Chapter Eleven: A Righteous Deed

I have to admit, Alan is an incredibly clever person. Although no one really knows what he was doing throughout his childhood—he trained alongside Ye Pei in various disciplines, yet never excelled in any particular area.

But as fate would have it, Alan’s wit always managed to save him at critical moments.

Morning arrived.

“Where’s my mother?!”

That piercing, thunderous voice shook Lady Ye’s hand so violently in the study that she nearly flung her book across the room. Beside her, Ye Fei spoke with caution, “Miss… I think I saw Alan preparing the horses yesterday… Could it be that the young master left in the middle of the night?”

Hearing this, Ye Feilan, already seething with rage, stormed toward Ye Pei’s courtyard.

“If I don’t kill Alan, I’ll never quell the hatred in my heart!”

But the result was obvious—there was not a soul in the courtyard.

“Hateful! Absolutely hateful!” The young lady felt no words could express her fury.

Mu Piaoyan, who lived nearby, heard the commotion and walked over at a measured pace. “Miss, the young master and Alan departed together last night.”

Ye Feilan, rarely encountering anyone besides her own servants, vented her anger at Mu Piaoyan. “Why didn’t he take me? He took his page but not me! He must have gone to the Summer Kingdom to find a girlfriend!”

Even Mu Piaoyan, with her vast experience, silently wiped her brow and replied helplessly, “Miss, even if the young master is going to find a girlfriend, it has nothing to do with whether he takes you… You’re his daughter…”

“He’s definitely afraid his girlfriend will misunderstand him! That’s why he didn’t take me! I’m bored to death at home every day! Speaking of which, why didn’t he tell me he has a girlfriend? Am I even his daughter anymore?”

At that moment, Mu Piaoyan felt as though ten thousand lambs were galloping through her mind. “Enough, enough, you silly girl, your mother doesn’t have a girlfriend. The young master is heading to the ‘Star River Prison,’ a mid-level facility in the Summer Kingdom, to rescue Meng Huaicheng. This journey is very dangerous.”

Ye Feilan was stunned and silent. After ten seconds, she finally spoke. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

Mu Piaoyan replied, “Has he ever informed you or Lady Ye of any dangerous undertaking? I shouldn’t have told you at all—do not let your grandmother find out.”

Ye Feilan seemed lost in thought, slowly heading toward her quarters, her voice barely audible. “Understood.”

Meanwhile, let’s look at Ye Pei and Alan.

“Young master…” Alan rubbed his stomach. “How far is it to Baizhou?”

Baizhou was a small town in the southern part of the Snow Kingdom.

“Not far now,” Ye Pei replied. “We should arrive before nightfall.”

Alan glanced up at the blazing sun overhead, sighed deeply, and said nothing.

As evening approached, accompanied by Alan’s repeated laments of “I’m so hungry…”, they finally set foot in Baizhou.

“Hurry, hurry, let’s find an inn…”

“Welcome, sirs, please come in, leave your horses to us…” Just then, a waiter at the entrance of the “Fortune and Harmony Inn” beckoned them. Ye Pei gave the place a cursory glance, handed over the horses, and went inside with Alan.

“Are you staying the night, gentlemen?” The waiter was exceedingly professional.

Ye Pei smiled, “Yes, we’ll need a room for the night, and please find us a table by the window. Bring three or four dishes, whatever you recommend.”

The waiter was delighted by such agreeable guests. “Certainly, please follow me. I’ll register your room and arrange the dishes—just a moment, please.”

“Thank you, young man,” Ye Pei said.

The waiter led them to a window-side table on the first floor and busied himself with their order.

Soon, the food and wine arrived. The two dined and conversed.

---

“Hey, Brother Pei,” Alan addressed Ye Pei this way outside to avoid unnecessary trouble. “Why don’t we find a quiet spot upstairs? It’d be much more peaceful.”

Ye Pei chuckled softly, lifting his wine bowl. “When traveling, it’s better to stay somewhere open and accessible.”

As the saying goes, wherever the protagonist goes, trouble follows.

I had wanted to avoid this cliché, but if I did, who knows when the famed Sword God and Martial Master would make their entrance, and I wouldn't know how to write this section. So, trouble it is.

Suddenly, commotion erupted on the street outside. Since the inn was on the edge of town, Ye Pei looked up and saw a thin, young man in mourning clothes running in from outside, sword in hand, pursued by a dozen well-dressed men.

The youth tried to slip into the crowd to escape, but the townsfolk, seeing someone with a sword, scattered in fear. Even if he managed to hide among them, his mourning garb made him stick out like a sore thumb.

With no other option, the youth prepared to fight.

Unexpectedly, seeing him turn to face them, the pursuers didn’t rush him.

“This kid’s tough! Surround him—don’t attack one by one!”

At the command, the group quickly encircled the youth. He tried to break through, but every direction was blocked by three men—there was no way out.

Failing to escape on the ground, the youth looked skyward, swinging his sword in a circle, gathering his strength, and leaping up to vault over their heads.

“Where do you think you’re going?” A shout rang out as a man launched from a rooftop, kicking the youth square in the chest and sending him tumbling back into the circle.

The man flicked his coat, addressing the youth lying on the ground, “Jiang Zhongqing, surrender your life. Here in Baizhou, no one can save you. Even in Yinzhou, the county seat, no one dares meddle in my Feng family’s affairs!”

Jiang Zhongqing bit his lip, trying to stand and resist, but the kick had been too forceful; every attempt to rise sent him crashing back down.

Feng Yuanping looked smug. “Ha! After taking my kick, you still think you can get up? Take him! Carry him back to the mansion!”

Three or four men rushed forward to lift Jiang Zhongqing.

“Brother Pei, shouldn’t we do something? We’re already here…” Alan turned, only to find Ye Pei was no longer at the table.

Feng Yuanping and his men dispersed the crowd and headed toward the Feng estate. Unexpectedly, as the crowd cleared, a plainly dressed but striking youth stood in their path.

“Hey! Who are you? Dare to block our way!” Before Feng Yuanping could speak, a servant, emboldened by his master’s presence, stepped forward and shouted.

“Put him down,” Ye Pei said calmly, wasting no words.

Feng Yuanping scowled. “Who are you, boy? Last chance—move aside!”

Jiang Zhongqing, struggling to recall, confirmed he didn’t know Ye Pei and shouted, “Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but you should go now!”

Ye Pei smiled. “I’ll say it once more. Put him down.”

The servant, seeing Ye Pei’s unwavering stance, grunted and raised his hand.

Ye Pei’s movements were blindingly swift—far faster than the servant’s. Before the man could lift his hand, Ye Pei pressed his head to the ground.

Feng Yuanping flew into a rage, waving his hand to hold back his men, then strode forward, sneering. “You’ve got guts—tell me your name!”

“Ye Pei,” came the reply. Ye Pei had never used his real name while traveling; the martial world knew only of the “Jade Hero,” but not his true identity. The so-called “real name of the Jade Hero” had circulated in over a dozen versions. Thus, Ye Pei revealed his true name, unconcerned if Feng Yuanping recognized him.

“Hmph,” Feng Yuanping clearly didn’t know the name, snorted, and said, “Let’s see how you fare!”

But to his surprise, as soon as he uttered “Let’s see how you fare,” Ye Pei laughed, “I don’t even need to bother with moves to deal with you.” Then, Ye Pei closed his eyes.

“You brat, courting death!” Feng Yuanping’s anger flared, and he lunged forward with a kick.

Ye Pei heard the rush of air, leaned back to dodge, raised his arms, and extended his right leg behind Feng Yuanping’s supporting foot. With a twist of his waist, he rose up, and Feng Yuanping was swept off his feet.

But Ye Pei didn’t let him fall there. Seizing the chance, Ye Pei spun and channeled all his strength into a single kick. With a dull thud, Feng Yuanping spat blood and flew backward.

---

“You… cough…” Feng Yuanping struggled but couldn’t stand.

Ye Pei walked over, eyes open, wearing a mocking smile. “What’s wrong, old man? After taking my kick, you still think you can get up?”

The servants dared not approach, watching as Ye Pei helped Jiang Zhongqing up and led him into the inn.

“Ah, young hero, you’ve offended the Feng family. We dare not let you stay any longer…” The innkeeper said as soon as Ye Pei returned.

Alan was instantly displeased. “Hey, what are you—”

Ye Pei stopped him with a raised hand, nodded, “Alright, I’ll take my things and leave.”

When Ye Pei had gathered his belongings, the innkeeper advised from behind, “Young hero, though it’s late, try to get as far away as possible, lest the Feng family trouble you.”

Ye Pei turned, clasped his hands, and smiled, “Thank you for the warning.”

A short distance away, Alan asked, “Brother Pei, where should we stay tonight?”

“Fortune and Harmony Inn,” Ye Pei replied.

“What?! We just left there! Is there another Fortune and Harmony Inn in this town?”

“Haha, of course not. We’ll stay at that one.”

Alan was utterly bewildered. “What’s going on?!”

Jiang Zhongqing commented, “The Feng family will likely return to stir up more trouble.”

Ye Pei nodded, “Exactly. If we really left, we’d be putting the inn in harm’s way. If the Feng family can’t find us, they’ll take it out on the inn.”

…

Night had fallen completely. Ye Pei and Alan tied their horses outside town, and the three sat on a rooftop on the edge of Baizhou, watching toward the Fortune and Harmony Inn.

“Ha, here they come,” Ye Pei said suddenly, smiling.

“Huh?” Alan was puzzled. “Brother Pei, how do you know?” Jiang Zhongqing clearly wanted to know as well.

“I heard them,” Ye Pei replied.

A few seconds later, Alan and Jiang Zhongqing heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats.

At the Fortune and Harmony Inn.

“Where are Jiang Zhongqing and Ye Pei? Bring them out!” The Feng family burst in, shouting. Behind, Feng Yuanping was carried on a chair by several men.

The innkeeper hurried out, smiling apologetically, “I already chased them away—they’re not here.”

“Chased away?” The Feng family instantly shifted their rage to the innkeeper. “I bet you’re hiding them!”

A blade was nearly at the innkeeper’s throat.

“Hey… I’m right here, called everyone out to get beaten up, old man?”

Just then, a teasing voice rang out.