Chapter Fifty-Two:

“Brother Pei.” Early in the morning, Yang Qin came knocking at the door.

Ye Pei put down his breakfast and opened the door. “What is it?”

Yang Qin smiled. “Brother Pei, Yun Jian has heard of your remarkable martial skills and would like to spar with you.”

Naturally, Ye Pei had no reason to refuse and agreed with pleasure.

So, in no time at all, Ye Pei and Yun Jian stood facing each other in the inn’s rear courtyard.

For the people of the Outlaw Domain, such things were neither rare nor dull; in fact, they were quite entertained. No sooner had the two exchanged pleasantries than the inn’s guests picked out their vantage points and fetched their snacks to watch.

“Go, husband!” From the sidelines, Zi Qingrong’s cheer managed to wound Yun Jian before the fight even began.

“Brother Pei, please give me your guidance!”

“No need for words, Brother Yun. Make your move.”

To be honest, Ye Pei didn’t see him as much of an opponent. From childhood, Ye Pei had rarely tasted defeat; among his peers, only Yue Zhe could match him. With the innate rebelliousness he’d possessed since youth, he had naturally developed a pride that soared above the heavens.

Yun Jian wasted no more words, steadied his breath, and advanced quickly, launching a punch.

Initial probing attacks were usually made with the hands rather than the feet, so as not to risk losing balance and being taken down in one move.

Since learning the “Secret Art,” Ye Pei’s reflexes had reached a new level, and he could vaguely sense who around him possessed internal energy. At this moment, Yun Jian clearly did not.

As Yun Jian’s fist came barreling toward him, Ye Pei stepped back half a pace, blocked the right fist with his own right hand, and with a swift turn, drove his left elbow toward Yun Jian’s chest and abdomen. If that elbow landed, Yun Jian would be out of the fight.

But Yun Jian was experienced; his left hand quickly shifted from a fist to a palm, catching Ye Pei’s elbow and neutralizing the threat. Ye Pei was unsurprised and relentless—he spun again, launching his right elbow at Yun Jian’s left cheek, his right leg already in motion.

Yun Jian dared not be careless and once again used his free right hand to block Ye Pei’s elbow, failing to notice Ye Pei’s right foot hooking his leg.

As his right elbow was blocked, Ye Pei took the opportunity to extend his right arm and sweep with his right foot, swinging Yun Jian clean off the ground in an instant.

Seeing the danger, Yun Jian reached out to catch himself on the ground, but Ye Pei was already there, one hand supporting his head, the edge of his other hand poised less than an inch from Yun Jian’s throat.

“Thank you for letting me win.”

He pulled Yun Jian up, cupped his fists, and returned to his room with Zi Qingrong.

“Haha, what did I tell you?” Yang Qin came over, clapping Yun Jian’s shoulder. “I said he was formidable!”

Yun Jian said nothing. Yang Qin grinned, “What’s wrong, scared stiff? He went easy on you.”

Yun Jian forced a smile. “He’s indeed impressive,” he muttered, and headed back to his room.

“He’s actually quite strong,” Yun Jian mused to himself inside.

Beside him, a young man sipped his tea calmly. “You should have listened to me and let me test him. With your half-baked skills, you didn’t even last a round. Now we still don’t know his true level.”

“Didn’t you all see for yourselves?” Yun Jian protested.

The young man sneered. “Some win because they’re just a bit stronger than you; some win because you’re the only one there to beat up. His strength is definitely beyond what you drew out. Still, your approach was worth a try—our chances aren’t small.”

The following night, while Ye Pei was meditating, he suddenly heard an unusual sound.

He opened his eyes to look, but caught a flash of light from the corner of his eye.

With several dull thuds, Ye Pei found himself standing face-to-face with a black-clad, sword-wielding figure, dimly illuminated by moonlight inside the room. A footprint was clearly visible on the man’s chest, and after that brief exchange, Ye Pei was already by the door to Zi Qingrong’s bedroom.

“You truly live up to your reputation, Young Master Pei,” came a clear but somewhat awkward voice.

“Hmph.” Ye Pei was in no mood to be polite. “What, did you swallow a mouthful of phlegm? Sneaking around like a coward.” Only after speaking did Ye Pei recall that he himself was not in his usual guise.

“What’s going on?” Zi Qingrong, startled awake, pushed the door to come out.

Ye Pei quickly shut the door. “Don’t come out!”

“No more words—prepare to die!” The black-clad man attacked, sword thrusting.

His lines were melodramatic, but Ye Pei was unmoved.

“Is it so easy to be an assassin these days?” Ye Pei didn’t even bother with a weapon.

To spare you the details, after a flurry of blows like a drumroll, the black-clad man sheathed his sword and fled, leaping out the window into the night.

“Stop right there!” Ye Pei was about to pursue but suddenly remembered Zi Qingrong.

“No, if I go after him, what about her… Ah!” Ye Pei entered the bedroom, locked Zi Qingrong in the wardrobe, grabbed the bed sheet and pillows, and hurried outside.

“Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.”

Zi Qingrong wasn’t sure how to feel—she only knew she wanted to bite Ye Pei to death.

After making sure Zi Qingrong was safe, Ye Pei dashed to the window in three strides, wrapped the sheet around the pillows, and threw them out forcefully, then vaulted after them, shouting, “Wife! You chase that way!”

Though locked in the wardrobe, Zi Qingrong could guess what Ye Pei was up to and sighed deeply, standing quietly in the cramped space.

With his lightness skill, Ye Pei soon spotted the fleeing black-clad figure.

“Scoundrel! No—villain! Where do you think you’re going?” Ye Pei watched as the figure vanished into the City Lord’s mansion and wondered, “Is the City Lord really so petty? The steward seemed like a tolerant man.”

Since someone had sent an assassin to his door, Ye Pei couldn’t let it pass. He quickly pursued.

Scaling the wall, Ye Pei found the mansion’s night guards surprisingly lax—some posts were empty, others manned by snoring guards.

Just as Ye Pei stood atop the wall, frustrated at having lost the assassin, he suddenly saw a black-clad figure darting toward a house with light still burning.

He hurried after him.

“Let’s see what Cheng Fang is up to.”

His skills gave him courage. Others might have suspected a trap—a deliberate chance to lure him into an ambush. Ye Pei thought of this, but didn’t care; with his injuries healed, internal energy flowed like a brook, filling him with confidence.

“Die!”

As Ye Pei closed in on the house, a sudden shout erupted inside, followed by the sound of splintering furniture, angry curses, and pained screams.

“What’s going on…” Ye Pei pondered, but found no answer.

He didn’t slow—already he was leaping toward the lit window, when a sudden thought struck him.

“Not good—it’s a setup!”

Midair, the scene inside the room unfolded before his eyes.

He saw a gaunt black-clad man chasing a blood-soaked Cheng Fang, while a guard fought desperately to shield the old man, keeping him from death in the first moments.

“Who are you, to act with such cowardice!”

With a furious shout, a flash of black swept in like the wind, sword knocking aside the black-clad man’s blade, protecting Cheng Fang and his guard.

“Hahaha, so you are Ye Pei!”

From the voice, Ye Pei knew this wasn’t the same man who had just tried to assassinate him. From his presence and bearing, it was clear—this was a true expert.

Ye Pei’s weapon had become a signature among those hunting him. The moment he drew his sword, he was recognized.

“What a clever disguise. However… do you think that just because you’re here, you can—”

His words were cut off as, in a flash of sword-light, the black-clad man lunged at Cheng Fang, blade flickering like a serpent’s tongue, intent on killing.

This man was cunning—most would strike after finishing their speech, but he attacked mid-sentence.

“Hmph!” This time, Ye Pei held nothing back. He knew if Cheng Fang were killed and he failed to detain the murderer, he’d never clear his name. His identity exposed, if he also became the enemy of the City Lord of the Outlaw Domain’s greatest city, he’d be in dire straits.

With a muffled grunt, Ye Pei unleashed a surge of internal energy that sent the black-clad man stumbling, and with a flick of his sword, deflected the assassin’s attack.

“With me here, you dare to run wild?!”

His voice, imbued with inner power, rang in the black-clad man’s ears, making his blood surge unsteadily.

“Hurry!”

“Protect the Steward!”

Just then, the thunder of countless footsteps echoed from outside—hundreds, perhaps thousands, rushing this way.

“Tch…” The black-clad man sneered, “So you’ve cultivated spiritual energy. Until next time!”

With that, he leapt away, vanishing into the darkness.

“Pei Ye!” Chen Jijin burst into the room, half-dressed and furious. “I let you go out of kindness, and you come here to assassinate my steward?!”

Ye Pei’s gaze was icy as he glanced at Chen Jijin. “Ask your steward yourself.”

“City Lord…” Cheng Fang, gravely wounded, spoke with difficulty. “A black-clad man tried to assassinate me. I owe my life to Young Master Pei Ye. But there is one thing I don’t understand…”

He looked up at Ye Pei. “Young Master Pei Ye, how did you know I was being attacked?”

“Hmph.” Ye Pei was also pondering who was behind this scheme. “A short while ago…”

After hearing the full story, as the doctor tended his wounds, Cheng Fang asked, “Young Master Pei, do you have any enemies in the city?”

“That’s hard to say.” Ye Pei’s smile was laced with irony. “The Lin, Wan, and Feng families all consider me a mortal enemy.”

“…” Cheng Fang was left speechless.

“Uh… Young Master Pei, you are truly a hero among youths…” It was Chen Jijin, battle-hardened and still bloodied, who finally broke the silence—and this time, his formal language was only slightly awkward.

“Enough with the ‘Young Master Pei,’” Ye Pei said, lifting his hand to peel off his mask. “My name is Ye Pei.”