Chapter Forty: Exposed

Let us set aside for now the rekindled hope on Yue Zhe’s side and turn instead to Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong.

It was noon the day after they had fled the lord’s manor, and the two arrived in a small town, seeking a place to rest—for neither had slept the whole night. Conversing as they walked, they entered the town’s only inn.

At once, a young attendant came forward to greet them. “Welcome! Are you here for a room or just a meal?”

Ye Pei smiled. “I’d like two rooms, please.”

The attendant glanced at them, then grinned apologetically. “I’m sorry, but there’s only one room left.”

Ye Pei was taken aback. “Only one left? And it’s only noon?”

The attendant laughed. “Yes, we’ve had a lot of guests these past days.”

Ye Pei looked at Zi Qingrong. “What do you think?”

Zi Qingrong considered for a moment. “One room will do.”

Before Ye Pei could say more, the attendant cheerfully led them inside. After registering, he took them to a room upstairs in the rear courtyard. Ye Pei asked for a meal to be brought up as well. The attendant responded affirmatively, and before leaving, he looked at Ye Pei and asked, “You look rather pale, sir. Should I fetch a doctor for you?”

Ye Pei smiled. “No need, but thank you for your concern.”

The attendant said nothing further, but as he left, he turned back with a knowing smile.

Ye Pei glanced at Zi Qingrong and shook his head with a wry smile. With his intelligence, it was obvious what the attendant’s odd little smiles implied.

Soon, a table of food was brought up. As they ate, Zi Qingrong asked, “Yezi, why is your face always so pale? I thought you were just weak, but it’s been days and you still look the same.”

Ye Pei replied, “As I told you, it’s from internal injuries. I’ve improved a little thanks to the manual, but I’m still far from being healed.” At that moment, a commotion arose outside.

“What’s happening?” Zi Qingrong wondered aloud.

Ye Pei continued eating. “Sounds like a lot of people arrived. The attendant wasn’t lying about the inn being crowded. Don’t worry about it—let’s eat, rest, and travel on tomorrow.”

Zi Qingrong nodded and resumed her meal.

But now, the matter of how they would rest became a new problem.

Looking at the single bedroom, Ye Pei rubbed his forehead. “You can sleep in the bedroom. I’ll take the front room.”

Zi Qingrong hesitated. “But… you…”

Ye Pei sat on the floor in the front room, smiling. “What, do you have another idea?”

Zi Qingrong thought for a moment and just smiled, saying no more as she entered the bedroom.

For Ye Pei, sitting in meditation was almost as restful as sleep, though less effective. Yet, traveling as they were, such half-waking rest had its advantages.

Having trained hard since childhood, Ye Pei’s senses were exceptionally keen. While meditating, he kept alert to sounds around him. What he overheard was less than pleasant.

“Big brother, isn’t it risky to just barge into the Zi clan’s territory like this?”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re only here to look for that kid called Ye Pei, not to provoke the Zi family.”

“If you ask me, Tengyue Pass is miles from here. Even if he had wings, he couldn’t have gotten here. He’s probably hiding in the Lin territory. And with such an ugly portrait, how are we supposed to find him? Does he really look that bad?”

“Orders are orders. Besides, do you really expect those brutes to paint a decent likeness? Be glad if it even looks human.”

Ye Pei opened his eyes and mused, “They’re after me… Judging by what Qingrong told me about the factions in Yan territory, only the Feng clan could have sent people here so quickly. Though I didn’t kill Feng Xiaoyang, I’m the only Wangmai left here, so it makes sense they’re looking for me.”

He shook his head. “Damn it… I don’t have anything to disguise myself with. And why did I just curse out loud like that?”

“Sounds like they made me look hideous in that portrait. Judging by Qingrong’s tastes, the Yan and Wangmai people should have similar standards… Frankly, I’m not bad looking, so they probably won’t recognize me.”

With that, Ye Pei closed his eyes again to rest.

But that evening, a voice outside roused him.

“Ah, Master Zi, welcome! Please, come in!”

Hearing the attendant’s words, Ye Pei thought, “Could the Zi family already be searching for Qingrong?”

Sure enough, outside, Zi Yankong was saying, “No need for seats. Have you seen a young man and woman arrive today?”

The Zi clan always sent Zi Yankong to deliver new edicts throughout their territory. For a town so near the main city, he often visited in person, so everyone recognized him.

The attendant responded, “Indeed, a handsome young man and a beautiful young lady arrived at noon.”

Ye Pei, unable to sit still, looked around. Through a window, he saw that this guesthouse stood half a yard away from the neighboring building. He quickly went to wake Zi Qingrong.

“…What is it? I’m still sleepy…” Zi Qingrong rubbed her eyes, only for Ye Pei to scoop her up, toss her bundle under the bed, and leap out the window with her. As he closed the window behind them, he braced his feet against both walls, suspending them out of sight below the window.

Zi Qingrong, just recovering her senses, whispered, “What’s going on…?”

Ye Pei replied, “Your family’s here looking for us. We’ll hide for now.”

Within less than the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the attendant brought Zi Yankong to the door. When no one answered, the attendant used a spare key at Zi Yankong’s request and opened the door, only to find the room empty.

The place was small, with nowhere to hide. Zi Yankong saw at a glance that they were gone and ordered, “They’re not here. Search the area quickly—they can’t have gone far.”

With no alternative, Zi Yankong retreated to have a meal at the inn.

Once everyone was gone and after waiting a little longer, Ye Pei brought Zi Qingrong back through the window.

“It was Uncle Yankong. They’re quick,” said Zi Qingrong, already packing to leave.

Ye Pei said, “Not just your family—those looking for me are here too. If they could reach your clan’s territory so quickly, it must be the Feng clan. They’re staying here as well.”

Zi Qingrong gasped, “What should we do?”

Ye Pei thought aloud, “For the moment, the Feng clan isn’t a problem. From their conversation, they don’t know what I really look like, so even if they see me they probably won’t recognize me. It’s nearly dusk. Let’s watch your family’s movements—if they leave town, we’ll wait until dawn to set out; if they stay, we’ll have to slip out the window tonight.”

Soon, the Zi clan search party returned to report they’d found no trace of the pair in town. Anxious to find his young mistress, Zi Yankong hurriedly led his men away to search elsewhere.

Seeing from the window that the Zi clan had departed, Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong decided to stay the night and leave in the morning.

At dawn, Ye Pei awoke from his meditation.

“Ah… This incomplete technique is frustrating beyond words. Whoever gave me that manual, I’ll reward them with a bullet when I get the second half.”

“What are you muttering about?” Zi Qingrong came out yawning from the bedroom.

“Nothing. Why are you up so early?” Ye Pei looked a little embarrassed.

Zi Qingrong sat down. “I’ve slept plenty.”

Ye Pei drew aside the curtain to check outside; the eastern sky was already tinged with pale light. “It’s almost dawn. Let’s have breakfast and be on our way.”

“Alright.”

The inn was already bustling; fragrant tea and white steamed buns were ready for the guests. After breakfast, Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong prepared to leave.

But as soon as they stepped out, they saw a group of burly men coming around the corner, talking amongst themselves.

The Feng clan men rounded the corner and were momentarily stunned to see a pale but handsome youth and a girl whose beauty could shame the moon. The youth smiled and waved, and the leader of the Feng men returned the gesture, grinning.

As the youth lowered his hand and took the girl’s hand to walk out, the leader sighed, “What a fine-looking pair!”

Suddenly, another man shouted, “Boss! Stop playing the scholar—look at that kid’s shoulder!”

Ye Pei, who had just relaxed, was alarmed. On his white robe, his right shoulder was embroidered with the character for “Ye.”

Now that they’d spotted his mark, Ye Pei gave up any hope of blending in and immediately grabbed Zi Qingrong, running for the exit.

“That’s Ye Pei! After him!” the leader shouted, leading the charge.

Bursting out into the street, Ye Pei spotted a young man on horseback nearby. Delighted, he shouted, “Sorry, brother!” and with a flying kick, knocked the rider off and hauled Zi Qingrong up in front of him, spurring the horse away at full gallop.

By the time the Feng men reached the street, only a cloud of dust from the horse’s tail was left.

“Damn! Bring me our horses! Xiao Wu, spread the word that Ye Pei is in the Zi clan’s territory!”

Meanwhile, the youth Ye Pei had unseated was fuming as he made his way home, but soon ran into two young men with the character “Zi” embroidered on their chests.

As luck would have it, these two had been left in the town by Zi Yankong, and after an early breakfast, were on their way back to the inn.

“Gentlemen, you must help me! My horse was stolen right in the street!” The youth threw himself at their feet, sobbing.

The two were startled, but seeing his fine clothes, realized he must be the son of some local notable and ought to be helped. Exchanging glances, they crouched beside him. “Young master, what’s the matter? Tell us what happened.”

As they went to help him up, the youth blurted, “Just now at the inn, a boy in white kicked me off my horse and rode off with a girl! By the way…”

“Damn!” The two exchanged another glance and shouted in unison, “The young mistress and that boy!” They dropped him and sprinted back toward the inn, leaving the youth—who thought he’d found his saviors—collapsing in tears once again.