Qiang rushed out the apothecary and headed toward the city gates. One must pass through the city gates to leave the capital. Qiang would make it there first, considering she didn't have a cart to push.
The summer heat added to the humidity, making it hard to run. Qiang was constantly out of breath, but she couldn't dare to stop. She punched her legs as she ran toward the city gate, not allowing herself to take a single break. The apothecary was far from the city gate, and taking a horse would have been faster.
But a lowly woman assassin couldn't possibly own a horse. Her grandfather wasn't the most successful physician in the capital either so he couldn't afford a horse either. Qiang had to rely on her legs for this one.
By the time she reached the city gates, the sun had already started to set and the time to close the gates was drawing near. Many merchants who came from other cities and countries were leaving before the gate could close.
