29. Be Careful in All Things

Morning at the Yang Estate.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Yue'er immediately returned home to pack her belongings. She informed Old Man Yang and Qiqi of the situation. Old Man Yang said nothing, but Qiqi, standing by his side, was deeply concerned for Yue'er’s safety. Looking at Yue'er, she said, "Husband, since she must go, please ask the Imperial Uncle to unseal her meridians so she can use her martial arts. At the very least, she could protect herself!" Qiqi directed these words at Old Man Yang, knowing he was not a cold-hearted man and certainly would not want any harm to befall Yue'er.

Yue'er looked at the expressionless Old Man Yang, then squeezed Qiqi’s hand and smiled. "You don't need to worry. Everyone going on this trip is highly skilled in martial arts; I will be fine!" She then smiled at Old Man Yang and added, "Master, I know you cannot unseal my power now. You sealed my acupoints to prevent me from using martial arts because my technique would easily reveal my identity. Since I am traveling with him this time, you would be even less likely to allow me to use it, wouldn't you?" Qiqi, who had assumed Old Man Yang sealed Yue'er’s powers to keep them from running away, looked at them in astonishment, finally realizing his true intention.

Old Man Yang stood up, patted Yue'er on the shoulder, and chuckled. "You truly understand me. As expected of the apprentice I handpicked—you are indeed sharp!" It is difficult for someone skilled in martial arts to refrain from using it, so Old Man Yang had simply decided to seal her acupoints.

Yue'er replied with a dash of vanity, "Of course! How else could I be Old Man Yang’s apprentice?" She held a certain admiration for the old man; who wouldn't respect a man of such deep sentiment and loyalty, willing to risk his life to fulfill his late wife’s final wish? In truth, she was surrounded by such men—was her own Zhao Chengxian not the same?

Old Man Yang looked at Yue'er and cautioned, "Safety first. Do not try to be a hero, never act alone, and always ensure you have someone skilled in combat by your side." Frontier towns were never safe places; they were dens of vice and villainy where war could erupt at any moment. It was no wonder Qiqi and Old Man Yang were so anxious.

Yue'er nodded with a smile. "I understand. Master, Qiqi, please don't worry. It is nearly time, so I must go. Rest assured, I will take good care of myself." She picked up her bundle and walked out of the Yang Estate, with Qiqi and Old Man Yang watching her depart.

Morning at the City Gate.

They had agreed to meet at the city gate. Yue'er was the third to arrive, finding Zhao Chengxian, his three great guards, and Feishu already waiting. Seeing her approach, Feishu teased, "Is Scholar Yang feeling a bit frightened? Taking so long to dawdle at home—you must have been having a fierce internal struggle, right?" He wore a look so punchable it was irritating. It was hard to understand what he was thinking; if he didn't want people to see him merely as the younger brother of Xuanyuan Ren, he should act with more humility. Otherwise, who would truly respect him, rather than just his status?

Zhao Chengxian looked at Yue'er with a smile, showing no sign of reprimand. Yue'er retorted, "Feishu, at least I’m not the last one here. Even if I were afraid, it’s only human nature. Can you honestly say you aren't worried at all? Mice aren't supposed to be cold-blooded creatures, are they? Though I suppose I wouldn't know about a mouse that can fly." Her retort made Zhao Chengxian and the three guards burst into laughter. Feishu felt deeply embarrassed, but he couldn't act too childish in front of the guards, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride.

Just then, Haiyang and Haiming arrived on horseback. Yue'er was surprised to see two identical men before her; they were brothers, and twins at that. Without dismounting, they clasped their hands toward Zhao Chengxian and said in unison, "Greetings, Prince Jun!" Their voices were indistinguishable, making them truly impossible to tell apart.

Zhao Chengxian looked at everyone and commanded, "Everyone is here. Let us depart!" They spurred their horses and galloped toward the frontier.