Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

By the time Yan Liqiang returned to Qinghe County, it was already late at night.

Likewise, it was also snowing in Pingxi Prefecture. The gates of Yan Fortress were tightly shut and dark clouds loomed over the city. From afar, only the dangling windproof lanterns at the gates were moving. Although it was late at night, patrolling guards could still be seen walking on top of the walls. In the darkness, only occasional barks could be heard in the distance as they echoed through the silent night.

When Yan Liqiang came to the fortress, he could hear footsteps of the patrolling guards and a deep voice. “BUCK UP NOW!”

“We can’t afford to slip up and become butts of the joke while the Young Master is out to cultivate in seclusion! The next shift is in two hours — we’ll go back to the barracks and get some drinks to get ourselves warmed up then!”

Yan Liqiang still remembered the voice. He was a guard leader from the Gao Clan that he recruited back at home from Pingxi Prefecture, and also a veteran from Gan Province. He was very experienced after going on a few escort missions last time, and decided to settle down in Yan Fortress with his family to serve the Yan Clan because of the generous offer and job stability.

After the man finished saying that, the walking guards responded in unison and then continued their patrol.

Hearing the conversation above him instantly made Yan Liqiang feel relieved. It would seem like nothing big had happened in the Yan Fortress during his absence for half a year.

Of course Yan Liqiang didn’t call out to anyone. He was too embarrassed to be seen in his ragged appearance. It would be difficult to explain, so he could only wait for the patrols above him to leave before moving. He flew like an owl and easily flipped over the high fortress wall that was several zhang tall. Entering the Yan Fortress, he very quickly reached the Yan Residence. It went without saying that the Yan Residence was also heavily guarded by both normal guards and hidden guards. Even though it was late at night, the corridors of the courtyards were still brightly lit by lanterns. A few groups of guards were vigilantly patrolling with wolfdogs.

Yan Liqiang easily made his way to the courtyard he stayed without alerting anyone.

Although no one was alerted, he still alerted a dog. Goldie, who had been waiting in Yan Liqiang’s courtyard, immediately charged out of his warm doghouse in excitement at the sight of his return. It wagged its tail and excitedly circled around Yan Liqiang in his room. He kept licking on his hand and even barked twice in excitement.

His barks instantly alerted the other people.

“Who…?!” Yu Qing was the first to appear outside Yan Liqiang’s room. As soon as she arrived, she saw a disheveled and ragged man in her young master’s room. How terrible! Yu Qing didn’t even hesitate to plunge her sword into Yan Liqiang from behind. She moved powerfully with a sword technique, abnormally nimbly bringing down her sword with a whoosh behind Yan Liqiang.

Yan Liqiang, who just lit the candle, turned around and pinched the tip of the sword. “It’s me!”

“Ah, Young Lord!” Yu Qing finally got a clear look at Yan Liqiang’s face and his clothes filled with holes. She had a look of surprise on her face as she rubbed her eyes adorably.

Yan Liqiang seemed a little embarrassed too as he gently let go of the sword tip. “Umm, close the door first. The guards outside are coming…”

Yu Qing roamed her eyes over Yan Liqiang’s muscular body which oozed the scent of masculinity, as her cheeks flared up a little. As soon as she shut the door, quick footsteps were heard rushing inside the courtyard from outside. Rustling of clothes were also heard as the men flipped over the walls. In just a flash, quite a few people gathered outside the room.

“What’s wrong?!” The dull noise of the sword being pulled out of its scabbard was heard outside.

“Nothing! Young Lord just came back!” Yu Qing sheathed her sword and calmly replied from inside the room.

“Thank you for your hard work, everyone. No need to disturb the rest from their rests. Just inform Steward Zhou tomorrow morning!” Yan Liqiang also spoke calmly.

The guards exchanged looks with each other and heaved a sigh of relief when they heard Yan Liqiang’s voice. After the leading guard responded in acknowledgement, everyone left in just a flash.

“Young Lord… are… are you alright…?” Yu Qing roamed her eyes quickly over Yan Liqiang’s body again as the blush on her face deepened.

“Ahem… ahem…” Yan Liqiang was feeling slightly embarrassed too. Fortunately, Yu Qing wasn’t an outsider so things weren’t too awkward. He rubbed his face. “Well… I got into a little bit of an accident!”

“Wait for a moment, Young Lord. I shall prepare a bath for you!”

“No need, I’ll just bathe with cold water in the courtyard!”

“I can’t have that!” Yu Qing shook her head firmly. “Please wait for a moment, Young Lord. I’ll be done very quickly!” After saying that, Yu Qing immediately left without giving Yan Liqiang a chance to say anything else.

…

Ten minutes later, Yan Liqiang sighed in pleasure while soaking in a wooden bathtub filled with hot water. “It really feels great to be home…!”

With two heaters burning, the entire bathroom was as warm as spring. Slices of ginger were also added to the hot water in the bathtub to dispel the cold. It had been half a year since Yan Liqiang had taken a hot bath. Amidst the thick steam, he laid his head on the soft wooden pillow behind the wooden bathtub. Shutting his eyes, he sighed in pleasure as he enjoyed the warm fuzzy feelings of being enveloped by hot water.

This was how a person should live. If there weren’t sh*ts like power struggle or future crises, Yan Liqiang wished he never knew any martial arts. Just being able to live like this every day in Pingxi Prefecture was enough for him. There was no need to fight so hard in life!

CREAK…! The bathroom door was pushed open. Yan Liqiang knew who it was just by listening to the sounds of footsteps.

“Qing’er, just leave my clothes on the rack behind the screen!”

“Alright!” Yu Qing answered softly. She would normally leave after setting the clothes down, but Yan Liqiang wasn’t sure why he heard Yu Qing’s footsteps going around from behind the screen today and to the side of his wooden bathtub. Yan Liqiang’s body stiffened up a little.

“Young Lord… Let me… help you wash your back!” The little girl’s voice trembled as she spoke, then Yan Liqiang felt a pair of gentle and delicate little hands dip into the water before they gently massaged his back.

Should I chase her away? Yan Liqiang closed his eyes, but he was thinking about this question to himself in his heart. Would it be bad for him to reject her and break her heart…?

Yan Liqiang thought for a moment before deciding that it was best for him to pretend that he had fallen asleep. Hence, he shut his eyes and let the little girl service him. It actually felt quite nice as she was able to control the strength of her hands very well.

At first, Yu Qing was quite nervous. When she saw that Yan Liqiang seemed to be enjoying it silently, her trembling hands gradually started moving more naturally.

Yan Liqiang was relieved to find out that the little girl only sincerely wanted to wash his back for him. Although his eyes were closed, he spoke up. “Did anything big happen while I was in seclusion?”

“Young Lord, are you referring to Gan Province or the Gulang Plains?”

“Did something happen on the Gulang Plains?”

“I heard that the chief of the Dark Wood Tribe was assassinated, and things were chaotic because people were fighting over becoming the next chief. In the end, they got beaten up very badly by the people from the Dark Razor Tribe and many died. After the new chief in the Dark Wood Tribe came into power, they lured the people from Black Ram Tribe to the Gulang Plains!”

So it turned out that it was the Dark Wood Tribe who lured the Black Ram Tribe there. The outcome was beyond Yan Liqiang’s expectation, but it wasn’t all that strange either. After all, the Shatu people never really had any sort of baseline or sense of honor. The Dark Wood Tribe would definitely do something like that if they were desperate. Their territory happened to be right next to a part of Mount Qiyun. Therefore, it was very normal for the Dark Wood Tribe to collude with the Black Ram Tribe.

Yan Liqiang didn’t expect his arrow to cause so many changes on the Gulang Plains.

“What about in Gan Province?”

“I don’t really know the specifics, but I heard that since the Black Ram Tribe people appeared on the Gulang Plains, many soldiers came to Pingxi Prefecture over the past two months. They seemed to be preparing for a war. Oh right, and many people came looking for you, Young Lord. The Provincial Governor sent people here too. But since you weren’t home, they left…”