Chapter 32: This Was the Worst Slander Little Red Candy Had Ever Suffered

"Why hasn't that person shown up yet? It's been days," Little Sugar said cheerfully, picking at a lamb shank in her hands. "If this goes on, I'll really get fat!"

Ji Huo lay on the rooftop, gazing at the stars in the sky, and replied lazily, "It should be soon."

"Ah!" No sooner had she spoken than a shrill scream shattered the stillness in the distance.

Both Ji Huo and Little Sugar lifted their heads and looked in that direction. They saw a flash of red vanish almost instantly, catching a glimpse of someone holding a red umbrella.

Little Sugar was about to move, but Ji Huo stopped her, pointing at the many figures darting toward the commotion. "The officers from the Six Gates have joined the chase. It’s not our place to intervene."

"So we're just going to watch?" Little Sugar asked.

"We'll follow from afar. That person is causing chaos on purpose. He must be confident he can escape the Six Gates' pursuit. That’s when we make our move," Ji Huo said calmly.

"He’s doing this on purpose?"

"That scream just now was his doing," Ji Huo said with a smile. "Anyone who’s killed before knows—if it’s a fatal blow, there’s no time to scream."

Little Sugar considered this, then suddenly realized, "That’s true, isn't it?"

The two of them stealthily followed behind, already seeing several officers from the Six Gates engaged in battle with the figure in red.

"Stop, thief!"

"The 'Red Umbrella' has appeared! Quickly, someone come!"

The besieged figure let out a chilling, cackling laugh, completely unflustered despite the onslaught. The red umbrella in his hand swept through the air with a speed and ferocity that left all the Six Gates officers struggling under the assault.

"Are the Six Gates officers always this incompetent?" Little Sugar asked.

"There’s been a lot happening in the capital lately. If this case had come up at another time, someone might have taken charge. But now, none of the Four Great Constables are available."

As the fight raged, a sudden glint of cold steel flashed—a silver spear thrust out from the darkness. The person in red dodged too late, used the umbrella to block the strike, and was sent flying backward.

The spear withdrew into the shadows, caught deftly by a hand. A young man in a teal constable’s uniform strode out, his presence stern as he demanded, "So you’re the 'Red Umbrella', seventh on the assassin’s list? You’re not much."

The red-clad figure folded the paper umbrella, revealing a heavily made-up child with bold brows and big eyes beneath it.

Barefoot, the child pressed his voice low and said, "Yes, I am the Red Umbrella."

His voice, naturally childish, sounded all the more eerie for the forced gruffness. Coupled with the thick makeup, there was something deeply unsettling about him.

"Where did this little sneak come from?" Ji Huo muttered, then pointed at the child and laughed, "Little Sugar, this is the worst you've ever been maligned."

Little Sugar clenched her tiny fists in fury, eyes blazing as she longed to rush up and take a bite out of him.

The Six Gates officers clearly had never seen the real Red Umbrella before. Now, hearing the confession and seeing the outrageous appearance, they all looked on in astonishment.

The young man with the silver spear forced himself to remain cold and aloof. "So this is the legendary Red Umbrella? Quite the look, though the makeup isn’t even as good as the girls at the Music Bureau."

"I like it this way—what’s it to you?" the child snapped, still forcing his voice.

"Damn it! I can’t stand this anymore!" an officer finally shouted, unable to listen any longer, and charged forward with his saber raised.

The others attacked as well, quickly surrounding the child again.

The child no longer bothered with the umbrella, wielding it like a short stick and beating the officers back, forcing them into retreat.

"Take my Frost Spear!"

The constable, Yan Han, saw his men faltering and struck with his spear. The weapon moved like lightning, energy coiling around the shaft with overwhelming force.

"Sixth rank?" The child raised the red umbrella to block, but the force shattered it into splinters, leaving only a bare handle in his hand.

"Ha! So the Red Umbrella is all talk—pathetic!"

Yan Han laughed heartily, spear dancing like a dragon as he thrust at the child several times in quick succession.

Forced to retreat and dodge, the child’s face was filled with fury. Fortunately, his agility was decent, and he managed to evade for the moment.

A sharp-eyed constable noticed the child’s bare feet darting across the ground. Grinning wickedly, he pulled a handful of iron caltrops from his coat and tossed them onto the ground.

"You little brat!"

Before the child could finish, his foot landed squarely on a caltrop, and he grimaced in pain.

The constable laughed heartily. "Serves you right for never wearing shoes!"

"Scoundrel!" the child snarled, eyes blazing.

Yan Han’s eyes lit up. He thrust his spear straight for the child’s chest.

The child’s heart tightened; he twisted aside to dodge, but the spear swept sideways, striking him in the chest.

"Take this!"

Yan Han’s spear lunged like a dragon, aiming to end the fight in one stroke.

The child clutched his chest, the internal energy from the spear shaking his organs with pain. His eyes flashed coldly; facing the incoming spear, he raised his right palm, where a faint dark-purple lightning flickered.

"Not good!" Yan Han thought, but there was no time to react.

The child struck with his palm, wind laced with lightning, hitting Yan Han square in the chest. Yan Han spat blood and flew backward.

"Captain Yan!"

The other officers rushed forward.

The child no longer hesitated. His right palm lifted skyward, then slammed down. Dark lightning exploded in all directions, the ground crackling and sparking, knocking the officers off their feet.

When they looked up again, the child was already gone.

"Don’t bother chasing," Yan Han said, clutching his chest to halt the others. He pulled open his shirt, revealing a small, charred palm print on his chest.

A cold, sinister energy was now coursing beneath his skin, spreading through his body. The meridians it touched went numb as if struck by lightning. If the fight continued, it would only get worse.

"Shadow Thunder Palm..." Yan Han murmured, puzzled.

"Eh?" One officer suddenly pointed in the direction the child had fled, exclaiming, "Did I just see another red shadow pass by, or was it my eyes playing tricks on me?"

…

The Shadow Thunder Child was in a foul mood, limping painfully now that he had pulled the caltrop from his foot.

He’d always thought carrying the Red Umbrella was awkward—but now, with only the handle left, it actually made a decent walking stick.

Wearing girls’ clothing and makeup was embarrassing enough, but being ambushed with hidden weapons and stepping right on them was even worse.

If only he’d worn his boots with the iron soles, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a sorry state.

It was maddening.

He couldn’t understand why the “Red Umbrella” insisted on this getup. Wasn’t she afraid of stepping on hidden weapons during a fight, going barefoot like this? Even walking like this was uncomfortable.

He halted, his expression tense as he looked around.

At some point, all sound had vanished. It wasn’t the quiet of midnight, but as if all life had been snuffed out—even the crawling of insects was gone.

It was as if this patch of the world had fallen into deathly stillness.

Then, from the darkness ahead, a spot of red appeared.

It was a red paper umbrella, exquisitely crafted and ancient-looking, spinning ceaselessly.