Returnee on a Windy, Snowy Night, His Name Shakes the Capital City

The night in the Capital City had never been as feverish as it was tonight.

The gates of Qianjin Platform were nearly burst apart by the frenzied crowd.

"We won! We really won!"

A gambler with a pockmarked face waved the silver notes in his hand like a flag, shouting himself hoarse. "Fifty to one! I put down ten taels! Five hundred taels! I won't have to worry for the rest of my life!"

Just an hour ago, his companions had mocked him for throwing silver into the water. Now, those who had laughed at him were slumped on the ground, their faces ashen.

Beneath the redwood plaque in the main hall, the bookmaker's complexion looked worse than pig liver. No one knew how many ribs of his folding fan he had already crushed.

The Qin family had announced that it would be "only a light exchange," but at the gambling table, once red appeared, victory and defeat were decided. The scar on Qin Wuji's face had not only ruined his looks, but also shattered countless gamblers' fortunes—and dealt Qianjin Platform a resounding slap across the face.

"Ji Ye... the Unaging Sword..."

The bookmaker gritted his teeth and drew a heavy stroke across the account book.

"How is this some nameless nobody? He's clearly a vicious dragon crossing the river."

A butcher with a face full of flesh slapped his bloodstained pig-killing knife onto the table, waving a crumpled silver note with his other hand. Yesterday, drunk out of his mind, he had wagered his entire fortune on the unfavored "Ji Ye." He had meant to smash the pot and sink the boat, but when he woke up, he had become a wealthy man.

"Pay up! Pay me, damn it! Fifty to one! Short me even a single coin, and I'll tear down your gambling house!"

The fat on the bookmaker's face trembled, but his eyes gleamed terrifyingly bright.

As he instructed the attendants to exchange the money, he fanned himself and murmured to the accountant beside him:

"Spread the word. Open the next betting pool."

"Bet on what?"

"Bet on whether this Court Attendant Ji can live through the winter."

Overnight, the name Ji Ye seemed to grow wings and fly into every corner of the Capital City.

"You didn't see that sword strike!"

In a teahouse, a servant who had been working at the Qin residence that day gestured wildly, spittle flying as listeners crowded around him.

"Young Master Qin's sword was as fast as light! Before our eyes could even blink, it had reached Mister Ji's face."

"And then? What happened next?"

"Then?" The servant suddenly slapped his thigh. "Mister Ji merely lifted his hand like this, and that broken sword seemed to grow eyes—ding! Young Master Qin's sword was knocked away! Then..."

He lowered his voice and made a slicing motion across his throat.

"A red line appeared on Young Master Qin's face. The blood poured out so horribly that it dyed his white clothes red!"

"Hiss—"

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Just who is this Court Attendant Ji?"

"I heard he's a wandering swordsman, and that sword of his was picked up from some trash heap."

"Trash? That's called Divine Sword Concealment! Could a sword that injured Qin Wuji be trash?"

Rumors rolled like snowballs, growing larger and larger.

Teahouses, taverns, brothels, secluded chambers.

Everyone spoke of that disheveled young man in blue, of that fierce sword riddled with cracks, of how he had left an everlasting humiliation upon the face of the Qin family's lofty young qilin.

Overnight, the young man who always wore blue robes and carried a broken sword became the Capital City's most mysterious—and most dangerous—legend.

Grand Princess's Manor, Tingxue Tower.

Not a trace of the clamor outside could reach this place.

Ji Ye sat before the window, holding a piece of coarse cloth as he wiped his sword.

The Unaging Sword lay across his knees.

After last night's battle, the cracks on its blade seemed to have diminished. A strange dark red glimmer faintly seeped through the blue-gray blade.

It had drunk blood.

Though it was only a single drop, it belonged to a Half-step Grandmaster's vital essence.

"Good sword."

Ji Ye praised it softly.

This sword was like a starving beast. Having tasted the scent of blood, it had begun to awaken.

"The sword is good, and the man is even better."

A languid voice came from behind him.

Xiao Hongxiu had entered at some unknown moment. She had changed into purple court dress and held a hand warmer in her hands. There was a hint of weariness between her brows, yet it could not conceal the charm that flowed from her very bones.

Ji Ye did not turn around and remained focused on wiping his sword.

"Your Highness did not sleep well last night?"

"That old woman of the Qin family submitted a memorial to the palace overnight."

Xiao Hongxiu sat opposite Ji Ye and casually stirred the remaining ash in the incense burner. "She claimed she was unwell and wished to return to her ancestral home to recuperate. She also said Qin Wuji was young and hot-blooded, ignorant of proper conduct, and had already been punished with three years of confinement, forbidden from leaving the residence."

"Retreating in order to advance."

Ji Ye stopped what he was doing and raised his eyes to Xiao Hongxiu.

"Old Madam's move was clever."

The Qin family had suffered such a huge loss. If they had erupted on the spot, that would have been the lowest course.

Now, Old Madam had taken the initiative to show weakness. Not only had she preserved the Qin family's dignity, she had also played the victim before the Emperor.

The Qin family had served loyally for generations, yet now a retainer of the Grand Princess had bullied them to such a state. To maintain balance, the Emperor would inevitably have to rein in the Grand Princess's Manor.

"Clever, yes, but it also means they are panicking."

Xiao Hongxiu sneered. "Qin Wuji's face is the Qin family's facade. Now that his looks are ruined, the title of 'young qilin' will probably be worth far less."

She looked at Ji Ye, a strange light flashing through her eyes.

"That strike of yours did not merely cut his face. It also cut through the Qin family's golden body."

"Now the entire court is watching, waiting to see whether the Qin family's tiger has truly grown old."

"You can tell whether a tiger is old by looking at its teeth."

Ji Ye wrapped the Unaging Sword again and carried it on his back. "The Qin family will not let this go."

"Of course they won't."

Xiao Hongxiu rose and walked to the map, heavily pressing a finger onto a point along the northern frontier.

Luoyan Pass.

It was the final barrier before the Capital City.

If it fell, the Barbarians' iron cavalry would need only three days to water their horses in the moat.

Hulei in the north was not merely a madman. He was also a genius.

Xiao Hongxiu poured Ji Ye a cup of tea. "He has not rushed to attack the Capital City. Instead, he has advanced steadily, nibbling away step by step. Now, his vanguard has already closed in on Luoyan Pass."

Xiao Hongxiu's finger lightly traced a circle around that dangerous pass. The crimson nail polish on her fingernails resembled a streak of blood that had not yet dried.

"That place is the Capital City's throat. The Qin family's army is stationed behind Luoyan Pass at Juma Pass, yet they have refused to move forward. They are waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Ji Ye took a sip of tea. It was slightly cool, but it was enough to suppress the dryness in his throat.

"They are waiting for the Barbarians to exhaust the Imperial Court's last cards. They are waiting for His Majesty to beg the Qin family to send troops." Xiao Hongxiu sneered, frost filling her eyes.

"Raising bandits to bolster themselves—this is a trick the Qin family has played for a hundred years. So long as the Barbarians remain, the Qin family will be Great Liang's jade pillar holding up the sky. If the Barbarians are destroyed, then when the birds are gone, the bow is put away."

"So, they need a new blade to test the Barbarians' edge this time."

Ji Ye set down his teacup.

"I am that blade?"

"You are." Xiao Hongxiu turned around, her gaze blazing. "Last night, you injured Qin Wuji. Not only did the Qin family refrain from retaliating, but at this morning's court session, they lavishly praised your martial prowess. They said your swordsmanship had reached divinity, that you were a pillar of the nation and should not be buried as a mere Court Attendant in the Grand Princess's Manor."

"They recommended you to become commander of the Divine Machine Battalion."

The Divine Machine Battalion.

Great Liang's only Firearms Unit.

It sounded imposing, but in truth it was a scorching hedgehog.

They were equipped with old cannons that were cumbersome and prone to bursting, and carried firearms with less range than powerful bows.

If they encountered the Barbarians' Wolf Cavalry on the plains, the Divine Machine Battalion would be nothing more than a heap of living targets waiting to be slaughtered.

Past commanders of the Divine Machine Battalion survived, on average, less than three months.

"Praise meant to kill."

Ji Ye smiled.

This Qin Muzhi understood bloodless killing better than his son, who knew only how to use a sword.

They would elevate him into a hero, then send him into a meat grinder.

If he won, the Qin family would gain credit for its recommendation while weakening the Barbarians; if he died, then Ji Ye would simply be deemed insufficiently skilled. The Qin family could vent its anger and smoothly take over what remained of the Divine Machine Battalion's forces.

"I'll take the post."

Ji Ye stood and straightened his collar.

"Not only will I take it, I will take it in grand style."

The next day, Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Within the resplendent golden hall, sandalwood incense curled through the air, yet it could not conceal the rotten stench beneath it.

The Emperor sat upon the Dragon Throne with lowered eyelids, occasionally breaking into violent coughing fits. His complexion was waxen yellow, the Elixir Poison left behind by years of taking Elixirs.

The civil and military officials stood in ranks on either side, each watching their noses, their noses watching their hearts.

"Summon Ji Ye to an audience—"

Following the eunuch's shrill cry, Ji Ye strode into the hall.

He still wore that blue robe.

Amid a crowd of powerful nobles clad in purple robes and jade belts, he looked utterly out of place, yet stood like a crane among chickens.

"This commoner, Ji Ye, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Ji Ye bowed slightly but did not kneel.

"Impudent!" An imperial censor was just about to step forward and rebuke him.

"Let it be." The Emperor waved a hand, his voice weak. "I have heard that you defeated the Qin family's young qilin with one sword strike?"

"Luck." Ji Ye answered blandly.

"What fine luck."

Qin Muzhi, who had been standing at the head of the military officials, suddenly stepped forward. His features were refined, showing not the slightest trace of resentment. Instead, he wore an expression of righteous dignity.

"Your Majesty, Mister Ji is too modest. That sword strike was astonishingly brilliant; this humble servant saw it with his own eyes. The northern war is now pressing, and this is precisely the time to employ capable people. This humble servant dares to recommend Mister Ji as commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, to lead his troops in reinforcing Luoyan Pass and glorifying our nation's might!"

"This servant concurs."

"This servant concurs."

For a moment, half the officials in court stepped forward together.

This was a net woven long ago, waiting for Ji Ye to leap into it.

The Emperor's clouded gaze swept between Qin Muzhi and Ji Ye before finally falling upon Xiao Hongxiu, who had remained silent.

"Royal Sister, what do you think?"

Xiao Hongxiu stepped forward, red robes like blood.

"Since Minister Qin holds one of my people in such high regard, then let him give it a try. However..."

Her tone shifted, and her gaze stabbed Qin Muzhi like a blade.

"The Divine Machine Battalion is a weapon of the state. If its provisions and armaments fail to keep pace, then Minister Qin, as Minister of War, will find it difficult to escape blame."

"Rest assured, Your Highness." Qin Muzhi smiled faintly with the composure of an old fox. "The Ministry of War will not withhold a single grain of rice or a single round from the front lines."

"Then so be it."

The Emperor waved his hand as though shooing away a fly.

"Approved. Appoint Ji Ye commander of the Divine Machine Battalion. He is to assume office immediately."

The decree came down swiftly.

So swiftly that by the time Ji Ye left the palace, the Tiger Tally symbolizing a commander's authority already hung at his waist.

"Congratulations, Commander Ji."

At some unknown moment, Qin Muzhi had come to his side. A gentle smile hung on his face as he lowered his voice. "The winds and sand at Luoyan Pass are fierce. Commander, be sure to protect your neck. Do not end up like my useless son, with a scar left on your face."

This was a naked threat.

Ji Ye stopped and turned his head.

Through the perception of Martial Arts Through Divinity, the seemingly refined middle-aged man possessed blood and qi as deep and vast as an abyssal sea.

"Minister Qin."

Ji Ye reached out and adjusted Qin Muzhi's slightly crooked official hat.

"The wind and sand are indeed fierce."

"So fierce that... they may blind one's eyes, making it impossible to tell who is the hunter and who is the prey."

With that, Ji Ye laughed loudly and strode away.

Qin Muzhi remained where he stood. The smile on his face slowly vanished, replaced by a chilling darkness.

"Courting death."