuckled. "Luck had nothing to do with it."

Zhang Ye coughed weakly. "Less talking… more stealing."

Wei Han's grip tightened around his sword. "Alright. We go in quiet."

They darted forward.

Master He grabbed the wall's ledge with one hand and vaulted up like it was nothing. Wei Han followed, moving like a shadow.

Zhang Ye barely holding on to consciousness was hauled up over the wall.

Inside, the Tang Clan's courtyard stretched wide. Rows of storage rooms, medicinal halls, and training areas.

Master He pointed. "The apothecary's that way. Move fast."

They darted toward the largest building. Every step felt like a struggle for Zhang Ye his body was shutting down.

I need that antidote.

But just as they reached the doors

A voice rang out.

"Who dares trespass in the Tang Clan?"

Zhang Ye's head tilted up.

A figure in dark green robes stood before them, arms crossed.

His cold eyes gleamed.

"The penalty for intruding is death."

Wei Han tensed, his grip tightening on his sword. Master He let out a low grunt, cracking his knuckles.

Zhang Ye, barely holding onto consciousness, let out a weak chuckle. "Great… we finally find the medicine, and now we have to fight for it."

The Tang Clan disciple in dark green robes stepped forward. His posture was calm, controlled. But his eyes carried undeniable killing intent.

"You've made a mistake," the disciple said, his voice icy. "Trespassing into the Tang Clan is a death sentence."

Master He snorted. "Kid, we don't have time for threats. Step aside."

The disciple raised a brow. "Or what?"

Master He grinned. "Or I break you in half."

The disciple's gaze sharpened. "You think brute strength can compare to the Tang Clan's poison arts?"

Wei Han exhaled. "This idiot is stalling for reinforcements. We don't have time for this."

Zhang Ye, still slumped over Wei Han's shoulder, coughed weakly. "Then stop talking… and knock him out already."

Master He chuckled. "I like the way you think, brat."

Then he moved.

Fast.

Too fast for a man his size.

The Tang disciple barely had time to react before Master He's fist crashed into his stomach.

BOOM!

The disciple's body lifted off the ground, crashing into the courtyard wall.

Wei Han whistled. "Well… that was easy."

Master He rolled his shoulders. "I warned him."

Zhang Ye groaned. "Less celebrating… more antidote… before I die."

Wei Han kicked open the apothecary doors.

Shelves of glass vials and herbal jars lined the room, the scent of medicine thick in the air.

Master He grabbed the nearest scroll. His eyes scanned the ingredients list. "Found it." He turned toward Wei Han. "Start searching."

Zhang Ye's vision blurred again.

He could barely hear their voices anymore. His body felt numb, distant.

His last thought before blacking out

If I wake up, I'm punching that assassin in the face.