Gu Changfeng's Secret Visit, and Ye An Was Willing to Go!

A few days later, Ye An paid a visit to the old house.

His grandfather was much the same as ever, sitting in his wicker chair with his eyes closed, like a length of dead wood. The little yellow dog crouched by his feet. At the sound of footsteps, its ears pricked up and its tail wagged.

Ye An set the pastries he had brought on the table. Seeing his grandfather still like this, he did not stay long.

His footsteps receded down the corridor and vanished beyond the courtyard gate.

The little yellow dog stood, went to the doorway, and peered outside. Once Ye An had left, it lay down again by the old man's feet.

Ye Tiangang's eyelids twitched. He did not open his eyes, but the index finger resting on the armrest tapped twice.

The old house's door stood ajar. Wind squeezed through the crack and stirred the paper wrapping the pastries on the table.

Back at the Martial Hall, life went on as usual.

[Azure Cloud Finger (Fourth Level): 44/800]

[Azure Cloud Finger (Fourth Level): 59/800]

[Qi-Nourishing Formula (Penetration): 86/300]

[Qi-Nourishing Formula (Penetration): 94/300]

At noon that day, Ye An was practicing in a corner when a commotion rose from the front courtyard.

Wang Tie emerged from the rear courtyard with a cloth bundle in his hand. Head lowered, he walked step by step toward the main gate.

His steps were heavy, each one measuring the ground he had once walked.

Su Qing stood beneath the corridor eaves. Those who went so long without advancing in the martial path, like Wang Tie, always left looking as though they had lost their souls.

Zhao Tieshan leaned beside a Wooden Dummy. He had seen this scene more times than he could count.

Wang Tie swayed his way to the gate, stopped, and looked back at the training ground.

His gaze passed over the Wooden Dummies, the iron plates, and the boy in the corner who was still tapping at an iron plate. Wang Tie smiled. Some things would always remain regrets. He stepped over the threshold and left the Martial Hall for good. His bundle bumped against the doorframe and swung, but he did not look back.

The training ground fell silent for a moment.

"Brother Tie... left?" a newly arrived junior disciple asked softly.

No one answered.

"He failed to reach Second Body Tempering again," another student said, keeping his voice low. "How many times has it been now?"

"But surely he didn't have to leave?"

"What else could he do? He's up to his neck in debt. He's been doing odd jobs for the hall master to pay off his tuition, but that barely covers anything each month. His father's still cutting firewood in the mountains, and his mother, with her poor eyesight, can't even bear to buy medicine. If he doesn't leave, who'll support his family?"

Someone sighed. Others lowered their heads. Would they end up like Wang Tie someday?

"Will we... even reach First Body Tempering?"

"Who knows? Brother Tie has mid-grade C Bone Structure. He trained for over two years and was still stuck at the threshold of Second Body Tempering. We haven't even reached First Body Tempering..."

The voices on the training ground grew quieter until they disappeared.

That evening, darkness fell earlier than usual.

The north wind poured in from the mouth of the alley, sweeping fallen leaves off the ground before slamming them back down.

Ye An left the Martial Hall and followed South Street toward Willow Alley.

More than half the shops had closed. Lanterns swung crookedly in the wind, their light coming and going.

When he reached the turn into Willow Alley, there were no lights inside. The courtyard walls on either side shut out what little twilight remained, leaving it so dark he could not see his hand before his face.

Ye An had taken only a few steps when he stopped.

A figure stood ahead, dressed in black from head to toe, his clothes and boots swallowed by the night.

He stood motionless in the middle of the alley, as if he had appeared from thin air.

Ye An's fingers curled. He readied himself for danger.

Ye An swept his gaze over the man from head to toe. Even with a martial artist's sense for blood and qi, he could not gauge his depth.

The man was like a pool of water: Ye An reached into it but could not feel the bottom.

That usually meant the gap between their martial realms was far too great!

The dark figure moved, and moonlight slipped through the clouds onto his face. He appeared to be in his forties, with a square face, prominent brow bones, and eyes that glimmered in the darkness. His lips curved into the smile of a man who had weathered many storms.

"I don't know if you recognize me. I'm Gu Changfeng."

Gu Changfeng, the county's garrison commander. Meridian Opening Realm.

The strongest fighter Anping County had, at least in the open.

Hadn't the rumors said he was recuperating at the county office? Hadn't Blackwind Stronghold's ambush left him badly hurt? Yet here he stood, back straight and breathing steady, without the slightest sign of injury.

Ye An did not dare act rashly. The Meridian Opening Realm was far beyond him.

Gu Changfeng looked at Ye An and spoke in a reassuring tone. "Relax. I'm not here to give you trouble."

Gu Changfeng stepped forward and stopped five or six paces from Ye An.

"The Zhou Family wants complete control of Anping County. They want to be kings of their own little hill. They even joined forces with Blackwind Stronghold to ambush me on the road." Gu Changfeng's tone remained calm. "Unfortunately for them, I fooled them. As you can see, I'm fine. Those rumors were only what I wanted others to hear and see."

Ye An's heart skipped a beat. For Gu Changfeng to tell him this, he either wanted to recruit him, or...

"We've now confirmed that the Zhou Family, Sun Family, and Li Family have violated the laws of the state. They are to be executed," Gu Changfeng continued. "I heard you crippled Shi Yong of the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall. You did well. If Shi Yong had swept through every Martial Hall, Anping County might have had a few fewer halls by now."

Ye An spoke for the first time. "Garrison Commander Gu, what do you want from me?"

"Before long, I'll settle accounts with these factions. Are you interested in leading one of my teams?"

Ye An studied his expression.

He turned those words over several times in his mind. Settle accounts with three of the Four Major Families... lead a team? Had Gu Changfeng come to ask him to help raid their homes?

"What are the risks? What do I get out of it?" Ye An wanted the details.

Gu Changfeng raised two fingers. "First, I'll deal with every Meridian Opening expert myself. You won't run into any. Second..."

He lowered his hand and clasped it behind his back.

"When the time comes, you'll go with the team to raid their homes. How much you take will depend on your own ability."

Ye An's eyelid twitched. So they really were raiding homes.

Three of the Four Major Families: the Zhou Family, Sun Family, and Li Family. The pills, silver, cultivation manuals, and weapons those three families had amassed over the years could fill several granaries in North Granary if piled together.

"There are risks, but the rewards are greater." Gu Changfeng met Ye An's eyes. "Well?"

Ye An was silent for a moment. Then he spoke quietly but with ringing conviction, every word brimming with righteousness.

"I've always regarded those who disturb the peace of the state and its people as enemies. Regrettably, my strength has been meager, and I've never had the chance to serve my country. Since Garrison Commander Gu thinks so highly of me, I, Ye An, am willing to go!"

Gu Changfeng looked at him, his eyes twitching.

Was what this brat had said anything like what he had meant? Gu Changfeng smiled and let it pass.

"Good." He took an iron plaque from inside his robe and tossed it to Ye An.

Ye An caught it and examined the Token. The character for "garrison" was carved into its black face, with a string of numbers on the back.

"When the time comes, someone carrying a matching Token will come for you."

Ye An slipped the Token into his robe. When he looked up to say something else, Gu Changfeng was already gone.

Ye An stood alone in the alley. The north wind swept through, making the hem of his robe brush against his ankles.

Ye An pushed open the door and entered the courtyard.

A lamp was burning in the main room. His elder brother and father were still awake.

He did not disturb them. Back in his own room, he took out the Token and turned it over beneath the lamp.

After memorizing the number, Ye An put the Token beneath his pillow. Gu Changfeng's words echoed in his mind: raid their homes; how much he took would depend on his own ability.

The Zhou Family? Ye An considered how he might improve his strength over the next few days, even a little, to prepare for what lay ahead.