I had only just allowed my mind to settle and my spirit to relax slightly, yet I unexpectedly fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke again, it was already the bright noon of a sun-drenched day. Opening my eyes, I saw withered branches outside the carved window framing a vast, boundless sea of clouds; all around me, the world was silent. I was lying upon a nanmu, gold-lacquered six-post canopy bed. The heavy curtains filtered out half the daylight, and the wounds on my body had been meticulously tended to. Only a faint, stinging ache remained, likely thanks to some high-quality medicinal salves.
Ye Tan sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, his eyes closed in meditation.
I couldn't help but feel deeply moved. The moment Ye Tan returned, the quality of my life had instantly shot back up to a first-class standard.
Hearing my movement, Ye Tan immediately opened his eyes and vaulted off the bed. He knelt before me with profound respect and said, "Master."
…This man. No matter how many times I told him there was no need for such formal salutations, and despite finally getting him "trained" properly before, he had regressed back to his old ways after just a few days apart.
I tried to push myself up but found I lacked the strength. I could only lie there like a salted fish and ask, "When did I fall asleep… and where is this?"
Ye Tan replied, "The Ye Mansion outside Changluo City, the private residence of the Eldest Young Master of Zhongli Court. For months, the fires of war have been relentless between Changluo and Zhongli Court; most of the large estates nearby have been destroyed. Only this place remains intact, so we have borrowed it for a temporary stay. The manor is currently staffed by people from the One Sword Tomb. It is absolutely safe, so please rest and recover with peace of mind."
I asked doubtfully, "This 'borrowing' you mentioned… did the Eldest Young Master agree to it?"
"I have not seen the Eldest Young Master. Once I do, it will not be too late to ask. Surely he will grant the One Sword Tomb this much face," Ye Tan answered with perfect composure.
Good heavens, this fellow has actually learned to be a bit of a rogue.
Just as I was about to ask about the current situation, Ye Tan spoke first to report: "Ye Lan’s injuries have been treated. He is settled in the room next door and is in no great danger, though he has not yet woken. Ye Xiao went out last night to notify the remaining members of the Heng Lian alliance and discuss the rescue; he has not yet returned. There is still no news regarding the Second Young Master’s whereabouts, but I have dispatched a small team to lie in wait near Zhongli Court. For now, there has been no unusual movement."
Ye Tan finished in one breath, paused, and then added, "I will do my utmost regarding the rescue of Yang Qingzhou, but I will never leave Master’s side and place you in danger… Are there any other questions? If not, please rest."
"Yes, there are." I shifted toward the edge of the bed and lifted a corner of the quilt, reaching out to take his hand. Seeing this, Ye Tan obediently took it in his. I squeezed his palm before asking, "Weren't you in secluded cultivation? How did you get here so quickly? Your body… is there any problem?"
Ye Tan seemed to drift off for a moment before replying, "I had a dream."
"A dream?"
Ye Tan lowered his head slightly. "I dreamed of you."
I let out a soft, "Oh~"
"I dreamed of the Washing Sword Pool at Tianshan. You were wearing a pitch-black robe, sitting by the lake, inviting me to drink with you. The snow was falling heavily, and you were dressed very thinly, yet you didn't seem cold at all. You didn't turn around, nor did you ever look at me. You just sat there quietly drinking for the entire night. When dawn broke, you said: 'Thank you, my long-cherished wish is fulfilled. You should go back.' Then, I suddenly woke up."
Outside the window, the northern wind swept across the earth, and the withered grass snapped under its force. The road by the pines was frozen with cold clouds and snow, reflecting a chill that made Ye Tan seem three parts more desolate. He unconsciously rubbed my knuckles, murmuring to himself, "The you in the dream… was indeed very different from usual. I do not like it when you show such an expression. Fortunately, it was only a dream."
This was different from what I had imagined. I frowned slightly. "It sounds like a rather sad dream."
Ye Tan continued, "After waking from that dream, my internal power suddenly surged… Perhaps the mental cultivation techniques of the One Sword Tomb are indeed miraculous, allowing one to achieve twice the result with half the effort. That same day, someone delivered a blood-stained fingernail, saying you were trapped in Zhongli Court. I had no choice but to suspend my three-month seclusion. By breaking through the sword formation, I considered my cultivation complete. However, to this day, I have not discovered who sent the message."
Once Ye Tan finished his report, he fell back into his usual silence.
I beckoned to him. "Come closer."
Hearing this, Ye Tan knelt a bit nearer, but there was still some distance between us. Only after I insisted several times did he press close to the bedside. Lacking the strength to sit up, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him toward my chest. Ye Tan followed the momentum and leaned over, supporting himself lightly above me, afraid to let his full weight drop and crush me.
I said something seemingly out of nowhere: "Ah Tan, I know how to use chopsticks now."
Ye Tan looked at me quietly.
"When I first met you, I felt we were about the same, and sometimes you even needed me to protect you." After these two months apart, the feeling in my heart had become increasingly clear. I couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect… you to grow so much faster than me. I’m so afraid you’ll leave me behind. Ah Tan, I’m improving too. You… you have to wait for me…"
"What nonsense are you thinking?" Ye Tan said, unable to suppress a light laugh.
I hadn't been able to touch his warmth for two months. Feeling it again now, I felt a mixture of sourness and sweetness; the corners of my eyes grew damp, and I pulled him even tighter.
Ye Tan whispered into my ear, "You are all I seek in this life. Whether I am a shadow guard or the Sect Leader of a great sect, it changes nothing."
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, the shadow guard Ye Xiao requests an audience," a strange voice announced from outside.
Ye Tan did not answer immediately, his gaze seemingly asking for my permission.
I nodded, and only then did Ye Tan say, "Enter."
Ye Xiao started wailing before he even stepped through the door. "Waaaah! It was bad enough that the Heng Lian alliance wouldn't let me in, but now I even have to wait for someone to announce me just to see the Boss! Why is my life getting worse and worse! I’m so sad—are you guys ostracizing me?!"
I gave a wry smile. "Ah, it is quite a hassle. Ah Tan, go tell them that in the future, Ye Xiao doesn't need to be announced."
"Boss, you’re the best! You really love me the most, waaaah!" Ye Xiao entered and shed his cloak, shaking off a flurry of snowflakes. When he looked up and saw our position, his expression froze in shock.
"Whoa, I say… Boss is so heavily injured. Boss, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to be this impatient?"
Both Ye Tan and I were utterly bewildered.
Ye Tan maintained his position, propped up over me, with no intention of moving. Ye Xiao asked me with a mix of shock and suspicion, "Boss, doesn't your waist hurt?"
I asked in confusion, "Why would my waist hurt?"
Ye Xiao hissed, taking a sharp breath. "I couldn't tell you were this strong, Boss. Respect, respect."
Me: "???"
Ye Tan remembered the business at hand and sat up straight. "Speak. What is the situation?"
As he left my embrace, I felt a faint sense of loss. Ye Tan glanced at me, then reached under the quilt to hold my bandage-wrapped hand.
Ye Xiao clutched his fox-fur coat, which was damp with rain and snow. He rubbed the hem of his clothes and said aggrievedly, "I finally found where the Heng Lian alliance was stationed this morning, but I was stopped at the gate. They asked for my origin and purpose. I said I was from the Moling Sword Pavilion, but they all said they’d never heard of it and wouldn't let me in. I thought about the Big Boss, so I said I was from the One Sword Tomb. Whoa, then they got really excited! They jumped up and started attacking me! It made me so mad—a bunch of weaklings bullying me just because they had more people."
I hurriedly asked, "Are you hurt?"
Ye Xiao shook his head. "I saw things were going south and slipped away immediately."
"That’s good then." I felt relieved, then asked, "So the Heng Lian alliance doesn't know about Yi Qiao and the others seeking help?"
Ye Xiao replied, "I shouted it out loud, so they should have heard, but I’m afraid they don't believe it."
Ye Tan looked thoughtful. "The Heng Lian alliance is currently jumping at shadows; it’s only natural they are highly guarded."
"Then we’re the only ones who can save them," I said, looking at Ye Tan. "I know you don't want to trouble the One Sword Tomb for private matters. Ah Tan, don't force it too much. We can think of other ways."
Ye Tan shook his head and said decisively, "I shall follow Master’s command."
Ye Tan went out and dispatched Chou Wujiu to accompany Ye Xiao on a trip back into Zhongli Court. As long as they could bring Yi Qiao out and drop him right under the Heng Lian alliance's nose, they would surely believe our words, and then we could discuss the rescue mission.
I didn't know when Yang Qingzhou would be rescued, and my heart was filled with worry, but unfortunately, I was powerless to help.
Once Ye Xiao and Chou Wujiu left, there was no news for half the day. I waited on pins and needles until the sun began to sink in the west. Ye Tan, who had been sitting quietly in meditation, suddenly snapped his eyes open and pressed his hand to his sword hilt.
Ye Tan tilted his head to listen for a moment, then said in surprise, "Why is it him?"
After waiting for a while, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. No subordinate had announced the visitor; they had likely all been knocked out.
After a polite knock, the door was pushed open. The visitor wore plain clothes with black silk accents, yet possessed the grace of a pine or a crane. It was unexpectedly Ye Jun.
"Time is short, so I have been impolite. I hope Master Jun will forgive me; I have come to deliver a message." Ye Jun smiled warmly and said airily, "Yang Qingzhou, Ye Xiao, and Chou Wujiu have fallen into our net. They are temporarily being cared for at my residence. Master Jun has already experienced Zhongli Court’s methods of 'caring' for people, so I shouldn't need to elaborate. However, we will immediately send people to return the three of them. Please do not worry."
I was wondering why the Second Young Master would be so kind when Ye Tan asked directly, "The condition?"
"My Second Young Master wishes for you to give up one person in exchange." Ye Jun stared at Ye Tan, his eyes holding a playful, dangerous glint that I couldn't quite decipher.
I asked, "Who?"
Ye Jun replied in a low voice, "Ye Sha."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 叶府 | Ye Mansion | The private residence of the Eldest Young Master of Zhongli Court. |
| 长洛城 | Changluo City | A city near Zhongli Court. |
| 天山洗剑池 | Tianshan Washing Sword Pool | A location mentioned in Ye Tan's dream. |
| 仇无咎 | Chou Wujiu | A member of the One Sword Tomb. |
| 夜刹 | Ye Sha | Literally "Night Rakshasa"; a name/identity demanded by Ye Jun. |
