Chapter 44: The Martial World Is Not Romantic
In the depths of a secluded alley in South City, there stood a grand courtyard beneath the shroud of midnight.
As the night deepened and all fell silent, delicate snowflakes fluttered from the heavens above.
Vice Leader You Yangsheng of the Celestial Water Gang, draped in a long robe, stood vigil at the gate of the courtyard. Several carriages were parked at the entrance, and a squad of guards was ready to set forth.
From within the central carriage, the curtain was gently lifted, revealing a graceful woman. A trace of sorrow lingered in her brows and eyes as she whispered, "Master, you must take care of yourself!"
You Yangsheng offered a faint smile and nodded, yet soon his expression turned grave. He said, "You should take the children and return to your maiden family. If—let me say if—if you receive no word from me within three days, never come back to Linjiang City."
"Master..." the woman’s voice trembled with tears. "Why don’t we stop fighting? Our family is already well-off, more than enough for generations of wealth and honor. Let’s leave all this behind, wander far from the Martial World’s endless disputes, and live a quiet, ordinary life together—wouldn’t that be good?"
You Yangsheng reached out, gently caressing her cheek, then glanced at the two children slumbering inside the carriage. In a soft voice, he said, "My dear, you know it—those who live in the Martial World cannot choose freely. Once part of the Martial World, a person remains so for life.
Back then, we were poor. To survive, I had no choice but to carry my blade and brave this world. But the Martial World is just like this—nothing like the storytellers make it out to be, not half so romantic. For every general’s triumph, countless bones are left beneath his feet. That is the real Martial World.
Step by step, I have reached today—wealth and status are my companions now, yet all these come at a price. If fate allows, let’s not let our children wade through these muddy waters. An ordinary, peaceful life is truly a blessing."
Madam You wept softly for a while, then said, "Master, whatever this Martial World is, I do not understand. I only wish for your well-being. The children and I will always wait for you."
You Yangsheng nodded, then continued, "If... I cannot return for you, you must take the children and escape far away. Remember, never fill their hearts with hate, never seek vengeance. In this Martial World, there are no true feuds, only victories and defeats. The winner stands; the loser falls. If we are beaten, it’s only because we were outmatched. Blame no one."
After a moment’s hesitation, Madam You asked, "Master, my family is a great clan in Linjiang Prefecture. If the children remain with them..."
You Yangsheng shook his head, saying, "All my life, I’ve relied on your family’s support to come this far. Yet as it made me, so too could it break me. As a great clan, your family will always put the clan’s interests before all else. If the children stay, they will inevitably be drawn into the fray, their fate no longer their own. My dear, remember my words: If I lose, take the children and flee as far as you can."
The snow from the sky was falling ever thicker now.
The carriages rolled forward, and the whole procession gradually vanished into the night.
You Yangsheng looked long toward the departing figures and sighed softly,
"Alas, how many ever return from the Martial World?"
Snowflakes swirled. The vast courtyard, now suddenly empty, carried a desolate and lonely air.
In the dead of night,
a figure slowly emerged, wearing a bamboo hat and a Brocade Spring Saber at his waist. He walked up to You Yangsheng. The figure slowly removed his hat, revealing himself as Gao Jun, Hundred Households of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"Vice Leader You, there’s no need for such concern. Defeat is impossible for us," Gao Jun smiled.
You Yangsheng waved his hand. "Lord Gao, I, You Yangsheng, have roamed the Martial World since the age of twenty. Along the way, I’ve witnessed too many impossibilities undone. There is nothing in this world that is truly certain. Just like a few days ago—your loss to Gu Zhan at the White Rat Pavilion, was that not so?"
Gao Jun frowned. "That was merely an accident."
"Yet, you’ve had quite a few accidents when it comes to Gu Zhan," said You Yangsheng.
Gao Jun let out an awkward laugh. "One cannot always blame it on luck. This time, we’ve prepared for every contingency."
You Yangsheng smiled, saying, "I do not believe in perfect plans. I prefer leaving myself a retreat. Besides, Lord Gao, you must already know what happened at Baihua Building this evening?"
Gao Jun replied, "You mean Gu Zhan’s banquet with all the major South City gangs?"
You Yangsheng nodded.
"As expected," said Gao Jun. "Though I do not like that brat Gu Zhan, I must admit, for all his impetuousness and brashness, he does things by the book and is truly clever.
It’s only natural he senses our schemes. If he were not that vigilant, he would have been a corpse in some alley long ago."
You Yangsheng asked, "Then, Lord Gao—what countermeasures have you prepared?"
Gao Jun shook his head. "A single misstep, and greater prices must be paid. There’s no helping it. Last time, Lord Luo and I underestimated Gu Zhan’s strength. Not only did we fail to suppress him, but we allowed him to cow all the factions of South City with a single battle.
At that moment, I realized I had erred. Gu Zhan would surely use this to draw all the major gangs into the storm, and now they can no longer remain uninvolved."
"Yes," sighed You Yangsheng. "Living in the Martial World, who is truly free in their choices? Even my Celestial Water Gang has become a pawn in the struggle between the South City Hundred Households Office and the Thousand Households Office—let alone the others."
"Vice Leader You, I must correct you. You are no pawn—you are our partners, our allies. Our fortunes are bound together for better or worse," said Gao Jun.
You Yangsheng merely smiled, saying nothing more.
Gao Jun continued, "Lord Luo made his preparations before leaving Li City, leaving behind a host of experts to aid us. With the might of your Celestial Water Gang, I truly cannot see how Gu Zhan can possibly break the situation."
You Yangsheng said, "The South City Hundred Households Office is formidable enough, and now they’ve summoned all the major gangs as well. Lord Gao, do not underestimate Gu Zhan—beware of being tripped in shallow waters."
Gao Jun chuckled lightly. "Gu Zhan’s move appears grand, but harbors a fatal flaw—everything hinges on him alone. If, at the crucial moment, Gu Zhan dies first, the South City Hundred Households Office and the factions will dissolve into a rabble."
You Yangsheng squinted. "Then what do you intend to do, Lord Gao?"
Gao Jun smiled. "If I recall, Vice Leader You’s archery is near divine—once you took the life of a First Grade Expert with a single arrow!"
You Yangsheng replied slowly, "Lord Gao, are you asking me to ambush Gu Zhan?"
"Indeed," Gao Jun said. "Taking every precaution. Now, everything is out in the open—Gu Zhan’s strength is clear. We will unleash our might, let our experts besiege Gu Zhan, and if you seize the right moment, Vice Leader You, you shall kill him with a single strike!"