TIGR Chapter 126

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 126 Street Fighting

Huang San squatted at the entrance of the alleyway, idly counting ants on the ground. The heat was irritating, and he instinctively reached for a wine flask at his waist. But not only was there no wine, but there wasn’t even any water left.

Huang San listened to the lively sounds of the street vendors outside the alley and felt an urge to turn around and go out to find a restaurant to eat at. He’d drink to his heart’s content and then head to a brothel for some fun. But now, here he was, stuck in a gloomy and damp alley, bored out of his mind, with nothing to do but count ants.

As he cursed under his breath, someone suddenly slapped him on the back of the head. It was a sharp and quick slap, and Huang San almost stumbled into the dirt. He got up, about to turn around and curse the person. However, when he saw their face, he instantly silenced himself, replacing his angry expression with a flattering smile: “Master Yu, what brings you here?”

Yu Xiao glanced at the closed wooden door of the residence ahead, then pulled Huang San behind a tree and asked: “Did anything unusual happen recently?”

Huang San had been ordered to keep an eye on the Zhu family on Huntang Lane. This family was rather strange. It was said that they had once been quite prestigious, with their son serving as the governor, in charge of the coastal defense in Zhejiang and Fujian. At his peak, the officials of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to answered to him. But now, they had fallen from grace, their reputation in ruins, and they were forced to make a living in this run-down alley.

Huang San didn’t know what exactly his superior wanted him to watch for. If it were up to his judgement, there was nothing noteworthy about this fallen family. The Zhu family’s daughter wasn’t anything special, nor was she beautiful. She had no substantial dowry, and her personality was bland, boring as could be. Any random girl from the Yixiang Pavilion was better than her. But since he had received orders from above, Huang San didn’t dare disobey. He had to endure the scorching heat, miserably watching over the Zhu residence from the outside.

Huang San was anxiously waiting for his replacement to come and take over when, unexpectedly, Master Yu showed up in person and immediately asked if there had been anything unusual. Huang San was taken aback and quickly tried to recall everything that happened, spilling it all out like beans from a pod: “This morning, Miss Zhu went out to buy clothes, and her old servant accompanied her. I had another person watching the door while I followed Miss Zhu. They went to the market, bought some vegetables, then shopped for clothes. After browsing a few stores, they returned home. During their outing, no one approached the Zhu residence. And I’ve just been waiting here since then.”

After he finished speaking, Huang San scratched his head in confusion: “They went to the same stores they always visit, nothing unusual about it.”

Yu Xiao’s face darkened as he scolded: “Useless fool, you can’t do anything. I received news that the Imperial Guards from the capital are hiding in Suzhou, investigating the cause of Zhu Wan’s death. I reminded you several times to be more alert, not to miss any clues, but you’ve let them act right under your nose.”

Huang San was stunned: “Impossible! We’ve been watching the Zhu residence all day, not even letting a fly pass by. No one has approached their house during this time!”

“What can you achieve by just spying?” Yu Xiao angrily cursed, then took a deep breath, his face suddenly turning inscrutable, “Fortunately, they had other preparations. An internal informant said they will come to the Zhu residence this afternoon and leave by boat tonight. Everyone, keep your eyes wide open and stay alert. As soon as someone approaches, send a signal immediately.”

Huang San received the scolding with a furrowed brow and a scowl. He quickly called the others back on shift, not daring to blink as they stared at the Zhu residence. As the sun began to set, the heat of the day started to wane. When the tired birds returned to their nests, Huang San suddenly saw a group of people walking directly towards the Zhu residence. Huang San hurriedly pulled on his companion’s sleeve, signaling him to stay silent.

The two of them cautiously lay on a tree, the dense canopy concealing them. They were wearing inconspicuous brown clothes, and hidden within the leaves, no one could see them at all. They held their breath, listening to a group of footsteps pass beneath the tree. Huang San mustered up his courage and stuck his head out.

The wind rustled and the shadows of the tree swayed. Through the trembling leaves, it was hard to clearly make out their full appearance. But even just a fleeting side profile was enough to make a strong impression on Huang San.

His eyes widened further, wasn’t this the same couple that bumped into Zhu Yuxiu front of the clothing shop earlier this morning? They were actually members of the Imperial Guards from the Shuntian Prefecture!

Huang San groaned in frustration, realizing that everything had happened right under his nose. If it weren’t for the informant’s warning, he would never have suspected anything! The man on the ground knocked on the door, and Zhu Yuxiu quickly let them in. Huang San urgently pushed his companion and said: “Go and quickly tell Master Yu, they’ve arrived.”

His companion swiftly climbed down the tree and ran off. Huang San, hidden in the trees, continued to watch the courtyard. Unfortunately, the tree wasn’t tall enough for him to see the entire courtyard. He could only make out a beautiful woman speaking with Grandmother Zhu. The other figures were partially visible and just out of view, hidden behind the courtyard wall.

Huang San lamented, if only this tree were a little taller. Why couldn’t he have had a better view? However, that woman was truly beautiful. Huang San had seen countless skinny courtesans, but he had never seen anyone as striking as her. Her beauty wasn’t just in her delicate features, it was her snow-white skin, her graceful figure, and the cool yet charming expression in her eyes and on her face. Even the most enchanting seductresses became dull after a few encounters, but this goddess seemed untarnished by the world. Her seemingly indifferent yet lingering gaze was most irresistible, leaving one yearning for her.

Huang San knew that he should be paying attention to the other people in the courtyard, but he couldn’t help but keep glancing at that woman. Since when did the Imperial Guards have such a beautiful female agent? With a beauty like that, what intelligence couldn’t be acquired?

Huang San continued to follow them with distracted thoughts, waiting for the group to come out. By the time they left, the sky had already darkened. Huang San lay on the tree, and after they had walked far enough, he took out the red cloth strip he had prepared earlier, tied it to a pigeon’s leg, and released it with force.

As he thought about the beautiful female agent, he felt a bit regretful. But no matter how alluring the beauty might be, his life was more important. The alley was getting dangerous, and he figured it was best to leave quickly.

Outside the alley, a well-built, tanned man in short clothes was crouching on the rooftop, his eyes trained on the doorway, constantly sweeping the alley entrance. He was getting impatient and muttered angrily: “Why haven’t they come out yet? Boss said these were the court’s most elite Imperial Guards. In my opinion, they’re just like eunuchs, they won’t last three moves with me.”

“Second Boss, speak a little less,” someone beside him advised, “Boss said this operation is very important. We can’t afford any failure. These people are from the north, and they don’t rely on the sea for a living. If anything goes wrong, we might not be able to cover it up.”

The Second Boss, Wu Zhang, sneered coldly and disdainfully spoke: “What could possibly go wrong? Do they think they can kill me?”

They weren’t originally afraid. They had already reached an understanding with the authorities, so long as they didn’t mess with the local scholars and officials in the city, they were free to do as they pleased elsewhere. The authorities would only make a show of pursuing them, but once they were out at sea, both sides would call it quits.

This had become an unspoken rule, pirates wouldn’t enter the city, and the authorities wouldn’t go out to sea. But last year, a new and clueless official from Zhejiang had come in and, for some reason, bombarded Shuangyu Harbor and killed three westerners.

Everyone along the coast was in the business of trading fire and cannons with the westerners, yet this official, surnamed Zhu, killed some westerners and wiped out the entire force under the Tiger Lord. This oblivious official had overstepped, and the Zhejiang-Fujian gangs had surprisingly united, showing off their skills and making him suffer.

Zhu Wan was soon killed, the governor changed to Zhang Jin, and peace returned to the coastal region. Business seemed to be back to normal, but now, when they went out, they didn’t dare act as recklessly as before.

The accompanying guards were loyal followers of the Boss, Wu Sheng, who had specifically sent them to protect the Second Boss, Wu Zhang. Wu Zhang was Wu Sheng’s only brother, young and reckless, and he was spoiled by his elder brother. His personality was wild, and he didn’t take anyone seriously. When they were on the island, everyone showed him respect, but today the situation was urgent. The attendant couldn’t help but offer a few words: “Second Boss, we’re not here for a casual stroll today, we have a mission. After all, we are common folk, and to continue doing business, we still need to rely on those high-ranking officials. We can’t afford to be careless.”

Wu Zhang remained unconvinced and cursed: “Those bullsh*t officials. In my opinion, they’re all a bunch of cowards!”

“All right, all right.” The attendant advised, “We’re in Suzhou City, their territory. It’s best if you keep quiet for now, Second Boss.”

Even though Wu Zhang cursed angrily, he knew in his heart that this operation was extremely important. It would determine whether they could continue doing business comfortably in the future. He had persisted for a long time, and only after much effort did his elder brother finally relent and assign him to the task. Wu Zhang didn’t want to be looked down upon by the people on the island. Today, he was determined to wipe out these northerners and gain some respect in front of his elder brother!

Seeing that Wu Zhang had quieted down, the attendant was able to focus on the road ahead. The architecture in Jiangnan wasn’t symmetrical, and the alleys were narrow. The layout of Huntang Lane was even stranger. The alley formed a zigzag shape, so no matter which way one entered or exited, they would inevitably pass through this intersection.

This mission came up suddenly. At noon today, the people ashore hurriedly sent a message to the Boss, saying that they needed someone killed. In return, they would give them a batch of goods. Boss initially didn’t want to get involved in their internal affairs, but the offer was too tempting to resist. In the end, Boss decided to send someone ashore.

At the same time, they received information about the target’s whereabouts. According to the report, the target would be going to Huntang Lane this afternoon. They weren’t sure yet who they were, so they had to wait until the target came out of the Zhu residence to confirm. They would use a pigeon with red ribbons tied around its legs as a signal. The person would leave by boat that night, so Huntang Lane was their only chance. The Wu family had to strike as soon as the target came out of Huntang Lane.

The Boss had intended to send his most reliable subordinate, but Second Boss insisted strongly. After the Boss surveyed the layout of Huntang Lane, he determined that killing an official from a distance would be an easy task with their firearms. So, he decided to send his younger brother instead.

This location was carefully chosen by them. Not only was it a place everyone would pass when leaving Huntang Lane, but it was also perfect for an ambush. Even if Second Boss missed his shot, others positioned elsewhere could provide support. A moment ago, they received an update that the target had entered the Zhu family courtyard and would likely come out soon. They immediately prepared the gunpowder, loaded the guns, pressed the powder, and set the fuses, ready to fire. However, after loading the gunpowder, they waited for a long time but still saw no one coming out of the alley.

The attendant managed to calm the irritable Second Boss and they continued to wait, holding their breath. Finally, a white dove flew out from between the gray walls, with a red ribbon tied around its leg. The ambushers all knew, they were coming.

No one spoke in the alley anymore. The black barrels of all their guns silently pointed towards the exit. The attendant also held his breath, waiting for the moment of the assassination.

Logically, people who had spent their lives at sea shouldn’t be afraid of death, but the attendant felt inexplicably anxious today, especially now, as his eyelid twitched uncontrollably. Just as the attendant was about to quietly rub his eyelid, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from the intersection ahead. Without giving him to react, a burst of intense gunfire rang out from beside him.

Wu Zhang was the first to fire. The bullets hit the corner of the wall, and the sound of gunfire shattered the night sky. The attendant cursed inwardly, thinking that the Second Boss had fired too early! But now was not the time to dwell on that. Everyone immediately took aim and fired in unison.

Gunpowder exploded in the air, alternating with gunfire. Stones from the wall were blown away by the steel bullets as dust and smoke filled the air, making it harder to see anything. The attendant frowned, uncertain whether they had hit anything just now. At that moment, Wu Zhang beside him reloaded, cocked the gun, and once again leaned forward to fire.

Years of survival instincts told the attendant that something was wrong. He quickly advised Wu Zhang: “Second Boss, once we’ve fired, it will alarm the imperial army. Time is running out. We should leave quickly!”

This operation was like pulling a thread that would unravel everything, and their retreat time was already set in advance. But Wu Zhang ignored the attendant’s words and insisted on killing them.

At this moment, Wang Yanqing was surrounded by strong and steady arms, hiding in a corner. The breath of the person in front of her was warm and reassuring. He stood in front of her, making it seem as if no danger could get close. Wang Yanqing leaned against Lu Heng’s shoulder, enduring the deafening explosions.

Finally, the sound of the explosions subsided. Lu Heng released her and quickly asked: “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Just as Wang Yanqing was about to leave the alley, Lu Heng’s eyes suddenly caught a flash of sparks ahead. His instincts told him something was wrong, and he immediately pulled Wang Yanqing back. They hid behind the wall, narrowly avoiding the first dark shot. As more explosive rounds flew their way, Lu Heng held onto Wang Yanqing, moving them to a safer corner.

At this moment, Lu Heng was extremely grateful for the years he walked on the edge of cliffs, which had honed his reflexive sense of danger. His body had acted before his mind could process, otherwise, she would have been in grave danger.

Wang Yanqing shook her head. Lu Heng had completely shielded her, even preventing loose stones from hitting her. At that moment, she smelled the iron tang of blood and asked in surprise: “You’re injured?”

Lu Heng swiftly tore a strip of cloth from his inner lining, quickly tying it around his arm. He said: “It’s nothing, just a graze from a stray bullet. Stay here, don’t move, don’t make a sound, and don’t make any trouble.”

Wang Yanqing hurriedly grasped his arm and whispered: “Where are you going?”

Just as Lu Heng was about to speak, the sound of cannon fire came again from behind them. Wang Yanqing instinctively shrank her body in fear. Lu Heng held her with his uninjured arm while mentally counting the number of shots fired.

There had been eight shots earlier, but now only five had gone off, and they were much more concentrated. The first person fired, and then the others followed one by one.

This meant that their firearms couldn’t be fired at will. Re-loading them took at least the time of burning half a stick of incense.

Lu Heng figured this out and after waiting for the sound of gunfire to subside, he called over two people to protect Wang Yanqing and quickly gave instructions to another group: “They have eight guns. After firing, they can’t immediately shoot again for at least half a stick of incense. Pass the order along. Aim where they’re firing from, and when they’re reloading, fire back. Two people should be stationed at the northwest corner of the alley, likely on the rooftops. Go ahead and block them in.”

His subordinates cupped their fists in acknowledgment, took out their signal devices, and hurriedly began passing the orders in all directions. Wang Yanqing had been worried about Lu Heng, but from his tone, she sensed that he was not unprepared.

The attendants who had come with them to the Zhu residence were all in this alley, so why were they using signal whistles? Could it be that there was another ambush set by Lu Heng outside?

Firearms were not flawless. If one pinpointed their weaknesses, hot weapons could become useless. Wu Sheng’s subordinates sensed something was wrong and desperately tried to drag Wu Zhang away. But before they even touched the ground, a hidden arrow shot from behind.

At that moment, the subordinates realized they had fallen into a trap within a trap and were now caught in a snare.

One of the subordinates, trying to protect Wu Zhang, was slashed severely across the back, falling to the ground, unable to rise. However, even though he sacrificed himself to save him, Wu Zhang had barely managed to take a few steps before being pinned down by a figure in black that descended from above.

Wu Zhang’s arm was twisted behind him and his face slammed hard against the ground. The pain was so intense that he felt his shoulder was about to dislocate. His forehead bulged with veins, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to cry out in pain. The sounds of fighting and cries echoed from all directions, and Wu Zhang knew that the people with him were likely done for.

A torch was lit up outside the alley, and a figure, stepping through the flickering light, slowly approached them. The sound of his footsteps carried an air of danger. Wu Zhang strained to lift his eyes, and through his distorted vision, he saw a man dressed in dark purple clothing.

Wu Zhang had always thought men who wore bright red or purple were unmanly, it being something only palace eunuchs wore. But the man in front of him wore this color very well, exuding a cold, yet deadly beauty. Even with straps tied around his shoulders, it didn’t diminish his demeanor.

When the man spoke, however, his words were as harsh and venomous as his appearance was elegant: “You were so good at running earlier. Why aren’t you running now? I heard the Ming Dynasty’s army of tens of thousands couldn’t defeat a few hundred Japanese pirates. I thought you were all gods sent from the heavens. But today, it seems you are nothing.”

Wu Zhang froze. This man was the court’s imperial envoy they were supposed to kill? Who exactly was he?

A tall, well-built man quickly ran over, casting a brief glance at Wu Zhang on the ground. He cupped his fists and said to the man in purple: “Supreme Commander, we’ve captured everyone. Five dead, the rest alive.”

Supreme Commander, the Imperial Guards… Wu Zhang’s pupils dilated as he realized who this person was.

Even though pirates didn’t care much about the affairs of the government, the Supreme Commander’s reputation was so massive that even overseas, there were rumors.

A young man, successful before even facing defeat, who had saved the emperor’s life twice, truly the emperor’s right-hand man — Lu Heng.

So, the people ashore wanted to kill him. Wu Zhang seethed with anger at how they concealed the truth, but he wasn’t surprised. Only Lu Heng was worth such a large-scale assassination attempt.

While Wu Zhang covertly observed Lu Heng, Lu Heng, from his high vantage point, also sized up the fool in front of him. He wasn’t very old, with dark skin, a sturdy build, and calloused hands, obviously someone who had spent years working on ships. It was clear this was one of the pirates that had taken over Suzhou. From what the others had said earlier, it seems he is the Second Boss.

Lu Heng was quite satisfied, his luck was still good. He had directly captured the second-in-command of the pirate gang. Lu Heng asked: “If you cooperate now, I might spare your life. What’s your name?”

Wu Zhang wasn’t going to fall for such a trick. No one believed the promises of the Imperial Guards. He pretended to be furious, then opened his mouth and began speaking rapidly in a series of words.

Lu Heng frowned as he listened. Guo Tao, who was standing nearby, listened for a moment and then whispered into Lu Heng’s ear: “Supreme Governor, it sounds like he’s speaking in Japanese.”

Japanese? So this man was from the Eastern Isles? Lu Heng glanced at the man on the ground again, his gaze indifferent as if looking at a sack of grain. He coldly ordered: “Take him away and interrogate him in the dungeon.”

Lu Heng wasn’t interested in anything beyond that. As he walked past Wu Zhang, who was still lying on the ground, Wu Zhang suddenly sprang up. A knife slid out of his sleeve, and he lunged at Lu Heng from behind.

He noticed that Lu Heng had a wound on his right arm and assumed Lu Heng wouldn’t be able to react in time. If he could capture Lu Heng, he could escape from Suzhou City.

However, just as Wu Zhang made his move, Lu Heng, seeming to have eyes on his back, swiftly turned around, dodging the blade, and grabbed Wu Zhang’s wrist with his left hand. Wu Zhang hadn’t expected Lu Heng’s left hand to be so strong. He put all his strength into pushing forward, but Lu Heng twisted his wrist sharply at the joint, he felt as though his bones had shattered in intense pain. His fingers instinctively loosened. Lu Heng forcefully threw him to the side, and the dagger clattered to the ground with a loud thud.

Wu Zhang lost his weapon, and the Imperial Guards behind him quickly arrived. Guo Tao struck hard with his sword at Wu Zhang’s knee pit, a technique the Imperial Guards were skilled in. Many tough men couldn’t endure it, let alone Wu Zhang, who collapsed with a thud to his knees. Guo Tao immediately twisted Wu Zhang’s arms behind his back, forcing him to the ground, while Lu Heng casually moved his wrist, slowly drawing a knife from the side. Without warning, he suddenly stabbed it into Wu Zhang’s thigh.

Wu Zhang screamed in pain as the knife pierced his thigh. Lu Heng let go of his grip, maintaining a leisurely demeanor as he said: “Your basic skills are good if you could break free like that. Since that’s the case, I’ll just disable these legs.”

Wu Zhang wailed in agony, and Lu Heng waved his hand, signaling to take the man away. An Imperial Guards stepped forward, coldly pulling the knife out, causing Wu Zhang to cry out in pain again. Wu Zhang was soon gagged and dragged away, and the surroundings fell silent once again. Lu Heng resumed what he had been intending to do, picking up a strangely shaped fire gun from the ground.

The Shenji Battalion also had fire guns, there were several boxes of them on Lu Heng’s ship. However, Ming Dynasty fire guns were large and cumbersome, while these guns were light and portable, with a caliber only as large as a lead bullet. Despite their small size, they had a much longer range and significantly improved penetrating power.

Lu Heng was fascinated by this firearm. He fiddled with it for a long time before handing it to Guo Tao, saying: “Take it back for study.”

Lu Heng left Guo Tao to clean up the battlefield and walked toward the exit with his hands behind his back.

A crowd had gathered at the alley entrance, and when the Imperial Guards saw him, they quickly apologized: “Supreme Governor, forgive us. We failed to protect the lady properly…” Wang Yanqing interrupted the Imperial Guard, saying: “It was my decision to come here. How is your injury?

After the recent fight, his wound had reopened, but in front of Wang Yanqing, Lu Heng smiled easily and said: “It’s nothing serious, just a scratch.”

Wang Yanqing didn’t believe it. Could a scratch really have such a strong smell of blood? She noticed blood on his hand in the firelight and gasped: “What happened to your hand?”

Only then did Lu Heng realize his hand was covered in blood, probably splattered when he stabbed the man earlier. He couldn’t find a handkerchief at the moment, so he wiped it on his sleeve and gently spoke to Wang Yanqing: “It’s not my blood, it’s someone else’s that got on me.”

The surrounding Imperial Guards were all speechless. With the smell of blood and gunpowder still in the air, how could the Supreme Governor stand in such an environment and speak to his wife with such a gentle tone? And what kind of person could accidentally splash blood like that?

Wang Yanqing didn’t intend to point out the inconsistencies in his words. The most important thing right now was to quickly treat Lu Heng’s wound. She pursed her lips and stepped forward, taking his hand. Lu Heng felt her fingers were cold and squeezed her hand reassuringly: “I’m fine.”

Just as they finished speaking, a bright blaze suddenly appeared on the other side of the night sky. Lu Heng and Wang Yanqing both looked up, and Wang Yanqing’s pupils contracted as she saw the direction of the fire: “Is that our ship?”

·

After Zhu Yuxiu sent Wang Yanqing and Lu Heng out, her heart still pounded in her chest. She hated that she was just a girl, unable to do anything for her father except cry. She hoped those people would really bring the evidence before the emperor, to clear her father’s name and bring him justice!

Her grandmother continued to mutter about how people from outside the area would always bully others, and how Zhu Wan had been driven to death by such people. The old servant went to the kitchen to make a fire for cooking, and everything went on as usual, as though it were just another dull and uneventful day in her life.

Zhu Yuxiu, feeling frantic, paced around the room several times before remembering to help in the kitchen. As she was washing rice, she suddenly heard a loud explosion from outside. The sound cut through the still night, seeming distant and surreal. Zhu Yuxiu froze for a long moment, then hurriedly put down the rice and ran outside in a panic.

Her grandmother came out as well, leaning against the doorframe and looking toward the sky: “What’s going on?”

The sound of intense gunfire startled everyone in the alley, but all the houses kept their doors and windows tightly shut, and no one dared to investigate. What else could it be? The pirates must have broken into the city. In the past, they only attacked villages, robbing and pillaging, but now they had become bold enough to invade Suzhou City!

The three remaining members of the Zhu family huddled together, their faces pale with fear. If the pirates broke into their home, with their limited numbers, they would have no ability to fight back. Zhu’s grandmother was both angry and terrified, cursing repeatedly in a twisted Wu dialect. She cursed the pirates one moment, then the corrupt officials the next. Zhu Yuxiu sat beside her grandmother in silence, but for some reason, she felt that the gunfire outside was not from the pirates, but from the group of people they had just encountered.

It was unclear how long they waited, but eventually, the sound of fighting outside finally ceased. Everyone visibly relaxed, but before they could feel too much relief, the usually quiet door of the Zhu residence was suddenly knocked upon.

In the alley where the battle had just taken place, with the unnerving silence of the late night, hearing a knock at the door was no good omen. The old servant stumbled to the kitchen to fetch a wooden stick, but Zhu Yuxiu stopped him, summoning all her courage to ask: “Who is it?”

“Miss Zhu,” the person outside said, “when I delivered your clothes earlier, I accidentally dropped something. My young master sent me to retrieve it.”

It was them! Zhu Yuxiu felt relieved and got up to open the door. Outside stood a familiar guard, who quickly showed Zhu Yuxiu his token and whispered: “The master says it might not be safe here anymore. Please pack your things quickly and come with us.”

The Zhu family was poor and had little to pack. She didn’t have time to explain the situation to her grandmother, so she had no choice but to drag her grandmother and the old servant out. They hadn’t gone far when suddenly, her grandmother pointed behind them and said: “What’s that fire?”

Zhu Yuxiu turned around and saw fierce flames burning in the distance. Many families quietly opened their doors and pointed at the fiery glow in the sky.

On this seemingly calm night, no one in Suzhou City dared to step outside, but everyone realized that something unusual was happening.

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