The day began like any other.
There was no omen, no disturbance in the rhythm of the mine. The tunnels echoed with the same controlled strikes of tools against stone, the same measured footsteps of slaves moving toward their assigned sections, and the same passive oversight of supervisors who had long since grown accustomed to routine.
Nothing stood out. Nothing hinted at what was about to unfold.
Han Yu moved among them as Ju Fan.
Unnoticed.
Unquestioned.
He followed the expected patterns just long enough to maintain appearances, walking along familiar paths, occasionally pausing to observe, occasionally speaking with supervising disciples in a tone befitting his position. There was nothing unusual in his behavior, nothing that would draw attention.
And then, at the right moment…
He disappeared.
Not abruptly.
Not in a way that would be noticed.
He simply shifted his path.
A slight deviation.
A turn into a less frequented tunnel.
From there, another.
Then another.
