A bright moon hung overhead.
A two-courtyard residence stood among the buildings, roughly a hundred paces from the inn.
Time had left the residence worn and weathered, but the interior was kept very tidy.
Stone weights, training posts, and the like stood in the front courtyard, along with the wooden donkey and rocking horse Ye Xingge had played with as a child.
A big white horse stood in the stable beside it. Its coat was like brocade, and its glutes were round and full, much like Big Hongyu's, brimming with explosive power...
Ye Xingge vaulted over the wall and landed in the earthen courtyard. He surveyed the deserted old residence, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
He hadn't started out as an orphan. Both his parents were alive and well, and he also had a second uncle. Last month, the family had taken over a storefront in the capital as a sort of "Wujian Inn branch," and everyone had gone to get it ready.
As for why they'd left him alone in the county seat to look after the old inn, the reason was simple-he had too much blood on his hands and had completely driven away its business. His family feared he'd run the new inn into the ground too...
The county yamen often called Ye Xingge in to help, and everyone he'd beaten to death had been a bandit. The locals actually all knew that.
But the neighbors hardly ever stayed at inns. The people who might come were travelers from north and south.
When outsiders passed through Qingxi looking for a place to stay, they naturally had to ask whether it was safe.
Then they'd casually ask an old man by the roadside, and out it came:
"Wujian Inn? Safe as can be. That Xingge lad is famous for how formidable he is. He beat four or five people to death in the first half of this year alone, and he's got strong ties to the county magistrate. They call him the Subduer of Qingxi..."
Wasn't that a downright gun-toting menace of the county seat?
The sort who only learned killing was against the law after leaving Qingxi...
Who would dare stay there?
And so the inn's business went under.
Ye Xingge sighed over it for a moment, but wasted no time. He led the big white horse out of the stable, swung into the saddle, and left the residence.
To catch Mantanghong, the great beauty Luo had mobilized a considerable number of people.
Ye Xingge hadn't gone far down the street before he saw a large number of constables patrolling. Luo Xuanqing's adjutant was standing at an intersection, discussing matters with several military officers.
Wang Shouyin, the yamen's head constable, was standing beside them with his official saber at his waist. He was waving his arms and legs like a performing monkey; who knew what he was trying to demonstrate?
?
A little puzzled, Ye Xingge rode over at a gallop.
"Uncle Wang, what's the situation now?"
The officers in conversation all turned at the sound of hooves. Wang Shouyin asked:
"Xingge, weren't you told to attend to Lord Luo at the inn? What are you doing here?"
Ye Xingge dismounted and saluted the officers.
"Lord Luo just went to rest. I had nothing to do at the inn, so I came out to exercise the horse."
"Oh."
Wang Shouyin thought nothing of it and turned to introduce someone.
"This is Lord Chen Xuance, deputy commander of the Judicial Review Bureau. Lord Chen was just talking about you."
A deputy commander was the Judicial Review Bureau's second-in-command, already among the Heaven-Observing Pavilion's upper ranks. Ye Xingge immediately saluted.
"This commoner greets you, Lord Chen."
Chen Xuance, a man with thick brows and large eyes, was all smiles. He reached out and gave Ye Xingge's arm a squeeze.
"Innkeeper Ye, you certainly keep your talents hidden. Back at the inn, I truly couldn't tell you possessed such fine martial skills."
The officers behind him also looked at Ye Xingge with approval.
"Indeed, a promising young man..."
Such courteous treatment was obviously because word of Ruan Jinyu coming to the inn and getting a bloody nose had already reached the ears of many embroidered-robed officers.
Ruan Jinyu was the Inspection Bureau's chief officer and was also responsible for discipline. He was extremely strict. Last time Chen Xuance had been caught eating a bun in the yamen, he'd even been fined a mace of silver.
Now that Ye Xingge had slapped that damned eunuch in the face, Chen Xuance was naturally delighted. He had just been asking Head Constable Wang to demonstrate Ye Xingge's moves, and now he asked:
"Was Innkeeper Ye using Monkey Fist?"
Monkey...
Ye Xingge opened his mouth, but it wasn't easy to say Uncle Wang was wrong. He answered tactfully:
"A mixed style. I know a little Monkey Fist too. If you gentlemen had been there just now, how could it have been my turn to steal the limelight..."
"Ah."
Chen Xuance waved a hand. "Lord Luo gave no orders. If we'd left our posts without permission, the Inspection Bureau would certainly have put a mark against us. Besides, it wouldn't have been right for us to go over and set up a fighting ring. You were the right person for the job. You don't need to worry about offending anyone, either. If Ruan Jinyu dares touch you, Lord Luo will dare touch him. Of course, that's provided you don't break the law. The Inspection Bureau handles such matters, and if they punish someone according to the law, no one can say a word..."
"Naturally..."
After a few more polite words, Ye Xingge asked:
"Speaking of which, are you gentlemen hungry? I could go back and cook a few dishes..."
Chen Xuance thought the lad was quite considerate and lowered his voice.
"Head Constable Wang just told me your cooking is even better than your martial arts. I'd certainly like to see for myself, but we haven't even found Mantanghong's shadow yet. It wouldn't be proper to have a private meal now. We'll have a good drink together at the victory banquet..."
Ye Xingge was capable of running the inn by himself, so his cooking was certainly good. But if these officers got to eat at a victory banquet, he might not have a chance to cook. For now, he merely said a few auspicious words and looked toward the city gate.
"The streets inside the county seat twist and turn, so a horse can't really stretch its legs, and it would disturb the residents. We can't leave the city now, can we?"
Wang Shouyin waved a hand.
"We know you through and through. You're not Mantanghong, so you can certainly come and go. But Yang Tuyan has attracted quite a few wild wolves, and I'm afraid it isn't peaceful outside the city."
Ye Xingge replied:
"Isn't that perfect? Lord Luo just asked if I wanted to work for the Judicial Review Bureau. Of course I do, but I have to show what I can do. I can't deal with Mantanghong, but if I ride out to exercise my horse and run into a few petty crooks..."
At that, realization dawned on Wang Shouyin. He quickly turned and sang Ye Xingge's praises.
"That's right, that's right. This lad has always been warmhearted, quick-witted, and highly capable. Over the years, he's helped the county yamen catch who knows how many bandits. Magistrate Shen is very fond of him. If there were any future in serving at the yamen, he'd have recruited him as a constable long ago..."
Chen Xuance hesitated at first, but when he heard that Ye Xingge wanted to show his abilities and win recognition, he understood at once.
It was normal for a young man to crave merit and glory. Someone who could floor an embroidered-robed captain in one move could hardly be said to be taking a risk by leaving the city alone.
So Chen Xuance didn't stop him. Seeing that Ye Xingge carried no weapon, he took a spare straight saber from behind his waist and tossed it to him.
"It's good that you have the heart for it. But don't go too far, and if anything happens, don't rush recklessly ahead chasing merit. Send word first. Otherwise, if something really happens, it'll be hard to explain to Lord Luo."
"I often help the county yamen, so I know my limits. Thank you for the opportunity, Lord Chen."
Ye Xingge caught the weapon and cupped his hands in thanks.
Chen Xuance didn't expect Ye Xingge to catch any important figures, and added:
"Go on. If you really can't catch any bandits, catching a couple of pickpockets at Yong River Wharf will do. I'll report it for you tomorrow. I guarantee Lord Luo will beam with delight when she hears."
"Oh! Thank you, Lord Chen!"
Having obtained permission to leave the city, Ye Xingge wasted no time. He bade the officers farewell and galloped toward the city gate...
A short while later, on the plains of Hexi.
"Hyah!"
Clop, clop, clop...
The white horse was like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night. Its four hooves flew over the boundless plains, trailing a plume of dust.
Ye Xingge rode at full gallop. His first destination was Dahe Town, more than twenty li away, where the Shunyuan Pawnshop was located.
Since the journey was rather long, Ye Xingge used the moonlight to study the little yellow strip in his hand.
As one of the Twelve Divine Weapons, the Filth-Severing Whip was indeed no ordinary object. With a slight thought, he could change its length and stiffness...
When he reached a deserted spot, Ye Xingge also tried lashing the roadside with it. The moment he struck, a loud crack rang out.
The two-zhang whip swept through the trees, shattering branches as thick as a wrist. Its power was extraordinary.
But when it came to destructive power, the Filth-Severing Whip's strength lay in its two passive divine effects that defied heaven and changed fate. In actual combat, it was little different from a flexible whip. Among divine and famous weapons, it was a support artifact for staying alive and leveling up, and normally wouldn't be used as a main weapon.
He didn't dare take it out and show it off anytime soon anyway, so that made no difference to him. The whip's divine effect, Reversing Life and Disrupting Death, forcibly locked his health and let him escape, making it roughly equivalent to the Famous Blade: Arbiter of Life, or an escape plan...
As for doubling his cultivation speed and prolonging his life...
Ye Xingge glanced at the big white horse beneath him, then at his own hands, and decided it was time to find a wife.
Thinking back now, the great beauty Luo did have a figure well suited to bearing children...
Not to mention Big Beauty. Standing tall with her chest thrust out, they were probably bigger than his face...
As these wild thoughts ran through his head, Ye Xingge suddenly heard a voice beside his ear.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hm?"
Startled, Ye Xingge looked around. Only when he saw no one nearby did he raise the little yellow strip to his ear.
"You're still awake?"
There was a hint of suspicion in Hongyu's voice.
"I was asleep, but the divine weapon moves according to your thoughts, and it's bound to the jade pendant. When you think of me, you contact me. What were you thinking about just now?"
"Uh... is that so?"
Ye Xingge had just been thinking about how ample bosoms made for greatness, so he certainly couldn't say it outright.
"I was just curious. If I remember correctly, Heroine Yun of the Cloud and Rain Tower seems to have only one disciple-you. About this matter of recruiting a husband into the family..."
Hongyu was clearly sensitive about the subject and immediately answered in a serious tone.
"The entire Mountains and Rivers Association consists of my master's disciples, including hundreds of female disciples. It's just that they're divided into inner and outer disciples.
"I'm her eldest direct disciple, and there are several other direct junior sisters. Master's intention is that, if you meet every requirement, she'll have you marry into the family as Second Junior Sister's husband..."
Second Junior Sister...
Ye Xingge had never heard of her before and asked in puzzlement:
"In that case, why didn't Heroine Yun send Second Junior Sister here?"
"Uh..."
Hongyu really did want that annoying junior sister to take on this thankless task, but her master had named her, so there was nothing she could do.
Seeing that Ye Xingge had noticed something amiss, Hongyu replied coldly:
"Junior Sister hasn't mastered her skills and doesn't dare travel around Yongzhou. Stop talking nonsense. Contact me when you get there. I'm hanging up."
"Huh?"
Ye Xingge thought Big Beauty was learning fast. He picked up the whip and quietly pondered.
Judging by Big Beauty's reaction, the matter of recruiting a husband was probably real, but it definitely wasn't for some junior sister.
After all, Heroine Yun wasn't out of her mind. Having an elder sister-in-law of peerless beauty take her brother-in-law around on business alone-wasn't that just asking for trouble?
Thinking back to how Big Beauty had scrutinized him in every way since they first met, with a touch of disdain besides, the reason was easy enough to guess...
But Ye Xingge had no intention of becoming a live-in son-in-law either. After a little thought, he swept those distractions aside and galloped to the outskirts of Dahe Town.
Dahe Town wasn't a high-risk area. The court hadn't caught Jiang Baichuan, so naturally it didn't know there was anything wrong with the Shunyuan Pawnshop in town.
It was late and quiet. The town was peaceful, with only a few soldiers patrolling the streets.
Ye Xingge reached the outskirts and, to avoid attracting attention by making too much noise, tethered his horse in the woods. Then he took the standard-issue straight saber and quietly slipped into town.
As a local, Ye Xingge knew the four counties of Hexi well. Before long, he arrived outside the pawnshop in the center of town.
The shop was at the front of the pawnshop, with living quarters behind it. The lights had already been put out at this late hour.
Ye Xingge listened closely. Once he was sure there was no movement inside, he climbed the wall and made his way around to the rear residence. From the layout, he found the courtyard where the owner lived.
But the room was pitch-dark, and there wasn't even the sound of someone snoring in their sleep.
?
Ye Xingge frowned inwardly, sensing something was wrong. He took the intelligence report from his robes and looked it over.
Zhang Shunyuan, chief proprietor of the Shunyuan Pawnshop, secretly an informant for the Eight Pillars Hall. His wife and children had been sent back to his hometown, and only a few servants remained with him...
Why isn't there any sound in the house...
Could he have already fled...?
Ye Xingge hesitated for a moment, then dropped silently into the courtyard. After a careful inspection, he made his way without a sound to the study.
He found the door open a crack, and a faint smell of blood drifted through the gap.
Shit...
Ye Xingge frowned and carefully pushed the door a little farther open to look inside.
By the pale moonlight, he could see a man lying in front of the desk, his head turned to one side. Blood covered the floor. He was clearly dead.
As Ye Xingge watched warily, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
"What's going on?"
"Hiss..."
Caught completely off guard, Ye Xingge was nearly frightened out of his wits. He quickly gripped his saber and looked around.
Only after confirming no one was there did Ye Xingge realize what had happened. He picked up the little yellow strip and lowered his voice.
"My lady! Are you trying to scare me to death?!"
"I asked you what was going on. How did I scare you?"
"Zhang Shunyuan is already dead. His body is right in front of me."