Xunyuan Forest Valley

Ye Yuhuan looked at Zhang Ling and smiled faintly. “Brother Zhang, that’s rather unfair of you.”

Zhang Ling paid no mind to his remark. Glancing at Huo Jingpei, who sat between them, watching the contest more intently than both, he asked with a smile, “Boss Huo, who do you think will win?”

Huo Jingpei’s eyes never left the match. “I’m not well-versed in the martial arts and cannot judge. Both young gentlemen are formidable—too close to call.”

Prompted by Zhang Ling’s hint, Song Linjie also turned his gaze to Ye Yumi’s ears and finally noticed the subtle detail: each time he prepared to move, Ye Yumi’s ears would twitch slightly. This led Song Linjie to surmise that his opponent possessed extraordinary hearing, able to anticipate attacks by the faintest sounds.

Suddenly, Song Linjie held his breath and focused, channeling his inner force through his limbs to mask the shift in energy before he struck. Ye Yumi frowned; now unable to sense his opponent’s moves, it was clear his special technique had been discovered.

Song Linjie slowed his pace and threw a punch almost at random. Though Ye Yumi dodged, it was by the narrowest margin. Instantly, Song Linjie followed with a sweeping kick that sent Ye Yumi flying. Song Linjie did not press the attack, but waited as his opponent scrambled to his feet—then, with one hand, he lifted a table and hurled it. Ye Yumi twisted aside with all his might, and the rosewood table crashed onto another, smashing both into splinters.

Huo Jingpei, now even more enthralled, exclaimed with praise, “Young Master Song’s move was truly brilliant—even Young Master Ye barely escaped!”

Song Linjie leapt up and drove his fist down. Ye Yumi dared not meet it head-on; he dodged, just as the blow landed on a sturdy beam, cracks creeping along the wood. Huo Jingpei, seated calmly, was inwardly delighted. Producing an abacus from who knows where, he set it on the table and began flicking the counters in time with the combatants’ actions. The two men beside him maintained their composure, unmoved by the costly destruction of the match, true gentlemen in their bearing.

Song Linjie ceased toying with his opponent and closed in. Ye Yumi, with nowhere left to retreat, met him with a punch but staggered back, colliding with the wall beneath a window. The delicate lattice shattered, falling from the second floor. Before Ye Yumi could catch his breath, Song Linjie closed in with a shout to halt—the solid fist stopped less than an inch from Ye Yumi’s chest, finally tapping him lightly on the sternum.

The outcome was clear.

Song Linjie stepped back and smiled. “Shall we continue?”

Ye Yumi instinctively rubbed the bruised side of his waist, admitted defeat, and limped to the only remaining table, sitting with a pained expression. “Brother, I lost.”

Ye Yuhuan, utterly composed, sipped his wine and spoke calmly. “A loss is a loss. The Ye family can well afford it. I’ll have ten thousand taels sent to the Yu Residence. You two must be taking the academy exam as well? I’ve heard the trial will have two stages—first, crossing through Xun Yuan Forest. The survivors will compete again. Yumi will be participating, so I hope you two can look after my younger brother in the forest.”

Ye Yumi tried to speak, but Ye Yuhuan cut him off. “Yumi, I know you want to rely on yourself, but the first round is perilous. The academy permits companions. Later, when it’s competition, you may depend solely on your own strength. By then, even currying favor with the royal family will be of no use.”

Ye Yumi nodded. Since the academy allowed it, he would not insist on bravado. Ye Yuhuan turned to Zhang Ling with a smile. “Brother Zhang, what do you think? If you agree, together with the previous ten thousand taels, I’ll add another ten thousand. If you have any doubts, I can write a formal pledge here and now.”

Zhang Ling was in no hurry to answer. He poured himself a cup of wine, warmed it in his hand, sipped slowly, then spat out a mouthful. The abacus clicked again. He had thought the wine, being pricier, would taste better—in fact, it was worse. Zhang Ling laughed. “No need for the extra ten thousand. In my eyes, the Ye family’s goodwill is worth more than silver.”

Ye Yuhuan nodded with a smile. “So be it. The Ye family owes you this favor. Should you ever require it, we will surely repay it.”

Though Ye Yumi acted carelessly most days, he understood some things. His elder brother valued these two not for Yu Chang’s modest official status, but for their prowess and talent. Their admission to the academy was highly probable. Even though Zhang Ling had yet to show his hand, Ye Yumi was certain he was exceptional as well. Merchants value profit, and those who rise to great wealth possess keen judgment. The emperor’s regard for the academy was plain for all to see—even exceeding his favor for the princes. Without the approval of His Majesty, or the academy’s Dean or scholars, even the crown prince would not dare trespass its grounds.

Huo Jingpei ceased his abacus, interjecting, “Master Ye, the total comes to thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and fifteen taels. The young gentlemen happened to break through the loft just now, and since the new and old rosewood differ in color, almost the entire second floor will need refurbishing.”

Ye Yuhuan tapped his fingers on the table, as if with hidden meaning, and asked with a gentle laugh, “Boss Huo, do you wish me to sign a note as well?”

Though merely a tavern keeper, Huo Jingpei owned the largest establishment in the capital. Nobles and officials came and went daily. He was well-versed in the subtleties of human affairs and recognized this as a warning. Unfazed, he replied, “I, too, trust the Ye family. Send it whenever you like.”

He neither lowered himself nor claimed humility. To manage such a grand tavern, one must have connections at court. Though the Watin Tavern could not compare to the Ye family, there was no need for sycophancy.

Zhang Ling observed all this, keeping it in his heart, seeing through the performance but not exposing it. The Ye family’s favor was genuine.

Zhang Ling rose and nodded with understanding. “We’ve drunk and fought; my companion and I will take our leave. Should the opportunity arise, let us drink together again.”

The three men rose and exchanged bows. As Zhang Ling and Song Linjie descended, they found over a dozen people crowding the stairway. Guests below had also been affected—tables and chairs had fallen, and some were smashed. One man’s head was even bleeding. Normally, such nobles valued their lives above all and would have rushed for medical help, but their calm surprised Zhang Ling. He told them Huo Jingpei awaited upstairs to settle matters; as soon as Zhang Ling and Song Linjie descended, the crowd swarmed up. Though many wastrels prowled the capital, they all knew that those who frequented the Watin Tavern were not to be trifled with, nor did anyone dare cause trouble here. This was the first incident in years, hence their curiosity.

Outside the tavern, Song Linjie stretched his limbs, dissatisfied. After all this time, he believed he could prevail even in cross-border combat; today’s fight had not fully sated him. He asked, “Zhang Ling, how did you notice Ye Yumi’s extraordinary hearing?”

Zhang Ling replied simply that he left home with his eyes open and quickened his pace. Song Linjie, slow to catch on, finally realized the jest.

“Are you saying I’m blind?”