Chapter Seventy-Four: The Zishi Tribe

The martial world may no longer remember my legend, but the moment I resolve to return, atop all legends, mine remains the only name.
When the black halberd of the Scholar-Faced Maniac swings again, its power still commands awe throughout the entire Wangmai realm.
Should the Graceful Green Ghost’s slender sword be drawn, its azure blade remains the nightmare of villains.
The Star Clan is not without their strength in battle, yet their status within their own clan has always been too low, leaving them only to volunteer to follow the great ones to Wangmai in hopes of basking in borrowed glory.
On this very day, Yan Chuanming’s black halberd cut its way out of Wangmai, entering Xingyan’s line of sight.
“Chuanming, what we’re doing is outright rebellion.”
Yue Zhe leaned against the gate, smiling.
“Hmph…” Yan Chuanming’s fingertips gently traced his halberd’s blade, letting fresh blood trail slowly down his slender fingers to the back of his hand. “Since I made my name, no one in Wangmai has dared speak to me that way.”
Yin Wen carefully wiped her longsword clean on the clothing of a Star Clan corpse, remarking, “These so-called gods… their fighting power is pathetic.”
Leng Mujun shook her head. “No, these are just the lowest of the Star Clan. Even if they spread their wings, A-Zhe would hunt them all down.”
Yue Zhe grinned, “I do have some experience hunting the Star Clan, after all.”
“There shouldn’t be any that slipped through, right?” asked Yin Wen.
Yue Zhe was about to reply, but Yan Chuanming’s voice cut in, “That is of no concern. Today, upon my return to the martial world, the first thing I intend to do is challenge those few at the Star-Paying Hall.”

Zi Clan’s main city.

“Guards! Throw that brat out for me!”
At dawn, Lord Zi Qiong’s furious shouts echoed through the manor.
Immediately, over twenty guards charged toward the young boy and girl in the courtyard, wielding clubs and full of menace.
Ye Pei made a snap decision, tossing Zi Qingrong aside and weaving through the crowd alone, dodging countless attacks from all sides with the grace and silence of spring blossoms, vanishing and reappearing as quick as thunder.
Indeed, not one servant touched the bewildered Zi Qingrong, staying clear of their young mistress as they rained down their clubs like a storm upon Ye Pei.
Seeing that lingering on the ground meant a beating was inevitable, Ye Pei’s hands darted out like lightning, snatching two clubs and pushing them aside. Seizing the fleeting chance in the encirclement, Ye Pei activated her lightness skill and leapt onto the rooftop.
“Uncle Zi, let’s talk this over…” Ye Pei called from atop the roof.
“No chance!” Though a mere scholar, Zi Qiong wanted to curse but found his vocabulary lacked suitable words.
After a moment’s hesitation, Zi Qiong bellowed, “I locked my daughter up, yet she still forced her way out to leave with you! How am I, as her father, supposed to save face?!”
“Oh…” Ye Pei laughed, “Uncle Zi, you’d best keep your precious face to yourself—no need to worry about losing it.”

“What?!” Zi Qiong never expected Ye Pei would still be so cheeky at a time like this. “You little brat, don’t you understand? I said I do not approve!”
Ye Pei’s smile didn’t falter. “Uncle Zi, shouldn’t you at least ask for Qingrong’s opinion?”
“Parental command and matchmaker’s word—there’s no room for her to act on her own whims!”
At that moment, the young mistress, having finally recovered from the fright her family’s servants gave her and understanding the situation, shouted at her father, “All those suitors before, I didn’t care because you never let me meet them anyway. But if you don’t agree this time, I’ll never marry for as long as I live!”
“Hmm…”
“Uh…”
At once, both Ye Pei and Zi Qiong were struck speechless.
Having just finished her outburst, Zi Qingrong gradually reined in her indignation and muttered, “Wha… what’s wrong? Aren’t you two arguing anymore?”
“Well…” Zi Qiong and Ye Pei exchanged a glance, and Zi Qiong began, “You mean you…”
“Miss Zi, why take it so seriously?” Suddenly, a voice came from inside the manor—it was Ni Manxiu.
Ye Pei turned to look at him. “Why are you here?”
Ni Manxiu, sitting astride a tiger, laughed. “Never mind that—I’m here to help you.”
Zi Qingrong blinked in confusion. “What are you all talking about?”
Zi Qiong sighed helplessly, “Ask that boy to explain when there’s time. Ye Pei, come down now.”

A quarter-hour later, they were all seated in the spacious reception hall, drinking tea.
“Young Ye,” Zi Qiong began, “I am pleased that, instead of heading straight to the Deadfire Volcano, you first brought my daughter home…”
Before Ye Pei could answer, Zi Qingrong burst out, “He didn’t bring me back at all!”
“What?!” Zi Qiong slammed his teacup on the table, splashing tea everywhere.
“Uncle Zi, I truly didn’t bring Qingrong back. I came to discuss important business with you.” Ye Pei replied calmly.
“Wait,” Zi Qiong waved a hand, “Earlier outside was just playing the fool. I thought you brought Qingrong home and would understand this matter.
Even setting aside that you’re from Wangmai, you’re now being hunted by the three great clans of the Flame Tribe. I could never take you in as a son-in-law!”
“I wouldn’t agree to that anyway…” At once, Ye Pei’s stubbornness flared.
“He doesn’t need to marry in! I’ll go with him!” Knowing Ye Pei’s temperament, Zi Qingrong quickly interjected, “Everything I said outside was true!”

“You’d go wandering with him? There’s no telling when the lands of Flame and Wangmai will be connected again. In the Flame lands, unless he joins our family, he has no other option. But with the blood feud he bears against those three clans, I could never allow him to marry in!”
“Hmph…” Ye Pei set down his teacup, shook out his robe, and stood, his eyes blazing with fire like someone of the Flame Tribe. “If I am unworthy, let me change my name, abandon my surname. Marry in? I may not be the greatest under heaven, but no one has ever dared call me second to my face!”
With that, Ye Pei turned and swept out.
His talent and martial arts might not be unmatched, but his pride was peerless.
To Ye Pei, the very suggestion of marrying in was an insult.
Seeing this, Zi Qingrong dashed after him without so much as a word.
Zi Qiong panted, watching his daughter run out, finally catching his breath before slamming the table. “Guards!”
“Wait, hold on.” Ni Manxiu, who had been watching the scene with amusement, rose and stopped Zi Qiong.
“My lord, let this priest say a few words.”
Zi Qiong, hearing this, had no choice but to signal the servants who had rushed in at his call, “You may all leave.”
“Priest Ni, please speak.”
Zi Qiong, a scholar of renown, had regained his composure in those few moments. He took his seat again and sipped his tea.
“Heh… in truth, it’s nothing much.” Ni Manxiu stroked the tiger’s fur. “Ye Pei is not someone you should judge by common sense or your own standards.”
Zi Qiong frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
Ni Manxiu smiled, “Think of this as a grand gamble. You may not dare to stand with Ye Pei now, believing your rising family cannot withstand the wrath of those three clans…
But Ye Pei’s feud with those clans isn’t truly irreconcilable. Feng Xiaoyang and Wan Zheng weren’t killed by him; the real blood feud is only with the Lin family.
And you’re too close to see clearly. Don’t overestimate what the alliance of those three clans means. Clans and nations are very different things. If it were three countries joining forces to kill him, then forget being the Chosen of Heaven—no one could survive.
Nations exist only in Wangmai. Our Flame clans may resemble countries, and the lords may act like petty emperors, but in truth, you’re nothing but the head of the most powerful house. Such a system is unreliable for true unity. Even if the three clans join hands, it’s only the strength of some twenty families. Defeat Lin, Feng, and Wan, and the rest will scatter like monkeys from a fallen tree.
As for Ye Pei, if you choose to support him, within a decade, your family will either soar to the heavens, or… but if the latter, it won’t be your family alone that matters.
Perhaps you lack faith in Ye Pei’s potential, but today I can tell you some secrets—secrets about Ye Pei and the fate of heaven and earth…”