O Caminho Inusitado da Dinastia Ming

“Quick, surround the Pan residence—don’t let a single fly escape!”

The hurried footsteps echoed through the alley, accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of hooves. A few men, leading the charge, reined in their horses before the grand gate of the Pan estate. They dismounted in one swift motion, the scales on their flying fish uniforms shimmering sharply under the sunlight, piercing Pan Yun’s eyes with their glare.

Almost simultaneously as they dismounted, she slipped behind a wall, holding her breath. Only after confirming that no one had spotted her did she slowly exhale.

A loud bang followed—the gate was rammed open. Then came the panicked cries of her aunt and the enraged shouts of her uncle.

The scene from two months prior replayed vividly in her mind. Clenching her fists to suppress the murderous intent swelling within, she turned away without looking back.

Yet, she did not go far. Instead, she skirted around the corners of a few neighboring houses, stopping beside a small door leading into a narrow alley where a pile of firewood was stacked.

Just as her second brother had said, the Qiao family liked to pile firewood by the west corner gate. The alley ended in a wall, and no one usually came this way.

Pan Yun crouched low beneath the firewood, crossed her legs, and began to silently chant. A star-like light seemed to fall upon her eyes, and the two paper birds she had left within the Pan estate simultaneously opened their eyes.

Through the paper birds’ gaze, she clearly observed the three embroidered guards who first sto