Chapter 054 – Returning to Little Ink Village

That evening, Li Yuan took a walk with Yan Yu. As they passed by the Brocade & Grace, the sharp-eyed shop owner hurried out to greet them, announcing that their custom-made clothes were ready for a fitting.

Yan Yu’s new outfit was a cream-colored dress patterned with peach blossoms and slit skirts, seductive and elegant all at once. The moment she slipped it on, any lingering hint of a rustic past vanished, replaced by an alluring languor guaranteed to set a man’s heart ablaze.

Another set, a cream-colored

ruqun

with a light shawl draped over her shoulders, added a refined grace, so much so that she appeared every bit a noble lady.

Li Yuan’s new wardrobe consisted of two loose-fitting black robes—comfortable yet dignified, immediately marking him as someone of status rather than a country boy.

Afterward, the two strolled through the night market, sampling street food and, for 12 small copper coins, buying a pair of hooded cloaks for the spring weather.

Li Yuan also picked up a few odds and ends, including small toys for children, among them a simple wooden mask. It was a cheap item, the kind any craftsman could make, and cost only five small copper coins.

When they got home, Li Yuan quietly tucked the wooden mask inside his new cloak. He handed the rest of their purchases to Auntie Wang and then gave the wooden sword, puzzle pieces, and other small trinkets to the two children in the household.

Their faces lit up with excitement, and they chirped happily, “Thank you, sir!”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

That night, husband and wife shared the same bed. After their intimacy, they lay nestled close.

Yan Yu, buried against Li Yuan’s chest, giggled. “That silk robe, did it tempt you? You certainly had some stamina tonight...”

Li Yuan admitted with a grin, “It definitely got to me.”

Yan Yu leaned in, voice soft and teasing in his ear. “What if I put it on again...? We can see how long it lasts, and I can just wash it tomorrow.”

A short while later, having indulged themselves, they sprawled in each other’s arms once more.

Yan Yu asked, “Husband, why did you buy the mask and those cloaks?”

“I’ve got some errands that require covering my face,” Li Yuan replied.

“Killing and burning?” she ventured anxiously.

He gave her an exasperated look. “Why would I do that for no reason?”

After a pause, he added, “Tomorrow morning, I need to head back to Little Ink Village.”

“What for?”

“I want to check on a few things.” Li Yuan’s eyes glimmered with a hint of resolve.

Yan Yu pressed her cheek to his chest and said softly, “Fine, but be careful. You’re the only man I have...” Then, as if to lighten the mood, she added, “By the way, the apricot tree in the backyard has sprouted leaves...”

Li Yuan interrupted, “Come with me.”

“Huh?”

“I want you to return in style, as my wife.”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The next morning, a large group of villagers gathered at the entrance of Little Ink Village, peering out into the distance. They soon spotted a lavish carriage approaching from afar.

“Must be someone from town, right?”

“Well, obviously. Look at that fancy carriage—it’s definitely from the town...”

“Why would a big shot come all the way out here?”

“Who knows? Apart from the occasional bailiff, hardly anyone visits us. Oh, wait, there was that Blood Blade Sect fellow before. Yan Yu’s one lucky woman. Ever since she went off with Li Yuan, I’ll bet she’s been living well.”

Their chatter carried none of the old envy or malice. Li Yuan had risen so far beyond their reach that all they felt now was admiration and a hint of awe.

Standing among them was Feng’er, her gaze vacant as she stared toward the carriage.

Though only two months had passed, she’d changed drastically. Her eyes were dull, her expression listless, all stemming from her life here in the village. She’d tried seducing men, hoping to find a secure foothold, but discovered they were only interested in a brief fling. None had any intention of taking her seriously.

Sometimes she resented Bear for not being more like Li Yuan. If only he had Li Yuan’s abilities, maybe she wouldn’t be stuck in this miserable state.

Over time, her hurt and bitterness only grew. Eventually, she even stopped grooming herself properly, leaving her disheveled and slightly unhinged.

At the sound of the commotion, she drifted out to join the crowd, quietly watching from the sidelines. Her heart surged with envy. She wished—oh, how she wished—to arrive like that in a grand carriage.

Just then, the carriage came to a halt. The driver hopped down and positioned a small wooden step by the door.

As the curtains lifted, a strikingly elegant woman in a pale peach-colored dress alighted, moving with such languid grace that onlookers couldn’t help worrying the dirt road might soil her shoes.

Beside her stood a tall, powerfully built man in a black robe, hair neatly bound. His eyes flashed like distant lightning, and he carried himself with a commanding presence.

Side by side, the two looked every inch the perfect couple—poised and stately, a natural match.

The villagers stared, momentarily dumbstruck. Feng’er, too, raised her head, silently watching the alluring noblewoman. Then someone in the crowd exclaimed in surprise, “That’s Li Yuan, and Yan...Yan Yu!”

“It really is them...”

“My goodness, they’ve changed so much.”

Yan Yu, still a little uneasy in her new finery, clung to her husband’s arm for reassurance.

Li Yuan glanced at the driver and asked, “We’ll be here until evening. Will that be all right?”

The coachman, fully aware of whom he was serving, merely smiled and said, “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait right here.”

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t linger for any other passenger, but Li Yuan was a future inner disciple of the Blood Blade Sect—though he hadn’t yet moved to the inner district, it was only a matter of time.

Just then, commotion rippled through the crowd as a disheveled young woman in a yellow dress broke free of the onlookers and stumbled toward Yan Yu.

Li Yuan stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of his wife.

At that moment, he recognized the woman hurrying over.

“Feng’er?” Yan Yu was taken aback. The Feng’er she remembered had been youthful and full of life, fond of dressing up and flirting. Now she was unkempt and dirty, a far cry from her old self.

Tears streaming down her face, Feng’er threw herself at Yan Yu’s feet, sobbing, “Yan Yu, I was wrong. I was so wrong... Please, forgive me... please?”

Yan Yu turned her head slightly, then faced Feng’er again. Her gaze was steady as she spoke, “Our friendship ended long ago. I didn’t report you to the authorities. I considered that my final favor to you. There’s nothing more to say.”

“Yan Yu, I truly regret everything...” Feng’er choked out, her voice quivering. “I...I just wanted a man to rely on. The world’s getting more dangerous every day... I was desperate to survive.

“Back then, Zhang Shisi was the strongest man in the village, and I thought I’d be safe with him. When he wanted revenge on you, I tried to talk him out of it, but I couldn’t. I’m just a weak, lonely woman. There was nothing I could do...”

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

A fleeting bitterness flickered in Yan Yu’s eyes as she glanced at Li Yuan. Seeing him give her a subtle nod, she reached into her robes, drew out a small pouch of coins, and tossed it in front of Feng’er with an icy look.

“From this moment on,” she said quietly, “I’m no longer your sister. The Feng’er I knew is gone. And the sister she once had is gone, too.

“Come on,” she said, turning to Li Yuan. “Let’s go.”

With that, she took her husband’s arm and walked around Feng’er, leaving her behind in the dust.

Feng’er choked on a sob as she clutched the small pouch in her hand, regret flickering in her tear-filled eyes. But what was done could not be undone. She didn’t plead any further—only wiped her tears with a sleeve, pushed her way out of the crowd, and headed home alone.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

“Husband... do you think I went too far?”

“Too far? Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and I happen to like yours.” He paused and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. “Don’t dwell on it anymore. She doesn’t matter now, and she won’t be appearing in our lives again.”

“Mhm, I suppose you’re right.”

Yan Yu leaned her head gently against Li Yuan’s shoulder, eyes still moist. They strolled leisurely down the familiar village paths, drawing curious, awed looks from neighbors who once treated them as peers.

Suddenly, Li Yuan’s expression sharpened. He focused on a man trying to slip away in a hurry, lips curving into a faint smile.

“Qian Er! Where do you think you’re going?”

The man stopped in his tracks and turned, forcing a grin. “Uh... I’m not Qian Er. You must be mixing me up with someone else.”

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Go on, tell me again how I’m mistaken.”

Qian Er immediately went silent, unwilling to argue further. He stared at the imposing figure in black robes, scarcely able to believe this was the same Li Yuan—a mere village hunter with decent skills when he’d last seen him.

His own story wasn’t especially dramatic. After being conscripted into the county militia, his brothers who had a few connections pooled their resources and bribed an official. They even found someone of similar stature to serve in his place.

With the official conveniently turning a blind eye, Qian Er managed to slip away. Once he fled the militia, he’d stayed out of sight until the search for deserters had tapered off.

Only then did he and three of his brothers—Qian Da, Qian Si, and Qian Wu—return to Little Ink Village.

Yet that whole process had caused delays and disputes in their trading business, and with the roads growing ever more dangerous, the brothers finally chose to quit the Fortune Trading Company altogether. Now the four of them were holed up here, wondering what to do next.

Upon returning, Qian Er heard that Li Yuan had become a disciple of the Blood Blade Sect. Though the two men had never been outright enemies, they hardly got along, especially given that Qian San had once threatened Li Yuan.

Qian Er had planned to avoid him. But here he was, cornered. Forcing a sheepish smile, he said, “Li Yuan... I was ignorant before. You’re the bigger man. Could you just overlook my mistakes, please?”