The three women left soon after.
Walking toward the market like any ordinary group. But beneath that calm measured pace everything was already in motion.
The ambush wasn't something that might happen. It was something that would. And the moment it did there would be no room left for arrogance.
Only consequence.
None of them dressed for battle. That alone made them far more dangerous.
Jin Mulan walked at the center clad in a flowing hanfu of deep crimson silk the fabric layered yet deliberately cut for movement.
A high slit along one side revealed the line of her leg with each step the gold thread embroidery catching the sunlight like flickers of flame. Her waist was drawn tight with an embroidered sash, her posture straight yet controlled.
Her long red-tinted hair fell down her back in smooth waves half-pinned with delicate gold ornaments. Her eyes remained forward sharp and composed
like fire ambers.
Su Kim walked to her right her pale lavender attire tailored closer to her form. The sleeves were fitted the robe split subtly at both sides to allow swift movement beneath the illusion of softness.
The lighter inner layer shifted with each step like mist revealing just enough to hint at her agility. Her collar dipped slightly exposing the graceful line of her neck and collarbone. Her revan black hair was loosely tied, strands brushing her cheeks softening her expression. Gentle. Deceptive.
Jin Su walked on the other side. Ice-blue silk clung more closely to her frame falling cleanly before opening in a controlled thigh high cut designed for motion not display though it inevitably drew attention anyway.
Fine silver embroidery traced along the edges like frost patterns. Her neckline was slightly open her posture effortless her presence quiet yet heavy. Refined yet commanding.
Behind them a dozen guards followed in disciplined formation. Weapons visible. Movements measured. Nobility did not travel unguarded.
Just before they left the estate Luo He had leaned lazily against a pillar watching them prepare. His eyes moved from one to the other. Then he sighed. "Troublesome," he muttered. Jin Mulan glanced at him. "What now?" She asked annoyed.
He gestured vaguely toward them. "If you walk around like this" he said. "We might need more guards not fewer." Su Kim raised an eyebrow. "For protection?" She asked.
"No," Luo He replied seriously. "To manage the crowd when people start tripping over themselves." Jin Mulan rolled her eyes. Su Kim tried not to smile.
He stepped closer circling them once like he was inspecting equipment before battle. Then he stopped beside Jin Mulan.
"That slit," he said pointing lightly. "Practical. Though intising non the less."
She narrowed her eyes. "Say what you want to say." She said sarcasticly.
"I'm saying," he continued calmly. "If you kick someone at least now they'll see it coming." He said. "Get lost." She was furious as she understood what he meant.
He turned to Su Kim next. Paused.
Tilted his head. "You look harmless," he said. "That's the point," she replied.
He nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. The kind that stabs people while apologizing."
She actually laughed at that. "Not wrong."
Then his gaze shifted to Jin Su. He stopped. For once he didn't joke. Instead he bowed his head once. "You look seductive mother but I mean that in a good way." he said simply. "You're still adjusting so don't exhaust yourself too much." Jin Su returned the gesture.
No teasing. No mockery. Only recognition.
Then just as they were about to leave, Luo He spoke again. Almost casually.
"If he picks you," he said glancing at Su Kim "break his legs."
A pause.
"If he picks Mulan," he added. "Break his pride first. Legs after." Jin Mulan smirked faintly. "And if he picks her?" Su Kim asked nodding toward Jin Su. Luo He looked at Jin Su briefly. Then back at them.
"Then we won't need to do anything."
He said. The way he said it made even the guards straighten slightly. Now as they walked through the market everything unfolded exactly as intended.
And from a distance hidden among the crowd Luo He watched. Arms folded.
Expression calm. A faint trace of amusement still lingering in his eyes.
Because for all the preparation and for all the strategy he knew one thing for certain. No matter how this began it was not going to end well for the man who walked into it. Except if it was he of course.
The market was alive. Voices overlapped in waves vendors calling, coins clinking, footsteps weaving through narrow paths between stalls.
Spices, silk, ironwork, fresh produce, everything crowded into a single restless rhythm. And into that rhythm they walked in. Three figures who didn't belong.
Not because they stood out loudly but because the space itself seemed to shift around them. People moved aside without realizing why. Conversations dipped. Eyes followed.
The duke's son hadn't stepped in yet.
He was watching. Measuring. Waiting.
From the far end of the street Luo He watched it all unfold every movement, every gap, every shift in intent.
Then he moved. By the time the three women adjusted their stance slightly he was already beside them.
Luo He:- I've got eyes on the target. He's coming.
Jin Mulan didn't turn.
Jin Mulan:- Then why are you still here?
Luo He smiled faintly folding his arms like he had all the time in the world.
Luo He:- I'm a cowardly husband with no skills. Living off my wife. Big mouth but useless in a fight.
Su Kim's lips curved slightly. Jin Su remained still but her grip on her blade tightened just a fraction.
Luo He:- What do you expect from someone like that?
A small pause. Then a smirk appeared on his face.
Luo He:- I provoke him of course.
Jin Mulan finally glanced at him.
Jin Mulan: - Try not to die.
Luo He:- Relax. If things go wrong, I'll hide behind you.
Su Kim let out a soft breath that almost sounded like a laugh. The guards subtly tightened formation. Weapons ready.
Eyes sharp.
Then he arrived.
The duke's son stepped forward his companions spreading slightly behind him. His gaze swept over the three women then landed on Luo He. A brief pause. A faint curl of amusement.
Duke's Son:- Well... and who might you be?
Luo He blinked once then straightened slightly.
Luo He:- Oh? You're talking to me?
A few of the men behind the duke's son chuckled.
Duke's Son: - Unless there's another man hiding behind them. Luo He turned his head slowly peering behind Jin Mulan.
Luo He:- Is there?
No response. He nodded to himself.
Luo He:- Good. Just checking.
More laughter. Dismissive. Exactly as intended. Luo He stepped forward just enough to stand slightly ahead of the three women. Not shielding. Not confronting. Just present.
Luo He:- I'm nobody important. Just a man trying to enjoy the market with his girls and mother.
The duke's son's gaze shifted past him again lingering on the women.
Duke's Son: - Mother?
Jin Su:- She went to pick up some fish.
Every one laughed a slight smile at Jin Su's comment.
Luo He:- Ah yes. That's the problem isn't it?
A faint shift in the air. Tension tightening.
Duke's Son:- What problem?
Luo He smiled lightly.
Luo He:- You seem to have mistaken them for something you can touch.
Silence. The crowd at the edges stopped moving. Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
The duke's son's expression didn't change but the flames around his arm burned brighter.
Duke's Son:- And you seem to have mistaken your position.
Luo He nodded immediately.
Luo He:- Oh, absolutely. This happens all the time.
A pause.
Then Luo He leaned slightly forward.
His voice lowered just enough that only the duke's son and the women behind him could hear clearly. A calm voice. A dangerous one.
Luo He:- But here's the thing buddy…
As he spoke Luo He casually rested his left hand on the duke's son's left shoulder as though they were merely two men sharing a friendly conversation in the middle of the market. Relaxed. Careless.
Almost insulting.
Luo He:- I can afford to be wrong.
His eyes met the duke's son's directly now. Steady. Unshaken. As though the flames dancing around the man meant absolutely nothing.
Luo He:- Yet you can't.
The words settled heavily between them.
Quiet. Sharp. Deadly.
Behind him Jin Mulan shifted her spear slightly forward. The crimson tassel beneath the blade stirred softly in the heat building around her body.
Su Kim loosened her grip on the coiled whip at her waist fingers flexing slowly as soul energy gathered beneath her skin.
Jin Su tilted her double-edged blade just enough for a thin line of sunlight to run across the steel like ice glimmering beneath winter dawn.
The guards moved as one. Formation tightening. Boots scraping against stone.
Hands lowering toward weapon hilts.
The market held its breath. Even the merchants stopped speaking. People instinctively backed away despite not fully understanding why.
Because something about the air itself suddenly felt dangerous. The duke's son stared at Luo He for a long moment.
Then he smiled. But this time there was amusement in it. Cruel amusement. The kind a predator showed before breaking something weaker than itself.
Duke's Son:- Good.
Flames surged violently along his arm heat twisting the air around him.
Duke's Son:- I was getting bored.
Luo He's lips curved slightly.
Luo He:- Then allow me to fix that.
And just like that words ended. Violence began.