Chapter 105: Achieving Greatness and Withdrawing into Obscurity

Seeing Gao Yang trembling like a leaf in the wind, Wei Wuji ceased his sword-wiping.

Truth be told, he had a genuine impulse to cleave the man before him in two, but reason ultimately prevailed over his urge.

"Still not thanking the Young Master?" Wu Zixiong prompted with a sour expression.

Gao Yang hurried to bow, stammering, "My thanks to the Young Master for his mercy."

Wei Wuji sheathed his sword, casting a fleeting glance at Gao Yang. However, Wu Zixiong clearly perceived a flicker of reluctance in that gaze.

*What is this fellow aiming for?* Wu Zixiong felt baffled, but after a moment of deep thought, he was struck by a sudden, chilling realization. *This Young Master is cold-hearted indeed; human life is truly as trivial as dust in his eyes. It seems my grandfather was right—this man is truly bloodthirsty and ruthless,* Wu Zixiong mused to himself.

"Everyone, rise. Kneeling on the ground is uncomfortable," Wei Wuji said.

"Thank you, Young Master." The two on the ground stood up.

Gao Yang was truly cowed now. He, too, could treat human life as worthless, but he could no longer be arrogant in the face of someone who treated his own life with equal disregard.

"The person has been beaten, and the anger spent. Time to head back," Wei Wuji said, clapping his hands as if closing a game.

Gao Yang and his companion did not respond. Regardless of their feelings toward Wei Wuji, they desperately wanted him to leave. Seeing no response, Wei Wuji felt bored; finding someone to play with was turning out to be difficult.

"You lot, why are you still standing there like stumps? Let's go," Wei Wuji called out, turning to Zheng Dali and the others.

Only then did Zheng Dali and the guards withdraw their oppressive aura and step away from the wretched group of servants.

"Young Master, that was exhilarating!" Zheng Dali bounded over with a grin, completely disregarding the fact that Gao Yang was the grandson of a Pillar of State General.

"Exhilarating..." Wei Wuji squinted at Zheng Dali and scolded, "We’ve beaten them, now move! Do you want to live to see the night?"

At this, Wei Wuji glanced at Gao Yang, who instinctively ducked his head in terror.

"Young Master, would you like my men to escort you?" Wu Zixiong offered.

"No need to trouble yourself, Officer Wu," Wei Wuji replied with a smile, turning down the offer flatly.

He then signaled to his men, "Let’s go, let’s go... time to be off."

Heading north, Wei Wuji moved toward the carriage that had been blocked earlier. Zheng Dali cleared the path, and the guards flanked him as they pushed into the crowd.

"It’s the Young Master himself..." someone exclaimed, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Had the soldiers not been there to maintain order, it would have been nearly impossible for Wei Wuji to get through.

"Greetings, Young Master..."

The crowd surged and clamored, but their words were uniform. Seeing so many people bowing to him, Wei Wuji felt as though he were floating on air.

"Rise, rise..." He waved his hands, signaling for them to stand.

Just as Wei Wuji was engaging with the commoners, a sharp shout rang out from beside him.

"Why do you not bow?!"

Zheng Dali was glaring at the carriage, his face flushed with anger. In his eyes, they had made all this trouble specifically to rescue the people inside that carriage. Yet, they hadn't even offered a word of thanks, nor had they even shown their faces.

Wei Wuji turned to look at the swaying curtains of the carriage. A crisp, clear voice emanated from within: "This young lady thanks the Young Master for his rescue, but since I am not a subject of the Wei State, there is no need for me to bow."

Wei Wuji had not expected such a response. While it held some logic, it still left him feeling displeased.

"If the Young Master insists on using force, then this lady has no choice but to comply," the woman inside added. Her voice was so melodious that it softened Wei Wuji’s heart instantly.

"Young Master, shall I smash this carriage for you?" Zheng Dali asked, still seething; he was not one to be sweet-talked.

"Now, now..." Wei Wuji stopped him. "How could I be so rude to a beauty? Stand down."

Zheng Dali retreated, though he remained visibly annoyed.

"Since that is the case, why force it? Let us be off," Wei Wuji said with a shake of his head. Bullying a spoiled brat was one thing, but he had no interest in bullying a helpless woman in the middle of the street. After all, this was Wuan City, and he could not afford to ruin his good reputation.

"Let’s go, let’s go... if we don't, we might miss lunch," he added.

And so, under the gaze of the townsfolk, Wei Wuji slowly vanished into the crowd.

As he disappeared, the whispers among the people erupted anew.

"That is the Young Master of our Great Wei; truly righteous and upright, punishing the wicked and rewarding the good."

"Those few blows he dealt earlier—that young master was truly beaten to a pulp..."

"Indeed, especially that kick—it was so clean..."

"Shh... keep your voice down... that young master hasn't left yet. If he hears you, you’ll be in for it," someone whispered a warning. The man immediately lowered his voice.

Then someone asked, "I wonder, which Young Master was that?"

The question stumped them. There were several princes of Wei; which one was this?

"Looking at his age, no more than sixteen or seventeen, he must be... the Fifth Young Master!" an elderly man analyzed.

"The Fifth Young Master?" the crowd murmured.

"So it was the Fifth Young Master..."

"He is truly a man of talent..."

"The Fifth Young Master is gentle and kind..."

The praises poured in like a tide. Being able to save face before foreigners made the people of Wei feel a sense of pride.

"Fifth Young Master... Fifth Young Master..." one man muttered, stroking his beard. Suddenly, he froze and let out a gasp.

Everyone turned their eyes toward him, full of confusion.

"The Fifth Young Master... isn't that Young Master Wuji, who soundly defeated the Qin and Chen armies at the Changping Pass front line?" the man said excitedly.

The commotion in the crowd grew even louder as they began to fervently discuss the various legends surrounding Wei Wuji at the front.

"Brother Zixiong, is that truly the Fifth Young Master?" Gao Yang asked, his mouth tasting of bitterness.

"Indeed, that is he," Wu Zixiong replied calmly, watching the distance.

"If even you, Brother Zixiong, are willing to bow to him, is he really that formidable?" Gao Yang asked, doubting. He knew how arrogant the officer was; even when meeting other princes, he would merely go through the motions, acting with feigned courtesy rather than the formal respect he had just shown.

"Believe me, he truly would have dared to behead you just now!" Wu Zixiong ignored the question and stated flatly.

Gao Yang’s face drained of color as the terrifying memory resurfaced.

Wu Zixiong continued slowly, "My grandfather sent word to be extremely cautious of these princes and not to easily incur their wrath."

"Because, just like his name suggests, his personality is truly 'unrestrained and lawless,'" Wu Zixiong sighed.

"Even Old General Wu thinks so?" Gao Yang asked in disbelief.

"Yes! The dramatic change in this Young Master caught even the old man off guard," Wu Zixiong remarked.

Wei Wuji had once been a nobody, yet now he was a sensation. Almost everyone in Wuan City could recite one or two of his feats. Wu Zixiong turned to Gao Yang, adding, "You should restrain yourself in the future, lest you bring disaster upon your grandfather."

One had to remember how many from the noble families had perished when the Marquis of Wei ascended to the throne.

Gao Yang nodded immediately; he had no desire to provoke Wei Wuji ever again.

Ignoring the discussion between Wu Zixiong and Gao Yang, the mistress and her maid inside the carriage spoke in hushed tones.

"It was indeed him," the lady whispered.

This cryptic remark left the maid, who already didn't understand the situation, even more confused.

"My Lady, how did you know that Young Master was *that* Young Master?" the maid asked, scratching her head in an adorable display of bewilderment.

"His name, I suspect, is no longer known only within the borders of Wei," the lady murmured to herself.