The winter sun shone like a pearl, casting a gentle, warm light.
After being delayed for eight full days, the two finally set out again, heading to Yanyang to meet Asi and the others, retrieve the items, and then continue on to the Martial Alliance.
“You go ahead. I’ll ask if there’s anything else we need to watch for.”
Murong Qiufeng looked at him in confusion but didn’t ask further. He nodded, thanked the few people at the door, and got into the carriage.
Shangguan Ye turned back. The gentle smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a shadowed, dark expression. His gaze fell on the middle-aged man, a cold smile curling on his lips, and he strode forward.
The middle-aged man felt an icy chill run through him under that gaze. Even his family outside the door went pale—before Shangguan Ye, they all felt a deep sense of fear and respect.
Shangguan Ye approached, eyes narrowing as he studied the man’s expression. Suddenly, he stepped closer, grabbing the man’s wrist and placing something in his hand. “This is a token of thanks, and…”
He tugged the man closer and whispered something almost inaudible, meant only for the two of them: “Tell him this for me. No matter what he’s done, he no longer has the right to contend for anything.”
The middle-aged man froze, eyes widening in disbelief, mouth slightly agape.
But Shangguan Ye had already turned and climbed into the carriage with precision. Mo Yan drove the horses forward at a signal, while the elderly Bai Feng’s prized horse was used to pull the carriage—a thing only Shangguan Ye could do without hesitation.
“You may leave now.”
After relaying the message, Yun Feiyang remained silent for a long time. Finally, he murmured a few words, tinged with loss, pain, and helplessness.
The middle-aged man nodded and withdrew.
A sharp crack rang out as the wine glass in Yun Feiyang’s hand shattered, amber liquid mixing with the fresh red blood, spreading across the floor in a chaotic stain.
“No right… huh. Shangguan Ye… maybe I can’t love or pursue with the recklessness and completeness you do—but that doesn’t mean you have the right either. Could you let go of everything? If the choice were between Yan Kingdom and him… could you give up Yan, give up your current honor and power? Could you? If not… if you can’t, then what right do you have to speak to me?”
“Shangguan Ye… he was mine, yet you took him away. What right do you have to say—”
The words fell in low roars, each one laden with anger, but carrying the desperate, mournful cry of a trapped beast. Blood or tears, no one could tell. People live or die in choices, yet who can judge right from wrong?
One cannot hold both fish and bear’s paw; who can grasp everything in hand? He thought he could, calculated so meticulously, set the stage so precisely—yet it was all shattered. Gains come with losses. In that instant of decision, he could not be certain what mattered most, what he truly wanted. That choice might be right… or it might be wrong.
“Xiaofeng… if I turn back now, is there any chance? Could you give me a sliver of opportunity…? No… no. Heh, impossible. No turning back now. Once this path is taken, there’s no return. I may regret it in the future, but I cannot give up. Some things… I must do.”
The carriage entered Yanyang. They planned to handle matters quickly and leave, but an incident soon ignited, almost like a spark waiting for a fuse.
Though Yanyang wasn’t as prosperous as Licheng, it was still a bustling city, a hub for martial artists.
Upon passing the gates and entering the city, the carriage, once traveling through empty streets, now had a gray-clad figure at its side, expressionless as they drove. Murong Qiufeng paused, glancing at Shangguan Ye, who shook his head with a smile—confirming the man was an ally.
The carriage stopped at a relatively secluded inn. The gray-clad figure flickered briefly, then vanished as if they had never existed. The curtain lifted, revealing Asi outside. “Master… Your Grace.”
Both men nodded, descended the carriage, and Shangguan Ye scanned the slightly dilapidated inn. Frowning, he looked at Asi. “What’s going on?”
“Senior Uncle… Senior Uncle!” Asi had barely spoken when someone burst out of the inn—Xiao Yan.
Seeing Murong Qiufeng, his expression lit up like a long-lost relative finally reunited.
“Ah, you’re here too.” He glanced at Shangguan Ye, his excitement fading, letting out a short snort before turning to Murong Qiufeng. “Quick, come inside. Don’t let anyone get suspicious.”
Murong Qiufeng nodded, following him into the inn, while Shangguan Ye turned to Asi.
Asi gave a brief rundown of the situation.
As they had suspected, the incident with the stolen notice was entirely a setup. Upon arriving in Yanyang, they found far more martial artists gathered than usual. Upon inquiry, they learned that somehow their location had been revealed. These martial artists had come to lie in wait.
Most were from the few sects affected by the stolen notice. Several sect members had been killed or injured. The sects then united, issuing a bounty for pursuit, offering treasures nearly impossible to obtain.
Were it not for the backing of the Supreme, many would not dare to offend them. Otherwise, the whole martial world would have descended upon them. Even their portraits had been widely circulated—though Shangguan Ye and Murong Qiufeng were absent from the depictions.
“What actions have they taken?” Shangguan Ye tapped the table thoughtfully.
Xiao Yan wrinkled his nose, unwilling to speak but knowing the urgency. “They’ve spread their spies throughout the city. Each day, they search at least three times—starting with major and minor inns, then other locations. Even private homes haven’t been spared. They’ve checked this remote inn multiple times. Officials have tried to intervene, but several constables died. The authorities have quieted things temporarily, likely waiting for reinforcements from the court.”
“Lately, these martial artists have grown bolder, not just harassing civilians, but attacking and seizing property. Yanyang is getting more chaotic by the day.”
“Chaos? Hmph. The more chaotic, the better.” Shangguan Ye’s eyes gleamed, a faint smile curving his lips.
Xiao Yan frowned, muttering in disbelief, “Senior Brother actually says the chaos is good?”
“Exactly,” Murong Qiufeng said, noting the tension.
“Speaking of which… what about Brother Yan?” Murong Qiufeng asked, looking around at the few gathered in the rundown inn.
“He went to gather information, and to pick up some food supplies.”
“Supplies?”
“Yes. We bought this inn. Disguised ourselves as the innkeeper and staff. Otherwise, we’d have been discovered already. I just heard from Men Hulu that you arrived, so we removed the disguises temporarily. We’ll set them again shortly—so you’ll need to participate too.” He glanced at Shangguan Ye with a slightly mischievous, almost scheming look.
