Volume 1, Chapter 30: Do You Want to Come with Me to Northern Liang?

In the southern part of the city, at the residence of the Deputy Commander of the Garrison, the silence was shattered by the shrill, agonizing screams of Wang Teng.

Several servants, in a frantic state of disarray, scrambled to carry him from the carriage, stumbling as they made their way toward the inner courtyard, leaving a trail of blood drops behind them.

"Quick! Go and summon the best physician in the city!"

"The young master's leg... the young master's leg is broken!"

The steward’s panicked cries echoed throughout the mansion, and the entire Wang household was instantly thrown into absolute chaos.

Before long, a burly middle-aged man with a dark complexion, dressed in official robes, charged out from the front hall with the imposing stride of a dragon. This was Wang Defa, the Deputy Commander of the Yun'an City Garrison.

Seeing his only son lying on a stretcher, clutching his mangled leg and wailing in agony, his face streaked with tears and snot, Wang Defa’s large, bell-like eyes instantly flooded with blood.

"Teng'er! My son! What is the meaning of this?"

He rushed forward in two strides, his voice booming like a thunderclap, causing the nearby servants to tremble in fear.

"Father! Father! My leg... my leg is broken! It hurts so much!"

Upon seeing his father, Wang Teng wept even more bitterly, as if he had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

"Who did this!?"

Wang Defa spun around violently, seizing a servant who was deathly pale by the collar and nearly lifting him off the ground.

"Speak! Who wounded my son like this!"

Terrified by the murderous aura radiating from his master, the servant stuttered and stammered, describing the events on Changle Street with added embellishments.

"...That... that boy who stole the young master's moon-white brocade robe, he didn't say a word before... he beat all the brothers down, and then... then he stomped on the young master's leg until it snapped..."

*Bang!*

Wang Defa kicked the servant away, the fury in his chest erupting like a volcano, nearly consuming his reason.

"Good! What a lawless scoundrel!" Wang Defa trembled with rage, grinding his teeth. "On my turf, stealing my property, and beating my son! This is absolute anarchy!"

Although Wang Defa was uneducated and had climbed to his current position solely through military merit, he valued two things above all else: his only son, Wang Teng, born to him late in life, and his own reputation.

Now, his son had been crippled in the middle of the street. This was not just an injury to his son; it was a brutal slap to his own face in front of everyone. How could he swallow such an insult?

"Guards!" Wang Defa roared.

"We are here!" A troop of soldiers, clad in armor and bearing weapons, rushed in from outside the courtyard and knelt on one knee.

"Seal the four city gates! Conduct a city-wide search!" Wang Defa’s face was twisted, his voice filled with undisguised murderous intent. "Draw up portraits of that boy and the two women with him, and distribute them! Tell everyone: anyone who provides a lead will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver!"

"Once found, dead or alive, bring him back to me!"

"I will hack him into a thousand pieces and grind his bones to dust to appease my hatred!"

"Yes!" The soldiers received the order and quickly retreated.

The entire Wang mansion was shrouded in a violent, storm-laden atmosphere.

...

At the Liu residence, returning to the familiar courtyard, the faint scent of ink and flowers in the air finally dispersed the lingering stench of blood and the clamor of Changle Street.

Liu Yuexue still felt a lingering fear, her pretty face slightly pale. She followed closely behind Su Qingxue, occasionally casting a complex, surreptitious glance at Ye Xuan, who walked ahead.

That moon-white silhouette, appearing so slender and even somewhat delicate, had just displayed such immense power and cold ruthlessness. This extreme contrast made her feel both afraid and, deep within her heart, an uncontrollable, inexplicable surge of excitement and an unprecedented sense of security.

Su Qingxue walked in the middle, her expression returning to its customary coldness, yet her autumn-water-like eyes churned with deep contemplation. Ye Xuan’s strength had once again exceeded her expectations.

Ye Xuan walked in the lead, his expression calm as water, as if nothing had happened. To him, dealing with a wretch like Wang Teng was no different from crushing an ant; it failed to stir even the slightest ripple in his heart.

"Today’s events have spoiled the mood for both of you. It is my fault." Ye Xuan stopped and turned to the two women, his tone carrying a trace of apology.

"No... it is not Master Ye's fault. That Wang Teng was simply too overbearing!" Liu Yuexue quickly waved her hands, whispering.

Su Qingxue looked at him deeply and spoke slowly, "Master Ye, do you know who it is you crippled today?"

"The son of the Deputy Commander of the Garrison, Wang Teng," Ye Xuan replied calmly.

Su Qingxue’s eyes locked onto Ye Xuan. She pressed on, "Then do you know what kind of man his father, Wang Defa, is?"

"I have not heard of him," Ye Xuan replied, his tone remaining light and breezy.

Su Qingxue’s heart sank slightly. She warned, "Wang Defa is a man of military background, hot-tempered, unlettered, and fiercely protective of his own. You crippled his only son in the street today; he will never let this go. I fear that even now, the entire garrison of Yun'an City is searching for you."

Ye Xuan merely smiled noncommittally at this.

That smile, in Su Qingxue’s eyes, made her feel a sense of helplessness. Was this man confident, or simply arrogant? She said nothing more and returned to the back courtyard with the still-dazed Liu Yuexue.

Ye Xuan returned to his guest room. He truly did not regard a man like Wang Defa as a threat; a mere deputy commander of a local garrison was no different from an ant in his eyes.

He was currently considering his journey to Beiliang. The matters here were concluded, and it was not wise to linger. He packed his few belongings and was preparing to bid farewell to the Liu family.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

A crisp tapping sounded at the door.

"Eighth Prince, it is I, Su Qingxue." A cold, melodic voice came from outside.

Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow and opened the door.

Su Qingxue stood outside in a white dress, the moonlight falling upon her, making her appear like a fairy untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

"Lady Su, you visit late at night. What is the matter?" Ye Xuan got straight to the point.

Su Qingxue stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping over the small bag by his bed, her eyes flickering.

"It seems the Eighth Prince is planning to leave."

"Correct," Ye Xuan admitted frankly.

"You cannot leave," Su Qingxue said with great certainty. "Wang Defa has already ordered the city gates sealed and is conducting a massive search. To leave the city now would be walking straight into a trap."

Ye Xuan looked at her with interest, a playful smile curling the corner of his lips. "Since Lady Su says so, I presume you have a way to help me leave?"

He was well aware that a woman as clever as Su Qingxue would never act without a purpose. Coming late at night to warn him of danger surely served an agenda.

"A way, naturally, exists." Su Qingxue met his gaze, her cold eyes flashing with wisdom. "Although Wang Defa is the Deputy Commander of the Garrison, he does not hold absolute sway over Yun'an City. The Liu family has operated in this city for many years and has deep connections. Sending someone out of the city quietly is not a difficult task."

"Oh?" The smile on Ye Xuan's face deepened. "Then, Lady Su, what price must I pay?"

There were no free lunches in the world; he understood this better than anyone.

Su Qingxue remained silent for a moment, as if organizing her words or bracing herself for a decision. Finally, she looked up, her clear eyes staring directly into Ye Xuan's, and spoke word by word:

"My condition is simple."

"I want you to take me with you to Beiliang."

As her words fell, the room fell into a dead silence.

The smile on Ye Xuan’s face slowly faded. His deep, dark eyes, like two bottomless ancient wells, stared quietly at Su Qingxue, as if attempting to see through her entire being.

Beiliang. She wanted to go to Beiliang. This was certainly no coincidence.

"Lady Su, do you know what kind of place Beiliang is?" Ye Xuan’s voice grew deeper.

"I know," Su Qingxue did not flinch. "The most bitter and desolate border of the Great Qian, surrounded by barbarians, plagued by constant warfare—a place where one has a nine-in-ten chance of death."

"Since you know, why do you still wish to go?"

"That is my affair," Su Qingxue’s tone remained cold, yet carried an unshakable resolve.

Ye Xuan laughed, though this time, his smile carried a hint of chill.

"Lady Su, you think too highly of me. I can barely ensure my own survival; how could I drag a delicate young lady like you into such a den of dragons and tigers?"

"Furthermore," he shifted his tone, his gaze turning sharp, "why should I agree to your request?"

He stepped forward, closing the distance to Su Qingxue, an invisible pressure descending upon her.