Chapter Thirty-One: The Four Great Families

Zhang Xiaojing rode his horse forward, coming to a halt beside Chen An. They looked out together.

The You-Mountain Pass was flanked by towering heights, with a flat plain cutting through the middle. It was, by all accounts, a strategic location of immense military importance. Their gazes swept across the town wall.

"The brothers are all prepared," Zhang Xiaojing said. There was not a trace of sorrow on his face, only a sense of longing. "No matter how formidable our Tiger Battalion has been, we have always lived under someone else’s roof. This time, however, it’s different. We finally have our own territory, and we can finally stretch our arms and do something truly great!"

Chen An drew a deep breath, closing his eyes in a moment of intoxicated bliss. "The sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly. Send the order down: everyone is to set up camp. No one is to descend the mountain without my command."

"We are already at the doorstep, why aren't we going in?" Zhang Xiaojing asked.

"Who said we aren't going in?" A playful smirk tugged at the corner of Chen An’s mouth. "Xiao Gui will guard the camp. Zhang Xiaojing, Wu Daizi, the two of you pick three or five men. We won't wear armor, we won't ride horses; we’ll travel light and go down to take a look around!"

"Brother, what are we going down there to see?" asked Wu Daizi, who had finally rejoined the unit, his voice sounding muffled and thick.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiaojing quickly caught on. "You mean a tour in disguise, right, Chen An?"

"Exactly," Chen An said with a smile. "Since we are newcomers, if we enter with a grand display, there is much we will miss. It is better to observe carefully."

You-Mountain Pass, Donglin Lane.

As one of the few scholars in the pass, Zhang Juzhong’s name was known to all. Sixteen years old this year, he had passed the imperial examinations at thirteen, cutting through the competition to become a celebrated prodigy far and wide. Yet, one day, Zhang Juzhong suddenly returned from the capital, accompanied by a woman. When curious neighbors asked, he merely explained dismissively, "Rather than struggle in the officialdom, I would prefer to lose myself in the mountains and rivers."

As time passed, people concluded that Zhang Juzhong must have suffered some sort of setback. Once a myth crumbles, rumors inevitably follow. Most of the gossip surrounding him centered on the woman at his side: Yingying. Some said she was a woman of the red-light district, others claimed she was from a ruined family, and some even whispered that she was a fox spirit. The root of all this was Yingying’s piercing blue eyes and her appearance, which differed so starkly from the locals—a high bridge of the nose, fair skin, and deep-set eyes. Regardless, the private affairs of others were nothing more than fodder for idle tea-time chatter.

Just as Chen An and his men were trekking toward the pass, Zhang Juzhong, still in bed, had only just woken up. With his terrible sleeping posture, he didn't forget to let out a long, languid stretch. Seeing this, Yingying instinctively reached over to tuck the covers around him.

"My dear..." Zhang Juzhong called out softly.

"You were reading until very late last night, Husband. Rest well today. We are out of rice and flour, so I will go buy some," Yingying said, her eyes twinkling with a touch of mischief.

Zhang Juzhong gave a wicked smile, sat up abruptly, and pulled her into his arms. He planted a kiss on her lips, light as a dragonfly skimming the water.

"Last night, your husband observed the celestial phenomena. The Ziwei star is shining bright, while the protector stars are dim—a sign that a wise ruler is arriving," Zhang Juzhong whispered. "It seems the opportunity your husband has been waiting for to display his grand ambitions has finally come!"

"Life is quite good as it is now..." Yingying said, sounding a bit downcast.

"Ah, a man of ambition should set his sights on the four corners of the earth. Those in the imperial court are nothing but parasites, unworthy of your husband’s counsel, which is why I retreated from the rapids," Zhang Juzhong laughed. "But today, I do want to see if that man is truly a wise ruler."

"Alright, then I am going to buy the groceries."

Yingying lowered her head and left. Zhang Juzhong did not notice the flash of sorrow that crossed her face.

However, after Yingying departed, a stealthy figure suddenly appeared at the doorway of the thatched hut. Because You-Mountain Pass had once been a military colony, many soldiers had brought their families, and over time, many shops had taken root. Yingying pulled on her large hooded cloak. Her exotic appearance always drew whispers behind her back.

The pass was exceptionally lively today; vendors on both sides of the street shouted their wares. Grain, oil, salt—the daily necessities were all there. With the spring season in full bloom and the border secure, such good days were rare, so everyone was making the most of their business.

After buying the rice and flour, Yingying was about to head home when she was drawn to a set of the Four Treasures of the Study.

"A beautiful lady has a refined eye. This is the last set; I will give you a discount."

After much hesitation, Yingying ultimately took out all her remaining silver. Just as she prepared to leave with her goods, a series of curses erupted from the street.

"Get out of the way! All of you, move! Are you blind? Don't you see Master Feng is coming?"

The crowd was shoved aside aggressively, and a fop appeared, wearing an official cap, his face deathly pale, with a "Chaste and Virtuous" flower tucked into his lapel. This was Feng Qing, the eldest son of the Feng family, one of the four great families of You-Mountain Pass, and a notorious playboy who loved nothing more than chasing women.

Feng Qing walked forward, flanked by a group of three or five sycophants. Seeing him, Yingying frowned slightly, hoping to avoid trouble. But what is destined to be a disaster cannot be avoided. Just then, a breeze blew, lifting the edge of her hood.

"Oh my, whose little lady is this? She looks so exotic," Feng Qing said, his face twisted with greed.

His attendant, who had clearly been scouting for him, immediately chimed in, "That’s the girl from the Zhang family in the west of town."

Feng Qing feigned surprise. "The one married to that former prodigy turned good-for-nothing?"

The comment sparked a wave of mocking laughter from the crowd.

"For such a stunning beauty to follow him—what a waste of a precious gem," Feng Qing said, his eyes glowing with lechery, his tone dripping with obscenity. "Why not follow me instead and enjoy some real pleasure?"

He took a few quick steps to stand right beside her.

"Little lady, you are so fresh and refined; you’ve truly set my heart racing. Here is twenty taels of silver. Would you like to come back to the magistrate’s office with me, where you can eat and drink like royalty?"

As he spoke, Feng Qing reached out with his folding fan, intending to lift her chin with a frivolous gesture.

Just as the onlookers braced themselves for the harassment of a virtuous woman, a pair of large hands appeared out of nowhere. With immense strength, they grabbed Feng Qing and yanked him into the air.

"Ouch, ouch! Who do you think you are!"

Facing Feng Qing’s incredulous questioning, Chen An did not answer. He merely gave a look to Wu Daizi. Without a word, Wu Daizi tightened his grip, twisted his palm downward, and with a sharp *crack*, Feng Qing was tossed aside like a young chick.

Only then did the crowd notice Chen An and his men. Feng Qing was stunned and furious, but before he could even finish his protest, the agony of his broken arm finally hit him.

"Agh! Argh..."