The Five Ghosts of Yan Yun

Early the next morning.

In the Eastern Market, Shopkeeper Liu and his son Liu Mang, smartly dressed in new clothes, led a long procession of betrothal gifts draped in red and festive ribbons toward Butcher Deng's home, accompanied by drums and gongs.

Festive firecrackers crackled. Butcher Deng, likewise dressed in celebratory new clothes, came out with a crowd of friends and relatives to welcome them. His hearty, thunderous cries of "In-laws!" could be heard a whole street away.

The two parties met, and cries of "Congratulations!" filled the street.

Not far away, Yang Ge stood holding the leash of the muzzled Little Yellow, smiling as he watched the Liu father and son enter Butcher Deng's home.

"How wonderful..."

He spoke softly, then turned around. "Come on, Little Yellow. Let's go home!"

Little Yellow wagged his tail and cast a reluctant glance at Shopkeeper Liu amid the lively crowd, then turned to follow his dad.

Father and son strolled toward Firewood Gate Street, against the stream of people heading to Butcher Deng's home to offer congratulations.

"Your Grandpa Liu has something to celebrate today. How about we have something nice for lunch to celebrate too?"

"Woof, woof..."

Yang Ge carried a carp.

The man and dog ambled into Firewood Gate Street, following the long, narrow alley toward home.

Yang Ge swung the fresh fish in his hand. "Son, how do you want this fish cooked? Fancy fish with pickled mustard greens?"

Little Yellow suddenly stopped.

Caught short by him, Yang Ge stopped too and looked at him in puzzlement.

Little Yellow stared toward their home for a few seconds, then suddenly drew in his tongue and pricked up his ears, his expression solemn.

Yang Ge looked up. Something blurred before his eyes, and a fierce gust rushed straight at his face.

"Woof, woof, woof..."

Yang Ge hastily yanked the leash, flinging Little Yellow behind him. At the same time, he lashed out with his right leg in a whip kick, meeting the attack with a powerful crack of air.

Thump!

Two legs collided heavily. Invisible gusts of force slammed into each other, turning into a wave of air that swept outward in every direction.

"Wild Wind Leg?"

"Wild Wind Leg?"

Two startled voices rang out at once.

Yang Ge stepped back and focused his gaze. Before him stood a Gray-Clad Man wearing a bamboo hat, his face covered in stubble and a thick-backed Black Saber strapped across his back. His eyes were as savage as a starving wolf's.

"Woof, woof, woof..."

Little Yellow charged forward again, barking furiously, and planted himself in front of Yang Ge. With his paws splayed and two fangs bared, he snarled and barked fiercely at the Gray-Clad Man.

The Gray-Clad Man stared straight at Yang Ge without so much as blinking.

Expressionless, Yang Ge tossed aside the carp and led Little Yellow toward a nearby hitching post.

The Gray-Clad Man simply watched him, making no move to seize the initiative.

After tying Little Yellow up, Yang Ge turned back toward the Gray-Clad Man and asked coldly, "Here for revenge, or to test the waters?"

The Gray-Clad Man spoke, his voice as hard as his appearance, carrying a vaguely familiar Yan Yun accent. "Both."

Yang Ge planted his feet, his gaze growing fierce. "Then come on!"

Shing...

Without a word, the Gray-Clad Man raised a hand and slowly drew the thick-backed Black Saber from his back.

Yang Ge bent slightly, keeping all his strength contained, poised to strike.

"Fifth!"

Just then, a low, hoarse voice came from behind the Gray-Clad Man.

The Gray-Clad Man paused in the act of drawing his saber.

"Let's go."

The voice spoke flatly.

Without hesitation, the Gray-Clad Man sheathed the Black Saber and turned toward the voice.

The tension in Yang Ge's mind abruptly eased. He tilted his head and saw a black-clad figure standing outside his home... even from fifty or sixty feet away, that figure gave him the chilling, unyielding impression of a cast-iron statue.

He watched the two leave without a word, his gaze gradually settling on that vaguely familiar Black Saber.

Only when Little Yellow's furious barking turned into low whimpers did he let out a long breath. He turned, picked up the carp, and inspected it. "What a waste..."

Smack.

The dust-covered carp slammed down in the middle of a long dining table piled high with meat and fish.

A crowd of broad-shouldered, thick-waisted Embroidered Uniform Guard recruits turned around, dumbfounded, to stare at the Banner Commander who had suddenly appeared behind them.

Yang Ge approached expressionlessly with Little Yellow on his leash. The recruits scrambled to their feet, knocking benches all over the floor, then retreated together to the wall and stood with their hands lowered and heads bowed.

Yang Ge sat down at the table, picked up the untouched roast leg of lamb in the center, platter and all, and set it down for Little Yellow at his feet.

Little Yellow lay down beside the roast lamb, bared his fangs, and tucked in.

Yang Ge grabbed a braised pork knuckle with his bare hand and tore into it in great mouthfuls.

Twenty or thirty burly men stood around the feasting man and dog, not daring to utter a sound.

An invisible pressure weighed on them, leaving their hearts trembling and cold sweat pouring down their bodies.

The man and dog ate as though no one else existed, choosing only the meat and fish. Even when they could eat no more, they still dragged dishes over, took a bite, and tossed them back.

Only after ruining every meat and fish dish on the table did Yang Ge pull the sweat cloth from his waist and slowly wipe the grease from his hands.

"Gate team, report the number of martial practitioners who entered the city recently, and where they went."

His tone was flat.

Fang Ke hurried out of the crowd and answered loudly, "Reporting to you, boss! Three hundred and twenty-four martial practitioners entered the city within the past ten days. Two hundred and seventy-three were passing through Luting County, eighteen were visiting relatives, and thirty-three were here on business. All those headed toward the Upper Capital have been reported to headquarters. Those still lingering in Luting County are being tracked by our men at all times."

Yang Ge gave no sign of approval or disapproval. He spoke again. "Waterway team, report the number of northern martial practitioners who recently traveled south, and where they went."

A Junior Banner Officer stepped forward and answered loudly, "Reporting to you, boss! Forty-one northern martial practitioners traveled south within the past ten days. Thirty-five entered the city, and all appear on the gate team's departure records."

Yang Ge said, "Overland team, report the number of northern martial practitioners who recently traveled south, and where they went."

Three Junior Banner Officers stepped forward. One answered, "Reporting to you, boss! Thirty-four northern martial practitioners traveled south along the official road within the past ten days. Thirty-two entered the city, and all appear on the gate team's departure records."

"Reporting to you, boss! Twenty-five northern martial practitioners traveled south along the horse trails within the past ten days. Twenty-five entered the city, and all appear on the gate team's departure records."

"Reporting to you, boss! Seventeen northern martial practitioners traveled south along the footpaths within the past ten days. Seventeen entered the city, and all appear on the gate team's departure records."

Yang Ge turned sideways and swept his expressionless gaze back and forth over the five men.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled. "Very good. Very neat. I can tell you put some thought into it!"

All five Junior Banner Officers lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

Even if they were not clever, they could still tell praise from criticism!

Yang Ge kept smiling. "Then might I ask you gentlemen when the Five Ghosts of Yan Yun came south, when they entered the city, and when they crept up to my front door?"

Among the five Junior Banner Officers, only Fang Ke felt a sudden jolt of alarm. The other four exchanged bewildered looks.

Seeing this, Yang Ge picked up a basin of chicken soup, the smile gradually vanishing from his face. "It seems you really shouldn't eat too much rich food. It doesn't just cloud your hearts-it clouds your eyes too... if you can't get to the bottom of this, you'll be gnawing on mixed-grain flatbread from now on!"

Crash.

He hurled the basin and its chicken soup onto the floor, splashing all five Junior Banner Officers in the face.

Yang Ge rose and walked out expressionlessly, leading Little Yellow.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard recruits hurriedly cleared a path and watched him leave with their heads bowed.

Only after Yang Ge had left the compound did Fang Ke's face abruptly harden. He shouted fiercely, "What are you standing around for? Send everyone out to investigate! If you can't find out where the Five Ghosts of Yan Yun entered the city, you can wait for disciplinary punishment!"