"So… they had this peculiar requirement. Uh, they weren't supposed to… violate the purity of the captured women. Ahem." I coughed awkwardly. "Why? I can only guess it's either to please some high-ranking bastard or for some dark cultivation technique."
I glanced at Xue Jin Qiao, gauging her reaction as I continued. " have no clue how powerful the local authorities in Shun'an Prefecture or Yuecheng really are. I only know that I've been in Tongcheng, three or four days' travel from here, for the last five years. Sure, I've heard of bandits from Bluewind Mountain causing trouble here and there, but never that they'd systematically kidnap women. What do you think?"
Xue Jin Qiao propped her chin, mulling over my words. After a few moments, she looked at me with a strange glint in her eyes. "Han, are you really just a little inn servant? That level of analysis is on par with the strategists in my household."
I gave a humble smile. "You're too kind, Miss Xue. I just try to think things through."
After her little tease, Xue Jin Qiao's expression turned serious. "What you said makes a lot of sense. I've never heard of the Bluewind Mountain bandits being this audacious. Ordinarily, the authorities should've responded long ago. Even the guards that merchant caravans hire to protect this route know nothing about it. That's… very odd. Not even Shun'an's law enforcers seem to have heard a whisper about this."
"Tongcheng is tiny—just a handful of constables and guards. We need to get to Yuecheng as fast as possible and alert the authorities, push the magistrate to dispatch troops and take down those bandits."
'Though, what if the authorities already knew and simply allowed it to happen?'
The thought crossed my mind, but I held back, glancing at Xue Jin Qiao's serious face. It was too wild to mention out loud without any evidence. Regardless, I agreed with her plan to head to Yuecheng.
Besides, I had my own mission: to leave a mark on this world and be part of its history.
Following Xue Jin Qiao might just be my way in.
"Han," she said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I'll use qinggong to get us out of the Bluewind Mountain foothills. Don't worry, just hold tight."
'Nice! I finally get to see real qinggong.'
"Got it, thank you, Miss Xue." I replied, more than a little excited.
With one effortless leap, she whisked me ten meters away. She made it look so easy, even though I weigh a good sixty or seventy kilos. To her, I was like a straw doll.
Xue Jin Qiao's movements were as light as a dragonfly skimming water, graceful and controlled. She could even glide around branches in midair, maneuvering silently and smoothly,'If this is the standard of martial arts in Ember Dynasty, then these people are seriously impressive.'
Soon, we passed the spot where the merchant caravan had been ambushed. The carts and bodies had already disappeared, likely dragged off by the bandits.
As the night wind whipped past me, I quickly got used to it, relishing this quiet, thrilling dash under the starlit sky.
'I have to learn qinggong—it's too awesome to pass up'.
In the distance, faint lights glowed, probably from the Bluewind stronghold. I tapped Xue Jin Qiao's arm, gesturing toward the lights. She paused, observed them for a moment, and whispered, "That's likely Bluewind Village. Looks like only the area around the stronghold has people; the main road is clear of bandits."
She barely raised her voice, yet I could hear her clearly, as if the wind obeyed her, 'Is this some kind of sound-transmission technique?'
Maybe luck was on our side—we made it out of Bluewind Mountain without encountering a single bandit.
Midnight had already fallen, and even Xue Jin Qiao looked a bit tired. But she showed no signs of stopping.
We continued down the main road, and after another hour, we reached the edge of a sparse grassy plain, where she finally stopped.
"This should be safe enough. We're at leats sixty li from Bluewind Mountain. Let's rest here for the night, and we can enter the city in the morning. It's only fifity li from here."
Xue Jin Qiao's delicate face showed hints of exhaustion, yet even after carrying me, she was merely winded. No sweat, just a slightly disheveled strand of hair by her temple, 'Sixty li—thirty kilometers—carrying seventy kilos like a high-speed mount. Her endurance is incredible.'
"Miss Xue, you've done so much. You should sleep first. I'll keep watch." Though I was worn out too, I felt a bit guilty for being dead weight on the way here. I decided to start a small fire and prepare some food.
I found a dry patch of ground and laid out a blanket. "Miss Xue, it's not much, but you're welcome to use my blanket."
Xue Jin Qiao didn't hesitate, thanking me before lying down and closing her eyes. I gathered some wood, built a small fire, and nibbled on half a flatbread as I pondered all that had happened today.
'Are the Bluewind bandits targeting Xue Jin Qiao specifically, or are they simply ambushing any passing caravan? How will Yuechneg's officials respond? And what can possibly be the motive behind abducting innocent women?'
"Han." Xue Jin Qiao's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Hm? Miss Xue, do you want some flatbread? I just roasted a piece."
"Oh, thank you... actually, before we reach the city, I wanted to talk to you about something you saw earlier…" Her voice sounded faintly embarrassed, almost resentful.
I quickly understood what she meant. Considering the times, a woman's reputation was everything.
"Miss Xue, please don't worry. Everything that happened today is between you and me—no one else. Heaven knows, the earth knows, you know, and I know."
"...Thank you, Han."
Thinking about it, 'If Xue Jin Qiao was ruthless enough, she could just kill me to keep her secret forever. A bit morbid, but I am technically her lifesaver. Let's hope she has some gratitude.'
'Speaking of which, this is actually the first time I killed someone. Not just that, it was my first real fight. Before this, I was just a law-abiding guy.' Recalling that bandit's shattered skull and the other one's lifeless face, I felt a hint of nausea but also a strange calm.
'They are bandits—men who prey on the innocent. I don't need to feel a bit of guilt over it. The sight of the bodies, though… that part was unsettling.'
And so, the night passed without incident. Resting beside a powerful martial artist in the middle of the wilderness, I spent my first-ever night under the stars.
———
As we neared Yuecheng the next morning, people began to appear along the road.
Farmers worked diligently on their fields, which stretched out beside the main road. Even at six in the morning, dark soil was dotted with laborers. The village houses, plows, and ducks along the way lent the countryside a sense of peace.
Then, the magnificent walls of Yuecheng came into view, and I was struck with awe.
The outer walls stood nearly ten meters tall, built of solid stone, and even from my position, I could see two grand city gates. Beyond that, a five-meter-high wall encircled the city, with soldiers patrolling the top.
"Miss Xue, I never imagined Yuechneg would be this grand. The city could hold ten thousand people, right?" I walked beside Xue Jin Qiao, still taking in the impressive sight.
Even though I'd read about ancient cities in history books, seeing one in person was entirely different. A city with walls—it's a different world.
Xue Jin Qiao nodded proudly. "Yuecheng spans eleven li in length, eight li in width, and consists of inner and outer city sections. It used to be the capital of the previous dynasty. At its peak, four hundred thousand people lived here. Although Ember Dynasty has since moved its capital, Yuecheng, along with its nearby counties and villages, now houses nearly a million people. It's among the top three cities in the Ember Empire."
'Cities with this level of ancient population are rare in history. If Xue Jin Qiao is right, Yuecheng is remarkable', though it left me wondering even more.
'Yuecheng's military presence has to be formidable—at least fifty to sixty thousand soldiers stationed within. Bluewind Mountain is just a hundred li away. How can the bandits there run so wild without consequence?'
To the east, a wide, swift river flowed from the horizon, marking the city's boundary. This was the famous Yue River, also known as the East River, whose waters and tributaries nourished most of Shun'an Prefecture's farmlands and forests.
During our journey, Xue Jin Qiao shared bits about her background. She was the legitimate daughter of the Xue family in Yuecheng and a disciple of the Kunlun Sect, one of the most prestigious martial schools in the land. A true noble lady.
This journey was actually part of her mission. Sent by her sect, she was to return home to help manage security for the Emperor's planned eastern tour the following year.
The more we spoke, the more I realized that this girl I'd accidentally saved was of a rank far above what I'd assumed. Trying to sound casual, I finally spoke up, "Miss Xue, I'm a simple man, but one who values integrity and despises injustice. Protecting the innocent is the purpose of my life, so... would you happen to know any way a commoner like me could get trained in some proper martial arts?"
I added quickly, "I know my way around numbers and letters too, and I've learned a thing or two about farming, commerce, and other fields. If given the right opportunity, I'm sure I could be of use. Half work, half training—I'm all in."
Xue Jin Qiao gave me that strange look again, scanning me up and down with an expression between amusement and exasperation. Finally, she laughed. "You really are something else, aren't you… But don't worry. I've seen enough to know what you're capable of. Come with me back to the Xue family estate. While we're not exactly royalty, we have enough guest quarters and retainers that adding one more won't be a big deal."
I was excited for a moment but then I stopped myself, shaking my head. "Miss Xue, your generosity means the world, but I don't think it's a good idea."
"Oh?" She arched a slender eyebrow, genuinely curious. "Let's hear it then."
"Miss Xue, you're the daughter of a powerful family and a disciple of a renowned sect. Your return to Yuecheng hasn't been done in secret. With your connections and strength, if I were part of the Bluewind Mountain bandits, I'd never dare provoke someone like you."
"And yet, the bandits did just that. Why?" I glanced at her. "You mentioned they have informants scattered throughout Yuecheng and other parts of Shun'an. They're well-informed, and the mountainous terrain gives them a stronghold that's difficult for the authorities to dismantle. And now they're brazenly stopping travelers, openly killing guards, and kidnapping women. This isn't the behavior of mere common thugs lurking in the shadows."
"The most troubling thing is that they've been able to do all this without facing any real consequences."
I paused, feeling the weight of my words. "I don't claim to understand the politics and military workings of Shun'an Prefecture, but there's no way this is normal. I suspect there's something far more sinister at play here. And right now, you're the only one who knows that I was involved in last night's events."