Chapter Sixteen: Lei Ting

Shi Yuheng’s astonishment did not last long—less than a second, in fact, before he collected himself, his heart brimming with complaints about Xu Wan, and sent a straight punch at Ye Pei.

Secretly, Ye Pei gave Xu Wan a silent nod of approval, then pocketed the bead, raised her fist, and met his attack head-on. The two of them began trading blows at the edge of the marketplace, fists flying in a rapid exchange that drew an enthusiastic crowd. Dust billowed, shouts filled the air, and the spectators cheered as though witnessing a once-in-a-century spectacle.

Initially, Ye Pei had been holding back, waiting for Shi Yuheng to reveal a flaw so she could proceed with the next step of their plan. But to her surprise, Shi Yuheng grew more aggressive with each exchange, as if determined to capture her in one go, throwing himself into the fight with all his might.

After five or six minutes, Ye Pei judged that if they continued, the city guards would soon arrive. She decided to stop holding back, launching a flurry of attacks that pushed Shi Yuheng onto the defensive. Channeling her inner strength, she struck out with her palm, leaving Shi Yuheng no room to dodge—he staggered backward, reeling from the blow. Ye Pei then shot a glance at Xu Wan, who stood not far behind Shi Yuheng, before advancing and spinning into a roundhouse kick.

Seeing that fierce kick, Shi Yuheng cursed inwardly: Had I known, I’d have coordinated better with this kid. There’s no way I can dodge that now…

No sooner thought than done, Xu Wan, catching Ye Pei’s signal, rushed forward and cried out in alarm, “Husband!”

With that cry, Xu Wan shoved Shi Yuheng aside. To the onlookers, it appeared she’d pushed him out of harm’s way and, with her frail body, intercepted Ye Pei’s lethal kick herself.

A heart-wrenching scream rang out as Ye Pei’s kick landed squarely on Xu Wan’s abdomen. Xu Wan flew backward, blood gushing from her mouth like a fountain. Mid-flight, she crashed into the dazed “Shi Jie,” and the two—mother and child—tumbled several times across the street, coming to rest in a heap. The crowd saw blood staining the child’s lips and collar, mother and son lying motionless, seemingly lifeless.

Ye Pei mused, This sister-in-law’s acting is flawless, and her skills are extraordinary. She took off the moment my foot was near—truth is, I didn’t even touch her…

Despite her thoughts, Ye Pei’s face now wore a mask of panic. She glanced at the fallen pair, hesitated as if about to check on them, shot a look at the stunned Shi Yuheng, then turned and fled. With a few agile leaps, she disappeared over the rooftops.

Shi Yuheng’s shock was no act—he truly hadn’t expected that woman to be so convincing. Had he not known the truth, even he might have been fooled.

There was only the final act left to complete. Shi Yuheng scrambled to his “wife and child’s” side, feigning to check their breaths, then, with a devastated expression, knelt on the ground, his gaze empty and fixed ahead.

Some bystanders wanted to check if the pair were truly dead, but Shi Yuheng’s murderous glare sent them scurrying back. After a few minutes, he rose, hefted the “corpses” onto his shoulders, and strode slowly home.

By the time Shi Yuheng returned, Ye Pei was already waiting. Once the door was closed, Xu Wan stood up, though Huang Mingyi remained nestled in his mother’s arms, still unconscious.

Ye Pei quickly asked, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong with this boy?”

Xu Wan smiled. “I was afraid he wouldn’t act well enough—he’s only six, after all. So while I was rolling him along the ground, I knocked him out.”

Ye Pei was at a loss for words. “Sister-in-law… you…”

Xu Wan waved a hand. “It’s nothing. I know what I’m doing. I only struck that hard with your brother.”

Soon, the family’s mourning was underway with great fanfare. Shi Yuheng’s expression of grief was genuine—after all, his family was alive and well, yet he was forced to stage a funeral. It was an uncomfortable charade for anyone.

Word quickly spread across town: the wife and child of a military officer had been beaten to death in the street. The authorities naturally wanted to seek justice for Shi Yuheng, but Ye Pei, having shed her disguise, had vanished without a trace. With the city guards preoccupied with the rotation of prison staff and their families, all they managed was to escort away Shi Yuheng’s ailing father.

Everything was unfolding just as Ye Pei had anticipated—the jailbreak operation was well on track.

While Ye Pei bustled with preparations, Duan Xingyun’s secret plans continued apace. After that explosive incident in Yaoguang Town with Mu Piaoyan and Meng Huaicheng, Lin Yukun had declared his intention to leave. By now, he had reached Luoshui City, a border town in the northwest of the Xia Kingdom.

Luoshui City was a neglected, unloved outpost, caught between the Xia and Xue Kingdoms, too far west for the Xia to bother stationing many troops in its harsh environment. As a result, thanks to Duan Xingyun’s financial backing and Lin Yukun’s martial prowess, the few local powers had all boarded their pirate ship.

Before long, it was June first.

Within a single day, Xinghe Prison swiftly completed its prisoner transfers and staff rotation. Shi Yuheng, both anxious and conflicted, returned to Division One of Xinghe Prison.

Division Chief Lei Ting had, of course, heard about Shi Yuheng’s situation, and he harbored suspicions about Ye Pei. After all, the Ye family’s captain of guards had been imprisoned here under strange circumstances, and the young master himself had traveled all this way without any apparent action for days—highly unusual.

Thus, upon Shi Yuheng’s arrival, the upright Chief Lei kept a close eye on him.

If Meng Huaicheng had been held in Division One, Shi Yuheng would have been able to find out his location easily, even if it wasn’t his direct responsibility. But since Meng Huaicheng was not in Division One, there was little he could do.

Shi Yuheng did his utmost, seizing every opportunity to wander through the other divisions. After two days, he confirmed that Meng Huaicheng was not in Division One, but he had also drawn Lei Ting’s attention.

That night, Lei Ting summoned Shi Yuheng to his quarters. The room’s decor spoke volumes of Lei Ting’s character: the words “Loyalty,” “Courage,” “Integrity,” and “Resolve” adorned the wall, crafted from Lei Ting’s prized moonlight jade. Even underground, lit only by torches, the characters glowed with their own pale light. Otherwise, the hall was sparsely furnished—just a table and chair, a clothes rack, and a weapons stand. The adjoining bedroom contained only a bed, a writing desk with a chair, and a bookshelf.

As Shi Yuheng entered, Lei Ting sat in the main chair. He looked up and said, “Let’s not beat around the bush. Tell me honestly—why have you been wandering all over Division One these past two days?”

Shi Yuheng was filled with dread and indecision. Lei Ting’s words meant he was already under suspicion; denial was pointless, and he could think of no plausible excuse. Yet, with his wife and son in Ye Pei’s hands, telling the truth would doom the operation. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Seeing his silence, Lei Ting spoke sternly: “Think hard about who you are, why you were chosen for this post, and what your duty truly is!”

At those words, Shi Yuheng broke down, dropping to his knees. “Sir! I have failed Xia Kingdom…”

Lei Ting, seeing him kneel so readily, barked, “A man should never kneel so easily! Stand and speak!”

Shi Yuheng rose slowly, exhaled deeply, and confessed everything.

Lei Ting listened intently, pondering for a while before saying gravely, “The gravity of this matter is beyond your imagination. Give me the young master’s address—I must meet him.”

Lei Ting understood that, though the notion of the Yan Tribe’s involvement sounded far-fetched, it was not impossible. General Ye Linhui of Xue Kingdom was renowned for his prowess; his son was unlikely to be incapable. The famed scholar Mu Piaoyan would recognize the Yan Tribe’s unique traits. The young master’s journey to Xia was surely not without cause.

Lei Ting was a man of country and conscience. He knew there was little he could do—if the Yan Tribe truly had designs on the Wangmai, he had no proof and could do nothing. Still, speaking with Ye Pei might help.

With a sigh, Lei Ting stood. “Shi Yuheng, you may have unwittingly become an important figure in shaping the fate of the world.”

Shi Yuheng was stunned. He was about to ask what Lei Ting meant when the chief strode out without another word.

Left with no choice, Shi Yuheng returned to his post.

Lei Ting, meanwhile, knew Meng Huaicheng was being held in Division Two, but not the specific cell. He marched directly into Division Two, entered the main office, and, finding Chief Lu Chenguang absent, sat down to peruse the prisoner files.

He quickly discovered that Meng Huaicheng was in cell four, row four of Division Two, and set off at once. On his way out, he ran into Lu Chenguang, patted him on the shoulder, and left without further explanation. Though puzzled, Lu Chenguang thought nothing of it and returned to his duties.

Lei Ting returned to Division One, changed into plain clothes, told no one, and quietly left Xinghe Prison, heading straight for Ye Pei’s residence.