Chapter 150 - The Wind Stops, the Sun Sets, and the Horse Halts

To Ye Beizhi, the North Watching Pass was a familiar place. During his military service, he had fought numerous battles in this desolate little city amidst the endless desert. The only significance he knew about it was that it was Baili Gucheng's hometown.

In his memories, North Watching Pass consisted only of vast yellow sands, low city walls barely held together. The soldiers wore their armor even when they were idle. However, it wasn’t all bad. At least the smiles on the people’s faces were genuine, and the starry sky there was beautiful.

Ultimately, it was just a tiny, dilapidated town. It was broken and barely holding on, much like Impending Sword Baili Gucheng at this moment.

Ye Beizhi looked down and noticed that Baili Gucheng had lost consciousness at some point and was lying on the ground, still clutching the beautiful woman in his arms.

Ye Beizhi then lifted his head toward the Suantian Shrine, his gaze meeting Qi Zongbi’s, who had been watching. As soon as Qi Zongbi saw Ye Beizhi looking at him, his heart tightened, and he instinctively took a step back. In the end, he steadied himself, standing straight to meet Ye Beizhi’s gaze.

Ye Beizhi tightened his grip on his Tang Blade, frowning as he looked at Qi Zongbi as if in contemplation. After a moment, he flourished his blade and returned it to its sheath.

He then crouched down and carefully pulled the sword out of Yang Lu’s abdomen, tearing a strip from his clothes to dress her wound. After tending to her, he hoisted Baili Gucheng onto his back, securing him with his clothes, then picked Yang Lu up around the waist. He cast a long, deep look at Qi Zongbi before turning and limping down the mountain path.

As Ye Beizhi’s figure gradually disappeared from view, Qi Zongbi exhaled in relief and collapsed to the ground, his legs weak.

***

Smack!

A loud slap landed on Old Man Fu’s face, scattering some of the confusion and terror in his eyes.

In front of him, Qi Zongbi’s junior brother pointed toward the window and roared, "Open your eyes and look closely! Look clearly at who that really is!"

Covered in blood, Old Man Fu stared wide-eyed at his master. He stammered incoherently, "Wen... Wenxian..."

"Wenxian my foot!" Qi Zongbi’s junior cursed loudly. "He Wenxian is already dead! You're useless! A dead man could scare you like this! What use are you to me?!"

Hearing the name, Old Man Fu seemed further agitated. Ignoring his injuries, he suddenly sprang up and grabbed Qi Zongbi’s junior by the wrist, shouting, "Yan’er! Run! He’s back for your life! Quickly, I’ll protect you as we fight our way out!"

Smack!

The withered man slapped Old Man Fu across the face again, forcefully shaking him off. "Who let you call me by my name?! Impending Sword can scare you like this while half-dead, and you think you’re worthy of staying by my side?"

Old Man Fu, already heavily injured and weak, staggered from the two slaps and fell to the ground. Just before he hit the floor, a hand reached from behind to support him.

A stern voice bellowed, "Si Kongyan! What are you doing?!"

Qi Zongbi had made his way up the tower.

After reprimanding his junior brother, Qi Zongbi ignored him and helped Old Man Fu sit down. "Uncle Fu, take a seat. I’ll send for a doctor shortly."

Old Man Fu said nothing, allowing Qi Zongbi to help him sit.

Since Qi Zongbi’s arrival, Si Kongyan had stopped berating Old Man Fu and leaned against the window, gazing outside as if he had calmed down. When Qi Zongbi finished attending to Old Man Fu, Si Kongyan finally spoke up.

"You just survived a disaster. Go home and burn incense to thank the heavens. What are you doing here?"

Qi Zongbi coldly took a bundle from behind him and tossed it over.

"Your sister-in-law said it’s the New Year and had someone make you new clothes."

The bundle landed squarely in Si Kongyan’s arms. Sunlight fell on his gaunt face, but was unable to dispel his innate gloom. Si Kongyan casually tossed the bundle onto a pile of disorganized scrolls, saying, "It’s the same every year... You know I won’t wear it."

"I’m only responsible for delivering it. Whether you wear it or not is up to you." Qi Zongbi snorted coldly, glancing at Old Man Fu, who sat by the wall with his eyes closed in rest.

"Si Kongyan, let me remind you, Uncle Fu has served our teacher for decades. We are all like family to him. If he chooses to call you master, don’t take it for granted. You’re a scholar of the classics! Don’t forget the importance of respect and virtue!"

"Don’t mention our teacher to me!" Si Kongyan turned around abruptly, glaring at Qi Zongbi. "Fool! What do you know?! Go fight your wars and stop meddling with me!"

Qi Zongbi didn’t get angry, he simply stared coldly at Si Kongyan. After a moment, he walked downstairs with a final remark.

"Suit yourself."

After Qi Zongbi left, Si Kongyan stared at the bundle on the pile of books, lost in thought for a long time.

"A man who's going to die should just stay quiet... What use is listening to his chatter?"

***

Ye Beizhi’s leg was injured, and he was exhausted from carrying two people, yet he didn’t stop. He gritted his teeth as he walked down the mountain path.

Suddenly, a few people emerged from the woods, blocking Ye Beizhi’s path. His eyes narrowed as he reached for his blade, but the strangers quickly raised their hands and said, "Young Master Ye, don’t be alarmed!"

Looking closer, Ye Beizhi realized the leader looked familiar. The man added, "Our master sent us to assist you."

With this reminder, Ye Beizhi remembered that the man was the manager from the Storm Listening Pavilion!

Seeing Ye Beizhi lower his guard, the manager clasped his hands and said, "There was quite a commotion on the mountain earlier. Soldiers and officials are making their way up, so let’s move quickly. Young Master Ye, please follow me; everything has been arranged."

Ye Beizhi nodded, following the people from the Storm Listening Pavilion into the dense forest.

They heard noise not far ahead. When they approached, Ye Beizhi was slightly taken aback by what he saw.

It turned out that Chi Nanwei and Su Yi were also there. Two Storm Listening Pavilion operatives held Su Yi down. Chi Nanwei tried frantically to calm him down while his arms were restrained as he thrashed and protested.

"Who are you people?! Let me go!"

"I’m the Crown Prince’s tutor! How dare you detain me?!"

"I’ll report you to the authorities! I'll have you all arrested!"

Ye Beizhi blinked, looking over at the manager, who offered an apologetic smile and explained, "We happened to encounter Miss Chi on the way, and after explaining the situation, this... gentleman, who was with her, insisted on reporting us to the authorities.

"So we

invited

him to join us. He has been shouting the whole way... He’s a friend of yours, Young Master Ye, so we haven’t done anything to him. But if he keeps shouting, he might draw the officials here..."

Ye Beizhi nodded. "It’s fine... Gag him."

"Understood!" The manager grinned and gave the signal, so someone promptly stuffed a rag into Su Yi’s mouth.

"

Mm-mmm

!" Su Yi glared furiously at Ye Beizhi.

Ye Beizhi ignored Su Yi’s glare and walked over to Chi Nanwei. She gave him a sidelong glance and looked curiously at the two people he was carrying. "Friends of yours?"

Ye Beizhi thought for a moment. "The man is."

"And her?" Chi Nanwei pointed at Yang Lu, whom Ye Beizhi was carrying. "Isn’t she the one we saw that day in the street?"

Ye Beizhi nodded.

"I don’t know her."

The manager approached Ye Beizhi and said, "Young Master Ye, leave these two to us. We can carry them and make better time."

After a moment’s thought, Ye Beizhi nodded, helping the Storm Listening Pavilion operatives pick the two up. He reminded them, "Be careful."

The manager nodded. "We understand. Don’t worry, Young Master Ye."

As the manager looked at Yang Lu, his expression suddenly grew serious. "This woman..."

Ye Beizhi turned to look.

The manager pressed his lips together and said, "We need to hurry. This woman’s injuries are severe. If she weren’t trained in martial arts, she’d likely be gone by now, but if she doesn’t get treatment soon..."

He trailed off, but everyone understood.

Ye Beizhi said nothing further, quickening his pace in spite of his limp. Chi Nanwei supported him from the side.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, the sun had set in the west. Under the cover of night, the group disappeared into the streets.

"Well, well... look who’s back! Isn’t this the lone hero, Stormqueller Ye Beizhi?"

After weaving through the tangled streets of the capital, the group finally returned to Storm Listening Pavilion. As they stepped into the hall, a sarcastic voice echoed. A man in a white robe, holding a folding fan, emerged... it was Wary Listener Ye Fan.

Ye Beizhi looked up at Ye Fan and promptly ignored him.

After finishing his sentence, Ye Fan spotted the two people carried by the operatives. His eyes widened in shock.

"My god! Why, why did you bring these two troublemakers back?!"

Ye Beizhi glanced at him again, then quietly found a chair and sat down without saying a word.

Ye Fan kept talking, his complaints growing louder.

"Are you really an assassin? You’re more like a rarely seen saint! Do you think this is a refugee shelter or something? Someone come throw these two out for me!"

Clang—

Ye Beizhi’s Tang blade instantly left its sheath, the blade glinting with cold light at Ye Fan’s neck. Ye Fan blocked it with his fan.

"What’s this? Did I offend you? Did I say something wrong? Who exactly is begging whom here? Do you even understand?" Ye Fan raised an eyebrow, staring at Ye Beizhi.

Ye Beizhi stared into Ye Fan’s eyes for a moment, then returned his blade to its sheath.

"Well then, let me speak more reasonably then," Ye Fan said, waving his fan and pointing at Yang Lu. "First, this woman, the Heaven-ranker Alluring Yang Lu. Don’t be fooled by the single sword wound on her.

"Her organs and meridians have been ravaged by sword qi. She’s in such bad shape that I certainly can’t save her. Might as well throw her out and let fate take its course."

Seeing Ye Beizhi reach for his blade again, Ye Fan pointed directly at Baili Gucheng. "And as for this troublemaker, the Nihil-Ranker Impending Sword Baili Gucheng... Don’t tell me you don’t know who he is?

"He could be saved, sure, but would I dare? Look carefully, Stormqueller Ye Beizhi... this is the Impending Sword here! If I heal him, what would happen to my pavilion? The moment he recovers enough and releases his sword qi, will anyone here survive? We might as well throw him out so he can give Alluring Elegy some company."

Chi Nanwei couldn’t stand Ye Fan's harsh words any longer and finally spoke up, "But... they seem so pitiful...They don’t even seem like bad people... I saw what happened back there too."

"Pitiful?" Ye Fan sneered. "There are pitiful people all over the world. Am I, Ye Fan, supposed to save them all? I’m not some saint..."

All of a sudden, Ye Beizhi sprang to his feet.

"What do you intend to do?" Ye Fan took a step back, eyeing Ye Beizhi warily.

Ye Beizhi walked straight over to where Baili Gucheng and Yang Lu lay on the ground, preparing to lift Baili Gucheng onto his back again.

"Where are you going!" Ye Fan shouted with a frown.

Ye Beizhi ignored him, hoisting Baili Gucheng back onto his back, and holding Yang Lu in his arms. He headed straight for the door.

"Stormqueller Ye Beizhi! Just try walking out that door!" Ye Fan shouted after Ye Beizhi.

Ye Beizhi paid no attention, continuing one step at a time.

"Go on! Take one more step, I dare you!" Ye Fan threatened.

By this point, Ye Beizhi had reached the doorway and suddenly turned his head.

Ye Fan thought Ye Beizhi had reconsidered. He smiled triumphantly and was about to speak again when he heard Ye Beizhi call to Chi Nanwei, "Let’s go."

"Oh, oh!" Chi Nanwei snapped out of her daze and hurried after him with a light jog.

"Stormqueller Ye Beizhi, you!" Ye Fan was infuriated when he saw Ye Beizhi nearly reaching the street. He couldn’t help but stomp his foot and curse, "You bastard! Get back here! Fine, I’ll save them, alright?!"

Before long, the servants had settled Baili Gucheng and Yang Lu. Ye Beizhi sat in the room as a physician tended to his wounds. Ye Fan sat to the side, and a thick silence hung in the air.

Ye Fan suddenly spoke up.

"About that..."

"

Hmm

?" Ye Beizhi looked up at him.

Ye Fan hesitated, then said, "Let me make this clear... saving Impending Sword won't be difficult, but that Alluring Elegy... well, it’s not as certain."

Ye Beizhi said nothing, and silence fell over the room again.

"Alluring Elegy is badly injured. I’ve used every elixir and medicinal herb available just to keep her hanging on, but if we stop the treatment, she... well, I fear she won’t make it."

"Is there really no other way?" Ye Beizhi asked in a low voice.

"

Hah

, what other way is there?" Ye Fan shot back. "Unless there’s some divine artifact in this world that can revive the dead and heal broken bodies, only then could we pull her back from the gates of hell..."

Hearing this, Ye Beizhi’s head shot up, his eyes brightening as he looked at Ye Fan. "There is!"

"There is?" Ye Fan looked at him, puzzled. "What is it?"

"The Transcendence Stone."

***

Endless desert, stretching as far as the eye could see, with boundless yellow sands.

Suddenly, a deafening roar came from the horizon, growing louder and louder, like rolling thunder in a clear sky.

Boom, boom, boom!

The sound drew nearer, and black tide appeared on the horizon. The ground seemed to tremble in fear of the black tide’s might.

It was a cavalry army, a seemingly endless sea of Northern Qiang soldiers clad in black armor.

The few creatures in the desert fled in panic, scattering in all directions.

The desert’s permafrost, unaffected for years, was shattered by the iron hooves.

On the first day of the New Year, the Northern Qiang army marched south.