Dew had condensed into fine beads on the green tiles of Qiaoying Manor. As they dripped from the upturned eaves, they fell precisely onto the moss growing on the empty boot soles. He rested a hand on the single-edged sword at his waist and glanced sideways at Yun Jin beside him. A corner of her opera robe fluttered up in the night wind, its embroidered interlocking lotus patterns glinting dim silver in the moonlight. The modified spear in her hand stood firmly planted on the ground, its tip slanting against the rammed earth outer wall of the granary, as if ready to pierce the silence of the courtyard at any moment.
"Chunyu Qiong's men should be at the west granary." Yun Jin's voice was barely a whisper, yet clear and enunciated as if she were on stage. "When I climbed over the wall just now, I counted: two lanterns lit, one dark at the east granary. But all four are burning bright at the west, and the guards' footsteps are heavier too."
Kong nodded, his fingertips brushing over the hilt. Ever since they had stepped into the manor, the air had carried a mix of wheat and tung oil—the former from stacked grain sacks, the latter from the oil-soaked arrowheads and gunpowder barrels in the armory. He could hear the shouts of men drinking from the west granary, rough laughter and curses drifting over with the stench of alcohol. Clearly, Chunyu Qiong's soldiers did not take this "rear supply depot" seriously.
"Are your fire starters ready?" Yun Jin suddenly turned her head, the pearl flowers at her temple swaying gently. Distant lights reflected in her eyes, bright as if they held stars. "I'll go strike the gong in a moment, and you set the fire while they're distracted. Remember: burn the armory first. The gunpowder inside will make the grain stacks burn even fiercer."
Kong had just replied "Alright" when the door of the west granary creaked open a crack. A helmeted soldier stumbled out with a wine gourd, and as he relieved himself against the wall, he caught sight of a corner of clothing hidden in the shadow. His bleary eyes narrowed, and before he could shout a challenge, Yun Jin's spear shot forth like lightning. The shaft twisted elegantly in her grip, and the butt struck the soldier's neck with perfect precision. He collapsed without a sound.
"Saves us the trouble." Yun Jin retracted her spear, the red tassel brushing against the soldier's armor. "It seems Chunyu Qiong really believed Yuan Shao's words—he thinks no one would dare touch his granary."
The two crept past wheat straw stacks piled high like hills, the dry grass crunching softly beneath their feet. The main gate of the west granary stood slightly ajar, and the commotion inside grew clearer—Chunyu Qiong's raucous voice yelling "Another three cups!" and someone jeering "What if the general passes out drunk and the enemy sneaks in?" drawing roars of laughter.
Yun Jin suddenly stopped and pulled out an oil-paper package from her bosom. Inside were several tightly packed paper balls filled with sulfur and saltpeter. "The tea farmers of Qiaoying Manor slipped these to me," she said. "They explode on fire, good for signals." She handed half to Kong and tucked two into her sleeve. "I'll head to the watchtower over there. After I strike the gong, I'll throw these down—make a bigger commotion."
Kong squeezed the paper balls, feeling the gritty grains inside. He watched Yun Jin lift her spear and walk toward the watchtower, the water sleeves of her opera robe cutting through the dark more silently than the stealthiest night clothes. Only when her figure vanished into the tower's shadow did he take a deep breath and turn to circle toward the armory.
The armory door was clad in iron, its lock heavily rusted. Kong drew his sword and jiggled the blade in the keyhole. A soft click, and the bolt sprang open. The moment he pushed the door open, a thick smell of tung oil washed over him. By moonlight, he could see the interior: rows of arrow quivers lined the walls, oilcloth stacked on wooden shelves in the middle, and in the farthest corner, over a dozen dark wooden barrels stood quietly. The character for "Fire" pasted on each barrel glinted an ominous dark red in the shadow.
He pulled out a fire starter and blew it alive. The flame flickered in his palm, revealing the outline of the grain stacks next door. He was about to toss it into the arrows when rapid footsteps approached outside, accompanied by Chunyu Qiong's roar:
"Who's there?!"
Kong's heart jolted. He flipped his wrist and hurled the fire starter into the quivers, then darted outside. The flames licked the oil-soaked arrow shafts and erupted in a roar. The moment he stepped over the threshold, crackling explosions erupted behind him—the paper bombs! Yun Jin's signal had come even sooner than he expected.
The gong in the watchtower clanged loudly. Yun Jin's voice exploded through the noise, clear as a blade splitting the night sky:
"Fire! Enemy raid on the grain depot!"
Chunyu Qiong's soldiers panicked, pouring out of the west granary with swords and spears, rushing disorderly toward the blazing armory. Kong charged straight into the crowd. His single-edged sword whirled in a flourish, felling the two foremost soldiers. From the corner of his eye, he saw Yun Jin leap down from the watchtower. Her spear tapped the ground, and she flipped onto a grain stack, a torch now in her hand, stabbing it into the oilcloth covering the sacks.
"Seize that woman!" Chunyu Qiong's shout cut through the chaos. He charged over with a great blade, reeking of alcohol and sweat. "Dare burn my granary? I'll split you in two!"
Yun Jin danced lightly atop the grain stacks, ignoring the small holes burnt into her robe by sparks. She turned just as Chunyu Qiong's blade sliced toward her, twisting away calmly. Her spear thrust out from under her arm, the tip grazing his neck, the wind knocking the red tassel from his helmet.
"General Chunyu should worry about himself." Her voice held a smile, but sharp as a blade. "If this fire cannot be put out, Lord Yuan Shao will not listen to your excuses."
Enraged, Chunyu Qiong roared and swung again, failing to notice the edge of the grain stack beneath him catching fire. Kong circled behind him and struck, his sword cutting a cold arc in the torchlight, slamming against the back of Chunyu Qiong's blade. The sword flew from his grasp. Before he could retrieve it, Yun Jin's spear was at his throat—the icy tip pressing into his skin, sobering him at once.
"Who… who sent you?!" Chunyu Qiong's voice trembled, his eyes fixed on the raging fire. Explosions from the armory merged into a continuous roar. Flames and black smoke billowed into the sky, dyeing half of Qiaoying Manor orange. The grain sacks burned with crackles, sparks flying like rain in all directions.
Yun Jin did not answer, only glanced at Kong. He understood, pulling out his last few fire starters and hurling them at the nearby stacks. The moment the flames touched the ground, the wind picked up, fanning the fire into a fury. Flames even erupted from the distant stables, startling the horses into frantic neighs.
"Let's go." Yun Jin pulled back her spear and tapped the back of Chunyu Qiong's knee, sending him to his knees. She turned and held out a hand to Kong. "Master Pang Tong said: once the fire starts, retreat east. General Zhao Yun and the others should be there to meet us."
When Kong took her hand, he found her fingertips warm—no doubt from holding the torch. They ran against the panicking crowd toward the east gate, the fire behind stretching their shadows long across the ground. Chunyu Qiong's roars and the soldiers' screams were gradually swallowed by the roar of the flames.
At the manor entrance, Yun Jin suddenly stopped and looked back. Amid the fire, the upturned eaves of Qiaoying Manor crackled. The granaries once stuffed full of grain had become a sea of fire. Dull explosions continued from the armory, shaking the very earth. Her opera robe was gray with smoke, her face smudged with ash. But when she turned to Kong, she smiled as if she had just finished a magnificent opera:
"Look. Even more spectacular than the fire at Yiling in The Tale of Yiling."
Kong stared at the fire dancing in her eyes. Suddenly, the smoke and flames of the night felt more vivid than any theater stage. He tightened his grip on his sword and ran east into the dense forest after Yun Jin. Behind them, Qiaoying Manor blazed into a giant torch, lighting their way forward.