Chapter Thirty-Seven: Land of Fire

Snow Country of the Wangmai.

There were never many people in the Ye household. Ye Pei’s grandparents had long since passed away, and the servants numbered only about ten, responsible for the kitchen and cleaning the main courtyard, while each resident tended to their own rooms. Add to that a dozen guards and the Ye family itself. But with Ye Linhui and Ye Pei both gone, the house felt emptier still.

Not long after, Lady Ye decided to return with her entire family to her maiden home. She could no longer bear to remain in Shunxing City. Everything here, especially within the Ye residence, was a constant reminder of her husband and son—memories etched into every corner, causing her unceasing sorrow. Thus, she resolved to gather her family and seek out her father, the venerable Master Huang Cang.

When Mu Piaoyan heard of this decision, she smiled gently and said, “There’s nothing amiss in what you’ve chosen, madam. Only, I am old now and will not join you. I’ll remain here at the Ye residence, in case Ye Pei may one day return.”

And so, Huang Qilin, Ye Feilan, Meng Huaicheng, and part of the guards and servants—a retinue of nearly twenty—left Shunxing City in a grand procession, heading northeast.

…

Ye Pei gazed at the meal set before him, yet for reasons unknown, his appetite was faint. He had imagined that, after several days without food, he would devour his meal ravenously, but instead he simply picked up his bowl and ate the rice slowly.

“What’s wrong? Don’t these dishes suit your taste? I can have the kitchen prepare something else,” Zi Qingrong said when she saw Ye Pei eating only rice.

Ye Pei quickly replied, “No, no, the dishes are all fragrant and delicious. I just… don’t have much appetite.”

“Ah?” Zi Qingrong seemed puzzled. “But you haven’t eaten in four days. You don’t look like someone who’s been starved for so long.”

Ye Pei smiled faintly. “Have you ever seen someone who’s gone this long without food?”

Zi Qingrong thought for a moment and shook her head. “No.”

“Me neither. I thought I’d wolf down everything, but in truth, my appetite is weak.”

“Oh…”

In the end, Ye Pei ate only a small bowl of rice and some vegetables. Having trained in martial arts since childhood, it was normal for him to eat half a bucket of rice and two catties of meat in one sitting. It sounded like much, but for a martial artist, digestion was swift—by the time he finished, much of it would already be absorbed.

After the meal, Ye Pei looked up to find Zi Qingrong resting her chin in her hands, watching him. He asked, “Miss Zi Qingrong, is there perhaps some rice stuck on my face?”

Zi Qingrong laughed. “You haven’t even told me your name.”

Ye Pei set down his chopsticks and replied formally, “My surname is Ye, given name Pei. Thank you, miss, for saving my life.”

Zi Qingrong waved her hand with a smile. “Why so formal? Just call me Qingrong.”

Ye Pei couldn’t help but smile as well. “My friends all call me Yezi.”

“Haha!” Zi Qingrong poured him some tea. “That day, I slipped out to Longjiang Mountain to paint. Suddenly I heard something fall. When I went to check, I found you lying there. I thought you wouldn’t be heavy and tried to carry you back, but you wouldn’t budge. I had to fetch help to bring you here. You don’t look overweight—how can you be so heavy?”

Much of the gloom in Ye Pei’s heart was lightened by this girl’s cheer, and a faint smile lingered on his lips. “Perhaps because I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood.”

“Wow, you know martial arts? Are you good at it?”

Ye Pei touched his nose. “Well… I can at least protect myself.”

Had the people of Wangmai, or the fallen generals of the Yan tribe in the afterlife, heard this, who knows what they’d think.

Zi Qingrong laughed. “Then teach me! My father never let me learn as a child.”

Ye Pei asked, “Why did your father forbid it?”

Zi Qingrong wrinkled her nose. “He said fighting is unseemly for girls, so he only let me study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”

Ye Pei pondered, then said gently, “One doesn’t learn martial arts just for violence… If I’m not mistaken, your father probably doesn’t know martial arts himself?”

“Huh?” Zi Qingrong was surprised. “How did you know?”

Ye Pei mused, “The first lesson in the martial path is virtue. Your father thinks martial arts are just for fighting—he’s certainly never studied it.” But he only smiled and said, “Just a guess.”

Zi Qingrong scooted a little closer. “Teach me, won’t you?”

Ye Pei thought for a moment. “If I may ask, how old are you, Qingrong?”

Zi Qingrong was taken aback, surprised that someone with such education would begin by asking her age.

Seeing her reaction, Ye Pei hurried to explain, “Please don’t misunderstand, there’s a prime age for learning martial arts.”

Zi Qingrong giggled. “Why so nervous? I was just about to tell you. I’m seventeen.”

“Seventeen… That’s rather late.”

Zi Qingrong looked disappointed. “When did you start training?”

After a moment’s thought, Ye Pei replied, “I’m eighteen now, and I’ve been training for thirteen or fourteen years.”

Her head bowed, Zi Qingrong murmured, “That young… I suppose I’ve missed my chance…”

Ye Pei felt an odd urge to comfort her—perhaps because she had saved his life, or perhaps for another reason. “Actually, it’s fine. While you’re past the best age, you can still learn—it’ll just be slower.”

Zi Qingrong’s eyes brightened. “Really? If I learn martial arts, I can leave home and see the world, and maybe…”

But as she dreamed aloud, Ye Pei suddenly recalled something she’d said earlier.

“Longjiang Mountain… I haven’t heard of it. Am I really in the Yan lands now…”

His muttered words were caught by Zi Qingrong, who asked curiously, “Yezi, aren’t you from the Yan lands?”

Ye Pei paused, then decided to be honest. “Yes, I’m from Wangmai. At the end of the Yan-Wang War, I slew Lin Yufei and fell into Yan lands with him. I don’t know why I didn’t land near your army.”

He wondered if he should reveal his identity, but realized that lacking the Yan tribe’s signature fiery eyes, he’d be found out sooner or later.

He went on. “Lin Yufei, Lin Yukong, and over a dozen officers from your side all died by my hand. By now, I should be a wanted criminal in Yan territory. You could easily hand me over to the authorities—I wouldn’t blame you.”

But to his surprise, Zi Qingrong’s face lit up with delight. “Wow, you defeated Lin Yufei? You said you could only protect yourself, but you’re incredible! You must teach me martial arts! And to think Wangmai people look just like us…”

Ye Pei felt bewildered. “You’re not turning me in. Aren’t you afraid I’ll bring you trouble?”

Zi Qingrong laughed. “What do you mean, ‘our Yan lands’? What’s the imperial court to me? We’re not in league with the ones who fought Wangmai! What does your killing… your victory over Lin Yufei have to do with me?” Even as she spoke of ‘killing,’ the cultured young lady seemed uneasy with the word.

Ye Pei was more confused than ever. “Didn’t the Yan tribe march out in full force against Wangmai?”

Zi Qingrong replied, “Ah, you just arrived here, so let me explain, otherwise you’ll be lost.”

As she spoke, she grabbed a piece of paper and began to write as she explained. “The Yan lands are divided into seven regions: the Lin clan in the northwest, the Feng clan in the northeast, the Wan clan in the west, the Ni clan of the Sacred Sacrifice Mountain, the Zi clan in the east—my family—the Deathfire Volcano in the southwest, and the Exile Domain in the southeast, which people simply call the Flow Region.”

“Wait…” Ye Pei tried to process this.

“But I’ve finished anyway!”

“…So, Qingrong, you’re from the Zi clan…”

She grinned, “I’m the eldest daughter of the Zi clan! Oh, and the Yan army should have regrouped at Tengyue Pass in the north. Maybe because you’re not a Yan tribesman, you landed here. You should be grateful you fell within the Zi clan’s territory.”

After a moment’s thought, she added, “Last year, a Star Envoy from the Xing tribe came to all the great clans, declaring that Wangmai and Yan lands were about to be connected. Wangmai had shown disrespect to the Star tribe, making it impossible for the Star tribe to enter Wangmai and mete out punishment. So they asked the Yan tribe to act on their behalf, promising to help wherever possible. My father thought there was no need for us to march—we didn’t even know how Wangmai offended the Star God. Besides, as an exiled people, the Yan tribe had no right to enforce the Star Envoy’s will. So it was the Lin, Feng, and Wan clans who went to war.”

Ye Pei’s face darkened with anger. “When did my people ever show disrespect to the Star tribe? Such slander—what motive could they possibly have?”

Zi Qingrong tried to soothe him. “Don’t be angry. The Yan tribe lost anyway. Who knows how many of the younger generation from those clans made it back.”

Ye Pei took several deep breaths to calm himself. “Of the Lin brothers, two fell to my hand; Lin Yuluo was killed by a veteran general; Feng Xiaoyang was shot by my brother; and Wan clan’s Wan Zheng—my senior brother slew him. I don’t know who else survived among the young elites.”

Zi Qingrong stared in awe. “Are all Wangmai people this formidable? They sent five of their best young warriors, and none returned?”

Ye Pei nodded. “I had no wish to join the war, but when my father, the nation’s commander, was betrayed by the Lin brothers and traitors from within Wangmai, I took over his army. I chased Lin Yufei, which is why I ended up here in the Yan lands.”

Seeing his spirits drop, Zi Qingrong quickly said, “Don’t be sad! After all, you ended up here and met me—that’s a stroke of luck!”

Ye Pei smiled again. “Thank you for your kindness. By the way, where is your family?”

Zi Qingrong replied, “Ah… We’re not in the main city of the Zi clan. I came here half a month ago to paint the landscapes. This is just one of my family’s villas, and I didn’t bring many people.”

Ye Pei stood and stretched, still feeling a bit weary, then pushed open the door and stepped outside, basking in the long-lost sunlight.

“Yezi,” Zi Qingrong called, following after him. “Once you’ve recovered in a few days, will you teach me martial arts?”

A smile curled at Ye Pei’s lips. “Of course. No problem at all.”