Chapter Fifty-Five: The Last Chance

Seeing Qiu Jiecha enter, Xue Baiqi fell silent and quietly began to gather the secret scrolls laid out on the grass.

“Uncle Qiu, is something the matter?” Ye Xin asked softly.

Qiu Jiecha’s gaze swept over Xue Baiqi and Ye Ling, as if hesitating to speak. Ye Ling understood his intent, smiled, and began to help Xue Baiqi collect the scrolls. The two of them then left the backyard together.

“Uncle Qiu, you may speak now,” Ye Xin said.

“In the next ten days, several hundred more soldiers from the Sirius Legion will be entering Jiuding City,” Qiu Jiecha said slowly. “Young Marshal, this…”

“Is it that you’re short on funds, having trouble making ends meet?” Ye Xin replied with a smile.

“You see right through me, Young Marshal,” Qiu Jiecha said, his old face flushing. “After the Sirius Legion was defeated, we had no chance to gather supplies. Escaping with our lives was already a stroke of luck. Though only a few dozen soldiers have arrived so far, their daily expenses are not insignificant, and the wild Sirius wolves eat enormous amounts of meat—none of us old brothers can afford to keep them.”

Ye Xin regarded Qiu Jiecha in silence. Qiu Jiecha hesitated, a chill creeping into his heart; standing before Ye Xin felt like standing naked—no thought of his could escape those penetrating eyes.

In truth, since entering Jiuding City, Qiu Jiecha had quietly been making moves, attempting to wrest real control of the Sirius Legion from Ye Xin. It was not malice; he feared that Ye Xin might lead the Legion to utter ruin, committing grave transgressions, so he wished his own influence would outweigh Ye Xin’s, allowing him to intervene should disaster loom.

Unfortunately for him, Ye Xin was a consummate schemer. He understood Qiu Jiecha’s intentions immediately and had maintained silence, letting the old man tire himself out.

Ye Xin wasn’t worried. He held the greater cause and the legacy in his hands; their intelligence was not on the same level, and the cards he held far outmatched Qiu Jiecha’s. No matter how cunning the old man was, he would never escape Ye Xin’s grasp.

Ye Xin had thought Qiu Jiecha would persist a while longer before seeking help; now, seeing him come so soon, he laughed inwardly.

“Young Marshal, I know the Ye family is struggling too, but…” Qiu Jiecha stammered.

“There’s no need for such formality, Uncle Qiu,” Ye Xin replied coolly. “Since all of you call me Young Marshal, these troubles are mine to shoulder. Tomorrow is my wedding day and I can’t leave, but the day after, I’ll come and see to your needs.”

“Thank you, Young Marshal,” Qiu Jiecha said, letting out a long breath, unaware he was bargaining with the devil.

Previously, Ye Xin had no suitable excuse to intervene, so he’d left the old generals of the Sirius Legion in limbo. Now that Qiu Jiecha handed him the opportunity, Ye Xin had no reason to be polite.

The reason Guhuo Tieshudeng set up a checkpoint at Feihong Bridge was not only to isolate Ironheart Sage, but also to secure military funding for the Sirius Legion. Ye Xin possessed substantial resources, but those belonged to the Heavenly Sin Battalion; he would not use their assets for the Sirius Legion, nor allow the Sirius Legion’s assets to be diverted to the Sin Battalion. This distinction had to be scrupulously maintained, lest future trouble arise.

Ye Xin knew that if he requested funds from Tieshudeng openly, explaining that it was for the Sirius Legion, Tieshudeng would be overjoyed. Eager to win over the city garrison, Tieshudeng would seize any chance to draw in the Sirius Legion.

Borrowing money is an art; if someone lends grudgingly, it’s meaningless. The key is to approach the right person—one who would be furious if you didn’t borrow from him.

Moreover, Ye Xin wasn’t borrowing; he was claiming what was rightfully his. Like the famous tale of Zhou Yu and Huang Gai—one dealt the blow, the other gladly received it; this was true artistry, demanding with just cause, while the giver rejoices.

“Uncle Qiu, is there anything else?” Ye Xin noticed Qiu Jiecha had more on his mind.

“It’s a bit late to mention it now, but there’s something I must say,” Qiu Jiecha said with a bitter smile. “That Zong Ying is merely a concubine’s daughter, and she cannot cultivate by birth. Bringing her into this family… it might not be honorable.”

“There’s no need to worry about that, Uncle Qiu,” Ye Xin replied, smiling. “The Zong family is marrying off their daughter likely for the Sirius Art, planting a spy here. If they uncover the secret, they’ll collude to steal it. It’s not just the Zong family; even the Deng family has tried to send people in, but I caught them in the act.”

“How bold!” Qiu Jiecha’s beard bristled with rage.

“What’s more, in the past they didn’t covet the Sirius Art, but now they’re making moves—likely because the Sovereign has let something slip,” Ye Xin continued. “Before, they didn’t dare act, uncertain how the Sovereign would deal with the Ye family. The Sirius Art is our family’s heirloom, and there are still men of integrity at court. If word got out, it would cause an uproar and give the Sovereign cause to punish them. Now, they must know disaster is about to befall the Ye family, so they seek to act first, unwilling to let others claim the prize.”

“Young Marshal, aren’t you overthinking things? That can’t be… absolutely not…” Qiu Jiecha forced a laugh. “The Ye family has bled for Dawei, earning countless merits. No matter how heartless the Sovereign, he must leave the Ye family a root to endure, or the people would lose all faith!”

Ye Xin chuckled softly. At that moment, he gave up all hope for Qiu Jiecha. He realized the old man was hopeless; at a critical moment, he might become a hindrance and bring disaster.

Until Ye Xin had won the hearts of the Sirius Legion, Qiu Jiecha had to remain; of course, Ye Xin had no intention of killing him, for that would shatter the Legion’s morale. The best course was to find a place for Qiu Jiecha to retire in peace.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Qiu. This marriage will never happen,” Ye Xin said. “We acted decisively, killing the Zong family’s assassin, which put them on guard. If they send Zong Ying to the Ye family, who’s to say we won’t kill her too? Frankly, if she dares enter, I truly would!”

“But… once she enters, she’ll be your… wife…” Qiu Jiecha murmured, chilled by Ye Xin’s casual tone.

“My wife is only the one I acknowledge,” Ye Xin replied. “A sacrificial pawn with ulterior motives has no right to stand by my side. And it’s not just me; do you think the Zong family cares for her life? What matters is the shame if Zong Ying is killed—they only fear losing face.”

Qiu Jiecha fell silent, his heart still cold despite Ye Xin’s logic.

“In all my years with the Heavenly Sin Battalion, if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: ‘A small mind is no lord, and a man must be ruthless,’” Ye Xin said. “I’ve led the Sin Battalion in countless battles across the Great Zhao Nation. If I’d shown the slightest mercy, I wouldn’t be alive today! Lingshan was the second largest city of Great Zhao, with over three hundred thousand inhabitants. I took it seven times. Do you know what I found the last time? The whole city, prisoners included, held only a few thousand souls—the rest were dead or fled; Lingshan was a ruin.”

Qiu Jiecha knew Ye Xin spoke the truth. It was said that after Lingshan was razed, the Great Zhao sovereign was so furious he coughed blood and placed a staggering bounty—kill a Sin Battalion soldier and a hereditary title would be yours. But the Sin Battalion had already turned toward Taishui Plain, leaving the enraged warriors of Great Zhao with nothing. Instead, Zhuang Immortal reaped the reward, ambushing the weakened Sin Battalion and gaining much.

“No one will stand in my way,” Ye Xin exhaled softly. “And, Uncle Qiu, rest assured—some things I’ve never told a soul. Even tonight, if Ironheart Sage musters the Imperial Guards to exterminate the Ye family, he will still lose. I simply cannot win either. My patience is to avoid mutual destruction and let others profit.”

This was Ye Xin’s final warning to Qiu Jiecha: do not become an obstacle. From the moment Ye Xin entered Jiuding City, Ironheart Sage was doomed—there was no sense in being a fool who bars the road.

Qiu Jiecha could not utter a word. Silently, after a long pause, he bowed deeply to Ye Xin and left the courtyard.

****

The next morning, Tieshudeng, Wang Meng, and the Han brothers arrived early at the Ye residence. Today was Ye Xin’s wedding day, and none of them could be absent.

Deng Qiaoying brought out the ceremonial armor she had prepared and dressed Ye Xin herself. It was a wedding, not a battle, but Ye Xin hailed from a military family, and this was their tradition.

The armor was bright red, with a golden wolf’s head emblazoned on the chest, closely resembling the image that appeared when Ye Xin invoked the Sirius Art. Deng Qiaoying then carefully fitted the helmet, dressing Ye Xin piece by piece.

Ye Xin was already strikingly handsome, and clad in such imposing battle attire, his heroic spirit shone all the more. When he strode into the main hall, the old generals of the Sirius Legion, who had been waiting, instinctively caught their breath. Wen Rong, Shen Miao, and Shao Xue, who were chatting with Ye Ling, all looked on with brightened eyes, while Wen Hongren, seated in the place of honor sipping tea, nodded with a smile.

Whatever Ye Xin’s reputation, his strength and presence at that moment were unmistakable—he truly looked the part of a warrior from a great martial family.

“Wow… Young Master Ye is so handsome dressed up!” Shen Miao said with a cheerful smile.

“Of course! He’s my brother, after all!” Ye Ling replied proudly.

“What a pity…” Shao Xue sighed. If only Ye Xin could cultivate, and shed his arrogant and unruly ways—if he earned a good name, even if he wasn’t as strong as Ye Guanhai, he would still be a dragon among men, sure to win the hearts of countless young women.

Wen Rong quickly nudged Shao Xue. Anyone with a bit of sense knew what she regretted, and worried Ye Ling might take offense.