Chapter 44: “Can you behave a bit better?”…

Chapter 44 "Could You Act a Little More Decently?"...

In any case, because of Lin Ye’s antics, Xue Li began stepping out of her room and started socializing with people again.

Meanwhile, Lin Ye faced alternating scolding from Liang Chen and Ah Zeng—

"Nosebleed? A nosebleed!"

"Could you act a little more decently?"

A little embarrassed but thick-skinned, Lin Ye remained unruffled. More importantly, he was too sheepish to keep bothering Xue Li and finally agreed to meet Fulan Ming Jing.

As Lin Ye was still recuperating, they met in his quarters.

Moonlight streamed in through half-open doors and windows, making sure no one could misinterpret things.

Lin Ye hosted his guest openly, leaving no room for outsiders to speculate.

Ming Jing, naturally, was unfamiliar with the customs of the Central Plains. She arrived at the young lord's chambers at night and sat politely by the low table to visit the patient.

Gazing at the frail yet handsome youth, she felt a flutter of longing.

How beautiful their child would be.

Ming Jing sat stiffly, trying to look dignified.

Lin Ye, of course, had no idea what she was thinking.

He poured tea for her, his pale, slender fingers brushing against the jade-green cup. Though polite, he truly meant his thanks: "We owe the unraveling of Xiangzhou's conspiracy to your assistance, Miss Ming."

Not one for modesty, Ming Jing gave a toothy grin: "Just call me 'Ming Jing.'"

She cocked her head, confused: "But I didn’t do much."

Lin Ye shook his head, his gratitude genuine despite his politeness: "Had you not spread the word far and wide that Xiangzhou held a secret of national importance, I would never have come. Had you not infiltrated Prefect Gao’s mansion and discovered its hidden passage, I wouldn’t have suspected him the moment I entered the city. You led me right to it—without your lead, I’d never have caught on.

"This secret concerning state affairs is truly a generous gift. I’m in your debt. If you ever need help, I will spare no effort."

Before she could even respond, Lin Ye boldly switched to shameless bargaining: "But let me say this upfront—if your request is too difficult, you might want to reconsider."

Ming Jing was amused at first, then gradually got lost.

By the end, she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ming Jing exclaimed in surprise: "What? You thought 'Prefect Gao's treason' was the great secret I mentioned?"

Lin Ye was bewildered.

Ming Jing stared blankly for a while before squirming in her seat.

She tilted her head and pinched her fingers closer together: "My lord, is there a chance... I’m not as profound as you think? That I’m actually quite shallow?"

Lin Ye was lost.

He pondered, but remained lost.

His gaze lingered on Ming Jing’s face.

No longer distracted by his beauty, Ming Jing blurted out all at once: "The secret I meant was about the Huoqiu Kingdom."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow. "Quite the honest little princess, aren’t you?"

A look of frustration and hatred too old for her years flashed across Ming Jing’s youthful face:

"Young master, Huoqiu’s revenge has taken root—it’s coming for us all."

--

Miles from Xiangzhou, two riders on fast horses raced side by side.

Xiangzhou was now surrounded by heavy troops, with both Northern Zhou and Southern Zhou harboring grievances. “Qin Yueye” was entangled in the conflict, suffering heavy losses. These two had swiftly left the city before the troops surrounded it, riding through the night to distance themselves from that doomed city.

As daylight faded, the stars lit a crooked path ahead. The two entered the deep mountains, tied up their horses, and walked one after another into a cave.

The cold night wind blew against their cloaks. As they entered the cave, starlight poured in, illuminating their faces.

The taller one sauntered, his expression cocky.

The stockier one was middle-aged. He walked heavily, his face grim.

Both had deep-set eyes with a hint of blue in their irises. They were not from Great Zhou.

--

Late at night, candlelight danced across the windowpanes.

Ming Jing, agitated, paced rapidly around the room:

"My lord, your Northern and Southern Zhou are at each other’s throats. You don’t realize that the Western Regions today are nothing like what you imagine. Over the past thirty years, strangers—nothing like we’ve ever seen—emerged from the northwest desert sea. They live for war—burning, killing, looting. They have strong men, fierce women, sturdy horses, and sharp weapons.

"My father sent people to investigate them for a long time and identified them as remnants of a tribe that migrated west, re-establishing their kingdom in the desert sea. They returned from a distant land, found oases, discovered iron mines, and drove us out.

"My father’s men barely survived to bring back the truth: that kingdom is none other than the Huoqiu Kingdom, which had a feud with your Northern and Southern Zhou a hundred and twenty years ago.

"After being defeated by you, the Huoqiu Kingdom kept moving west. Even we who live in the Western Regions couldn’t find their traces, let alone you. Over the past decade, forty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions have vanished one by one. My father suspects the smaller kingdoms were all destroyed by the Huoqiu Kingdom.

"They began hunting down our Fulan Clan. Half a year ago, we sought help from Great Zhou, but neither kingdom even acknowledged us."

Lin Ye’s eyes flickered slightly.

The time when the Zhuju Kingdom sought aid from both nations coincided with the marriage negotiations between the two. Both were preoccupied with their grand peace talks and indeed paid no heed to the survival of smaller neighboring kingdoms.

Ming Jing’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. She sniffled: "My father said this is normal. Might makes right. We used to bow to whoever fed us. Neither Northern Zhou nor Southern Zhou would ever trust us.

"Those people stormed our oasis, killing and capturing our people. My warriors protected me and helped me escape the Zhuju Kingdom.

"They hunted me like prey, and only when I reached the lands of Great Zhou did the attacks lessen. I guessed they feared you and didn’t dare act boldly on your soil.

"The Huoqiu Kingdom dared to slaughter the Zhuju Kingdom because we were weak. Small kingdoms like ours, clinging to survival, must attach ourselves to a powerful nation. We could only choose between Huoqiu, Southern Zhou, or Northern Zhou.

"The Huoqiu Kingdom destroyed my homeland—I would never submit to them. So I turned to you—Northern Zhou or Southern Zhou, it didn’t matter. Whoever found me first, I would follow."

The candlelight lit up the girl’s fierce, determined face.

Ming Jing gazed at Lin Ye, her eyes shimmering with tears: "I might be the last of the Fulan Clan’s royalty now. I hope you will help me, young master.

"If you aid the Fulan Clan today, I swear the Fulan Clan will honor Southern Zhou for generations, helping you rule the Western Regions, never betraying you."

Lin Ye half-listened.

He smiled: "But what’s in it for me now?"

Ming Jing hurriedly replied: "I have some old followers, though their numbers are few. After the desert, I split them up, not traveling together. I feared we’d all be killed—if even one of us lives, Zhuju isn’t lost. My troops—what’s left of them—are all women..."

Lin Ye was surprised: "Women warriors?"

Ming Jing smiled bitterly.

The Zhuju Kingdom was pitifully weak. With no men left to fight, women had to take up arms. When the men perished, the women had to step forward to protect the elderly and children.

Ming Jing stammered: "I heard you're going for a marriage alliance. Central Plains women are soft by nature, so I can lend you my women warriors to protect your wife in the future. But not now—I still need them.

"I... I know all the forces of the forty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions. I... I speak multiple languages and can negotiate with them. Though Huoqiu Kingdom has likely wiped most out by now, if you want to rule the Western Regions, your troops can't stay deep in the desert for long. You’ll need someone like me.

"Yes, and I can also command beasts. Our Fulan Clan's *Demon Flute* is famous in the Western Regions. We survived despite being so small before because of this skill. But the Huoqiu Kingdom is too strong—they aren’t afraid of our *Demon Flute*...

"I refuse to let the Fulan Clan disappear. I want it to be remembered. I heard Great Zhou is powerful, your culture is strong, and you rule such a vast land—you must have extraordinary strengths. I want to learn from you."

The girl threw everything she had, trying to negotiate with Lin Ye. She hadn’t yet mastered the Central Plains’ cunning and didn’t realize that by revealing all her bargaining chips, the choice now lay in his hands.

Seeing Lin Ye remain silent, Ming Jing’s heart grew heavier.

Face pale, she steeled herself, staring into Lin Ye’s unfathomably dark gaze: "Whatever you need me to do, I will. Every surviving member of the Fulan Clan can serve you. After your business is done, I... I... just need you to grant us a piece of land to settle, no more wandering, no more bullying by empires. I beg Southern Zhou to shelter us.

"If you’re willing, I’ll do anything for you. I can share your bed, give you heirs, and promise never to let the princess know..."

"Stop," Lin Ye interrupted.

He gave no yes or no.

Chin in hand, he studied the foreign princess thoughtfully, weighing the truth in her words.

Lin Ye’s mental chessboard grew larger, the clash of blades growing fiercer. Calculating the delicate situation, he only teased lightly: "Who put these words in your mouth?"

Ming Jing froze.

Her gaze dimmed, tears glistening again, but she quickly wiped them away and answered honestly: "My father did. On the day our kingdom fell, it was very late, and the fires raged so fiercely. I was woken from sleep and found chaos outside.

"My father made my brothers and me flee in separate groups, teaching us the exact same words. My brothers ran west, and I ran east. Later, I couldn’t reach them—maybe they encountered the Huoqiu Kingdom’s troops and died.

"I could be the last royal blood of the Fulan Clan. I can’t let my father and brothers die in vain."

The girl stared blankly.

She thought of the endless flames that night.

The flames scorched away her faith in the Almighty Saint, making her realize the Saint never opened his eyes. If the Saint truly manifested, he wouldn’t have let the enemy be so cruel or his people suffer so bitterly.

The only one who could help her in this world was herself.

For a weak, small kingdom, survival was the first priority.

The sheltered princess of the Western Regions had never known hardship before, but from that night on, her life cleaved in half. The first half had ended; the second half, she had to carve out herself.

Lin Ye asked: "How do you know this isn’t lies?"

Ming Jing gestured emphatically: "Every word I say is true—I swear on the Saint’s name! The Huoqiu Kingdom reappeared in the Western Regions thirty years ago, led by a formidable king we call the 'White King.' The White King tamed the four deadliest assassins of the Western Regions: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird.

"These four assassins can slay gods and spirits alike. The storytellers of the Western Regions tell tales that no matter where you hide, if they want you dead, you can only wait for your head to be taken.

"Under the White King, there’s also a particularly fearsome general. It was this general who commanded the war to exterminate the forty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, all while leaving Northern and Southern Zhou clueless.

"Many of us died just to learn this: this time, the ones who struck were the White Tiger among the four assassins and that General Wu Eryin. White Tiger—Bai Li—he’s the White King’s youngest son..."

--

In a mountain cave far from Xiangzhou City, a bonfire burned, its flames dancing on the stone walls, illuminating the faces of two outsiders.

A tall, lean young man watched with amusement as the other knelt in prayer, reciting intricate and solemn chants. The eerie prayers flowed from the man’s hoarse throat, drifting amidst the sparks.

This was the nightly prayer, passed down by the Supreme Saint of the Western Regions. Here in a foreign land, one prayed earnestly, the other just going through the motions.

The young man yawned and rubbed his face. "You’ve been traveling forever—aren’t you exhausted?"

He was the youngest son of the White King, Bai Li, also known as the "White Tiger," one of the four renowned assassins of the Western Regions.

The older man beside him glanced up and said, "You’re too careless."

He was the one actually in charge of their mission, General Wu Eryin of the Huoqiu Kingdom.

After entering Great Zhou, to fit in and avoid drawing attention, Wu Eryin had adopted a Zhou-style name: Wei Changyin.

From the desert, through oases, across foothills, and over rivers, Wei Changyin and Bai Li followed the orders of their king, carrying out a revenge plan put off for a hundred and twenty years.

A century and two decades ago, the remnants of Huoqiu had been nearly wiped out in the desert sea. Now, under the leadership of the great White King, they had returned.

Before their departure, Wei Changyin had sworn to the White King that he would seize Great Zhou and help him unite the realm.

Whether North or South, all of Great Zhou would kneel to the White King.

Bai Li, the "White Tiger," showed a flicker of real respect. "Old Wei, what’s next? The Sacred Flame has already shown us—the Snow Girl has reappeared, that pretty girl with the young lord. Tsk, my first time seeing her… she’s got potential."

In the northern woods of Xiangzhou, Xue Li’s rampage had been witnessed clearly.

If even Lin Ye’s followers were beginning to question Xue Li’s true identity, then Bai Li and Wei Changyin, who had been searching for the "Snow Girl," recognized her at once.

Bai Li tsked. "That Chun Jun is on guard against us. He’s keeping quiet—doesn’t want to hand her over. He must still want to take her back to their ‘Qin Yueye.’"

Wei Changyin replied coldly, "They won’t be taking her back."

Rising to his feet, his gaze darkened. "How confident are you against the Snow Girl?"

Bai Li grinned slowly, the arrogance of a martial artist. "Master Yulong raised her well, but she hasn’t fully matured. She’s nowhere near mastering the highest level of the Heartless Art. If I go full force, I’ll kill her."

Wei Changyin warned, "We need the Snow Girl alive, not dead. Don’t screw this up."

Bai Li shrugged. "I know. Your plan… so what’s next?"

Wei Changyin said, "We’ll use the last dose of Yu Long’s leftover medicine to make the Snow Girl submit completely. Then—"

His voice abruptly cut off, his expression sharpening.

A gust of wind rushed in.

The languid Bai Li, who had been leaning against the wall, suddenly straightened, every inch of him poised to kill. Like a ghost, he drifted forward, closing in on the mysterious figure approaching the cave entrance.

As he struck, the stranger spoke in time: "It’s me."

Cloaked, the figure stepped into the cave. From shadow to light, starlight fell upon them.

Pulling back the hood, the firelight revealed the stranger’s face clearly.

The two in the cave froze. "You…"

--

An eerie darkness, thick as spilled ink, spread into the world around them.

Since Ming Jing left, Lin Ye sat alone by the dim window, lost in thought for hours.

Huoqiu Kingdom, Huoqiu Kingdom...

The strange poison "HeartEater" planted in the royal bloodlines of both Northern and Southern Zhou originated from Huoqiu Kingdom.

Ming Jing brought him news he hadn't known—that Huoqiu Kingdom was rising in the Desert Sea, conquering the kingdoms of the Western Regions.

Such a powerful, rising tribe, with a century-old grudge toward Great Zhou. Both Northern and Southern Zhou were thorns in their side, yet while they lurked in the shadows, the two Zhous still fought each other.

And Lin Ye had no doubt that even if he reported this crucial news to the court, no one would care.

In the eyes of Great Zhou's elite, the tribes of the Western Regions were insignificant, never a threat to a great nation. To the arrogant subjects of Southern Zhou, their only enemy was Northern Zhou—the Northern Zhou that demanded their young lord's hand in marriage, the Northern Zhou they resented and despised.

Huoqiu Kingdom might see Great Zhou as its lifelong nemesis, but whether Northern or Southern Zhou, both would look down on Huoqiu Kingdom.

That night, after Ming Jing left, Lin Ye reclined on the long chair, his thin frame swathed in loose robes. His knuckles tapped lightly, uncontrollably, against the back of the chair, giving away his nerves.

Unlike the pampered officials of Southern Zhou's Jianye, he had not grown up in the wealthy, peaceful south. He had spent years facing bloodshed and war. Lin Ye never underestimated the Western Regions, never believed they couldn't tip the scales.

He wanted to cooperate with Fulan Ming Jing—but would Emperor Guangyi even consider it? Would Southern Zhou? And how could Northern Zhou's will be swayed?

This dilemma lay before him.

Lin Ye coughed in the night, thinking: A deadly foe moves in the shadows, biding their time. Northern and Southern Zhou must unite, facing outward as one.

--

Outside the city, in the mountain forests, wings rustled in the trees.

The mysterious figure nodded to the two in the cave. "I've returned. Our cooperation can begin."

Their gazes sharpened.

Bai Li leaned back against the stone wall, smirking lazily. "Oh, it's you."

Instinctively, he glanced at Wei Changyin, wondering if the man had already guessed the newcomer's identity.

Wei Changyin remained expressionless, striding forward with cool composure, taunting but guarded. "A member of Qin Yueye—seems you've abandoned Emperor Xuanming and chosen us instead."

The newcomer replied coolly, "Qin Yueye was never Xuanming's puppet."

The mysterious figure's voice wavered faintly in the quiet night. "You have your desires, and I have mine. Qin Yueye and Huoqiu Kingdom were never meant to be separated. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to the Central Plains so boldly. The moment you appeared, the gears of fate began to turn."

Bai Li looked left and right, yawning. "Spare me your scheming. Just tell me—where do we go next?"

Wei Changyin: "Jinzhou."

The mysterious figure: "Jinzhou."

They spoke in unison, locking eyes briefly.

--

Jinzhou—a key strategic point in the Sichuan battlefield.

Fate is merciless.

It watches over mortals, toying with them. From this day forth, the seeds were planted long ago, leading to one inescapable end.

A hundred and twenty years of hatred, thirty years of vengeance—now, at last, the course is fixed.

--

In the city of Xiangzhou under the breaking dawn.

Xue Li walked the alleyways in the drizzle.

She had lost too much emotion, and even now, though some had returned, it was far fainter than most people’s. Yet even these faint emotions were precious to Xue Li.

For example, she had begun to tell if food was tasty.

Before, she could taste flavors, but they were bland. She couldn’t tell if something was delicious or not.

Life used to feel dull and pointless to her.

But now, everything was different—

Xue Li bit into a candied fruit skewer, the burst of sweetness making her eyes crinkle.

She had no name for these flavors. For now, she simply memorized them, planning to ask… Lin Ye when she returned.

He was the only one she trusted.

But Lin Ye had been in poor health lately. Whenever she asked if he wanted to go out, he always refused.

Standing in the morning drizzle, Xue Li thought of Lin Ye: his blood’s power was so potent. Others craved it—and she was no exception.

She wanted to recover more emotions—love and hate, joy and grief, sour, sweet, bitter, spicy. She wanted to know what it felt like to truly *feel*.

If he could bring the dead back to life, could he also revive her master?

Knowing Lin Ye’s habits, he would surely drive a hard bargain before granting her wish.

But that was fine.

Even if he drove a hard bargain, she wouldn’t be angry.

Now, life had purpose.

It was no longer a lonely prison.

The girl stood at the mouth of an alley, chewing her candy, when a sudden gust of wind swept by. A carriage turned the corner.

Its wheels splashed through a puddle, sending muddy water high into the air—not only staining the hem of Xue Li’s seafoam-green skirt but also dotting her flawless cheeks with droplets of dirt.

Untroubled by the slight, the girl raised her eyes, her face still streaked with mud. She just stepped forward to block the carriage’s path.

The carriage didn’t stop, but its curtain was lifted.

Inside sat a radiant woman, her hair pinned with blossoms, her expression weary. Without even glancing at the one who barred her way, she tossed down a bulging pouch of coins. "Get yourself a new dress."

*The moon above the clouds does not deign to glance at the grass in the mud.*

As the carriage passed, Xue Li spotted the crest on its side: a cluster of orchids.

She had seen this mark before—in Jianye.

Jianye’s elite Lu Clan.

The carriage headed toward the same alley where Lin Ye lived, the very one she was returning to.

The threat was here. A lone wolf dies alone, Lin Ye thought—he’d need backup.

--

Allies... allies...

At dawn, raindrops tapped against the window, slanting onto the young nobleman below, who had already spent a sleepless night.

Lin Ye's gaze was distant, his eyes tinged with a hint of melancholy under the cool, drifting rain.

Just then, there was a knock at the door: "Young Master, a guest has arrived."

Lin Ye came back to himself.

The guard outside spoke respectfully: "The visitor claims to be from Jianye, a woman of the Lu Clan—Qingmei (literally 'Qing above, Mei below')."

Lin Ye understood.

Lu Qingmei.

Noble families wore their pride, expecting their mere names to convey their status. And indeed, Lin Ye knew exactly who she was—

Lu Qingmei, eldest daughter of Jianye's most prestigious family, the Lu Clan.

Her father was the head of the Lu Clan and the current prime minister of Southern Zhou. Lu Qingmei herself was the future empress designated by the Southern Zhou imperial family, but frail health kept her secluded, rarely seen or received.

Emperor Guangyi had already ascended the throne, whose grand wedding was imminent. Yet at such a moment, instead of remaining in Jianye to prepare for her marriage, Lu Qingmei had journeyed far to Xiangzhou to meet Lin Ye.

The Lu Clan—exactly the 'allies' Lin Ye had been seeking through his connection with Liang Chen.