Chapter Fifty-Two: The Road to Wealth

Wang Meng’s booming voice exploded through the Ye household early in the morning: “Brother Xin! Get up! Time to get up… Didn’t you say you’d take us to make a fortune today? Hurry, hurry!”

Ye Xin opened his eyes and moved the little sable curled up at the head of his bed aside. Before he could even sit up, Wang Meng strode in, followed by Tie Shudeng and the two Han brothers.

“Do you want to die?!” Ye Xin shouted.

“Brother Xin, why are you still as lazy as ever? There’s no time to waste when it comes to making money!” Wang Meng said as he patted his own waist. “Honestly, my old man took all I had, now I’m penniless, and I don’t even know where my lunch and dinner are coming from. Brother Xin, I’m relying on you.”

“Let’s get to the point first,” Tie Shudeng interjected. “Xin, yesterday we all went to the Sky Prison together and greased all the right palms. Don’t worry, no one will dare make trouble for your second uncle anymore.”

“Third brother, you’re too soft-hearted,” Han Yuanzi said. “A few words would have sufficed. Who would dare cause trouble then? No need to bleed so much for it!”

“That’s right. Third brother, you even gave your Essence-Nurturing Pendant to the warden. Isn’t that a pity?” Han Yunzi looked rather unhappy as well.

Ye Xin knew the Han brothers were saying all this on purpose. The deed was done, and he was meant to owe them this favor.

“What do you know?” Tie Shudeng said. “If we only threaten them, they might turn on us later. As the saying goes, those who accept your gifts are bound to help you. Since they’ve gained so much from us, they’ll naturally do their utmost, even if someone higher up tries to pressure them. They’ll still protect your uncle, at least a little.”

“Third brother, thank you,” Ye Xin said with a smile.

“We’re sworn brothers, don’t thank me!” Tie Shudeng replied, looking a little annoyed.

“You weren’t joking the other day, were you, Young Master Ye? There really is a way to make money?” Han Yuanzi asked. “I was worried we wouldn’t have enough hands, so I brought over thirty household guards. If you were just joking, I’d be utterly disgraced.”

“When have I ever fooled anyone?” Ye Xin laughed. “But the place we’re going is a bit far.”

“Far is fine, as long as there’s money to be made!” Tie Shudeng said eagerly.

“Third brother, are you really this broke? Your eyes are practically glowing blue,” Ye Xin teased.

“To tell you the truth, there’s a bottomless pit here,” Tie Shudeng sighed. “You know how important the City Defense Army is—over ten high-ranking innate warriors, more than a hundred mid-level ones. Feeding them all is no easy task. If the gifts aren’t enough, we’ll be laughed at, or worse, it could backfire. If I give too much, I’ll be drained dry in an instant. I don’t have a single coin to my name right now.”

“Tsk tsk…” Ye Xin grinned at him.

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m in no mood,” Tie Shudeng said with a stern face. “I’ve already squeezed Yuanzi and Yunzi dry, and even made four or five trips to my aunt’s place. I can’t bear to go again. Xin, it’s all up to you.”

“Young Master Ye, everyone knows you’ve always been the cleverest. Come on, help us out,” Han Yunzi pleaded.

“Don’t kid me. If I were really that clever, I wouldn’t have ended up in the Heaven’s Judgment Camp,” Ye Xin sighed.

The Han brothers’ faces changed; they exchanged uneasy glances, unwilling to discuss that topic.

“Xin, we know you were wronged,” Tie Shudeng said gravely. “Bear with it for now. Trust me, as long as I live, I’ll make sure justice is done for you!”

“Let’s not talk about this,” Ye Xin cut in. “Go to the City Defense Army and fetch a few banners, and prepare some ink and brushes. Then we’ll set out.”

“What do you need writing supplies for?” Han Yuanzi asked in confusion.

“Just get them. You’ll see soon enough,” Ye Xin replied.

About half an hour later, the Han brothers had gathered all the supplies. The group left the Ye household, mounted their warhorses, and headed beyond the city walls.

Riding at full speed was forbidden within Jiuding City, but outside it was another matter. The horses brought by the Han brothers were all drawn from the City Defense Army. These warhorses were leagues apart from those kept by ordinary families, not only in bloodline but also in the energy they absorbed. Warriors in training frequently consumed elemental stones, which filled the military barracks with elemental energy, subtly transforming the horses as well.

The army’s warhorses could reach speeds close to a hundred kilometers per hour. Ye Xin had no need to hide his riding skills and led at the front the entire way.

After galloping over two hundred kilometers, their horses drenched in sweat, Ye Xin grew uncomfortable and decided it was time for a rest, gradually slowing his pace.

Tie Shudeng and the others followed suit. Ye Xin dismounted, tossing the reins aside. “Still too slow.”

“These are all horses from the Great River Army, and they’re still slow?!” Han Yuanzi exclaimed.

“Slow,” Ye Xin replied. “Tomorrow I’ll ask Uncle Qiu to let me try out a Boundless Celestial Wolf. It’s definitely better than these horses.”

“Boundless Celestial Wolf?” Han Yuanzi’s eyes lit up. He began to shout, “Young Master Ye—no, Brother Ye, Uncle Ye, Master Ye—help me get one too! Name your price, and I’ll pay without question!”

The Celestial Wolf Legion had over a hundred Boundless Celestial Wolves. These were formidable beasts, wild and untamable. No one knew how Ye Guanhai had managed to make them obey his riders. Since the legion’s formation, nobles from other principalities and even within Great Wei had tried to learn from Ye Guanhai, but the wolves they captured were uncontrollable and attacked anyone who approached, refused to eat, and died within weeks.

Naturally, Boundless Celestial Wolves were far more valuable than warhorses. First, there was their speed: up to two hundred kilometers per hour, or more. Most astonishing, they could run for dozens of hours without rest, whereas a warhorse would be exhausted after two.

If the road was clear, one could ride a Boundless Celestial Wolf from Jiuding City to the capital of Great Wei in a single day, and back the next.

These wolves could leap across rivers and ravines dozens of meters wide, scale hills over ten meters high, and swim with ease. No terrain—desert, forest, or mountain—could stop them.

Moreover, each wolf was a high-level fierce beast, capable of fighting alongside its rider.

Captured wolves were useless, but those of the Celestial Wolf Legion were truly priceless!

“Yuanzi, could you show some restraint?” Tie Shudeng laughed, though his eyes betrayed his own desire for a wolf.

“No way! Absolutely not!” Han Yuanzi shouted. “Master Ye, give me an answer!”

“I can get one from Uncle Qiu for myself—he won’t refuse me. But giving one to someone else…” Ye Xin paused, smiling wryly, “Do you really want Uncle Qiu to come storming into your family’s house?”

Han Yuanzi’s face darkened as if remembering something unpleasant.

“Xin is destined to become the young commander of the Celestial Wolf Legion, so he’s entitled to a wolf. Why are you making a fuss?” Tie Shudeng said.

“Brother Xin, where exactly are we headed?” Wang Meng quickly changed the subject.

“About another hundred kilometers to go,” Ye Xin answered.

After a brief rest, they mounted up again. Forty minutes later, a great river appeared ahead—the Feihong River. Its many broken channels and more than a dozen waterfalls created a perpetual rainbow, hence its name.

A broad bridge spanned the road, over a hundred meters long, wide enough for four carriages to travel abreast.

Crossing the bridge, Ye Xin dismounted again. “This is the place.”

“Is there treasure here?” Wang Meng looked around eagerly.

“Don’t dream,” Ye Xin laughed. “Yuanzi, have one of your guards cut some wood from the forest and build a shelter here.”

“What for?” Han Yuanzi asked, puzzled.

“Just do it,” Ye Xin said. Then he had Wang Meng fetch a military banner, took out the ink and brushes, and wrote in large characters: Feihong Bridge Inspection Post.

Tie Shudeng and the others watched in confusion, unable to guess Ye Xin’s intentions.

Ye Xin then took another large banner and wrote several lines: Inspection Post Ahead—Three Hundred Meters. Please Slow Down, Queue for Payment, Thank You for Your Cooperation. Safe Travels.

He planted the first banner at the entrance to the bridge, handed the second to one of Han’s guards, and said, “Run out three hundred meters and post it somewhere visible.”

“Xin, what exactly are you doing?” Tie Shudeng couldn’t hold back any longer. “Inspection post? What are we inspecting?”

“When I first saw these words, I had a revelation,” Ye Xin replied with a sly smile. “Whatever you do, find a way to align it with the state, and everything becomes righteous. To put it simply, if we block the road with swords and demand money from passing merchants, we’re bandits. But if we act in the name of the City Defense Army, then the law is on our side.”

“I still don’t get it… You’re setting up an unauthorized checkpoint? Xin, this could get us in serious trouble!” Tie Shudeng’s face changed.

“Exactly, we can’t fool around like this!” Han Yuanzi exclaimed. “This road leads straight to the Grand Yu Kingdom, and we’re allies! If this blows up, the court’s going to erupt, and we’ll all be finished!”

“Can’t you be a bit smarter?” Ye Xin looked at them with disdain. “Who said anything about an unauthorized checkpoint? This is an inspection post, not a toll station. Only two words’ difference, but the meaning is worlds apart. At least the ministers will have no grounds to impeach us.”