Chapter Nineteen: The Outbreak of War

By now, the number of prison guards who had perished at Ye Pei’s hands had reached at least a dozen, if not several dozen. Shi Yuheng’s act of feigning death was proceeding smoothly; no one had the leisure to pay him any heed.

Amidst the chaos, Ye Pei fought alone against both Lu Chenguang and Lei Ting, finding herself hard-pressed. She battled and retreated in circles around the open ground, until at last she found herself at the entrance to the cellblock corridor. Casting a glance at the cells flanking her, she fired off a few urgent shots, then darted into the passageway. With a flick of her wrist, several dazzling bursts from her spear shattered the iron locks on four neighboring cells.

Within the Celestial River Prison, some inmates were there for political reasons, but most had committed serious crimes despite possessing exceptional skills. The authorities had been unwilling to execute such talents outright, so they were held here on the chance they might prove useful someday.

Of the four whom Ye Pei released, one was a master thief skilled in both agility and lock-picking, another a brilliant scholar who resented the court, and the remaining two were infamous criminals of unmatched ferocity—monsters of strength whom the authorities had declared executed but in truth kept here in secret. Though these men had long harbored thoughts of escape, they were never permitted outside their cells save for rare relocations, always under the watchful eyes of guards and warden; any hope of fleeing had been a fantasy. The locks on their doors, forged of pig iron and blacksteel, were impervious even to their prodigious strength. But compared to the demonic iron of the Frosted Snow spear, such metals were mere tin. With focused power, Ye Pei reduced the locks to splinters.

The moment the doors flew open, the two savage criminals surged forth in a frenzy, grabbing sabers from fallen guards and charging singlemindedly for the exit. The thief and the scholar, however, remained sitting in their cells—the scholar knowing escape would mean certain death, the thief biding his time for a better chance.

The scene instantly devolved into utter turmoil. The guards hesitated—should they contain the rampaging criminals or stay to aid the warden against Ye Pei? Lei Ting, spying the confusion in Block Two, slipped away from the melee and hurried to Meng Huaicheng’s cell, swiftly unlocking its intricate mechanism—these locks required skill, not simply a key, for a misstep would seal them forever.

"Meng Huaicheng, hurry and change—your young master’s come for you!" As the door swung open, Lei Ting tossed him a bundle containing a military uniform. Meng Huaicheng, square-faced and honest, stared in astonishment before grabbing the clothes. "The commotion outside—is that my young lord?"

Meanwhile, the situation kept shifting. Warden Zhang Zhi’ang of Block Three, alerted by the chaos, delegated his subordinates and joined the fray himself. The guards converged on the two escaped murderers. The thief, having seized an opening to flee, ran straight into Zhang’s path in the tunnel and was cut down with a single stroke.

By the time Lei Ting and Meng Huaicheng emerged, Ye Pei was hard-pressed beneath the combined assault of Lu Chenguang and Zhang Zhi’ang. Earlier, Lei Ting had pulled his punches; but now, both adversaries were fighting with lethal intent. Ye Pei poured all her remaining inner strength into the demonic iron of her spear, which gleamed with an inky light like a black dragon weaving through the fray. Yet the relentless attacks left her riddled with wounds, blood seeping from a dozen gashes.

"Young master!" Meng Huaicheng, seeing Ye Pei faltering, rushed forward but was yanked back by Lei Ting. "You’ve been locked up too long—how much strength could you muster now? Don’t make things worse—go!"

On their way out, Lei Ting gave Shi Yuheng a swift kick; he sprang up like a startled carp and followed them. Lei Ting called out, "Lu Chenguang! I’m going back to check on things!" Ye Pei heard this and knew Meng Huaicheng had been rescued. Relief swept through her, but she could not help worrying for her own fate—pinned by these two, escape was impossible. After such protracted, intense combat, she doubted she had the strength left to land a crushing blow.

Though Ye Pei had maneuvered near the tunnel entrance, Lu Chenguang now stood firmly with his back to it, blocking any chance of slipping away.

Gritting her teeth, Ye Pei thought, "Am I to die so wretchedly here?"

A fierce unwillingness surged within her. She summoned every last ounce of inner energy, channeling it into the demonic iron spear. With ferocious resolve, she thrust out, the spear’s light flashing like lightning to meet Zhang Zhi’ang’s attack.

"Break!" Ye Pei’s power roared out, her aura swelling yet again. Sensing danger, Zhang Zhi’ang switched from offense to defense, sword raised across his chest to block the blow.

Clang! Thud!

Two sounds rang out almost as one—the spear shattered Zhang’s sword and, without losing momentum, plunged deep into his abdomen. Zhang stared in disbelief as he crumpled to his knees, the wild surge of inner force within him destroying his very organs—life draining from his body.

Withdrawing her spear, Ye Pei leaned on it, pale-faced and bleeding at the lips, yet a flash of exhilaration crossing her expression.

Seeing Zhang fall, Lu Chenguang strode forward, sword raised. Ye Pei instinctively brought up her spear to parry, but she was truly spent; the last attack had wrung her dry. Even wielding her soul-bound demonic spear now felt like lifting a mountain.

A sharp crack rang out—the spear was smashed back into Ye Pei’s chest, knocking the wind from her and spattering blood. Still, she twisted the weapon, refusing to fall. Lu Chenguang, confident of victory, advanced step by step, glancing at his own wounds. "Well fought, boy! Name yourself!"

Ye Pei let out a cold laugh. "Just a wanderer of the martial world—the Young Jade Hero!"

Lu Chenguang’s eyes flashed with murderous light. "If you won’t give your name, so be it. You’re as good as—who’s there?!"

Just then, a streak of sword-light flashed from behind him—cold steel, murderous intent. Lu Chenguang whirled to meet it. The swordsman who had come to aid them—who else but Jiang Zhongqing!

"Young master!" Behind him, Alan, moving with blinding lightness, dashed over and swept Ye Pei up onto her back. Jiang Zhongqing dueled Lu Chenguang, blow for blow. Once Alan had whisked Ye Pei away, Jiang feinted and then retreated himself.

Lu Chenguang considered giving chase but, realizing no prisoners of import had slipped away, turned instead to deal with the two murderous escapees.

Within half an hour, Lei Ting had led Ye Pei’s group safely beyond the confines of Starlight City. At this point, Ye Pei was unconscious in the carriage, Meng Huaicheng keeping constant vigil at her side.

Lei Ting sighed. "I never expected Warden Zhang to reinforce them so quickly. Young Master Ye nearly didn’t make it out."

Alan bowed. "We owe this success to you, Warden Lei—without your help, we’d have had little chance at all."

Shi Yuheng and his family were to accompany Ye Pei’s party to the Snow Country. Shi’s elderly father, however, had already passed away soon after being brought to the settlement, sparing them further hardship.

Few words were exchanged. Lei Ting watched in silence as Ye Pei’s party slowly departed.

...

In the sixth month of Tongli Year 834, the sun and moon shone with blinding brilliance, obscuring the stars in the heavens—so it was said the Star Gods could no longer gaze upon the mortal realm, and the Demon Gate swung wide, unleashing the Infernal Horde.

Sun and moon eclipsed the stars; the Demon Gate ablaze. Thus began the Season of Blazing Watchfires.

—From the Ancient Edition of the Comprehensive History

It should have been an ordinary day. Yet for reasons unknown, a tense unease pervaded the air of Luoshui City.

"Hey, A-Ming, where are we playing today?"

"I don’t know. Somehow I don’t feel like playing right now."

Mischievous children wandered home in silence. Diligent vendors packed up their stalls in low spirits. Seasoned veterans atop the city walls found nervous sweat beading on their palms.

The dawn cast its rays, but those who basked in its light felt no warmth.

"What does it feel like? Yes, it’s as if the sun has ceased to favor us."

One old soldier, restless, got up and gazed out beyond the walls. The distant valley was as lifeless as ever. "What’s wrong with me? I’m nearly retired, yet here I am, more anxious than any green recruit." He shook his hands and grumbled, "Wait—enemy! Enemy—"

Thwip—thud!

A muffled sound—an arrowhead striking flesh—cut his warning short, the cry of alarm dying in his throat. Thus began the Season of Blazing Watchfires.

...

After more than half a month’s journey, Ye Pei’s party returned to Shunxing City at midday.

They were met at the gate by Lady Ye and young Miss Ye Feilan.

"Mother, why did you leave without telling me?" The little girl had rushed out, intent on scolding her, but at the sight of Ye Pei—pale, bloodied, supported by Alan as she descended from the carriage—she grew panicked. "Mother! Mother, what’s happened to you?"

Lady Ye, seeing the much thinner Meng Huaicheng, immediately guessed what had transpired. She went to steady her son, her eyes full of aching concern.

Ye Pei, though long since awake, was still terribly weak, her wounds both internal and external yet unhealed. Seeing her family’s worry, she smiled gently. "It’s nothing—just some injuries."

Then she turned to Lady Ye. "Mother, where are Father and Mister Mu?"

Huang Qilin replied, "They were summoned to the palace at dawn and haven’t returned yet."

At that very moment, within the imperial court—

"Good! It’s decided!" The emperor struck the dragon throne. "General Ye will lead ninety thousand troops to the Summer Kingdom’s Luoshui City to repel the enemy! The Snowshadow King will take ten thousand west to reinforce our border garrisons! Send word to Commander Feng Jing at Tuyu City to prepare for war and support the Snowshadow King at any moment! Time is short—we march in seven days!"

Below, Ye Linhui and the emperor’s elder brother, the Snowshadow King Ziji, bowed in assent.

Meanwhile, in the Summer Kingdom, the ailing veteran General Duan Yaoqi remained at home, so the emperor appointed Marshal Xiao Ming—General of the Northern Garrison—to lead ninety thousand troops to the front.

At this point, Luoshui City was already engulfed in war. The vanguard forces of the Flame Tribe, though they had seized the city, were too few in number and were soon driven out by Xiao Ming’s counterattack. Flame Tribe units had also begun appearing in the southern reaches of the Summer Kingdom’s western frontier. The accompanying general, Duan Xingyun, had already led fifty thousand troops south to meet them.

The greatest war in the recorded history of the Star Vein was on the verge of erupting.