Chapter Ten: Upheaval

Alright, after discussing the previous chapter at length, it’s finally time to get to the point.

It seems there’s still one person whose story hasn’t been told…

Very well, let’s now turn to Meng Huaicheng’s tale.

Meng’s story is rather straightforward. When Meng was six or seven years old, he was adopted by Ye Pei’s grandfather, Ye Guanwen, and has lived with the Ye family ever since. Ye Pei’s grandfather has long since passed away, but Meng Huaicheng remains in the Ye household as a guard, repaying their kindness.

No one knows why Meng Huaicheng wandered as a child or what led to his adoption. Even when Ye Guanwen questioned him, Meng always responded with a smile, never giving an answer. Only once, while walking with Ye Pei in the wilds, did he softly say, “It wasn’t anything pleasant, that’s for sure.”

……

As the Spring Festival drew to a close, Mu Piaoyan expressed a desire to visit his younger sister in Xia Kingdom. Mu Piaoyan, now seventy-two, had lost his parents long ago and had only his sister left. Naturally, Ye Linhui agreed and instructed Meng Huaicheng to accompany and protect Mu Piaoyan on the journey.

Braving the cold winds, the old gentleman and Meng set out happily for Yaoguang Town, not far from Starlight City, the capital of Xia Kingdom, to visit the wealthy Zhang family, who had prospered for generations through commerce. Perhaps fate was unkind, for conflict soon arose.

The Zhang family did not engage in politics and thus wielded limited power. They had few enemies, mainly business rivals. After years in trade, nearly every sizeable shop in Yaoguang Town belonged to the Zhangs, with branches scattered across the realm. While they couldn’t match Elder Huangcang’s wealth, they weren’t far behind.

Such a family shouldn’t have become entangled with the powers of the capital, but the arrival of an outsider complicated matters.

On this day, Duan Xingyun, son of Xia Kingdom’s grand marshal Duan Yaoqi and a high-ranking officer, arrived in Yaoguang Town accompanied by a refined young man in black. They entered the largest tavern and demanded to see Zhang Qinghe, the current head of the Zhang family and Mu Piaoyan’s brother-in-law.

Normally, such behavior would be seen as a disturbance, and the offenders would be thrown out. However, the two carried themselves with distinction, clearly not ordinary men, so the staff informed Zhang Qinghe.

Upon meeting them, the young man in black uttered a sentence that sent the kind-hearted Zhang Qinghe into a fury:

“Would you sell all your family’s businesses in this town to me for a hundred taels of gold?”

No one had ever calculated the true value of the Zhangs’ holdings in Yaoguang Town, but it was certainly worth far more than a hundred taels of gold.

Unsurprisingly, the negotiations fell apart. Yet the young man in black was not angered. As he left, he waved his folding fan and smiled, “Master Zhang, I’ll give you three days. You may raise your price, but present a proposal acceptable to us both. Otherwise, the consequences will be far more unpleasant.”

Frankly, given that outrageous offer, Zhang Qinghe hadn’t intended to negotiate at all; this was the foundation of the Zhang family, not something to be sold at any price.

So, for the next three days, life continued as usual in the Zhang household, with no thought of discussing terms.

On the eve of the second round of negotiations, Mu Piaoyan and Meng Huaicheng arrived.

Naturally, upon hearing of these events, the two joined the negotiation table.

The scene was anything but harmonious. The young man in black maintained his calm smile and repeated his unacceptable demands.

After several fruitless refusals, Zhang Qinghe stormed out.

“Who is this arrogant brat?!”

At that moment, none at the table realized that the young man in black was not simply indifferent. Even without bargaining, he was itching to deliver a mocking retort. However, from the moment they sat down, Meng Huaicheng had locked eyes with him, never wavering.

As Zhang Qinghe and Mu Piaoyan angrily left, Meng Huaicheng spoke up: “I am Meng Huaicheng. Might I ask your name, young master?”

The young man in black closed his fan, his smile unchanged. “Lin Yukong.”

Names exchanged, neither spoke further, but simply glared at one another.

Meng Huaicheng had sensed something amiss about Lin Yukong from the moment he entered. Now he sought to probe further, hoping a battle of gazes would reveal a weakness.

Lin Yukong felt nothing unusual—after all, everyone from the Flame Clan carried such an aura. He could only sense that Meng Huaicheng was strong. As they stared at each other, Lin Yukong thought, “You may be powerful, but I, Lin Yukong, have nothing to fear from you.”

Meng Huaicheng’s martial arts were inherited from Ye Guanwen, nearly on par with Ye Linhui. Sometimes, an intense power surged within him—he felt it now. As their staring match dragged on, this power sensed the unusual tension and stirred, automatically flowing forth. Lin Yukong felt the pressure mounting and instinctively summoned his own strength, a flash of fire appearing in his eyes.

Seeing that flash, Meng Huaicheng’s expression changed dramatically: “Flame…”

Lin Yukong, feeling his own power surge, realized things were going awry, and was startled that Meng recognized him. With a flick of his folding fan, he sent a small dart flying at Meng, forcing him to block and cutting off his words.

“Everyone, leave this place.”

Having caught the dart, Meng Huaicheng stood tall and addressed the Zhang family members nearby.

He knew that if the Flame Clan had appeared in the realm of Pulse Watchers, something significant was afoot. Since he had recognized them, Mu Piaoyan, the old scholar, would surely do so as well—but there was no need to drag the Zhangs into it.

Lin Yukong apparently had no intention of slaughtering everyone; once the crowd dispersed, he smiled, “Impressive, hero.”

Meng Huaicheng replied with a cold laugh. “Heh… Young master of the Flame Clan, let’s not mention how you managed to cross over here. I ask only, why have you come to our realm?”

Mu Piaoyan straightened his robe and looked at Duan Xingyun, smiling, “Young general, I suspect you haven’t reached the level of these two. Shall we find another place to talk?”

Mu Piaoyan had no intention of conversing. The tension here was at its peak; the old gentleman was inviting Duan Xingyun out for a fight. The battle between Lin Yukong and Meng Huaicheng was beyond him, but this young officer of Xia Kingdom didn’t seem particularly formidable. Mu Piaoyan was no weak scholar; after eighteen years wandering the realm, he had plenty of skill—otherwise, he’d have died in some nameless place long ago.

In less than a moment,

The window on the tavern’s second floor suddenly shattered. A black figure leapt out first, followed closely by Meng Huaicheng, sword in hand.

Onlookers on the street marvelled at their skill, when suddenly a young man in Xia Kingdom officer’s uniform tumbled out the window, and an old man, brandishing two short clubs (legs of a stool), laughed heartily as he jumped down, landing squarely on Duan Xingyun’s back.

Duan Xingyun felt as if his spine had snapped. He never expected that while Lin Yukong and Meng Huaicheng were trashing the room, this old rascal—who’d been quietly standing by—would suddenly hurl a chair at him, sending him tumbling out after the two, only to be smashed on the back by the old man.

Panicked, Duan Xingyun shouted to the crowd, “What are you staring at?! Go and report this to the authorities! Can’t you see I’m an officer?!”

Some finally reacted and rushed to the magistrate’s office. Duan Xingyun, gritting his teeth, grappled with Mu Piaoyan, while Lin Yukong, hearing the authorities had been summoned, ceased his duel with Meng Huaicheng. He snapped open his fan, defending with impenetrable skill, occasionally tossing hidden weapons, leaving Meng Huaicheng unable to retreat or advance.

The outcome was inevitable. Seeing things turn dire, Meng Huaicheng risked being struck by a dart to leap to Mu Piaoyan’s side, forcibly breaking Duan Xingyun’s attack. Mu Piaoyan, not one for hesitation, saw trouble brewing and decisively dove into a nearby alley, finding a path and escaping.

Meng, however, was not so fortunate. Thanks to Duan Xingyun’s efforts, he was taken prisoner and thrown into Xia Kingdom’s highest-security “Stellar Prison.”

…………

“Young master, share your thoughts.”

At this moment, Ye Pei sat alone in her room tending to her mentor, listening as the old man recounted the entire incident.

Ye Pei frowned in thought. “Meng should be safe for now. But the Duan family of Xia and the Flame Clan are clearly hiding something.”

“And their attempt to buy all the Zhangs’ holdings in Yaoguang Town… What’s their aim?” Ye Pei mused aloud. “It’s as if they wish to make Yaoguang Town their own territory. The Duan family has no need for this, so it must be that Flame Clan young master?”

Suddenly, a bold idea struck Ye Pei. “Could it be…” She then swallowed her words. “No, that can’t be…”

Mu Piaoyan looked at her. “Speak your mind.”

Ye Pei let out a long sigh. “Is it possible the Flame Clan has designs on the realm of Pulse Watchers, and the Duans are turning to them for support?”

Mu Piaoyan nodded. “I think that’s possible. But Duan Yaoqi is still the grand marshal of Xia Kingdom—how could he…”

Ye Pei spoke softly, “Perhaps the old general knows nothing of this.”

…………

The next day.

“Oh, heavens, I’m not going on a holiday—why do you insist on joining me…”

Early in the morning, Ye Pei was already packed and mounted, prepared for departure, when young Ye Feilan suddenly ran out and asked where she was going.

Ye Pei replied, “I’m going to buy something.”

But the clever girl pressed her, “Then why bring a bundle of provisions?”

Ye Pei gave in. “I’m going to Xia Kingdom.”

Disaster. “Mother, take me with you!”

Ye Pei was helpless. This girl would either wake early for food or sleep till noon; today she had sprung up before dawn at the gate.

“All right, all right, you have one day to pack. Tomorrow morning, at this hour, we leave.”

“Mm!” The girl nodded firmly, smiling, “Mother is the best!”

Later that morning, in Ye Pei’s study.

“Alan, quietly prepare the horses. As soon as night falls, I’ll leave. I must rescue Meng, and it’s too dangerous with Feilan tagging along.”

“Young master, but you’ve already promised the young miss…”

“That won’t do—I’m not going sightseeing.”

“No, I mean, if you leave, the young miss will tear me apart.”

“…You have a point. Prepare two horses—you’re coming with me.”

Noon.

Ye Feilan, deep in sleep, shivered and awoke. She patted the seven bundles she had packed and thought happily about her impending trip to Xia Kingdom. She murmured, “Feifei… wake me up early tomorrow…”

The maid Ye Fei, sleeping nearby, might have heard, replying vaguely with a hum.

Before long, Ye Feilan drifted back into dreams. As she fell asleep, the sound of distant hoofbeats seemed to echo nearby.