After we left the tunnel, I helped Chang Dong get to the inn he stayed in—and then broke both his legs.
It was almost painless! For me.
His screams made my headache worse…
"Have a good night, M-master Ru," Chang Dong said after he stopped screaming. "I must say, breaking a leg did wonders! I feel not drunk at all anymore. Not at all… Oh, but how I wish I was!"
I chuckled.
"Have a good night too, Uncle. And thank you for the sights you showed me today—I will remember that favor, believe it. If you find anything like that in the future, tell me about it. I will be even more grateful."
"Sure, sure, Master Ru! I will also try to not give you any more reasons to break my bones…" Chang Dong winced.
Then a called upon doctor finally appeared, and I left the two be, returning to the governor's palace.
Despite a desire to tell Lin Chu everything at once, I actually went to bed. My teacher was sleeping already, and a few hours were unlikely to change anything.
***
"A secret smuggler's tunnel? How surprising, and yet not, to hear this from you. How did you find it, Disciple Ru?"
"A new friend told me. But I promised to not tell his name, Master, so I really hope you won't ask it."
Lin Chu gave me an extremely cold look.
"A student should have no secret from his teacher, but you keep acting by yourself, Disciple. However, I don't care about every small-time criminal and smuggler, anyway. At least you had the courage and honor to not lie and stick to your friendships. So, where does the tunnel lead?"
He opened a large map of the Thousand Swallows city and its surroundings on his office table. I showed the position of the tunnel the best I could, based on things I've seen and things Chang Dong told me.
Lin Chu made notes with the new writing set I gifted him. I was glad that I understood my teacher's tastes so well. The more Lin Chu cared about me, the tighter I was hugging his leg! As a mere disciple, I was already competing with his family and clan—I needed every advantage, or my investment in Lin Chu could end up being worse than worthless.
"I will order guards placed in the tunnel, so the enemy won't ambush us through it," Lin Chu said.
After that, he fell silent, just staring at the map thoughtfully. I, however, was itching with a desire for action. During the night, I had some ideas.
Since Lin Deng was out of commission, this was the best chance of Lin Chu to actually score a victory against the Tao clan. Not only because Lin Deng won't be interfering with Lin Chu's strategy, but also because when Lin Chu won, all the credit will be his!
"Master, what if our soldiers go through the tunnel and ambush the enemy? Maybe even… Some soldiers attack through the tunnel, while the main force attacks through the gate. We will press them between a rock and a hard place—like they tried to do to us."
Lin Chu shook his head with a frown.
"This is a good idea in theory, Disciple—but this tunnel is too narrow. The soldiers we send will be quickly noticed, and then the enemy will slaughter them before enough can get through the tunnel to resist. Although, I suppose, we can send a few saboteurs…"
He hummed thoughtfully.
"Yes, setting fire on their tents and poisoning their water supply might work even if they expect tricks—but only once. After that, they will definitely find the tunnel. Too bad that we are stuck in this city with mostly cavalry. The Lin clan's army isn't suited for sieges. But we who walk upon this soil must work with what heavens send us."
I racked my brains about this. That was a bad position to be in—but I must've been possessed by the spirit of a genius strategist today, because I was brimming with ideas.
"Master, but what about the hungry spirits you created before? I know the Circle of Hungry Spirits is a defensive formation, but surely there must be other undead we can send through a tunnel. Imagine them attacking in the night—ten Tao soldiers will die from fear for each man who will actually fall to an enemy."
"Disciple! Didn't you listen to what I said? Undead soldiers don't work."
"But why? Even temporary ones—"
"Enough. Have you learned the Purple Dragon Claw technique yet, Ru Yujin, or were you too busy drinking?"
I bowed, as if I could dodge my teacher's wrath by simply letting it fly over my head.
"I hit a dummy with a blade wave yesterday, Master. I'm close to learning it!"
"Then do that, and don't distract me until you do, Disciple, or you will regret it." I felt Lin Chu's glare with the top of my bowed head. "After that, I will answer your question in the only way you seem to understand."
That sounded ominous… I shivered.
"Yes, Master. I won't bother you anymore, Master…"
I slunk away from his office. Learn Purple Dragon Claw technique? Sure, I was going to do that, anyway.
I didn't go straight to the training grounds, though. First, I visited Fen Kuang. Even though he couldn't see it, he received the sword I bought him with two hands, like the most welcome gift, and thanked me appropriately.
And he was receptive to my request, too.
"The Spring Snow Step Technique? If you think this will help you kill more of the Tao gods, I will gladly share this knowledge. I'm afraid I can't show it in my current state, but I can explain it with words. The hardest part about it is not the activation of the technique, but using it in practice. It requires grace that few disciples in our clan possess."
The technique was as simple as I thought—it created small platforms from solid ice under one's feet, which a cultivator could use to "run" over the air. The hardest part was not slipping on them.
After listening to Fen Kuang's explanation, I could create an ice platform already. However, I didn't practice jumping on them. Neither did I try making an Earth platform that will be less slippery.
Instead, I practiced Purple Dragon Claw. That was much more important.
The sooner I learn it, the sooner Lin Chu will tell me more about his qualms about undead. I felt like this might be our best chance to deal with Lin Deng before he dealt with us…