Chapter Fifty-Four: Retaliation

“If you ever lock me in the wardrobe again, I’ll…”

She was so exasperated that she only got halfway through her threat. Zi Qingrong looked helplessly at Ye Pei, who was sincerely apologizing, and didn’t know what to say.

“Um…” Ye Pei didn’t dare meet the young lady’s eyes. “How about…”

“If you go back to Wangmai, you have to take me with you to have some fun!”

“Huh?” Ye Pei hadn’t expected such a demand and was momentarily stunned.

Seeing this, Zi Qingrong stamped her foot. “Did you hear me? That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Ye Pei could only agree, “Alright, no problem.”

The next day, Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong moved out of the inn and found another place to stay not far away.

Catching a faint trace of spice in the air, Ye Pei’s lips curved into a smile, thinking, “I have to admit, everything my teacher taught me has come in handy. If only I’d studied astronomy, geography, and feng shui more seriously back then.”

Though called a spice, the scent wasn’t fragrant at all—in fact, it was quite ordinary. In daily life, no one would notice it from the scent alone. Back when Mu Piaoyan taught Ye Pei how to make this spice, she’d deliberately trained him to distinguish this particular scent.

To put it plainly, she had him smell it every day for no reason at all, until the scent was etched into his memory.

The next evening.

“Qingrong…” After dinner, Ye Pei cautiously approached her.

Zi Qingrong replied, “What is it?”

“Uh…” Ye Pei was at a loss how to hide his embarrassment. “Well… could you spend another night in the wardrobe?”

Zi Qingrong hesitated a long time. “Is there nowhere else safe?”

After a brief thought, Ye Pei replied, “The City Lord’s Manor would work, but I’m not comfortable with it. After all, our cooperation with them is only temporary.”

Zi Qingrong said, “It should be fine. You’re working with their people; why would they harm me?”

Ye Pei frowned, considered it, then finally sighed, “Forget it, the wardrobe is safer.”

…

Night fell.

Ye Pei locked the reluctant Zi Qingrong in the wardrobe, then leaped lightly onto the roof and sat cross-legged.

“Hmph,” he murmured, breathing in the special scent in the air, “Just watch; I’ll be right here.”

Hidden in the shadows, two swordsmen whispered to each other.

“Should we make a move?”

“Don’t be stupid. We just need to keep an eye on him.”

Soon, they sensed more people arriving in the area.

“What’s going on? I feel like others are coming.”

“Me too. Stay calm, don’t move.”

Ye Pei sensed the time was nearly right. Inner strength began circulating gently within him as he waited for what was to come.

Suddenly, a shout split the night.

“Kill!”

Five figures in black burst from all directions, flashing blades in hand, charging straight at Ye Pei.

“Whoa!” One of the watchers nearly fell from the tree in surprise.

“Don’t get excited!” The other quickly grabbed him.

On the rooftop, Ye Pei had already drawn his spear and was clashing with the five attackers. The air trembled with each blow, sharp sounds echoing with every strike—a dazzling scene that would make any spectator cheer.

“Who are these people? Reinforcements?”

“If so, they should have notified us. We don’t even know who they are—how are we supposed to know whether to help them surround Ye Pei?”

Only Ye Pei and the five attackers knew the true situation. Though their exchange looked deadly, everyone was reacting with plenty of time; the moves were fierce in appearance but not executed at full speed, more like a deadly ballet.

“Damn it! Five against one!” Ye Pei, nearly overwhelmed, swept his spear in a wide arc, then jabbed twice to force one attacker back, breaking the encirclement. In a flash, he darted toward the old inn, with all five in hot pursuit.

“They’re heading for where we’re staying!”

“Ye Pei doesn’t know we’re after him—he must be going to find Yang Qin and Yun Jian for help!”

The two exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

Before reaching the inn, Ye Pei called out, “Yang Qin! Yun Jian! Someone’s trying to kill me—help!”

Inside, Yun Jian had barely slept these past nights, waiting for news from Ye Pei. After the attempt on Cheng Fang, he’d suspected something was wrong with his team and had already leaked Ye Pei’s whereabouts in Juyi City.

Hearing Ye Pei’s shout, Yun Jian’s eyes brightened. He grabbed his sword and rushed out, waking his companion, who was sleeping in his clothes. “Quick, grab your brother and tie up Yang Qin—we’re going to surround Ye Pei!”

Meanwhile, Yang Qin, half asleep, thought he was dreaming at first. But as the voice called again and again, growing louder, he woke with a start. “Brother Pei!”

He reached for his hidden weapons, but suddenly two men pinned him to the bed. One grabbed a rope and started tying him up.

“Aren’t you Yun Jian’s men? What are you doing?”

They said nothing. Yang Qin tried to struggle but was no match for them; soon he was firmly bound and left on the bed as the two drew their swords and hurried out.

By then, Ye Pei had arrived with his “pursuers,” running straight into Yun Jian.

“Brother Yun! Where are your men? Help me!” Ye Pei called as he ran.

Yun Jian drew his sword, full of righteous indignation. “Ye—Brother Pei, don’t panic, I’ll fight with you!”

Ye Pei, hearing this, pretended to turn and face his pursuers, giving Yun Jian the perfect chance. Delighted, Yun Jian lunged with his sword. But Ye Pei twisted aside, dodging the thrust, and in the next instant, drove his spear through Yun Jian’s chest.

“You…” Blood dripped from Yun Jian’s lips. “How could you…”

Ye Pei wrenched out the spear, smiling coldly. “Take your time pondering that in the underworld.”

Just then, Yun Jian’s dozen or so men burst from the inn, and the two watchers arrived as well.

Facing a crowd stunned into silence, Ye Pei exchanged a look and a smile with Chen Xin. Then Ye Pei flicked his spear, readying himself, while Chen Xin and his four brothers each drew a compact crossbow from their waists, each loaded with at least three bolts.

Without anyone pulling the trigger yet, Ye Pei’s tall, spear-wielding form swept toward the group.

…

After the battle, Ye Pei strolled into Yang Qin’s room.

“What…”

“Brother Pei! Are you alright?” Yang Qin asked.

Ye Pei, amused, looked at him. “Judging by your expression, you’re clueless.”

Yang Qin was confused. “About what?”

Ye Pei waved a hand. “Don’t call me Brother Pei. My name is Ye Pei. The one trying to kill me was Yun Jian.”

“You’re Ye Pei?! Then my cousin Feng Xiaoyang…”

Ye Pei sliced through Yang Qin’s bonds with his spear. “I’ll say this only once: Feng Xiaoyang didn’t die by my hand. Honestly, I have no blood feud with your family. If you don’t believe me and insist on revenge, there’s nothing I can do.”

Yang Qin stood up. “I… wasn’t planning on revenge. My connection to them isn’t that deep, and you’ve saved my life before. I just didn’t expect Yun Jian to nearly get you killed—he must have been hired.”

Ye Pei was surprised, glanced at Yang Qin, but said nothing.

Yang Qin cupped his fists. “Brother Ye, in that case, I’d rather not stay in Juyi City. Rivers and lakes are long; may we meet again!” With that, he took his bundle, donned his conical hat, and vanished into the night outside the window.

“No survivors?” Ye Pei asked Chen Mo.

Chen Mo shook his folding fan with a smile. “Rest easy, Brother Ye. The City Lord’s men surrounded the inn as soon as the fighting started. No one escaped.”

“Excellent.” As the City Lord’s men withdrew, Ye Pei and the others lingered, chatting.

When the last of the City Lord’s men had left, Ye Pei cupped his fists. “Farewell.”

“Brother Ye!” Chen Mo called. “Where will you go?”

“I don’t know,” Ye Pei replied. “I’ll take it one step at a time.”

“In that case… I won’t keep you. Take care—”

Suddenly, a loud shout shattered the calm.

“Ye Pei! Where do you think you’re going!”

“Their reinforcements!” Ye Pei saw a large force charging down the long street in the distance. “You all go! Deny everything—say you never cooperated with me!”

“Take care, Brother Ye!” Chen Xin led his group away, turning a corner and disappearing into the darkness. Dressed in black, they melted into the night, and those chasing Ye Pei didn’t notice anyone else had been there.

Before leaving, Chen Mo spoke rapidly to Ye Pei: “Brother Ye, take your wife and wait for me at the west gate. I’ll get you out!”

Ye Pei nodded, vaulted onto a rooftop, and disappeared. The pursuers arrived soon after, only to find Yun Jian and his men already dead. They quickly mounted their horses and chased after Ye Pei, spotting his figure leaping between rooftops ahead.

Ye Pei unleashed his full agility, heading straight for the inn where he’d left Zi Qingrong, intent on getting her out as quickly as possible. There were at least forty or fifty pursuers behind him, likely from all three factions. If he went in alone, he’d probably never get out.

He opened the wardrobe and released Zi Qingrong, who was just about to complain as usual, but Ye Pei turned away and said, “Get on my back—quick!”

Though bewildered, Zi Qingrong heard the urgency in his voice and climbed on without protest. Ye Pei glanced outside. With no other options, he drew a deep breath, channeled his inner strength through his twelve meridians, and soared into the night, heading straight for the west gate as Chen Mo had instructed.