Chapter Fifty-Seven: Doubts

When the wedding procession from the Zong family arrived at the gates of the Ye family, Ye Xin and his companions went out to greet them. The Zong family had not brought much dowry, and those accompanying the bride were few and pitifully thin in number. Leading the group were four warriors, clad in mismatched soft armor, which lent the party a disorderly air. Behind them followed a small sedan chair, its drapery a faded red, as though washed so many times it had lost its luster.

There were eight porters, yet the ceremonial gift boxes they carried were no larger than a foot square—such tiny items, and four men to bear each one? Behind the sedan chair walked two middle-aged men, likely stewards of the Zong family, and two maidservants flanking the chair. That was the entirety of the wedding entourage—astonishingly, not a single wedding matron in sight.

Despite the Ye family’s decline, they had still hired over a dozen wedding matrons; at that moment, these women were energetically scattering candies and flower petals to the crowd. Thankfully, a number of children were scrambling for the sweets, barely conjuring a festive atmosphere.

The sedan chair stopped at the Ye family’s doorway, and a maid lifted the curtain. A woman, her head veiled in bright red, was helped down, stepping slowly toward the threshold.

Ye Xin’s expression remained unchanged, but the friends who had come to witness the event could not bear the sight. The Zong family seemed almost negligent—where was the joy befitting a wedding? Even Zong Yunjin’s ordinary outings were accompanied by more pomp than this.

The Zong family halted outside the threshold. The two stewards stepped forward, smiling at Deng Qiaoying, for they knew the Ye family was now under her stewardship.

Inside the threshold, the hired wedding matrons placed a brazier, as was custom in the Grand Summoning Kingdom: when the bride entered, she must step over the fire, symbolizing a life of prosperity and happiness.

Yet the Zong family remained outside, making no move to cross the threshold.

Deng Qiaoying found this odd and was about to approach when a wedding matron whispered to her, “Second Madam, I fear they’re asking for lucky money.”

Deng Qiaoying was infuriated. The Ye family had paid dearly for the bride price: twenty thousand gold notes brought by Ye Xin, ten thousand kept by her, along with some treasured jewels and five mid-grade elemental stones.

Before Ye Sui Feng was imprisoned, he entrusted her with a dozen elemental stones—eleven of top grade, seven of mid grade. Deng Qiaoying was prudent enough not to use the top-grade stones.

Of course, if Zong Yunxiu were the bride, this would be far from sufficient. For Zong Ying, it was already a generous gesture.

Yet, the Zong family was insatiable, seeking to squeeze even more at such a moment!

But circumstances were not in her favor. If she refused to pay, the bride would not enter, and the Ye family would become a laughingstock.

Deng Qiaoying stepped forward, took two gold notes of a hundred each from her waist, and forced a smile as she handed them to the Zong family stewards.

The steward did not even look at them, smiling as he pushed the notes back and bowed slightly to Deng Qiaoying. “Second Madam, from today onward, our families are one. There’s no need for formality.”

“Our master has a small request. We hope Second Madam will grant it,” said the other steward.

“What does Lord Zong wish?” Deng Qiaoying frowned.

“Our master is very curious about the Wolf Star Technique of the Ye family. Unfortunately, the Wolf Commander has passed away, and there’s no opportunity to discuss it with him.” The first steward continued, “Would it be possible to lend us the Wolf Star Technique for a day? We promise to return it tomorrow.”

“Outrageous!” Deng Qiaoying was beside herself with fury, all decorum forgotten as she shouted.

Not only Deng Qiaoying was angered; Tie Shudeng also grew furious, stepping forward, but Ye Xin was quick to grab his arm and shook his head slightly.

Standing at the back, Wen Hongren noticed Ye Xin’s gesture and paused in surprise.

Ye Xin’s eyes flickered with suspicion. He had believed all this was orchestrated by Zong Bieli behind the scenes, but now it seemed otherwise. To demand the Wolf Star Technique at the door was too reckless, too impatient, almost brazen. Had this happened months ago, it might have made sense, but now the veteran generals of the Wolf Star Legion had all gathered in Nine Cauldrons City—what confidence could Zong Bieli possibly have?

Moreover, Ye Xin knew that those who stirred the tides of history and attracted all eyes were never simple men. If Zong Bieli had so little cunning, the Zong family would never have escaped from Great Chen, but would have been obliterated long ago.

The two stewards were startled. Deng Qiaoying was famed for her gentle temperament; who would have expected such rage? They exchanged glances, and one steward said, “Second Madam, you may have misunderstood. Our master has long admired the Wolf Commander and is curious about his unparalleled Wolf Star Technique. He simply wishes to borrow it for a look.”

“You are not qualified to discuss this with me,” Deng Qiaoying replied sharply. “If you wish to borrow the Wolf Star Technique, let Zong Zhentang come himself!”

As the saying goes, a dragon has its reverse scales—touch them, and you die! Deng Qiaoying had her own boundaries. Before Ye Sui Feng was imprisoned, he had personally handed her the Wolf Star Technique. Deng Qiaoying had been so terrified she refused to accept it, insisting he hide it elsewhere.

Ye Sui Feng had smiled gently and said, “There is a saying in military strategy: If you keep the territory and lose the people, you lose both. If you keep the people and lose the territory, you keep both. The Ye family and the Wolf Star Technique are the same. If the Ye family’s fate endures, even without the technique, we will shine again. If our fate is gone, keeping the technique is useless and will only bring disaster.”

He had added that if someone coveted the Wolf Star Technique and the Ye family could no longer hold on, then they should give it up, at least to secure safety. For him, nothing was more precious than his wife and daughter; that was why he had entered prison without resistance.

Though Ye Sui Feng had spoken such words, Deng Qiaoying would never hand over the Wolf Star Technique. It was the Ye family’s last pride, their only hope for resurgence!

“Second Madam, everyone in Nine Cauldrons City knows Young Master Ye cannot condense elemental force,” said a steward slowly. “What use is the Wolf Star Technique to the Ye family? You can barely preserve yourselves now—do you really hope for the future?”

“Our master simply wishes to borrow it and will return it tomorrow. With so many witnesses, do you fear the Zong family would renege?” said the other steward.

“The Zong family has its own secret techniques, no less than the Wolf Star Technique!” the first steward said arrogantly. “Do not forget, when the Zong Commander ruled the land, the Wolf Commander had yet to gain fame!”

“Our master deeply admires the Wolf Commander and only wishes to glimpse his journey of heart through the Wolf Star Technique,” said the other steward.

“The Ye general has endured over two years in prison. Does Second Madam not miss her husband? Now that our families are joined, our master will surely speak for the Ye general before the sovereign—perhaps soon, he may return to the Ye residence,” the first steward added.

“We hope Second Madam will consider carefully. To speak well of the Ye general, or ill, is in our hands. If ties between our families are damaged, the Zong family will be unharmed—but what of the Ye family?”

“Our master also says, from today on, the Ye family’s affairs are ours. Though Young Master Ye cannot cultivate, the Zong family can at least ensure him a life of wealth and honor,” the two stewards pressed, each trying to break Deng Qiaoying’s resolve from every angle.

Yet Deng Qiaoying was stubborn. No matter how the stewards argued, she only replied, “Let Zong Zhentang come himself!”

Their lips dry from talking, the stewards finally lost patience. One sneered, “Second Madam, are you truly not reconsidering?”

“I have thought about it much,” Deng Qiaoying answered slowly. “Do you know what I did after Sui Feng gave me the Wolf Star Technique? I went to the apothecary and bought two doses of instant poison, sealed in wax pills. I kept one, and Xiao Ling kept one. No matter where I went, I carried it with me, ready to swallow it at any time!”

Ye Ling’s face grew pale, recalling those unbearable days.

“Every morning I woke, I doubted I’d live to see nightfall. Death is the greatest matter in life—if I do not fear death, what else would I fear?” Deng Qiaoying laughed. “You two think you can intimidate me?”

The Zong family stewards did not take offense at her words. After a pause, one sighed, “Since Second Madam insists, we must compromise. Please take out the Wolf Star Technique, and we’ll read it here. We only need a hundred breaths; then we’ll return it. With so many witnesses, surely you don’t fear us seizing it?”

“Dream on!” Deng Qiaoying replied firmly.

Ye Xin suddenly frowned, stepping back to hide behind Tie Shudeng and discreetly signaled Ye Ling, who looked surprised but stepped forward.

Ye Xin felt a growing suspicion—was there some secret hidden within the Wolf Star Technique? It shouldn’t be so. Others had never seen it, but the original Ye Xin had grown up with it in his arms. Though he was unruly, he had his dignity. He knew he could not gather elemental force, but never gave up hope, since Ye Guanhai’s signature skill came from the Wolf Star Technique. Back then, Ye Xin even slept with the technique in his arms, hoping for a miracle to cleanse his shame.

He had read it countless times, memorizing every word—there was nothing strange about it.

Now, the Wolf Star Technique had become the focus of all eyes. This was ominous. He needed to find a way out of the spotlight—perhaps only by risking everything, destroying both jade and stone alike, would he be able to hide himself once more.