Volume One, Chapter Six: Born with a Rebellious Spirit
“Before Her Highness the Princess Royal arrives, try to cause less trouble,” Ye Yutian said with a slightly cold expression, his deep eyes fixed on Ye Fusang. This son had seemed foolish before, but unexpectedly, he had seized this decisive move to turn the tide!
Playing the fool to catch the tiger—he was even more calculating than his eldest son.
Ye Fusang looked at Ye Yutian earnestly. “As the favored companion of the esteemed Princess Royal, shouldn’t Father arrange for me some fine clothes and a quiet place to live?”
“A man doesn’t need fancy clothes!” Ye Yutian finally lost his composure and shouted in anger. He had always thought this son was timid, but now he realized he was a strategist who struck with heavy blows!
Ye Fusang raised an eyebrow slightly. “When the Princess arrives, do you expect me to entertain her wearing these rags?”
“Hua Qun, make the arrangements,” Ye Yutian said, barely able to look at Ye Fusang without feeling as if he might burst into flames. After taking several deep breaths, he was helped away by a maid. “Hurry! Bring Doctor Zhao to see me!”
The unassuming woman stepped forward at that moment. She was Ye Yutian’s second wife, Huo Hua Qun, dressed in a simple blue robe. Her appearance was not strikingly beautiful, but gentle and graceful. Facing someone everyone else hated with clenched teeth, she spoke calmly and kindly, “I do not know what Fusang prefers either. Since it concerns the Princess Royal, we must not be careless. Fusang may take fifty taels of silver from the treasury to buy what he needs. The Changqing Courtyard is remote, but peaceful. The late matriarch once lived there, so it’s not shabby. I will have it cleaned, and Fusang can move in with Young Master Ji.”
“Thank you, Madam,” Ye Fusang said, his face lighting up instantly. Probably the only sane person in the entire Ye household was Huo Hua Qun, yet she had been dragged into Ye Yutian’s chaos.
...
“Little Monkey Brother, you really are my earthly treasure. Come, let’s go buy some things.”
Ye Fusang was led by Ji Rongxue to an underground city—a maze of twists and turns, extremely secretive. The dim underground marketplace was illuminated by flickering dark red candles, bustling with activity. The crowd was mostly commoners and people from the underworld.
Ye Fusang let out a soft hiss, never having seen anything like this before. Drawing from years of reading novels, he guessed, “Is this what they call a Ghost Market?”
“That’s a fitting name,” Ji Rongxue smiled. “But this place is called Cloud Pavilion.”
Ji Rongxue said, “The owner of Cloud Pavilion is rumored to be a born rebel.”
“That sounds like a kindred spirit—I must meet them,” Ye Fusang smiled.
Ji Rongxue guided Ye Fusang through convoluted paths into a noisy underground arena. From afar came the roars of fierce beasts and the cheers of the crowd. Ye Fusang narrowed his eyes; a strong scent of blood assaulted his nostrils.
“Stealing is dangerous—you’ll get beaten,” Ji Rongxue said calmly, as if oblivious to the scent, and strode inside. “Only with a wild beast can you keep demons and spirits at bay.”
“Brother, you’re so good to me,” Ye Fusang said, deeply moved. “This won’t be expensive, will it?”
...
“No cost,” Ji Rongxue said lightly, her pink robes rippling beneath a black cloak, radiating charm. She looked toward the arena. “Ah... Little Monkey Brother, you’re lucky. You just arrived and caught the champion’s match.”
“This girl—where’s she from? A fresh face, a dark horse, so fierce.”
“I’ve already claimed her! No one else can have her!”
“You think you can beat the champion in the beast fighting ring?”
From the second floor, Ye Fusang finally saw the scene below clearly. On the arena floor was a medium-sized tiger, bloodstained, roaring furiously at a slender, blade-like girl. Her dark hair was tied high; she moved like a cicada’s wing. With a backflip, she stabbed a blade into the tiger’s eye.
“Roar—!”
Ye Fusang gasped in admiration. “She has my style... this girl suits me best.”
Huge applause erupted as the tiger collapsed, bleeding.
Seeing how sought-after the girl was, Ye Fusang asked, “What do you mean no cost?”
“Of course, you must show your best skill, Little Monkey Brother.”
“...”
At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared on the raised platform. “Regarding this year’s champion of the beast fighting ring, my master wants to try a new game—betting!”
“Isn’t this just giving the sleepy a pillow?” Ji Rongxue raised her eyebrow.
“You want me to cheat?” Ye Fusang’s eyes widened. “If caught, they’ll chop off my hands and feet! Little Ji, you’re ruthless to get rid of me, your rival!”
“What if you don’t want to?”
“I want to.” Ye Fusang’s single word came out, and Ji Rongxue pushed him forward. He landed on the arena floor in rough gray clothes, almost rolling twice.
She regained her balance unexpectedly, her high-bound dark hair falling over her forehead. She lifted her head slightly, smiling faintly, though her teeth were clenched tight.
That damned Little Ji!
...
Above the arena, beside a wooden railing, sat a man in red with black hair. He leaned casually, the dim red candlelight spilling over his pale, jade-like face, casting a shadow like a tilted mountain.
The man’s low, smooth voice sounded softly, “Who brought him here?”
“Master, it was Princess Royal’s favored companion, Ji Rongxue.”
The man glanced casually at the crowd below and chuckled. “He’s already standing on the stage, so he must be capable. Let’s have a series of battles. He bets a hundred people; if he wins, the girl belongs to him.”
“And if he loses?”
“He keeps his life.”
Just as Ye Fusang struggled to steady himself, a black-clad figure appeared, making him sweat even more. “Young master, our master says since you’re on the arena, you must be determined. You bet a hundred people; if you win, the champion is yours.”
“No... no, I just slipped by accident...”
“Then it’s settled.” The black-clad man announced the rules to the crowd. “WhoeverI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.