Chapter Seventy-Two: Qinzhou

In just a few days, Ye Pei was preparing to depart. According to his plan, he would first head to the Zi Clan to discuss the subsequent matters with Zi Qingrong’s father, Zi Qiong, and then proceed to the territories of the Lin and Feng Clans to ignite the coming chaos.

Zi Qingcheng had already left ahead of them, leaving behind a single comment as he departed.

“Anyway, brother-in-law isn’t as hopeless with directions as my sister. I’m too lazy to endure your two’s mental assaults on the road.”

Ye Pei wanted to persuade him to stay, fearing something might go wrong, but Zi Qingrong was completely unconcerned.

“It’s fine. Once he’s out of the bandit lands, he’ll be within the Zi Clan territory. Plenty of people there know him.”

Two days after Zi Qingcheng had departed, Ye Pei set out with Zi Qingrong.

“Young Master Ye, speed is of the essence in war—remember, do not tarry over these mundane affairs,” Xing Yan reminded him before he left.

Ye Pei agreed, but couldn’t help finding it amusing. A princess of the Star Clan, settled here and urging him to deal with her own people as soon as possible—the situation had a certain ironic charm.

But let us leave Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong on their journey for the moment, and turn our gaze back to Wangmai.

Ni Manxiu was currently residing in Old Master Huang Cang’s lavish estate, preparing to pack up and return home. Ye Feilan’s attitude toward him had improved, since he had been the first to save the young lady, but Ni Manxiu still felt things had not gone quite as he’d hoped.

He had wanted to spend more time wandering Wangmai with Ye Feilan to cultivate their relationship, but Yue Zhe was determined to send her back to Old Master Huang—after all, she was the Ye family’s cherished jewel, and her disappearance had caused much worry. If she were delayed any longer, Old Master Huang might mobilize the resources of the Snow Country and create unforeseen trouble.

This left Ni Manxiu, who had been grateful to Yue Zhe, gnashing his teeth in frustration but helpless. He had never expected the local bully in that small town to turn out to be from the Star Clan. If Yue Zhe hadn’t arrived, Ni Manxiu would have had to resort to more serious measures to save the young lady.

“Hey, Tiger King, what are you doing?” As Ni Manxiu was packing, the young lady came looking for him.

The nickname “Tiger King” was her playful moniker for him, all because of Sanhu.

“Ah… Feilan…” Ni Manxiu felt a bit reluctant. “There might be some trouble at home. I need to go check on things.”

“What happened at your house?” Ye Feilan was skeptical, having seen Ni Manxiu receive no recent messages. “Should I ask Great-Grandfather to send someone to help you?”

Ni Manxiu blurted out, “It’s nothing, I have a gas leak at home.”

“What?!”

“Uh… it’s been so dry lately, there’s a risk my coal might catch fire. I have to go keep an eye on it,” Ni Manxiu improvised hastily.

“Hmm…” The young lady was disappointed. “Alright, I’ll ask Great-Grandfather to send someone to escort you.”

She still didn’t know Ni Manxiu was from the Yan Clan.

“That’s not necessary.” Ni Manxiu hoisted his bundle and patted Sanhu. “I, Ni Manxiu, am a master of martial arts—whatever comes my way, I can handle it.”

“Tch…” The disdain in her eyes was unfiltered. “Good thing you’re a friend of my mother’s, or if you had to fight him, you’d be so beaten up I wouldn’t recognize you.”

Ni Manxiu couldn’t help recalling the day Ye Pei recovered from his injuries—the two of them sparring in the courtyard until he was black and blue, and the place a mess.

He coughed awkwardly and left the estate, walking side by side with the young lady.

“Tiger King!” Ni Manxiu had walked a fair distance when Ye Feilan called after him.

He turned to see the youthful innocence in her face tinged with a delicate blush.

“Remember to come back and play with me!”

Ni Manxiu couldn’t help but smile, but just as he was about to reply, he stopped himself.

“No, ‘I’ll definitely come back’ is too cliché… I need something better.”

Thinking this, he composed himself, his gaze solemn, and said slowly, “Frost beneath the moon cannot chill the heart; in the blaze of the sun, I see only your shadow.”

Then, Ni Manxiu leapt onto Sanhu’s back and galloped away, leaving the young lady baffled in the wind.

“What… did he mean by that…”

“That’s what you get for not reading more,” Longque said, stepping out of the estate as well. “He was telling you he’s very fond of you, and one day he’ll come back.”

Ye Feilan’s cheeks flushed. She hurriedly changed the subject, “Sister Longque, you’re leaving too?”

Longque smiled. “I rushed here only because I heard you’d gone missing. Now you’ve been back several days, there’s no need for me to stay—I have my own matters to attend to.”

“If you go, who will I have to play with…” The young girl lowered her head in thought, then looked up to say this, but Longque was already gone.

“It seems… everyone is busy… Ni Manxiu’s reason about his house being on fire is probably just an excuse… Why is it that I have nothing to do…”

For the first time, the young lady doubted her place. She had been cherished by the Ye family all her life. Although she knew Ye Pei was not her birth mother, waking to see her had become instinct. Now, with Ye Pei missing, Longque and Yue Zhe off adventuring, and Huang Qilin busy helping Old Master Huang with business, she was the only one with nothing to do.

“Ah… what am I thinking! I’d better go find Ye Fei and make some snacks!” In just a few seconds, her gloom vanished and she dashed back to the estate.

Snow Country, at the foot of Zhongling Mountain, within Qinzhou City.

As the saying goes: “A sky full of stars is nothing to covet; a vast sea is but drifting clouds. Stay a night beneath Zhongling Mountain, and even an immortal will find the doors closed.”

Zhongling was the most beautiful place in all of Snow Country. Though the climate in the far south was mild, winter still brought a chill. Only Zhongling, for reasons unknown, remained like spring all year round.

To settle in Qinzhou, at the foot of Zhongling, was no easy feat. Apart from those born and bred in Qinzhou, outsiders needed either great military merit or the reputation of a just official to gain household registration.

Such was the imperial decree; otherwise, Qinzhou would be overwhelmed with people.

Even so, visitors flocked to Qinzhou, and in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, crowds pressed shoulder to shoulder—a truly impressive sight.

At this time, Yue Zhe and Leng Mujun were in Qinzhou City.

In fact, the two were seated within the City Lord’s Mansion.

Yan Tao, the current Lord of Qinzhou, had a son, Yan Chuanming, who had been close friends with Ye Pei, Feng Shuichen, and others since childhood, and had later grown quite friendly with Yue Zhe as well.

“Chuanming,” Yue Zhe said cheerfully, drinking his wine, “Qinzhou is still the most comfortable place.”

The dining room held only Yan Chuanming, Yue Zhe, and Leng Mujun.

“It’s not bad…” Yan Chuanming, dressed in black, swirled his wine with a faint smile. “Old Yue, this young lady…”

Yue Zhe glanced at Leng Mujun and laughed. “A friend, just a friend.”

Leng Mujun, for her part, showed no reaction, quietly eating.

“Heh…” Yan Chuanming maintained his gentle smile. “Old Yue, I must admit, I don’t quite understand.”

Yue Zhe raised his cup. “Enough, enough, let’s drink!”

Yan Chuanming’s cultured face seemed to hold only that subtle smile. He raised his cup, clinked it with Yue Zhe’s, and drained it.

“Old Yue, any news of Ye?”

At this, Yue Zhe wasn’t sure what expression to wear. He spoke haltingly, “I know he’s alive, and that he’ll return, but I don’t know his current situation.”

Yan Chuanming saw this and understood there were things Yue Zhe couldn’t say, so he didn’t ask how Yue Zhe knew. Instead, he said, “Lin Yufei is dead, isn’t he?”

Yue Zhe replied, “Yes, didn’t you know?”

Yan Chuanming shook his head. “The details of that last battle are tightly sealed by the court; even my father can’t get anything out of the soldiers.”

Yue Zhe frowned. “Why’s that? I’m not under the court’s jurisdiction—how could they stop me from finding out?”

“I suppose Her Majesty Ziying simply doesn’t want to believe that both Uncle Ye and Ye could have perished in the Wangyan War.”

Yan Chuanming took another drink. “Ye truly is remarkable… Only the extraordinary can become leaders. Even if his Peihua House is just a toy.”

“Let’s not dwell on it. Old Yue, what are your next plans?”

Yue Zhe replied, “The word is that when Ye returns, he’ll need our help. So I plan to travel the land, hone my skills, and make a name for myself.”

Yan Chuanming nodded. “In that case, I won’t join you—no need to be a third wheel in your world of two.”

Instantly, Yue Zhe’s eyes widened as though fate itself had pinched his waist.

He looked back to see Leng Mujun calmly picking up food with her right hand, but her left was nowhere on the table—and there was no need to elaborate where it was…

“Yes… alright…” Yue Zhe forced his features into calm. “I’ll stay here with you for a few days…”

It was clear that Yan Chuanming was pleased; his subtle smile deepened.

“Of course, stay as long as you like. The rules of Qinzhou don’t apply to you.”

Their conversation was lively, but suddenly the doors of the City Lord’s Mansion were kicked open, and two guards tumbled in, knocked off their feet.

“Who goes there!” Instantly, dozens of guards rushed to the entrance, surrounding the twenty-odd people who walked in.

“Where is your city lord? Tell him to come see me!” demanded the leading middle-aged man.

Yan Tao was not in Qinzhou at this time.

“I wonder how my Qinzhou has offended you, sir, that you unleash such wrath?” Yan Chuanming, dressed in black and hands clasped behind his back, parted the guards with a faint smile and stepped forward.