Ye Xi’s story

Ye Xi's story...

Chu Mang brought his blade to a halt after one final stroke, his gaze lifting toward the sky as he roared, "Exhilarating, haha!"

In this moment, Chu Mang felt a curious, almost 'loose' sensation coursing through his entire body. The flurry of snowflakes spiraled around him, orchestrated by the rhythm of his unthinking qi flow.

"Big Bro Mang, come share a meal with us. All that practicing must've exhausted you," Qin Wentian called out. Chu Mang's gaze shifted to Qin Wentian and Fan Le. With an enthusiastic nod, he made his way over.

With a single stride, he landed on the platform. A look of bewilderment crossed his features as he glanced at Ye Xi. "Who's this little sister?"

"Hey, Big Bro Mang. I'm Ye Xi," she greeted with a sweet smile. Chu Mang scratched his head, chuckling. "Ye Xi, are these your treats? I've got to taste them for myself."

"Absolutely, her baking is top-notch," Qin Wentian chimed in.

"Ah, snow again. I wonder how my brother's holding up?" Chu Mang murmured, gazing at the falling flakes.

"Have faith, Brother Wuwei will undoubtedly elevate Chu's prosperity," Qin Wentian reassured, his thoughts drifting to Chu Wuwei, the unshakeable Emperor of Chu.

"Mhm." Chu Mang nodded, a hint of moisture in his eyes. He truly longed for his elder brother.

"Ye Xi, where's your family?" Qin Wentian turned to her with a smile.

Ye Xi's smile faltered but quickly reappeared as she responded, "They're in Qiyun Country's Royal Capital."

"What brings you here then?" Chu Mang was a bit less refined, often stumbling in delicate situations. Oblivious to Ye Xi's expression, he posed the question point-blank.

"I didn't like it there, so I left," Ye Xi's smile seemed strained.

"Got it." Chu Mang nodded, a bit dense.

"I have something to attend to. I'll catch up with you later," Ye Xi grabbed her basket and hurried away. Watching her retreating figure, Qin Wentian sighed. He sensed the burdens she carried.

Indeed, a sixteen-year-old girl frequented Gazing-Dragon Mountain daily, yet not for cultivation. A hidden motive drove her.

"Wentian, when are we setting off to the Azure Continent?" Chu Mang inquired.

"I'm currently in a rut. Give me a few more days. I'm hoping to break through to the next level before we step into the Azure Continent," Qin Wentian replied. He'd been stuck at the fifth level of Yuanfu for a while now.

"Sure thing. I'll check out the wall, see if there are any techniques suited for me," Chu Mang agreed.

The snowfall grew more intense, lasting for seven days. When the snow finally ceased, the warm sun's rays breathed life back into the world. The snow melted away, unveiling a thriving landscape of renewed beauty.

Once again, the Gazing-Dragon Mountains buzzed with visitors, reviving the hustle and bustle that had characterized the pre-winter period.

Chu Mang remained engrossed in his cultivation. While not intellectually inclined, he was an insatiable cultivator, tirelessly rehearsing the same techniques. This single-minded determination had propelled him to the top rank among Chu's ten prodigies.

His fervor gave him a cultivation pace several times that of an ordinary practitioner.

Fan Le, appearing perpetually indolent, concealed a surprising diligence within his cultivation efforts. Slowly but surely, the notion of 'hard work' seeped into his very essence.

"Come, enjoy some treats."

A young woman's voice floated over. Qin Wentian stretched his back, just awoken from his slumber.

"Morning, Ye Xi," he greeted.

"Morning? Brother Wentian, the sun's almost done with its day shift," Ye Xi teased, rolling her eyes with a laugh.

"Hehe, Ye Xi, let's see that morning sun of yours," Fan Le grinned, eliciting a blush from Ye Xi. Glaring at Fan Le, she mimicked Qin Wentian's tone, "You darn Fatty."

"HAHAHA!" Fan Le roared with laughter at her retort. Hands on his hips, he chortled, "Ye Xi, clear this up: which inch of this esteemed genius's body is fat?"

"Not an ounce," Ye Xi played along, chuckling. Little Rascal had nestled into Ye Xi's embrace. The quartet, including the endearing puppy, evoked a sitcom-like tableau.

Throughout those days, Ye Xi consistently brought them treats. Encouraged by the unceasing praise from Qin Wentian, Fan Le, and Chu Mang, she found motivation in her baking. Somehow, within this assembly of 'eccentrics,' she experienced the warmth of a family once more. Among them, she felt at ease, embracing the atmosphere of joy. Given her daily visits to the Gazing-Dragon Mountain Rampart, preparing treats for the group post-training was an effortless routine.

"Why are you so chummy with the Sleeping God, the Axe Demon, and the fatty? Whip up some goodies for us too," someone in the crowd quipped amiably. The Sleeping God referred to Qin Wentian, while Axe Demon was Chu Mang's title.

Ye Xi responded playfully, "You're not handsome enough." Laughter rippled through the crowd. The joker persisted, "But I'm powerful, stronger than Sleeping God and Axe Demon."

"Powerful? Sure, but are you proficient in cooking?" Ye Xi countered, her innocent retort met with a fresh wave of laughter.

"Bleh, who cares," Ye Xi playfully stuck out her tongue. The guy chuckled again, "I'm an expert, third-level of Yuanfu cultivation base. My combat prowess is way beyond Sleeping God's snooze game. How about ditching this crowd and becoming my 'wifey' instead?"

Ye Xi rolled her eyes, shrugging off his banter. Right when he was about to launch into another speech, he abruptly clamped his mouth shut, his gaze fixed on a certain point.

Curiosity piqued, Ye Xi followed his line of sight. Her smile evaporated, replaced by a pallid complexion.

"What's wrong, Ye Xi?" Chu Mang inquired. Qin Wentian also followed her gaze and saw a group approaching. The centerpiece was a figure draped in luxurious gold robes, indicative of his high status. The others appeared to be his bodyguards, some emanating a similar aura to the gold-robed leader, albeit at a lower rank.

Qin Wentian assessed their power levels. All at the Yuanfu level, the central youth stood at the fifth stage. His companions ranged from the third to seventh stages, Yuanfu cultivation being impressive even in small domains like Chu, Snowcloud, and Qiyun.

Evidently, these individuals bore considerable influence within Qiyun.

The group materialized before the mountain rampart. The young man in gold surveyed the surroundings and smiled. "Qiyun's people are hardworking, not bad."

"Greetings, young lord," the crowd greeted with deference.

"Mhm." He nodded in acknowledgment. "Nice weather after the snow. The High Princes will be here tomorrow to fathom the depictions. You guys at the front better step aside, give them space."

"As you command." The collective approval demonstrated awareness of the youth's background, making compliance natural.

Every year, High Princes visited to study the wall's inscriptions. The Emperor would evaluate their progress. This time was pivotal for the High Princes' reputations. While no protocol demanded giving up space, the golden-robed youth's gesture exemplified goodwill.

His background was also significant—a conferred King's second son, keen on cultivating ties with other princes.

His gaze drifted to Ye Xi, and he sneered, "Ye Xi, regardless of your conduct, you hail from nobility. Why consort with riffraff? Honoring a memory of a tramp?"

Ye Xi's color drained. She snapped, "You're the tramp."

"Hehe, Ye Xi, highness's grace saves you. Persist and face consequences," he shot back, glancing at Qin Wentian, Fan Le, and Chu Mang. "Your faces, absent tomorrow morning."

"Oh great, now I need to remember that. Hold on, I'll write it down," Fan Le quipped sarcastically.

"Got it, gotta remember that—no front seats for us," Fan Le quipped as the golden-robed young man departed.

"Remember, folks, make way for the princelings tomorrow," he echoed, emphasizing the importance.

As the group dispersed, Ye Xi remained pale-faced, a cloud of distress over her.

Concerned, Qin Wentian inquired, "Ye Xi, what's up?"

Tears welled in Ye Xi's eyes, her sorrow evident.

"What's the matter?" Qin Wentian pressed gently.

"I'm okay," Ye Xi brushed it off.

"If you want to cry, cry. With me around, no need to be tough," Qin Wentian consoled, patting her shoulder.

Ye Xi leaned into him, her defenses crumbling, and tears flowed freely.

"Brother Wentian, do you know why I frequent this place? My mother died right here, before this rampart," she confessed, her voice choked with emotion.

Ye Xi revealed that her father, a conferred King of Qiyun, shunned imperial obligations, preferring an unbound life. He often roamed, his talent in cultivation drawing him to the rampart, where he absorbed teachings of past Qiyun sovereigns.

But her father's life took a tragic turn when he met Ye Xi's mother during his wanderings. Their meeting was a blessing. However, the elder brother of a powerful lord's wife crossed paths with her, lusting after her beauty. His advances escalated to taunts and humiliation, culminating in a fatal altercation, unintentionally taking Ye Xi's mother's life.

Ye Xi's father arrived, killing the man in a fury. He then stormed the lord's mansion, battling fiercely. He was wounded and forced to retreat, pursued relentlessly. The lord was none other than the young man's father. The man who killed Ye Xi's mother was the young man's uncle.

Ye Xi's father, the unbound King, lost his power and became a fugitive, hunted far and wide. Only when a High Prince intervened did the hunt cease. Her father then became the Prince's bodyguard.

And thus, Ye Xi visited the rampart regularly.

As she concluded her story, Qin Wentian enveloped her in a gentle hug, patting her shoulder in comfort.