Chapter 101 The Pirate Ship

Ye Xin’s status within the Martial Vanguard Camp had undergone a staggering transformation. No matter where he went, he became the center of attention—there were those who envied him, those who resented him, those who sought to curry favor, and, of course, those who looked on with disdain. But Ye Xin cared not in the least. He embodied the very essence of a scion’s arrogance, to the point that one might think he wished he could strut sideways like a crab. Wherever he went, he was always accompanied by veteran soldiers of the Sky Wolf Legion, cutting an impossibly dashing figure.

While Qiu Xiang sought out Ironhearted Sage, a momentous conversation was unfolding far away in Jiuding City, a dialogue that would have far-reaching consequences.

Within the Hall of Integrity and Righteousness, an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard stood facing a young man, each appraising the other. At length, the elder broke into a smile. “Master Mo, I have long heard of your reputation…”

“Chief Inspector Zhu, there’s no need for such formality here at the Hall of Integrity. Please, have a seat,” Mo Yan said courteously.

The two sat down. Mo Yan’s gaze grew heavy as he stared intently at his teacup, as though weighing his words. Inspector Zhu, meanwhile, cast his gaze restlessly about the room.

“I trust Chief Inspector Zhu knows who my master is?” Mo Yan said slowly.

“Naturally, I do,” Zhu replied with a nod.

“In that case, allow me to speak plainly,” Mo Yan continued. “The Great Zhao has launched a full-scale invasion. My master has already led his household guards to the northern front to make his mark. Though I am not particularly accomplished, I am counted among his most trusted officers. And yet, he chose to leave me behind…”

“There must be some special task for you,” Zhu said, his eyes glinting.

“You are half right,” Mo Yan replied. “But do you know what it is my master truly fears?”

“You are making this difficult for me,” Zhu said with a rueful smile. “The brothers at the Tai Commandery only call me Chief Inspector out of respect for my long service. But I know my own worth—my wits are shallow and my position is owed entirely to Lord Tai’s fondness for old comrades. If there’s something you need, just say the word and I’ll do my utmost to help. Don’t make me guess.”

“My master has long believed that the Blood Mountain Legion of the Great Yu has reached an understanding with the Great Zhao. The Blood Mountain Legion will surely seize this opportunity to strike, making a forced march to attack our Jiuding City!” Mo Yan declared.

“What? But the Great Yu is our ally!” Zhu exclaimed in shock.

“There are no eternal allies in this world,” Mo Yan said. “The Blood Mountain Legion has already mobilized. In at most three days, they will be at our gates!”

“Master Mo, where did this information come from?” Zhu’s face had turned deathly pale.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Mo Yan replied.

“That… that’s impossible,” Zhu said, his eyes flickering again. “I may not know much about military affairs, but I understand this much: if the Blood Mountain Legion wants maximum gain, they must abandon all baggage and advance at full speed. Our lord has already dispatched scouts in great numbers toward the northeast border. If the Blood Mountain Legion dares invade, they can’t possibly avoid detection, and we would have heard word by now!”

“If you understand that, then why doubt my words?” Mo Yan said coolly. “Pan Yuanshan has indeed abandoned his baggage, leading only his cavalry at top speed. Their rate of advance is not much slower than our scouts. By my estimation, the earliest our scouts’ reports will reach Jiuding City is tomorrow or the day after.”

“Then… Master Mo, how did you see this with your own eyes?” Zhu asked, enunciating each word.

“There is a window on your left. Go open it and look down. Then you’ll understand,” Mo Yan said.

Inspector Zhu, half-convinced and half-doubtful, walked to the window and pushed it open—only to see, in the courtyard below, a Boundless Sky Wolf. Sensing his gaze, the beast lifted its head and fixed him with an icy stare.

Zhu’s face turned from white to green; his steps grew stiff as he returned to his seat, where he sat for a long time before finally speaking. “What is it the Blood Mountain Legion wants?”

“Autumn has come,” Mo Yan replied with a smile.

“Autumn? Master Mo, please speak plainly. I don’t understand,” Zhu said.

“It is the season of harvest,” Mo Yan explained. “Jiuding City is thriving, our population rising. This year’s yield from Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding must be greater than ever before, wouldn’t you say?”

Inspector Zhu’s body trembled as if a thunderclap had exploded beside his ear. “Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding… The Blood Mountain Legion’s target is Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding… Are they planning to destroy it?”

“You overestimate the threat. Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding is a national treasure. If anyone dared destroy it, the Azure Cloud Sect would surely intervene. There are limits to all things. The great nations may war and squabble as they please—the sects treat such matters as child’s play and do not interfere. But if their own interests are threatened and their income reduced, would they sit idly by? Pan Yuanshan is no fool; he would never provoke Azure Cloud Sect intentionally. The one to suffer will be our lord, who must replenish the loss from the national treasury. If the treasury is also looted by the Blood Mountain Legion… that would be a calamity beyond compare. I estimate that for the next three to five years, all the primordial stones condensed by Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding will have to be handed over to Azure Cloud Sect. Our Great Wei will not have a single hair left to its name.”

“Has Pan Yuanshan gone mad? Is he not afraid that our Great Wei will repay him in kind?” Zhu roared in anger.

“But on what basis would we retaliate?” Mo Yan laughed. “As I said, in the coming years we will be left with nothing. Without primordial stones, how will our armies fight? How will our warriors advance? Beset by the Great Zhao and Great Yu on both sides, how long can we endure?”

Understanding dawned, and Inspector Zhu collapsed into his chair, his eyes empty, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“That is why I remained here,” Mo Yan said quietly.

“You…” Somehow mustering his strength, Zhu straightened up and looked Mo Yan in the eye. “Master Mo, do you have a plan?”

“If I did not, I would have fled already,” Mo Yan answered with a smile. “But I will need your full support.”

“Just say the word, Master Mo,” Zhu said in a deep voice. “If it were any other matter, perhaps I would hesitate, but this concerns the fate of the nation and its people. Whatever you ask, I will not shirk my duty!”

“Think carefully, Inspector Zhu,” Mo Yan cautioned. “It’s easy to board this pirate ship, but once you’re on, there’s no getting off.”

“If this is a pirate ship, then I, old Zhu, am glad to be a pirate!” Zhu replied.

“You still agreed too quickly,” Mo Yan said, shaking his head. “I hope you’ll consider it once more.”

“I have considered it. Do you take me for a fickle man?” Zhu said. He had thought it through—Mo Yan would never lie about such a grave matter. If the Blood Mountain Legion arrived and stripped Heaven, Earth, and Jiuding and the treasury bare, Great Wei would be left with no hope at all.

Without primordial stones, the front-line armies could not fight; without them, the warriors could not advance. How could Great Wei survive such peril?

“My master and Young Lord Wang have always been on good terms. If you choose not to join us, we will never make things difficult for you for Young Lord Wang’s sake. When things come to a head, we will even lend you a hand. But if you do join, it will be quite another matter—you must follow my orders to the letter. If you make a single mistake, I will show no mercy,” Mo Yan warned.

“I understand,” Inspector Zhu replied slowly.

* * *

At dawn, Xue Baiqi, Xie En, and the others began to pack their belongings. Halfway through, Ye Ling and Wen Rong approached their tent and, seeing the commotion, Ye Ling cried out, “Brother, are you all going somewhere?”

“Yes. There are great glories awaiting me,” Ye Xin replied with a beaming smile. “How could I waste my time lingering here?”

“I want to come too!” Ye Ling exclaimed. “You can’t leave me behind this time!”

“Of course. I’ll give you a Boundless Sky Wolf—we were planning to bring you all along. It’s not safe to stay here,” Ye Xin replied.

In the grand scheme of things, Ye Xin was confident in his ability to overwhelm Xiao Demonfinger, but on the tactical level, he remained wary. Signs suggested that Xiao Demonfinger would make a move against the Martial Vanguard Camp, and merely making people suspicious of Feng Qishan was not enough. Yet his focus had to remain on Zhuang the Undying, leaving no time for entanglements with Xiao Demonfinger. The best solution was to take Ye Ling and Wen Rong with him.

“Not safe? Ye Xin, what do you mean?” Wen Rong asked.

“Brother, let’s bring Shen Miao and Shao Xue with us as well,” Ye Ling pleaded, her faith in Ye Xin absolute, but her manner betraying some anxiety. She knew that taking Shen Miao and Shao Xue along might trouble Ye Xin, but she could not in good conscience leave behind friends who had aided her in her hardest times.

“Of course,” Ye Xin agreed readily, smiling. In truth, he had planned this all along, but could not take the initiative himself. Now that Ye Ling had asked, he could grant her request without arousing suspicion, and the credit would go to her, further strengthening their friendship.

Ye Xin had learned from experience that the best and most trustworthy friends are made in one’s twenties; by the time one reaches thirty, interests outweigh camaraderie.

True friends are a lifetime’s treasure.

“You all have Boundless Sky Wolves. How can we keep up?” Shen Miao frowned.

“I have more Boundless Sky Wolves,” Ye Xin replied.

“Boundless… Sky Wolves? You’re giving us Boundless Sky Wolves?” Shen Miao was stunned.

“Do you think I don’t have the authority?” Ye Xin grinned.

(To be continued.)